The sky had turned a deep shade of purple by the time Agnes and Majek left the café. The city lights were just beginning to flicker to life as they walked side by side, the cold evening air biting at their skin. But despite the chill, neither of them felt the cold. It was as if their very hearts had been frozen in place, gripped by the weight of the choices that lay ahead.
They hadn't said much since the meeting with Lami. The silence between them was thick with uncertainty. Lami's words echoed in Agnes's mind, a constant reminder of the danger they were in.
"You'll come around. They always do."
It had been a veiled threat—one that didn't sit well with her. Lami wasn't just trying to intimidate them. He was trying to manipulate them into a corner.
Majek kept his eyes straight ahead, his expression unreadable. "He's right about one thing," he said quietly. "Your father's empire is collapsing. But we knew that already."
Agnes glanced at him, her brow furrowing. "You really think it's just business, don't you?"
He turned to her, his eyes searching hers. "What do you mean?"
"Lami's not just talking about the company. He's talking about us," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "He's trying to make us believe that we don't have a choice. But I'm not so sure he's wrong about some of the things he said."
Majek's gaze darkened. "Are you seriously considering it? After everything he's done?"
"No, I'm not considering it. But we can't ignore the reality of the situation, Majek. The law, the media, my father—everything is closing in. We're running out of time to make a move."
There was a long pause as Majek processed her words. The truth was, they were both running out of options.
But that didn't mean he was ready to give in. Not yet.
"We've been through worse than this," Majek said, his voice firm. "We've always found a way. We'll find one again. We don't need Lami or anyone else. We just need to keep fighting."
Agnes nodded slowly, her heart heavy. She knew Majek was right. They had survived this far because they had each other. But they couldn't keep running forever. They needed a plan. A way out.
The Walls Close In
Back at the apartment, the atmosphere was tense. Agnes couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to break, that they were teetering on the edge of a cliff with no way back. The news about her father's empire was getting uglier by the hour. Her father's lawyers had begun to act on their threats, reaching out to anyone who had once supported her. They were already working on a smear campaign to discredit her, painting her as a manipulative, unstable woman who was out to destroy everything her father had built.
The messages were relentless. People she had known for years were suddenly blocking her, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.
Agnes leaned against the wall, staring at the ceiling. "It's happening, Majek. It's really happening. People are turning on me."
Majek stepped into the room, his face hard with resolve. "We knew this was coming."
"But I didn't think it would be this fast," she said, her voice breaking. "I thought I could control it, or at least keep it together long enough to figure something out. But now it feels like it's all slipping away."
She didn't realize how close she was to breaking until Majek stepped forward, his hand gently cupping her cheek. "You're not alone in this. We're in this together. Always."
Her throat tightened, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she allowed herself to lean into him for a moment, feeling the warmth of his touch. He was her anchor, the one thing in all this madness that still felt real. But even then, deep down, she knew that wasn't enough.
They needed more than just each other.
The Deal They Can't Refuse
The next day, Agnes's father reached out to her.
The call came without warning, just as she was sitting down to go through the latest round of legal documents that had arrived. The number on her screen was familiar. Too familiar. It was her father.
She stared at the phone for a long moment, her hand trembling.
"Don't answer it," Majek said from across the room. "He's just going to try to manipulate you again."
Agnes hesitated, her finger hovering over the answer button. She was tired of being controlled. Tired of playing by his rules. But this call felt different. This wasn't just about the business anymore. This was about her.
With a deep breath, she hit the answer button.
"Agnes," her father's voice came through the line, cold and unfeeling as always. "I've been made aware of the decisions you've taken. The information you've released. I'm disappointed in you."
"Disappointed?" Agnes repeated, her voice rising in disbelief. "You're not the one who should be disappointed in me, Father. You've had your way for years. I'm done being part of your game."
He paused on the other end, clearly taken aback. "This isn't just about you anymore. It's about your legacy, your family. You think you can walk away from this unscathed? You think your actions won't have consequences?"
"No," Agnes said firmly, "I'm not walking away. I'm taking control. I'm finally taking back what's mine."
Her father's voice grew colder. "You think you have control? You're living in a fantasy. The people who made this company great—they're not going to let you destroy it. They're not going to let you destroy everything we've worked for."
"Everything you've worked for," she corrected. "This has never been about me. It's always been about you."
There was a pause, a silence that stretched uncomfortably. Then, her father's voice was soft, almost pitying. "I'm offering you a choice, Agnes. A way out. You've made your point. You've made your stand. But if you want to save what's left of your reputation, of your legacy, you'll need to meet me. Face-to-face. Let's talk about a resolution."
Her heart skipped a beat. He was offering her a deal. But what kind of deal?
She took a deep breath, her voice steady but laced with defiance. "I'll meet you. But I'm not doing this on your terms anymore. This time, I'm making the rules."
The Calm Before the Storm
That evening, Agnes and Majek sat down to plan the meeting. They knew this was their chance to turn the tide. Her father would try to manipulate her, to force her back into submission. But Agnes wasn't the same person she had been when this all started. She wasn't the scared, obedient daughter who had always lived in her father's shadow.
She was ready to take control.
"What do you think he's going to offer?" Majek asked, his voice calm but thoughtful.
"I don't know," Agnes said, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. "But I know it won't be easy. He's not going to let me go that easily."
Majek leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Whatever happens, we stick together. We don't let him separate us. This is about more than just you, Agnes. This is about us. About our future."
Agnes nodded, a faint smile crossing her lips. "I know. We've come this far together. We're not backing down now."
But even as she said the words, doubt crept into her mind. Could they really survive this? Could they really face her father and come out on top?
The next few days would determine everything.