Chapter 6: Choose
748 Words
Five minutes.
That’s all I had before the board voted to erase me from Damian’s life and take his company with it.
The room felt like it was shrinking. Serena’s eyes were locked on me, hungry. The chairman tapped his pen against the table, waiting. Damian sat beside me, silent, letting me decide.
My phone buzzed again.
Unknown number: Vote starts now. Choose wisely, Mrs. Blackwood.
Mrs. Blackwood.
Three days ago that title meant nothing. Now it felt like a noose.
I looked at Damian.
He didn’t beg. He didn’t explain again. He just watched me like he already knew I’d hate whatever came out of my mouth.
“Offshore records,” I said. My voice came out steadier than I felt. “You said you’d release them if they voted against you.”
“I will,” he said.
“Then you’re threatening the board.”
“I’m protecting the company,” he corrected. “There’s a difference.”
Serena laughed. “She’s not buying it, Damian. She’s smarter than that.”
I wasn’t sure if I was.
But I remembered Kemi’s face in that hospital bed. The way his hand had gripped mine and whispered, Make sure they pay for this, Amina.
I remembered the surgery bill with Damian’s signature on it.
And I remembered Damian stepping between me and Serena’s phone like it mattered if I got humiliated.
Two truths. Two versions of the same man.
I stood up.
“Before you vote,” I said, “I want to see the records.”
The chairman frowned. “That’s not protocol.”
“Neither is blackmailing your CEO,” I said. “But here we are.”
Damian’s jaw tightened. For a second I thought he’d refuse. Then he reached into his jacket, pulled out a USB, and slid it across the table to the chairman.
“If you vote to remove me,” he said, “that goes to the SEC in one hour.”
Serena’s phone slipped a fraction in her hand.
The chairman picked up the USB like it was a bomb. “You’re insane.”
“No,” Damian said. “I’m out of options.”
He turned to me.
“Vote with them, Amina. Dissolve the marriage. Walk away clean. I’ll make sure Kemi’s surgery is covered and no charges stick. You won’t lose anything.”
It was the first time he’d given me an out.
And it made me angrier than anything else.
“Don’t decide for me,” I said.
I looked at the board.
“I vote no.”
The word landed like a slap.
Serena’s breath hitched.
“No,” she said quickly. “You can’t—”
“I can,” I cut her off. “If Damian’s lying, we find out in court. But I’m not letting you use me to destroy him before we know the truth.”
The chairman’s face went red. “This is irregular. We’ll need to—”
“Vote,” Damian said quietly.
They voted.
4-3. In our favor.
For now.
Serena stood up so fast her chair nearly fell. “This isn’t over. That photo is still going out.”
Damian smiled for the first time since we walked in. It wasn’t nice.
“Try it,” he said. “And I’ll make sure the world knows who leaked classified board information.”
She hesitated. Then she walked out, phone still in her hand.
The room exhaled.
The chairman stood. “Meeting adjourned. Mr. Blackwood, expect a full audit.”
Damian nodded. He turned to me as the board filed out, his expression unreadable.
“You could’ve ended me.”
“I know,” I said.
“Why didn’t you?”
Because I didn’t want to find out what happened if I did.
Because part of me was scared that without him, Kemi would lose everything again.
Because when he said I saved him, I wanted it to be true.
“I don’t trust you,” I said instead. “But I trust that you’re the only one who can stop your father right now.”
Damian studied me for a long moment. Then he held out his hand.
“Then we stop him together.”
I didn’t take it. Not yet.
Outside the boardroom, my phone buzzed again.
Unknown number: Wrong choice, Mrs. Blackwood. Your brother says hi.
Attached was a photo.
Kemi. In a hospital gown. Awake. And surrounded by two men I didn’t recognize
- Writer
