13

13

The following morning.

“IMANI SHAWN USES PROXY TECH TO BUILD HER ELECTRONICS" these were the headline that shown brightly on the news.

—-

The sharp ring of Imani Shawn's phone shattered the calm silence of her office.

She glanced at the screen. Twelve missed calls. “Huh?” She mumbled under her breathe picking up the phone to check who called.

Seven from her public relations director. “What-” She hasn’t stopped talking when another came in.

She has been so buried in her work that she hasn’t find time to check her office phone.

Three from the company's legal counsel.

Two from an unknown number.

A strange knot tightened in her stomach. She called back the one from the company legal counsel “Ma’am, you need to check the news now!”

Imani reached for the television remote and switched on the financial news channel.

The headline splashed across the screen in bold red letters.

IMANI TECH UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ILLEGAL PROXY DEVELOPMENT SCHEME. CEO IMANI SHAWN ACCUSED OF CORPORATE FRAUD.

Her face appeared beside the headline, accompanied by edited footage designed to make her appear guilty.

"What?" she whispered.

The anchor continued.

"Anonymous sources claim Shawn Tech has been secretly using proxy companies to acquire stolen research and bypass international technology regulations. Reports also suggest CEO Imani Shawn personally authorized these transactions..."

Imani's expression hardened.

"This is impossible."

Her assistant, Emily, burst into the office without knocking.

"Ma'am..."

"I've seen it."

"The story has gone viral. Investors are panicking. Our stock has already dropped twelve percent."

Another phone buzzed.

This time it was the company's head of security.

"Federal investigators are downstairs."

Imani inhaled slowly.

"Let them up."

Within minutes, four officers entered the office.

One stepped forward.

"Ms. Imani Shawn?"

"Yes."

"We have a warrant to bring you in for questioning regarding allegations of corporate fraud and financial misconduct."

Emily gasped.

"This is ridiculous!" Emily shouted trying to stop the officer from coming close to Imani

Imani raised a calm hand.

"It's alright." Imani simply said

She looked directly at the officers.

"I'll cooperate." Imani told them picking up her bag, she walked away with them.

As they escorted her through the lobby, hundreds of employees stood frozen.

Some cried and gossiped.

Some looked confused.

Others watched in disbelief.

Outside, reporters had already surrounded the building like a hive of bees.

"Ms. Shawn!"

"Did you steal intellectual property?"

"Is Shawn Tech a criminal organization?"

"Did you hide assets through proxy firms?"

Flash after flash blinded her.

Imani said nothing. Now wasn’t the time to argue.

She simply entered the police vehicle.

...

-THE POLICE STATION-

The interrogation room was colder than expected. She was offered a cup of coffee but rather left cold.

A thick folder landed on the metal table.

An investigator opened it.

"These documents show several proxy corporations linked to Shawn Tech."

Imani studied them carefully.

Within seconds she frowned.

"These signatures are forged." She toss back the papers to him

The investigator folded his arms. An eye brow raised, "Can you prove that? Many have claimed this type of situation to be forged,,,how sure are you?"

"I’m sure because this is my company.”

She requested access to her corporate records and encrypted executive authorization system.

Hours later, Shawn Tech's legal team arrived carrying laptops and secured storage drives.

The company's chief cybersecurity officer connected directly to the firm's authentication servers.

One by one, every document presented against Imani failed verification.

The Digital signatures? Fake.

The ridiculous Executive approvals? Fabricated.

Transaction timestamps? Altered.

Even the alleged companies supposedly connected to Shawn Tech had never existed within their financial systems.

The investigator leaned back.

"So someone manufactured all of this."

"Exactly," Imani answered.

"My company records every executive approval using blockchain verification. Every authorization leaves an immutable digital fingerprint."

She tapped one document.

"This signature was created using outdated encryption software we stopped using three years ago."

Silence filled the room.

Another investigator entered carrying a tablet.

"We've confirmed it."

He looked directly at his colleagues.

"The evidence against Ms. Shawn is fabricated."

The lead investigator closed the folder.

"Ms. Shawn..."

He paused.

"You are free to go."

...

As soon as she returned back to the office, Emily came to her office, “Ma’am, our investors are demanding for withdrawal after hearing the news,” Emily informed.

Imani remained surprisingly calm.

"Recovering our reputation starts with facts. Tell the communication to release verified financial records,” She instructed and Emily swift into action.

“Whoever did this just stepped on my tail and I will show no mercy,” Imani thought, clenching her fist.

Soon, International auditors confirmed Shawn Tech had violated no regulations.

Slowly...

The company's stock stopped falling. For the day, the chaos had stopped.

….

Late that evening, Emily entered her office holding another report.

"We traced the first online publication."

Imani looked up.

"Who?"

"It originated from a media consultant who has been working with Sarah."

Imani's eyes narrowed.

Sarah..

...

Across town, Velt Morgan stared nervously at his ringing phone.

When he saw the caller ID, his face drained of color. That’s Imani calling, He breathed in and out before picking it.

He answered immediately.

"Imani..."

Her voice was calm, Almost too calm. "Good evening, Mr. Morgan."

"I heard what happened. I'm terribly sorry—"

She interrupted him.

"Don't insult my intelligence."

He swallowed. " what do you mean by that?”

"It seems you’re so clueless about how your daughter ruined my day.” Her words carried an icy precision.

“What? I-”

“I’ve been good to you and lenient because I don’t want to ruin the relationship you had with my father but seems your daughter is mixing that up,” Imani said.

"Because if Sarah ever mentions my name in another false news report… I won’t stop at destroying her, i will make sure I touch you too,” With that Imani ended the call.