As the office doors clicked shut behind them, Thomas walked Musu down the quiet corridor and through the main gate, his posture composed, his steps steady. Once she was gone, he exhaled softly, rubbing the back of his neck.
He turned to head back inside, and nearly bumped into someone waiting near the path.
"Thomas!" Dija called, lifting a hand in greeting as she walked toward him, her heels barely making a sound on the polished tiles. "Can we talk for a moment?"
His brows knit gently, concern flickering in his eyes. "Everything okay?"
"I'm fine," she said quickly, offering a small smile. "I just… wanted to apologize. For my mom. Last night."
Thomas tilted his head, giving her a look both curious and guarded.
"She's not always like that," Dija added, though the words felt heavier than she wanted to admit. They hung awkwardly in the air, half truth, half denial.
Thomas gave her a faint, knowing smile. "You don't have to explain, Dija. I didn't take offense."
"But.." she started, but he cut in gently.
"I'm used to it."
Her gaze softened. "What do you mean by 'used to it'?"
Thomas chuckled lightly, but there was no humor in it. "Let's not make it a thing." He waved it off like dust in the air. "I've been around long enough to know how people like her see people like me. It's not new."
Dija's heart sank. She knew he was right, and that it wasn't fair. Her mother didn't need time to make judgments; one glance was enough for her to decide if someone was worthy or not. And last night, she had made her thoughts painfully clear.
Thomas, ever dignified, just shook his head. "I don't expect to be liked by everyone. People will always have opinions. That's their right. My job is just to keep moving, work harder, and prove them wrong." His tone wasn't bitter, just grounded in quiet strength.
"Thomas," Dija said softly, stepping closer. She reached for his hand, her fingers wrapping around his. "I'm not my mother. I don't care what she thinks. Or what anyone thinks."
Her eyes searched his, her voice steady. "I love you. That's what matters to me."
His expression warmed, and something in him softened. "I know," he said quietly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "And that's what makes it all worth it."
A beat passed. Then his lips curled into a teasing grin. "So… breakfast? I'm starving."
Dija broke into a smile, the tension between them melting. "Absolutely."
They walked off together, fingers intertwined, no longer just navigating love, but learning how to protect it.
Meanwhile, the walls of the Jalloh mansion echoed with the sharp crash of shattering glass. Another vase exploded against the marble, fragments spraying like shrapnel. Alhaji stood trembling with rage, his breath heavy and uneven, eyes wild as they locked on the invitation clenched in his bloodied hand.
His other fist slammed into the wall beside a framed portrait, cracking both the glass and his knuckles. The impact didn't faze him.
"How dare he," he growled through clenched teeth. "He thinks this is funny? A game?" His voice thundered through the high-ceilinged room. "He sent us an invitation… us. Mocking me. Mocking us!"
"Baba," Jariatu's voice came soft behind him, but he flinched away.
"Don't tell me to calm down!" he barked, wheeling around to face her. "This is a man who took everything from us, and now he parades his little miracle project like a trophy? Inviting me to applaud him?!"
Blood dripped from his knuckles, smearing across the cracked frame as he hit it again. A shard of glass sliced through skin, but he didn't even blink.
Without a word, Jariatu stepped forward, her silk robe brushing against the cold floor. She gently took his hand, ignoring his protest, and led him to the nearest sofa.
"Sit," she ordered quietly. The weight of her tone left no room for argument.
She retrieved the first aid kit with practiced ease, her fingers steady as she dabbed antiseptic onto his torn skin. He winced. She didn't apologize.
"I know how it feels," she said at last, voice low. "To want someone to fall and watch them soar instead. It makes you feel powerless. But lashing out like this? It helps no one. Not you. Not me. And certainly not our daughter."
Her words cut deeper than the glass. Alhaji looked at her, really looked, and saw not just his wife, but his oldest ally. The one who had stood beside him through every rise and every ruin.
"If we're going to take Daniel Lewis down," she continued, carefully wrapping gauze around his wrist, "we need to stop reacting like enemies. We need to think like him. Precise. Strategic. Calculated."
He exhaled heavily, shoulders sagging as her calm seeped into his bones. "What do you suggest?"
Jariatu reached for the card on the table, the invitation to the upcoming NeuroSpeech public launch. Her lips curled at the edges, not in amusement, but something darker.
"We show up."
Alhaji blinked. "You want us to attend?"
"Yes. That's his first mistake," she said, eyes narrowing. "He wanted to taunt us by including us. Let him feel superior. Let him have his moment of triumph."
"And then?"
"Then we'll ruin it," she said, the coldness in her voice like a knife sliding into velvet. "I want every major media house there. I want the cameras rolling when it all goes wrong. Let him bask in the spotlight, so when the fire starts, the world sees every burn."
Alhaji leaned forward, her fire igniting his own. "I'll plant someone inside the team. A sleeper. I'll buy off a journalist or two. And when the system fails, when it hurts someone, it won't just be LewisTech that falls. He will fall. His legacy. His daughter. All of it."
Jariatu's hand rested on his knee, her expression unreadable. "This time, we won't miss."
And in the silence that followed, the plan settled between them like a loaded gun. The Jallohs weren't just back.
They were ready to burn everything.
At around 3:39 pm, the sun casted a merciless glow through the office windows, Daniel sat behind his desk, his mind still replaying Musu's visit when the door creaked open without a knock.
And there he was, the one man Daniel absolutely did not need to see right now.
Sankoh.
"Well, nice to see you too," Sankoh announced, walking in uninvited like he owned the place. He flopped into the chair opposite Daniel's desk, completely unbothered. "Glowing from love, I see. Honestly, it's quite disrespectful, your mentor in the art of courting women, and I had to hear from others that she's now your girlfriend?"
He gave an exaggerated sigh and shook his head with theatrical disappointment.
Daniel grunted in defeat and slowly lowered himself into his chair, rubbing his temples.
"What do you want?" he asked bluntly, not bothering with pleasantries. With Sankoh, directness was survival.
Sankoh gasped. "Now I'm offended!" he said, clutching his chest like Daniel had just insulted his ancestors.
"If there's nothing, I'll call for an escort to throw you out," Daniel said flatly, not even looking up.
Sankoh chuckled, clearly unfazed. He leaned forward, grinning. "I heard about the success of your project. And the grand public launch. I was thinking… maybe I could have a part in it. Investor, perhaps. Silent partner. Or loud partner, I don't mind."
"No," Daniel said without a beat. "I don't want your investment, and I'm not partnering with you."
"Why?" Sankoh pouted. "Is it because I like money more than morals? You've always been such a romantic, Daniel. It's exhausting."
Daniel finally looked at him. "It's because you care about profit. I care about people. We're not the same."
Sankoh nodded dramatically, pretending to wipe a tear. "Touché. That's the kind of line they'll quote you for when they make a documentary about your fall from grace."
"Which you're hoping to narrate?"
"Obviously."
Daniel sighed and turned back to his screen. "If this is over.."
"Wait!" Sankoh raised a hand. "At least give me an invitation. I heard you've been sending them out to every corner of the city, even to your enemies."
"I did send you one," Daniel replied. "Had you been in your own office instead of lounging in mine, you'd have found it."
Sankoh grinned. "Ah. So there is love left in you."
Daniel shook his head, amused in spite of himself. "One more word, and I'll rescind it."
"You're so cute when you threaten me." He teased winking at Daniel.
And just like that, time flew by, and it was nearing seven in the evening. Esther had come to the Lewis mansion after her mother casually mentioned visiting Daniel's company, without offering much detail.
She sat comfortably on the couch, her laughter mingling with the warm scent of dinner still lingering in the air. Lady Bell was reclined on the opposite end, shaking her head with amused disbelief while little Betty sat cross-legged on the rug, giggling uncontrollably.
"…and then the driver actually fought the policeman, refusing to let him seize his car keys," Esther was saying through laughter.
"You're making this up," Lady Bell said, laughing in disbelief.
"You've got to believe me! You should've seen how hard he fought. I think he was just sick of the constant bribes and daily demands from the police."
"That's expected. Those officers are really getting out of hand. Constantly extorting money from drivers, of course it'll lead to fights. This is exactly why corruption still thrives in this country," Lady Bell replied, shaking her head.
"I think the drivers are partly to blame too. I mean, why bribe them when you could just get your documents in order? Most don't even have a license or valid vehicle permits. The law really needs to improve on that front."
Just then, the front door opened.
Daniel stepped in, loosening the top button of his shirt, shoulders sagged slightly from the long day. He stopped, surprised, as the sound of laughter floated down the hallway. Curious, he walked into the living room, and froze.
There she was.
Esther.
Looking all beautiful,
His sister and daughter were utterly relaxed, comfortable, laughing. The warmth of home. A sound he hadn't realized he missed so much until now.
"Daddy!" Betty leapt up the moment she saw him and ran into his arms. "Esther came! She helped cook dinner, and she's really funny!"
He caught his daughter mid-run and held her tightly, inhaling the scent of her hair as his eyes never left Esther. She rose slowly from the couch, offering a gentle smile.
"Good evening," she said softly.
"Evening," he replied, his voice low, calm. Controlled.
He set Betty down, his hand brushing gently over her head before glancing once more at Esther and then to Lady Bell. "Thanks for keeping her company," he said, mostly to his sister, but his eyes lingered on Esther.
With nothing else, he turned and made his way upstairs, his footsteps measured, his back straight.
Esther stood for a moment, thoughtful, before glancing at Lady Bell, who gave her an encouraging nod.
She followed.
She waited a beat, then ascended the staircase in silence, her heels soft against the polished wood, the house around her warm and still.
She had questions. But more than that, she needed to see him, really see him. And this time, she wasn't walking away without an answer.
Esther stepped into his room after a knock, her voice soft but steady.
"Mr. Lewis?"
Her eyes scanned the space, briefly unsure of his location, until they landed on him. He stood near the closet, towel draped loosely around his neck, his chest bare and glistening faintly from a fresh shower. Time seemed to hesitate with her breath. The sharp lines of his shoulders, the way his muscles moved as he reached for his robe, it was too much, too tempting.
Her gaze lingered longer than it should have.
"Seen enough?" Daniel asked, his voice low, teasing, but there was a quiet tension beneath it, one he didn't bother to hide.
She blinked, startled out of her daze, and spun around like she'd touched fire.
"I.., God, you really have to stop coming out like that," she muttered, flustered, hand to her chest as if to slow the rapid thump of her heart. "You're going to give someone a heart attack."
Daniel let out a quiet laugh. "Then you really need to stop walking in without warning. One day, you might actually faint."
She turned slightly over her shoulder, risking another glance, this time, finding him tying the dark robe around his waist. Still frustratingly handsome. Still too at ease in her chaos.
"Then it would be your fault," she fired back, a small smile curling on her lips despite herself. "Tempting someone with those abs like that. How much do you think a girl can handle before combusting?"
Daniel raised an eyebrow, amused but visibly reeling himself in.
"Stop looking," he said, this time a little softer, but the electricity in the room buzzed in his voice.
"I'm trying," she muttered under her breath, mostly to herself. Then with a sigh, she turned fully to face him, the heat in her eyes now replaced by something more serious. Her tone dropped, weight replacing flirtation.
"I'm actually here because… I heard my mother visited your company today." She spoke again, this time softer, more tentative, her voice shaded with caution.
"She did…" Daniel replied
" You.., do you mind telling me what her visit was about?"
Daniel didn't hesitate. "You want to know what she said."
Esther nodded slowly, then added, "I asked her, but she wouldn't say. I just… I hope she didn't say anything inappropriate."
There was a nervous flicker in her eyes, the kind only someone raised under a strong-willed mother could wear. Her worry wasn't just about embarrassment, it was about how it might have affected them.
Daniel gave a faint smile, crossing the room toward his closet. "She didn't say anything wrong. Just that she's worried about you."
"Worried?" Esther's brow knit. "Worried how? That you'll hurt me? Or…"
Daniel pulled a plain shirt from the rack, speaking as he moved.
"That I'd keep you in a nameless relationship. That I wouldn't define what this is."
Esther groaned, dragging a palm down her face. "Mr. Lewis… Ma is just being Ma. You don't need to take what she said to heart. I'm so sorry if she crossed a line."
He turned, finally facing her again. "Esther, your mother meant well. I get it. I'm a parent too, I know what it's like to look at someone you love and want the whole world to treat them right. And I know the woman I'm dating."
The sincerity in his voice wrapped around her, lifting the heaviness she didn't realize she'd been carrying since hearing about the visit.
Her heart swelled, and she stepped a little closer. "Thank you. Really. But you don't have to feel pressured by anything she said. I love you… and I don't care what we call it, or who's watching. I just want to be with you, as long as you'll have me."
He was quiet for a beat. The shirt slipped from his hand.
"Esther…"
Her name fell from his lips like a confession.
She took a step forward, her eyes never leaving his. Her fingers brushed lightly against his chest, testing the moment, testing him. And then, as if drawn by a force she could no longer resist, she rose onto her toes, cupped his face gently, and kissed him.
Daniel stiffened. For a heartbeat, he didn't move, caught between the warmth of her lips and the warning bells in his head. His hands hovered at her waist, uncertain. Then he gripped her arms and gently pulled back, his breathing unsteady.
"Esther…" he said again, this time with restraint, his forehead resting against hers. "We can't. Not like this."
She looked up at him, eyes wide, lips still parted from the kiss. "Why not?"
"Because…" he swallowed hard, his voice low. "If I let this happen, I won't be able to stop. And I'm not sure either of us is ready for where that might lead."
"I don't care," she said, her voice low but certain, as she stepped in closer and slipped her arms around his neck.
Then she kissed him again, deliberately, with all the emotion she'd held back for too long.
His mouth met hers, deeper this time, needier. The kiss burned with everything they hadn't said aloud, the longing, the ache, the desire barely restrained for weeks.
His hands found her waist, drawing her in until there was no space left between them. Her fingers slid into his hair as the kiss deepened, unspoken feelings unraveling in the heat of the moment.
It was the kind of kiss that shattered silence, that blurred every line they'd drawn between them.
She let herself get lost in it fully, fearlessly, completely, unapologetically.
Until..
The door creaked open.
"Daddy!, Esther oh…"
They froze.
Betty stood at the door, wide-eyed, one stuffed bunny hanging limp in her hand. Esther jolted, nearly stumbling back. Daniel exhaled, drawing a hand over his face as he turned toward his daughter.
Betty blinked, then grinned. "Are you kissing? Like, for real?"
Esther was mortified. "Betty, sweetheart, we were just.."
"Kissing. I saw it," she said proudly, marching inside. "Can I sleep here tonight?"
Daniel sighed, the moment shattered, but there was a trace of laughter in his eyes now. "Go grab your pajamas. And knock next time."
Betty nodded seriously. "Okay! But I still saw it," she added before running off.
Esther covered her face.
"Oh my God…"
Daniel chuckled, pulling her gently into his side. "Remind me to install a lock."
Just then, Betty peeked her head around the doorframe. "You're staying the night, right?" she asked, looking expectantly at Esther.
Esther caught her breath, still recovering from the kiss. "Um, no, dear. I have to go back. Ma's expecting me."
Betty stepped fully into the room, crossing her arms with a determined look. "Wait, why not? I thought you were going to spend the night."
Esther smiled, trying to sound reassuring. "I promise, next time."
Betty didn't give up. She threw her arms around Esther's waist. "Then I'm coming with you! School's closed and I'm on break, I might as well spend my holiday with you."
Esther opened her mouth to protest, then glanced at Daniel for support.
He just shrugged and muttered, "She can handle it herself."
Esther scowled, swearing him in his heart. Then he turned to Betty with a gentle tone, "Sunflower, do you really want to come with me? Won't you miss your aunt and Dad?"
Betty shook her head firmly. "Nope. I've seen enough of them. I missed you, so I'm going with you."
Daniel raised his hands in playful surrender. "She's not going to stop until you say yes. Take her along."
Esther blinked, taken aback by how easily Daniel agreed. The quiet trust in his eyes caught her off guard, more than she expected.
Did he really believe in her that much?
Her heart softened as she smiled up at him. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Daniel just grinned. "She'll be much happier with you."