Alex kept to his word and showed up the next morning to pick me up. I had gone back to my apartment earlier, packed a few essentials, and changed the locks. I wasn't taking any more chances. My finger still ached from what Tunde had done, and the thought of Efe showing up again was enough reason to never feel safe there.
He barely said a word as I entered the car. The drive to his place was silent but not awkward just filled with thoughts neither of us could speak out loud.
When we pulled into his Estate at Guzape, I stared in awe for a second. I had only ever passed through Asokoro and its high walls, but living in it? That wasn't something I thought would happen at least not now.
His house was… wow. The kind of place that had "new money" written all over it. A black gate opened on its own as we arrived, and the sight in front of me looked like something out of a lifestyle magazine. The house sat quietly in the center of manicured gardens, flanked by tall palm trees and a view that screamed power.
The moment we stepped out of the car, maids trotted out like clockwork, bowing slightly as if welcoming royalty. I suddenly felt out of place, carrying my weekend bag in jeans and a hoodie.
"Take her bag to the guest room," Alex said to one of the maids. "Everything's already prepared."
Then he turned to me. "Go in and rest. Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes."
With that, he climbed the stairs like the king of the palace. And I well, I followed the maid like a lost visitor.
The room they gave me was beautiful. Too beautiful, in fact. Warm lights. Thick drapes. A perfectly fluffed bed. It was the kind of room I'd dreamed of growing up, and now I couldn't even enjoy it properly because of all the chaos in my life.
Barely twenty minutes later, a soft knock sounded at the door. I opened it to see one of the maids.
"Dinner is ready, ma. Sir says he wants you at the dining table."
Of course he does.
I followed her out and walked into a dining room that looked like it belonged in a European palace. Alex was already seated, sipping wine and scrolling on his phone. He didn't say a word as I sat down. I didn't either. We ate in silence forks clicking gently, tension stretching like a tight thread between us.
Finally, he looked up.
"Be ready by 7:30 a.m. We leave by 8."
I paused, swallowing. "No, I'll use a taxi."
He raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"I don't want people to see us together." The words spilled out more forcefully than I intended.
His gaze lingered on me for a beat, unreadable. Then he calmly dropped his spoon, stood up, and said again,
"Be ready by 7:30."
Without another word, he walked upstairs.
And I just sat there, staring at my plate, wondering what exactly I'd gotten myself into.
I dragged myself into the room and sat on the edge of the bed for a moment. The silence was heavy too heavy. I reached for the first aid box on the side table, peeled off the bandage gently, and cleaned the wound. The pain was dull now, but it still reminded me that I was not completely okay. That I was still healing… from more than just a stab wound.
After re-dressing the wound just like the doctors instructed, I slipped under the covers, hoping sleep would be kind enough to take me. But it didn't. All I had were flashbacks.
Tunde's voice. Efe's betrayal. My mother's smile. My father's rage.
People I once called family had ripped me apart without mercy.
I turned over and grabbed my phone, hoping distraction would help.
Bad idea.
I opened Instagram and tried to log into my business account the one my mother had helped me set up, the one I was slowly building into something of my own.
"Session expired. Please log in again."
I tried again.
"Incorrect password."
My hands went cold.
I checked my personal page and searched for the business account.
Gone.
Or… no. SOLD.
I stared at the screen, heart pounding as I saw a new name, new logo, and the worst part the announcement post:
"New management. Excited to take over this thriving business. Thank you all for the support!"
My throat tightened. I felt like I was being erased, piece by piece. First my heart, then my safety, and now my dreams.
I sat there, phone in hand, wondering how much more I had left to lose.
But one thing was certain:
They had declared war.
And this time, I wasn't coming to play nice.