“You’re not afraid of me.”
“I don’t know you well enough to be afraid of you.”
The answer caught him off guard.
He had met people who feared his wealth and others who pursued it. Very few treated him as an ordinary man whose character remained to be judged.
Before leaving, he placed a business card on the table.
“My company has an international research division. If you’re interested in returning to business, submit an application.”
Amara glanced at the card.
“Will my application receive a fair review?”
His expression changed.
“It will follow the same process as every other application.”
“Then I’ll consider it.”
She slipped the card into her pocket.
Kenji left the restaurant with a strange feeling.
He had offered an opportunity, expecting gratitude.
Instead, Amara had demanded fairness without demanding special treatment.
And somehow, that made him respect her more.
CHAPTER 6: THE INTERVIEW THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Three weeks later, Amara sat in a conference room at Takahashi Global Holdings.
She had submitted an application through the company’s official recruitment portal and passed the preliminary assessments.
She wore a simple navy suit, carried a folder of financial analyses, and had spent the previous night preparing.
When the interview panel entered, Kenji was among them.
Amara’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“You’ll be interviewing me today?” she asked.
“I’ll be observing,” Kenji replied. “The recruitment director will make the decision.”
The director, Ms. Helen Brooks, introduced the panel and began the interview.
Amara answered questions about market analysis, currency fluctuations, risk assessment, and cross-border transactions.
She did not pretend to know everything.
When asked about a regulatory issue outside her expertise, she explained how she would research it and identify the appropriate specialist.
Then the panel presented a case study.
A Japanese technology company was considering purchasing a smaller American firm. The target company appeared profitable, but a large portion of its revenue came from one customer.
Amara examined the figures.
“The acquisition isn’t necessarily a bad investment,” she said. “But the current valuation assumes the customer contract will continue unchanged.”
“What would you recommend?” Ms. Brooks asked.
“Make the purchase conditional on contract renewal, negotiate a lower initial valuation, or structure part of the payment around future performance.”
Kenji studied the document in front of him.
It was almost exactly the problem his own company was facing.
Amara continued.
“I’d also investigate whether the target company has been delaying expenses to make its earnings look stronger. A profitable income statement doesn’t automatically mean a healthy business.”
The room became quiet.
Ms. Brooks exchanged a look with another interviewer.
“Thank you, Ms. Johnson. That was very thorough.”
After the interview, Kenji approached Amara in the hallway.
“You did well.”
“Thank you.”
“You could have mentioned our dinner conversation in your application.”
“Why would I?”
“Some candidates would have used the connection.”
“I wanted to be evaluated for my ability, not because you recognize my face.”
Kenji nodded.
“I understand.”
Amara looked at him carefully.
“Do you?”
He did not answer immediately.
For once, he recognized that a simple apology would not erase his behavior.
He had to demonstrate that he understood.
The following week, Amara received an offer for a paid, six-month research fellowship with a clear path to a permanent analyst position.
The selection committee had approved her based on her performance.
She accepted.
When Sofia heard the news, she screamed so loudly that their neighbor knocked on the wall.
Amara laughed until tears filled her eyes.
For the first time in years, the future seemed bigger than the problems waiting for her at home.
CHAPTER 7: THE DEAL THAT COULD DESTROY HIS EMPIRE
Amara’s first month at Takahashi Global Holdings was difficult.
The office was filled with experienced analysts, demanding deadlines, and financial models more complicated than anything she had handled in years.
Some colleagues welcomed her.
Others questioned why someone with a gap in her education had been hired.
Amara answered those doubts with preparation.
She arrived early, checked every number twice, and asked questions whenever she encountered something unfamiliar.
One afternoon, she was assigned to review a proposed acquisition involving a logistics company in California.
The deal was worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
At first glance, the numbers looked excellent.
But Amara noticed that the company’s quarterly revenue had increased unusually quickly despite declining shipment volumes.
She examined the supporting documents.
Several major contracts contained clauses allowing customers to terminate their agreements without significant penalties.
Even more concerning, the company’s reported profits did not align with its cash flow.
She brought her findings to her supervisor.
“We need an independent review before approving this acquisition,” she said.
Her supervisor frowned.
“The board has already been told the deal is financially attractive.”
“The projections may be overstated.”
“Are you certain?”
“No. That’s why I’m recommending further investigation.”
The supervisor hesitated.