Jamal Carter sat on the edge of his worn-out mattress, staring blankly at the eviction notice taped to his apartment door. His eyes felt empty, and his mind was numb. He had been struggling to make ends meet for months, and now he was facing the very real possibility of being homeless.The eviction notice was the final straw. Jamal had been living on instant noodles and tap water for weeks, stretching out his last few dollars. His fridge was empty, except for a half-drunk bottle of cheap soda and a takeout box with nothing but dried sauce stains.Seventy-three dollars. That was all Jamal had to his name. No job, no prospects, no backup plan. He had been searching for work for months, but every door he knocked on seemed to be closed.For years, Jamal had convinced himself that things would change. That he'd find the big break, the right opportunity, the moment that would turn his life around. He had watched others do it, guys from the neighborhood who started from nothing and climbed t

Jamal walked out of The Lexington Hotel, feeling like he was on top of the world. He had just landed a meeting with Leonard Marks, one of the biggest names in real estate. But there was a problem - he had nothing to show for it.He had talked his way into the opportunity of a lifetime, but now he had to deliver. He had seven days to turn his bluff into something real. Failure wasn't an option.As he walked through the city streets, Jamal's mind was racing. Where was he going to find a property to pitch to Marks? He needed something big, something that would impress Marks and his investors.He pulled out his phone and dialed the only person who might be able to help him - Deion.Deion answered on the second ring. "What's up?""I need your help," Jamal said. "I got a meeting with Leonard Marks in a week. Real estate deal."Deion whistled. "Damn. I don't know how you pulled that off, but respect."Jamal cut to the chase. "I need a property. Something I can pitch as a serious investment.

Jamal had one chance to make this deal work. He had promised Leonard Marks results, but the project was already over budget, permits were delayed, and he was running out of time.If he didn't find a way to fix things fast, he would lose the deal - and his credibility.But Jamal wasn't about to give up.The Search for More MoneyThe biggest problem was money. The $500,000 from Marks wasn't enough to cover the rising costs, and no bank would loan money to a first-time developer with no assets.That left one option - finding a second investor.Jamal spent two straight days calling every wealthy contact he could think of.Old hustlers who had cleaned up their moneyLocal business owners looking for a flipAnyone who might be willing to take a riskEach call ended the same way:"You got experience in real estate?" No."You got any successful projects under your belt?" No.Click.After a dozen rejections, frustration boiled over.How the hell am I supposed to break into this business if nob

Jamal Carter had been blacklisted. His bank accounts were frozen, and his business was collapsing. The message was clear: he had made the wrong enemies.But Jamal wasn't one to give up easily. If they wanted war, he would give them war. And this time, he wouldn't play by their rules.Burned Bridges and Closed DoorsJamal spent the next few days trying to salvage his business. He called every investor he knew, but they all had the same response: "Sorry, man. Nothing personal, but I can't risk working with you."Some wouldn't even pick up the phone. The ones who did were tight-lipped with fear. Jamal didn't need them to spell it out. The "silent investors" had made it clear: anyone who did business with him would suffer the same fate.By the end of the week, his company was on life support. And if he didn't make a move soon, it would be dead.A Desperate PlanJamal knew there was only one way to fight back. If the people at the top wanted him gone, he needed to take them down. And that

Jamal Carter had always known that the higher you climb, the more dangerous the fall. But now, standing at the peak of his biggest power move yet, he realized something even more terrifying— the sharks never stop circling.Vincent Morello wasn't just another competitor. He was a predator. And Jamal had just drawn blood.The First StrikeJamal didn't wait for Morello to come for him. Instead, he hit first. With Deion and his team digging into Morello's holdings, they uncovered his biggest financial weak spot—Skyline Towers.The billion-dollar luxury project was Morello's pride and joy, set to be his crowning achievement in the city's skyline.Jamal moved quickly. He reached out to Morello's investors, making quiet offers behind the scenes. He paid off contractors to delay construction. He bribed city inspectors to find violations.Within two weeks, Morello's dream project was on shaky ground. And then Jamal made his power move. Using a network of silent partners, he acquired 35% of Sky