A risky exchange

The air in Ryke's office felt heavy with tension as Scarlett stood before her husband, a determined look in her eyes. The room was adorned with polished wooden furniture, the soft glow of the afternoon sun casting a warm ambiance. Ryke, dressed in a tailored suit that couldn't conceal his inner turmoil, paced back and forth, his brow furrowed with worry. He had built his empire from the ground up, and now he found himself at a crossroads, forced to make a difficult decision that could either save or jeopardize everything he had worked for. Scarlett, standing tall and resolute, held a stack of papers in her hands. These documents represented the key to their freedom from Damon's relentless grip. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation that would shape their future. "Ryke, I know this is hard for you," Scarlett began, her voice steady but filled with a mix of sympathy and urgency. "But we can't keep ignoring the consequences of our actions. The shareholders are grow