14/01/2026
They Called The Black CEO "Servant", Unaware She Speaks Chinese—Then She Cancels $700M Deal
Only in America would a black woman think she's worth $700 million. Xiaoming's laughter sliced through the room, the translation smooth enough for the foreign investors to snicker along. He leaned back in his silk chair, smirking toward Naomi Ellison as if she were decoration, not the architect of the empire he was begging to merge with.
"Our servant looks tense," he added in Mandarin. the phrase, "Hey, knew Yong Ren, black servant, rolling off his tongue with lazy cruelty." What he didn't know was that Naomi understood every word. Her expression never changed. They thought they were laughing at a powerless woman. But none of them realized she was seconds away from ending a $700 million deal that would bury them all.
Before we go any further, comment where in the world you are watching from and make sure to subscribe because tomorrow's story is one you don't want to miss. The sleek private jet cut through clouds as Dr. Naomi Ellison studied the merger documents for the hundth time. Her reading glasses perched on her nose as she flipped through the pages, each one representing a piece of the $700 million deal with Xiao Industries.
The cabin lights cast a warm glow across the polished table, highlighting her perfectly pressed navy suit and the slight furrow in her brow. "Dr. Ellison," Kiana Brooks called from the seat across from her. "You've been at those papers for 6 hours straight. Maybe it's time for a break." Naomi looked up, her dark eyes sharp despite the long flight.
"You know what my mother always said about breaks, Kiana? She straightened the papers with practiced precision. Predators hunt the moment you blink. Kiana nodded, understanding in her eyes. At 28, she'd already seen enough of corporate America to know the truth in those words. Your mother sounds like a wise woman. [clears throat] Cleaning other people's houses taught her more about power than any MBA program could.
Naomi's fingers traced the edge of the contract. She saw how the powerful act when they think no one's watching. The jet began its descent into Beijing Capital International Airport. Through the window, the sprawling city emerged from beneath the clouds. A maze of modern skyscrapers and ancient traditions. Naomi slipped the documents into her leather briefcase.
Each movement deliberate and controlled. Their air apparent will be meeting us, Kiana said, checking her tablet. Xiao Ming Harvard MBA took over their international division. 3 years ago. And what's not in the official bio? Naomi asked, though she already knew the answer. Three harassment complaints buried by Daddy's lawyers, two ex-wives who signed NDAs, and a reputation for Kiana paused, choosing her words carefully.
Traditional views about leadership. Naomi's lip curved slightly. Traditional. That's a polite way of saying he doesn't think women should run companies, especially not black women. The jet touched down smoothly, taxiing to a private terminal where a small welcoming party waited on the tarmac. Through the window, Naomi spotted the cameras first, local press, all carefully selected by Jiao Industries PR team. Then she saw him.
Xiao Ming standing front and center in a suit that probably cost more than most people's cars. "Game face," Naomi murmured, rising from her seat. She checked her reflection in a compact mirror, ensuring every hair was in place, her makeup flawless. "In this world, perfection wasn't vanity. It was armor." The cabin door opened, and Beijing's autumn air rushed in.
Naomi descended the stairs with practiced grace. Kiana two steps behind her. Camera shutters clicked rapidly, recording every moment of the American CEO's arrival. Jaing stepped forward, his smile too wide, too practiced. He was handsome in that polished way of men born to wealth. Every feature arranged to project authority without earning it.
He extended his hand and Naomi took it. His grip lingered too long, fingers pressing into her skin with subtle dominance. "Dr. Ellison," he said, his English perfect from years at American schools. "What a pleasure!" So they sent the diversity hire herself. The cameras kept clicking.
Naomi's smile never wavered, though she felt her jaw tighten. Around them, his entourage pretended not to hear, their faces carefully blank. The comment hung in the air like smoke, impossible to grab, but unmistakably there. Mr. Xiao, she replied, her voice smooth as silk. Thank you for the welcome. Shall we discuss the future of energy innovation? He laughed, a sound that didn't reach his eyes.
Of course, always straight to business with Americans. My father is eager to meet you. His gaze slid over her in a way that had nothing to do with business. They walked toward the waiting cars, a fleet of black luxury vehicles with tinted windows. Kiana stayed close, her tablet ready, her posture alert. She'd seen that look in Ming's eyes, too.
In the back of the lead car, Naomi finally allowed herself to move her hand, carefully wiping it against a tissue.The scent of his cologne, too strong, too assertive, clung to her skin like a warning. "Did you get that on record?" she asked Kiana quietly. "Audio and video," Kiana confirmed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Though they'll probably say it was a translation issue. They always do." Naomi watched the Beijing streets blur past the window. Modern buildings reached for the sky, their glass surfaces reflecting a city racing toward the future. But some things remained stubbornly in the past. "One wrong word from him," she whispered, more to herself than to Kayana. "And this deal dies.
The tissue in her hand crumpled slightly, the only outward sign of the steel beneath her composed exterior. She'd faced men like Xiaoing before, men who saw her position as an affront to the natural order, who thought her success must be a gift rather than earned. Men who believed power was their birthright. But they never seemed to learn.
Power wasn't inherited. It was built decision by decision, sacrifice by sacrifice. and Naomi Ellison had built herself into someone who could shake the foundations of empires with a single word. The car glided to a stop outside Jiao Industries headquarters, a towering testament to wealth and influence.
As Naomi gathered her briefcase, she caught her reflection in the tinted window. Her mother's voice echoed in her mind. Baby, sometimes the best revenge is letting them think they've won right until the moment they lose everything. The marble floors of Jao Industries headquarters echoed with each step as Naomi followed Ming through corridors that screamed old money.
Everything gleamed, the walls, the floors, even the anxious faces of assistants who bowed as they passed. Their footsteps created a steady rhythm against the stone, like a countdown to something inevitable. "Our history spans three generations," Ming announced, gesturing to a wall lined with portraits.
Each frame contained the same basic image. Stern-faced men in dark suits, their expressions carved from the same stone as the building itself. My grandfather started with a single coal mine. Now we power half of Asia. Naomi studied each portrait, noting the progression of wealth in their suits, the growing confidence in their poses. "Impressive legacy," she said, her voice neutral.
"Very impressive," Ming agreed, his smile sharp. "We believe in traditional values here. Strong leadership, clear hierarchy." He paused before a particularly large portrait. My father, Chairman Jiai, he taught me that success comes from order, from knowing one's place. The emphasis on place wasn't subtle. Neither was the way his eyes flicked to her, measuring her reaction.
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