That's why they needed me to sign tonight. Before anyone could trace all the connections. Exactly. The public announcement would have locked it in before the predatory elements became clear. Daniel closed his laptop.
Someone went to a lot of trouble to obscure the real purpose of this deal. The question is, who knew the full truth? The board chairman knew enough to hide key documents from my legal team, Nia said. And Omar and Tariq were completely confident I would sign tonight. They thought they had me cornered.
Through multiple vectors, Daniel agreed. The public pressure, the precommitted announcements, the missing documentation. It was all coordinated. They created a machine designed to force your compliance. Nia straightened her spine.
Instead, I humiliated them publicly and blew up their entire scheme. Which means the machine will now redirect itself toward destroying you, Daniel warned. They can't let you expose what was really happening here. Her phone buzzed again. A news alert.
She opened it and felt her jaw tighten. Breaking, Aegis CEO's volatile outburst threatens major deal. Sources say Nia Albright became unexpectedly combative at International Investment Gala. She showed the headline to Daniel. The narrative was already being rewritten.
Her justified stand transformed into emotional instability. The machine was indeed shifting gears. They're moving fast, Daniel said quietly. They'll try to discredit you before you can reveal the truth about the deal structure. Nia's fingers clenched around her phone as another alert lit up the screen.
The story was spreading, mutating. Her exposure of their contempt was being erased, replaced by whispers of instability and unprofessionalism. The victory of minutes ago felt hollow now. The night air hit Nia's face as she pushed through the hotel's revolving door. The Washington Monument stood like a distant sentinel against the black sky.
Its usual majesty feeling more like a cold reproach. Her phone buzzed again, the seventh time in 3 minutes. Don't answer any of them, Leila warned, striding beside her in clicking heels. Not until we understand exactly what we're dealing with. Daniel Reed followed, his laptop bag clutched tight.
Their footsteps echoed across the empty valet station where Nia's driver waited with the car door open. The street was eerily quiet for such an expensive part of town, as if the city itself was holding its breath. Her phone lit up again. Graham Vale's name flashed on the screen with a text. Maintain absolute silence.
Board must stabilize narrative first. Do not speak to anyone. He's trying to control you through process, Leila said, reading over her shoulder. Standard tactic. Claim everything has to go through proper channels while they shape the story.