The news of Lami's hostile takeover of SMG sent shockwaves through every business channel and social media platform. Shares of the conglomerate plummeted almost overnight as investors scrambled to react, and the once-proud legacy of the Lewis family teetered on the brink of collapse.
But Agnes wasn't going to let Lami win. She couldn't. Everything she had fought for, everything she had risked, was now in jeopardy. It was one thing to be disowned by her father, but to have Lami—arrogant, spoiled, and ruthless—stand at the helm of the empire she had helped build was something else entirely.
Majek was already on the phone with a team of lawyers and financial advisors, strategizing how they could counteract Lami's aggressive takeover. Agnes paced the apartment, her thoughts whirling like a storm inside her mind. She knew what they needed—something bold, something unexpected. A way to fight fire with fire.
The Plan
They had to act fast.
The first step was to secure enough of the remaining SMG shares to create a counterbalance. Lami's move had caught the board off guard, and there was still enough of the company floating in the hands of minor shareholders to give them leverage. If they could buy up those shares and rally enough support from the remaining board members, they could prevent Lami from consolidating control.
Majek had the business savvy, but Agnes knew something more important. She knew the key players in the business world, the ones who could be convinced to stand with them. She wasn't going to sit idly by and let Lami take everything from her.
She called every contact she had—former associates, business partners, and even some members of the board who hadn't been fully aligned with her father's vision. She didn't waste time with pleasantries. She didn't need to. She had one goal: to take back what was hers.
"I need your help," Agnes said to one of her father's old confidants over the phone, her voice steady despite the panic she could feel building in her chest. "Lami is taking over SMG. I'm fighting for control, and I need you to back me."
The response was swift. "I'll see what I can do, but it's going to be a tight race. If you want to play this game, you'll need more than just talk. You'll need to get into Lami's head."
She nodded, already planning her next move. "I know what I'm doing."
The Blackmail
The second piece of the puzzle involved something more dangerous: leveraging Lami's own dark past against him.
Agnes knew Lami better than anyone. She had spent years watching him, studying his every move. And one thing she knew for sure was that he wasn't as untouchable as he thought. His ego had always been his greatest weakness.
Majek and Agnes dug through everything they had on him—old acquaintances, business deals, personal vendettas—and they found what they were looking for. Lami had been involved in several shady deals in the past—money laundering, illicit property acquisitions, and rumors of ties to criminal organizations. If the right people knew about this, it could completely destroy his credibility.
But the challenge was using it strategically. They couldn't make it too obvious. They needed the right timing, the right leverage.
Majek looked at Agnes with a somber expression as they sat in their small office, the weight of what they were about to do hanging heavily in the air. "This could backfire. If it gets out, it's a double-edged sword."
Agnes nodded, her gaze sharp. "We have to play it carefully. We only reveal this if we're pushed to the brink."
They decided to bring the threat to Lami subtly. They'd reach out to his trusted associates first, making it clear that his darkest secrets were no longer hidden.
"I don't think he'll back down without a fight," Majek said. "But he's arrogant. He won't see it coming."
Agnes stood up, her voice full of resolve. "Then let's make sure he doesn't."
The Confrontation
Days passed, and as Agnes and Majek carefully positioned their pieces, the tension in the air grew unbearable. They were running out of time, and Lami was closing in fast. It wasn't long before they were summoned to a meeting with Lami and his lawyer—a final confrontation, where all the cards would be laid on the table.
Agnes walked into the room with Majek by her side, her posture straight, her heart steeled for whatever came next. Lami was already sitting at the head of the table, a smug grin on his face. His lawyer, a slick and well-dressed man, sat beside him.
"You two look like you've been busy," Lami said with a cold, knowing smile. "But it won't matter. This is over. SMG is mine."
Agnes didn't flinch. "It's not over yet, Lami. You're not the one in control here."
Lami's smile faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. "You can't stop me. The shares are mine, the board is behind me, and you're just a footnote in my rise to power."
Agnes leaned forward, her voice calm but laced with deadly intent. "You think you've won. But you're wrong. I have something you don't. Something that will make your empire crumble."
Lami's brow furrowed, and his arrogance began to slip. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Agnes's gaze never wavered. "I know about the deals you've made, the people you've involved yourself with. The money you've laundered. All of it. And I have the evidence."
Lami's face darkened, the color draining from his cheeks. He stood up suddenly, slamming his fists onto the table. "You wouldn't dare."
"I will," Agnes said firmly. "I'll go public with everything if I have to. If you want to take control of SMG, then you'll have to answer to the authorities. And I'm sure the board would love to know who they're really dealing with."
Lami's lawyer, who had been silent up until now, exchanged a quick glance with his client. The tension in the room thickened as they realized the gravity of what Agnes was threatening.
Majek stood beside her, his presence a silent show of support. "You can't bully your way out of this, Lami. It's over."
Lami took a step back, his expression now one of fury and frustration. "You think this is over? This is just the beginning, Agnes. I'll make sure you regret this."
Agnes stood her ground, her eyes unwavering. "I'm not afraid of you. You're the one who's about to lose everything."
Lami's jaw clenched, and for a moment, Agnes could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes. He knew he was cornered, but he wasn't going to back down without a fight.
"We'll see," Lami sneered, turning on his heel and storming out of the room.
The Aftermath
The next few days were a whirlwind. Agnes and Majek worked tirelessly to shore up their defenses, making sure the public had the full story of Lami's illegal activities. The threat of exposure was enough to keep Lami from making any drastic moves, but everyone knew it wasn't over yet. He would retaliate. He was already planning his next strike.
But Agnes was ready. And so was Majek.
They had fought for control before, but this time, it wasn't just about power. It was about freedom. It was about love.
As they sat together that night, the glow of the city lights flickering in the distance, Agnes looked at Majek with a mixture of exhaustion and determination.
"Whatever happens next, we face it together," she said quietly.
Majek nodded, his hand finding hers in the silence of the room. "Together."
And in that moment, Agnes knew, deep down, that she was no longer the woman who had once been trapped by her father's expectations. She was something more. She was a force to be reckoned with.