A faint smile appeared on the emir’s face.
“That explains quite a bit.”
He straightened again and turned toward the table.
“The agreement is suspended.”
The words fell heavily.
One of Richard’s partners immediately began protesting, but the emir silenced him with a glance.
“Until an independent team verifies the document’s authenticity.”
Richard’s face had turned pale.
For the first time since arriving, he looked less like a powerful executive and more like an ordinary man who had lost control of the situation.
“Mr. Blake,” he said, “this is clearly a misunderstanding.”
But the emir had already turned toward the large window.
Below them, the city sparkled, unaware that a massive financial decision had just been halted.
Mia assumed the matter was over.
Soon the adults would return to their negotiations, and she would go back to helping her mother clean offices and carry buckets.
But then the emir spoke again.
“Girl.”
She looked up.
“Yes, sir?”
He studied her quietly for a moment.
“Do you know how much money you just saved?”
Mia slowly shook her head.
She had never imagined numbers that large.
The emir exhaled slowly.
“Two hundred and fifty million dollars.”