A Week Later –
Jeddah stood outside the glass-paneled boardroom of his office-Luxe Empire Holdings. Three men, potential investors he had courted for months, sat on the other side of the table, stern-faced and withdrawn. Something was off.
When he walked in, the air felt colder than the AC.
"Mr. Ayobami ," one of the men said without looking up, "We've decided to pull out."
Jeddah's chest tightened. "Sorry, what?"
"You failed to disclose key liabilities, including the lawsuit from UrbanCore Holdings. That's a red flag."
Jeddah froze. Lawsuit?
"And apparently, some of your marketing figures were... overstated."
It hit him all at once. He knew exactly who had access to both his liability reports and pitch decks. Only one person.
Sterling.
His boy. His oldest friend.
His betrayal.
Jedha barged into Sterling's loft in SoHo.
"You did it. You turned them against me."
Sterling looked up from his drink. Calm. Almost expectant.
"Business is business, man," he said, standing. "
"You son of a-"
"You know what's funny? Stacy said the same thing about you."
Jedha blinked. "Stacy? Stacy told you to do this?"
Sterling shrugged. "She came to me. Told me how you left her, cold. Used her to build your brand. Said you needed to be brought down a notch."
Jeddah stared, heart pounding.
"But guy, I know the story. ," Sterling added. "I know she has dirt on you. She has on me too"
"Guy you didn't have to give me up to survive!" Jeddah barked.
They stood in silence.
Then Sterling sighed, poured another drink. "I didn't mean to take that deal away from you, man. Just... wanted her out of my hair."
Jeddah sat, torn between rage and the bitter taste of Stacy not moving .
He stared at him. "You better fix this. Or I swear, I'll finish what you started."