Stone Rich: Her 1st Experience

Chapter One: A New Dawn - Malaya

Malaya Richardson sat at her sleek mahogany desk, her office illuminated by the first light of dawn filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The skyline of Cleveland stretched out before her, a testament to her hard-earned success. She cradled a steaming cup of her favorite coffee, savoring the rich aroma as she mentally prepared for the day ahead. At 31, Malaya had built Enrich Her Enterprises from the ground up, and every morning was a reminder of how far she had come since that tragic car accident at 16.

Her quiet moment was interrupted by the sudden ringing of her phone. She glanced at the screen and saw Danica Reynolds' name. Danica was not only her best friend but also the VP of Enrich Her Enterprises, and early calls from her were rarely good news.

"Morning, Dani," Malaya greeted, trying to keep her tone light.

"Morning, Malaya. I hate to bring bad news so early, but we have a problem," Danica's voice was tense, a clear indicator that the situation was serious.

Malaya set her coffee down, her focus sharpening. "What's going on?"

"First, the newest development project is behind schedule. The construction company isn't following protocol, and it's causing significant delays."

Malaya frowned. This was the last thing they needed. "Which construction company?"

Danica hesitated. "Stone Industries."

Malaya's heart skipped a beat. She had heard of Stone Industries—known for its rapid growth and ruthless efficiency. But she hadn't anticipated they'd become a problem for her.

"And that's not all," Danica continued, her voice dropping. "Four of our brokers, who supply 60% of our routes, have pulled their contracts."

"What? Why?" Malaya's mind raced. Losing those brokers would be a massive hit to their operations.

"Apparently, they've received better offers. I tried to dig into it, but it's all very sudden and coordinated."

Malaya leaned back in her chair, her mind racing through possible solutions. "We need to find out who made those offers and why. And we need to get that development back on track. Set up a meeting with the construction company for today."

"Already on it," Danica replied. "But there's something you should know about the owner of Stone Industries."

Malaya raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"

"It's Sebastien Stone."

The name hung in the air like a heavy weight. Sebastien Stone, or Bash as his friends called him, was a name she had come across before—mostly in connection with his impressive rise in the business world and his checkered past.

"Interesting," Malaya said slowly. "Very interesting."

As she ended the call, Malaya felt a mix of frustration and curiosity. Sebastien Stone was a man shrouded in mystery and controversy. Convicted felon turned business mogul, his story was as compelling as it was intimidating. She knew this was just the beginning of a complicated and potentially dangerous dance.

With a determined look, Malaya took another sip of her coffee, her mind already strategizing the next steps. She had faced adversity before and emerged stronger. This would be no different.