Curves,claws and contracts

Boardroom Battle

8am. Cole Industries. 50th floor.

Amara walked in wearing power red and heels that clicked like gunshots.

She wasn’t supposed to be here.

"Who let her in?" a VP whispered.

Damian was at the head of the table. "This is a board meeting, Ms. Johnson."

"Good. Then you won’t mind me sitting in." She took the seat next to him. "As your wife. And legal counsel."

The board murmured.

Victor was there too. Smiling.

"Let’s begin," Damian said. "The merger proposal—"

"Is a disaster," Amara cut in.

Every head turned.

"Excuse me?" Damian said, jaw tight.

"You’re selling 30% to a company with 3 lawsuits and ties to Victor Hale." She slid documents down the table. "I checked. Last night."

"You had no right—"

"I have every right. I’m your wife. And I’m not going to watch you sign away your company because you’re too proud to ask for help."

Victor laughed. "This is rich. The gold digger playing lawyer."

Amara turned on him. "And you’re the criminal playing businessman. Want me to pull up the offshore accounts too?"

The room went silent.

Damian stared at her. Furious. Impressed. Terrified.

"Enough," he said. "Meeting adjourned."

But it was too late.

By noon, the clip of her yelling in the boardroom was leaked. *#MRSCOLETAKESOVER*

Victor called immediately. "Nice try. But I have something better."

He sent a video. Amara, 5 years ago, losing a different case. Crying in her car after.

_Post this and she’s finished_, the text read.

Damian showed it to her in his office. Door closed.

"Why didn’t you tell me you failed before?" he asked.

"Because I did!" Amara snapped. "Because I’m not perfect! Because I’ve lost before and I got back up!"

"Then why are you scared now?"

"Because this time I have something to lose!"

"What?"

"You!" The word came out before she could stop it.

Silence.

Damian stepped closer. "Say that again."

"No."

"Amara."

"I said no." But her voice shook.

He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Rule 2: No touching.

Neither of them pulled away.

"We’re going to beat him," he said quietly. "Together. Not as contract. As us."

"Us isn’t real," she whispered.

"Then let’s make it real."

His phone buzzed. Victor. Again.

_24 hours. Tick tock. -V_

The moment broke.

Damian dropped his hand. "Get your coat. We’re going to the archives. If Victor has dirt, we find dirt first."

Amara nodded. Heart pounding.

For the first time, they were walking out of a room as a team.

The war had just started.