Shasa took a deep breath as she knocked on Mr Frank's office door. She was nervous about seeing him, but she knew that she needed to talk to him about her boyfriend's company.
"Come in," Mr Frank called out, and Shasa pushed the door open. Mr Frank smiled warmly at her as she entered, but then his expression changed as he noticed the bruise on her face.
"Shasa, what happened to your face?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
Shasa felt a wave of panic wash over her. She hadn't expected him to notice the bruise, and she didn't want to tell him the truth. She had been too ashamed of what had happened to her.
"I, um, I had a little too much to drink some night ago," she stammered, hoping that Mr Frank would believe her lie. "I tripped and fell down the stairs at my house."
Mr Frank's expression softened as he listened to her explanation. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice full of concern.
Shasa nodded quickly. "Yes, I'm fine. It's just a little bruise. I'm sorry for worrying you."
Mr Frank nodded, still looking worried. "Well, I'm glad you're okay. Please be careful, Shasa.
Shasa nodded, feeling relieved that he had believed her lie.
"Mr Frank, I came to talk to you about something else," Shasa said, changing the subject. "My boyfriend's company is in trouble, and I was hoping that you could help us."
"Shasa, I'm afraid I have some bad news," Mr Frank replied with a heavy sigh. "I won't be able to help Ezra's company."
Shasa's heart sank. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Why not?" she asked, feeling her voice catch in her throat.
Mr Frank hesitated for a moment before speaking. "The person Ezra offended is a very powerful business mogul in the industry. He's not someone that can be challenged lightly, and unfortunately, my hands are tied. If I help Ezra, I'll be risking everything that I've built up over the years."
Shasa felt tears welling up in her eyes. She knew how much this meant to Ezra, and she felt helpless knowing that there was nothing she could do to help.
"Is there anything else we can do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mr Frank shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid not, Shasa. I wish there was, but sometimes in life, we have to face the consequences of our actions."
Shasa nodded slowly, feeling the weight of the situation settle heavily on her shoulders. She knew that she would have to break the news to Ezra, and she dreaded the thought of seeing the disappointment in his eyes.
Thank you for trying, Mr. Frank," she said quietly, as she stood up to leave. "I appreciate everything you've done for us."
Shasa was already halfway out of the door when she heard Mr Frank call her back. She turned around to see him looking at her with a thoughtful expression.
"Shasa, I know I said that I couldn't help Ezra, but I might have found a way out," Mr Frank said, his voice laced with hesitation.
Shasa's heart leapt with hope, and she quickly made her way back to his desk. "What is it? Please, tell me," she urged, feeling a flicker of excitement.
Mr Frank took a deep breath before speaking. "There's a way to secure help, but it will require a payment of one million dollars," he said, his eyes fixed on hers.
Shasa felt her heart sink. One million dollars was a lot of money, and she knew that Ezra didn't have that kind of cash lying around. "A million dollars? That's a lot of money, Mr. Frank. I don't think Ezra can afford that," she said, her voice laced with disappointment.
"Well, Shasa, it's quite simple. If you pay one million dollars, I can guarantee you an invite to the charity event that the business mogul is hosting next week. This will allow Ezra to speak with him in person and hopefully resolve the issues he's been having with his company," Mr Frank explained.
Shasa's eyes widened in surprise. "An invite to the charity event? That sounds like a great idea, Mr. Frank. But one million dollars is a lot of money. How am I going to come up with that kind of cash?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
"I understand that it's a lot of money, Shasa. But this is the only way to secure the help that Ezra needs. I believe that you're a resourceful person, and you'll find a way to come up with the money," Mr Frank said, his voice reassuring.
Shasa nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. She knew that this was her last chance to save Ezra's company, and she was willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. "I'll do my best, Mr. Frank. But how much time do I have?" she asked, hoping that she had enough time to come up with the funds.
"You have three days, Shasa. The charity event is in a week, and I need to make the necessary arrangements beforehand. So if you can come up with the money in three days, I'll make sure that You and Ezra get the invite and a chance to speak with the business mogul," Mr Frank explained, his voice firm.
Shasa felt a knot form in her stomach. Three days to come up with a million dollars was a daunting task, but she knew that she had to try. She stood up from her chair and thanked Mr Frank for his help before leaving his office. As she walked out of the building, she felt a sense of urgency wash over her, knowing that time was running out. But she was determined to do whatever it takes to save Ezra's company.