The hours between the dawn and the inevitable clash felt like an eternity. Agnes paced in the living room, her fingers numb from clutching her phone. She hadn't slept a wink, not with the weight of her decision pressing on her chest like a stone. Her father's empire wasn't just crumbling—it was fighting back with everything it had.
The media frenzy had only grown worse, with rumors circulating about her mental health, her supposed instability, and how her actions were a direct attack on the very fabric of the business world. They painted her as the villain—a spoiled daughter out for revenge. And yet, in the silence of her apartment, it was clear to her that the real villain was the system that had never allowed her to live freely.
Beside her, Majek was hunched over his laptop, his eyes scanning through the latest reports. His face was grim. Every new development, every new twist, brought them closer to the edge.
"Any word from Tolu?" Agnes asked, her voice hoarse from lack of sleep.
Majek glanced up, his brow furrowed. "Not yet. But there's something… something's off. He mentioned a new threat yesterday. It's not just your father's lawyers now. There's a private security firm looking into us."
Agnes felt her heart drop. She had been expecting the legal onslaught. But private security? That felt too close—too personal. "What do they want?"
"They're not asking questions anymore. They're digging into your background. They know where we are. And they've been tracking your movements. This isn't just about keeping SMG in control anymore. This is about controlling you."
Her stomach twisted. "They want to intimidate us into submission."
Majek nodded, closing his laptop with a soft click. "We need to get ahead of this. If we let them make the first move, it'll be over before we have a chance to fight back."
Agnes felt a pang of guilt, a sickness in her stomach. She wanted to be strong. She wanted to believe in the choices she had made. But right now, she felt like a pawn in a game much bigger than her.
Her father had built an empire off control and fear. Now, he was using every tool at his disposal to crush her.
An Unlikely Ally
As the day dragged on, it became clear that their options were dwindling. The legal battles would take time to unfold, but the physical threats were immediate. They had no idea where the private security firm would strike first.
But then, an unexpected message arrived on Majek's phone.
It was from Lami.
"I think we need to talk. You're playing a dangerous game, but I've been hearing things. Your father's not going to stop. And he's made some… decisions about your future. You'd be wise to hear me out. Consider this a truce. Let's meet."
Majek stared at the message for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Agnes stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "What does he want?"
"I don't know," Majek muttered, tossing his phone onto the coffee table. "But I'm not going to let him pull us into something we don't control. Not after everything he's done."
Agnes chewed on her bottom lip, her mind spinning. Lami—of all people—was offering a truce? It made no sense. But then again, nothing had made sense for a long time.
"What if he's offering us a way out?" she asked quietly. "What if this is how we get ahead of the storm?"
Majek shook his head. "Lami is not our ally. He wants to take control. He's already tried to manipulate us once. We can't let him win."
But the temptation of an ally—any ally—was hard to resist. Agnes felt the tug of doubt deep in her gut, and her instincts warned her that this offer wasn't to be trusted. But she couldn't deny the desperation she felt.
The Meeting
They agreed to meet. It wasn't a decision they made lightly, but Majek and Agnes knew they had to consider every option available, even if it meant talking to their enemy.
The meeting place was set for a quiet, upscale café in the heart of the city—a place with more privacy than their apartment could provide. Majek and Agnes arrived early, scanning the room for any signs of trouble. They weren't sure what to expect, but they were both ready for anything.
Lami was already seated at a table in the corner, a glass of wine in front of him, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the surface. He looked completely at ease, as if the world wasn't crashing down around them.
When he saw them approach, he smiled and stood. "Majek, Agnes. Glad you could make it."
Agnes's gaze was sharp, her expression wary. "What's this about, Lami? What game are you playing now?"
Lami's smile didn't falter. He gestured for them to sit. "Relax. I'm not here to fight. I'm here to offer you both a solution. A way out of all this mess."
Majek didn't sit. He stood, his posture stiff. "We don't need your help."
Lami's eyes flickered with amusement. "You will. You don't realize it yet, but your father has already set things in motion. You're playing with fire, and sooner or later, you'll burn. You'll lose everything. Everything."
Agnes felt her blood run cold. "What are you talking about?"
Lami leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "You think you've exposed everything, but there are still layers you haven't uncovered. Your father's dealings go much deeper than you think. The people he's in bed with—they won't let you walk away unscathed. Not after what you've done."
Majek took a step forward. "You're bluffing."
Lami's smile widened. "Am I? Why don't you ask your father's closest partners? They'll tell you everything you need to know. It's not just about saving SMG—it's about saving your lives."
Agnes's pulse quickened. "What do you want from us, Lami?"
He raised an eyebrow. "What do I want? Power, of course. I'm not pretending to be a saint here. But let's be clear: if you don't make a deal with me, if you don't accept the help I'm offering, you'll both be buried under the weight of your father's sins. It's already started. His empire is on the edge of collapse, but there's a way to survive it. To be on the winning side."
Majek clenched his fists, his anger palpable. "So, what's the deal, Lami? You want us to hand over everything we've fought for and join your side?"
Lami's eyes darkened, the humor gone from his face. "You're not hearing me, Majek. I'm giving you a chance to live. I'm offering you a seat at the table. But if you refuse—if you keep resisting—it'll be too late. Your father's influence isn't just corporate. It's personal. It's lethal."
Agnes swallowed hard, her mind racing. Could Lami be right? Was there something she had missed? Was there a darker side to her father's empire that she hadn't even begun to uncover?
Majek's voice broke through her thoughts. "No. We don't need your help. We've come this far without you, and we'll finish this the same way."
Lami's lips curled into a smile again, but this time it was colder, more calculating. "We'll see how long that stubbornness lasts. You'll come around. They always do."
With that, he stood up, pushing his chair back with a loud scrape. "I'll be in touch. Don't make me regret this, Majek. Don't make me your enemy."
Back in the Eye of the Storm
As Lami left, Agnes and Majek exchanged a look—one that spoke volumes of the questions they still had. Could they really afford to dismiss him? Was his offer truly the path to survival, or was it just another trap?
But Agnes knew one thing for certain now: she wasn't going to let anyone control her. Not her father. Not Lami. And especially not the ghosts of her past. She was done being a pawn.
As they left the café, the city around them felt more like a battleground than ever before. Her father's empire was crumbling. The media was still on fire. And now, Lami was in the picture—a snake slithering through the shadows, waiting for his moment.
But no matter how dark the road ahead was, one thing was clear. Agnes and Majek would face it together.