Concrete Roses

Maya sat across from Reggie Lawson at The Cobalt Lounge, an upscale Harlem restaurant where deals were made over cocktails and soft jazz.

Reggie sipped his bourbon before getting straight to the point. "I want in."

Maya raised a brow. "Define 'in.'"

"I don't just want to sponsor Concrete Roses. I want to invest. Equity stake, real funding—enough to turn this into a powerhouse."

Maya's heartbeat quickened. This was the opportunity.

But she wasn't about to sign her name away without knowing the terms. "How much control would I be giving up?"

Reggie smirked. "I know better than to tell a woman like you how to run her vision. I want my return, but Concrete Roses stays yours."

Maya studied him. Was this too good to be true? Or was it finally her moment to take Concrete Roses from a passion project to an empire?

She took a breath. "Let's negotiate."