Ochieng sat alone in his office, the city lights casting long shadows through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The envelope from Sophia lay open on his desk, its contents scattered like broken pieces of a carefully crafted illusion. The evidence she had presented was real—too real. It threatened not just his business, but his very existence.
He exhaled sharply, reaching for his whiskey glass, but his hand trembled slightly as he brought it to his lips. He wasn't afraid. No, fear had long been erased from his system. But what he felt now was something else—an unsettling realization that his empire was no longer as impenetrable as he had thought.
A knock at the door.
Ochieng placed the glass down, straightening his tie as he called out, "Enter."
The door swung open, and Wendy stepped in. Her presence was sharp, calculated. Dressed in a tailored navy-blue suit, she looked every bit like the power player she was. But Ochieng knew better. Wendy was more than just a businesswoman—she was a strategist, a master manipulator when she needed to be.
"You've seen it, haven't you?" she asked, her voice as smooth as silk.
Ochieng leaned back in his chair, studying her. "If you mean the little surprise Sophia left for me, then yes." His lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes remained cold. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about it, would you?"
Wendy walked over to the desk, picking up one of the documents, scanning it with feigned interest. "I know everything, Ochieng. And so do others. The question is, how much damage control are you prepared to do?"
He hated the way she said it. Like he was already defeated.
Leaning forward, he clasped his hands together. "Tell me, Wendy. If I fall, how long do you think you'll survive?" His voice was calm, but the threat was clear.
She smiled. "I don't plan on falling, Ochieng. That's why I came here—to offer you a way out."
Ochieng's brows furrowed slightly. "A way out?"
Wendy sat across from him, crossing her legs. "Sophia isn't working alone. She has allies—powerful ones. If you go against her head-on, you'll lose. But if you play smart… you might just turn this around."
He scoffed. "And let me guess—you want a piece of whatever's left?"
She tilted her head. "I want a guarantee. If I help you take back control, I want a 20% stake in the merger."
Ochieng chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Ambitious as always."
"I learned from the best," she said smoothly.
Silence stretched between them. Ochieng knew he had no choice. Wendy was ruthless, but she was also his best chance at outmaneuvering Sophia.
"Fine," he said finally. "But betray me, and I'll make sure you regret it."
Wendy stood, extending her hand. "Likewise."
They shook hands, sealing an alliance built on mutual distrust.
As she walked toward the door, she paused. "By the way, you might want to check the surveillance footage from last night. Someone's been digging deeper than you think."
Ochieng narrowed his eyes. "Who?"
Her smirk deepened. "Matilda."
Ochieng's grip tightened on his glass as Wendy left.
Matilda.
Of course, it had to be her.
The silent war had officially begun. And Ochieng was ready to fight.