The Contract

By: KD Haskell

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

The first black-owned publishing company, Jaks, was under attack.
The late Armand Alex Jaks had built this company from nothing, and now it would dissolve into dust. He had left it in the hands of his children, Daphne and Cameron, and that was why the problems began. The sisters knew of only one person who would wish pain and misery on them: Maryland Jaks. Armand had divorced her 15 years ago, and she was still bitter and entitled.
Someone had managed to gain access to the company's assets and withdraw funds. The sisters had stopped the illegal action, but more problems arose. One of their most tenured investors decided he should run the company and planned to withdraw his support, leaving them vulnerable to their rival, Dragon's Den Publishing.
They wanted the sisters to fail, but Daphne and Cameron Jaks vowed to fight for their company's survival.

"We need an investor with substantial amounts of cash," Cameron said to her sister as they stood inside their late father's untouched office. They still could not bring themselves to pack anything away. Armand's hat still hung on the coat rack in the corner.
Daphne's eyes slowly moved toward her sister.
"Who do you know that would help us?"
Cameron shook her head. "I don't know, but I will attend the Jacobsons' Ball and find someone to help us."
Daphne approached her sister, who was standing at the window, looking out over the massive garden behind the building. "Cam, you know, telling our business to any of those at the ball will bring attention to our problems."
"I won't speak about that. If I don't feel comfortable," Cameron said, facing her sister. "You find out if Maryland had anything to do with the missing money, and I will find a way to get Dragon's Den Publishing away from Jaks."
Daphne gathered her sister in her arms and hugged her tightly. Cameron wrapped her arms around her sister and closed her eyes. Their father had built this company with love, and they would not let hate and jealousy destroy it.
Cameron silently promised to get the help they needed, even to the point of sacrificing herself for her sister and the dream their late father had built.