LET'S BREAK THEM

CHAPTER 17: THE OFFER

Step 15: They try to buy me.

Step 16: I say no. On camera.

The live cut.

My hands were still shaking.

8.3 million people just watched me reject 2 million dollars.

Ben stared at me like I grew a second head. "You just declared war on my dad. On live. In front of everyone."

"Yeah," I said. My voice was steady even though my knees weren’t. "So what?"

He cracked a smile. The first real one in days. Tired, crooked, real. "So... you're insane. And kind of hot when you're brave."

I rolled my eyes. "Don't."

"Don't what? Be honest?"

"Don't make this weird. Not now."

But before he could say more, my phone rang. Unknown number. No caller ID. Private.

I answered. Put it on speaker.

"Kudo," a deep voice said. Cold. Controlled. Mr. Carter.

"Come to Carter Tower. Alone. 9pm. Top floor. We talk, or I make sure your mother’s medical bills are no longer... covered."

"And her treatment stops tonight. Effective immediately."

The line went dead.

Ben heard everything. His jaw tightened. "You're not going."

"I have to," I said. "For Mom. If I don't, she loses everything."

"Then I'm coming too."

"No. He said alone. If I bring you, he’ll know it’s a trap. And he’ll hurt her."

9pm. Carter Tower. The top floor. All glass. 60 stories up.

Wind against the windows. City lights below. Silent.

Mr. Carter was waiting with 2 bodyguards. Arms crossed. No smile. No suit jacket.

"Sit," he said. Pointed at the chair across from his desk.

I sat.

Folder in my lap. Phone in my pocket, recording. Heart in my throat.

"2 million," he said again. Like we were negotiating a car. "Last offer. Sign the NDA, delete everything, and disappear.

Move cities. Change schools. New identity. Or I ruin you. Your mom. Your future. Your credit. Everything."

I looked out the window. Onitsha looked so small from up here. Like ants.

Like the people he thought he could step on and forget.

"What if I say no?" I asked. Voice didn’t shake.

He leaned forward. Hands folded. "Then tomorrow, your mother's hospital room gets a new bill. 10 million. Due immediately.

And you get expelled. Blacklisted. No college will touch you."

"You’ll be the girl who tried to take down Carter and lost."

My chest hurt.

I could feel the 2 million. I could feel Mom safe.

I could also feel 8 million people watching the livestream earlier.

Ben was probably downstairs losing his mind.

I stood up. Chair scraped the marble. "No."

Mr. Carter frowned. "Excuse me?"

"I said no," I repeated, louder. "You can't buy me. And you can't scare me anymore."

"The FBI has the evidence. The internet has the evidence. The world has the evidence. You can’t delete that."

I turned to leave.

"Kudo," he called. Sharp. "You're making a mistake."

"Maybe," I said at the door. Hand on the handle. "But at least it's my mistake. Not yours."

I walked out. Head high. Heart pounding so hard I thought it’d break.

Downstairs, Ben was waiting in his car. Engine running. "Well?"

"I said no," I told him. Got in. Locked the doors.

He let out a breath he was holding. "Damn. My dad hates you now. Like, really hates you."

"Good," I said. "Let him."

My phone buzzed. News alert.

`BREAKING: CARTER GROUP CEO UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION`

`Securities fraud, witness intimidation, bribery, obstruction`

It was done.

Step 16: Complete.

He offered me money.

I chose the truth.

And now the world is watching what happens next.

`Chapter 17.

2 million dollars.

One choice.

I picked me.

I picked Mom.

I picked the truth.

-K`