The sound of the front door closing echoed faintly down the hall.
Esther didn't move. She lay curled up on the bed, her face buried in the pillow, her body still trembling from the wave of tears. Her breath hitched again as another sob slipped out, quiet, raw, unguarded.
Footsteps approached.
The door creaked open.
"Esther?" Dija's voice called gently. "I brought you some tea, there's this delicious sweet bread downstairs, aunt Bell made them"
She stopped abruptly in the doorway.
The sight of her best friend lying in bed, shoulders shaking, broke through her cheerful morning mood like glass shattering.
"Esther?" Dija rushed over, placing the tray aside and kneeling beside the bed. "Hey… hey, what happened?"
Esther slowly lifted her tear-streaked face. Her lips quivered, her eyes red and glassy. "He said it was a mistake," she choked out.
Dija frowned. "Wait… who? Uncle Daniel ?"
Esther nodded wordlessly, her hands tightening around the edge of the pillow.
Dija's eyes widened. "Hold up, what?! After last night? After that kiss?"
"He told me to forget it ever happened," Esther whispered. "Said there's no possibility… said he'll never love anyone again."
Dija stared at her for a moment, stunned, then crawled onto the bed and wrapped her arms tightly around her friend. Esther collapsed into her, clutching her like a lifeline as her sobs returned, muffled against Dija's shoulder.
"That cold-hearted, emotionally constipated man," Dija muttered, furious and heartbroken on Esther's behalf. "How can he say that after everything you've done for him, after the way he looked at you?"
Esther only cried harder.
Dija gently stroked her hair, letting her cry. "You didn't deserve that. Not after opening your heart like that. You saved his daughter. You were there for him. And now he acts like none of it matters?"
Esther pulled back slightly, trying to steady her voice. "I told him… I told him I loved him."
Dija's eyes softened with sadness. "Oh, babe…"
"And he just… left," Esther whispered.
They sat in silence for a long moment, the morning light now too bright for how cold and heavy Esther felt inside.
Then Dija asked carefully, "Did you… did you tell him about Sarah?"
Esther shook her head. "No. I couldn't. Not after what just happened. It's not my secret to tell."
Dija pulled in a sharp breath and exhaled slowly. "I get it. But this is getting messier, Esh. If he finds out from someone else, or worse—finds out and thinks you were covering for her…"
"I know," Esther whispered, wiping at her tears. "I just… I couldn't break one more thing today."
Dija laid beside her now, linking their pinky fingers like they used to in secondary school. "Then don't worry about it now. Cry, scream into the pillow, do what you have to do. I'm not going anywhere. When you're ready, we'll figure it out together."
Esther turned her head, giving Dija a broken smile through the tears. "Thank you."
"Always," Dija said softly, brushing a lock of hair from Esther's forehead. "And for the record… the next time a man kisses you like that and then tries to pretend it never happened, punch him. Preferably in the throat."
Esther laughed, weak but genuine. "Noted."
The conference room was sleek and modern, glass walls, chrome accents, and a long, polished table filled with department heads and project leads. A slideshow presentation flashed across the screen at the front of the room, complete with performance graphs, timelines, and future targets.
Daniel Lewis sat at the head of the table, a pen in his hand, his eyes trained on a document he hadn't turned in over ten minutes.
"…and if we push the rollout by three weeks, the backend should sync seamlessly with the AI interface," one of the lead engineers was saying, pointing to the chart. "But we'll need your approval to adjust the public testing phase."
Silence followed.
Heads turned.
Daniel hadn't heard a word.
His eyes were open, yes, but his mind… wasn't here.
All he could see was her.
Esther, standing in hee room in the morning. Her voice cracking. Her face falling as he said the words he had rehearsed like a shield.
"It was a mistake."
"There's never going to be anything between us."
Her silence had been louder than any outburst. Her eyes, those wide, wounded eyes, had shattered something inside him. But he had to say it. Had to end it.
Didn't he?
"Sir?" Thomas leaned forward slightly, tapping the screen. "Mr. Lewis?"
Daniel blinked, realizing too late that the room had fallen quiet again, waiting for his response. His eyes darted around the table, but the words floating in the air meant nothing to him. Charts, numbers, projections, none of it registered.
"I… sorry," he muttered, straightening in his chair, trying to gather the scattered pieces of his focus. "Can you repeat that?"
Thomas gave him a hesitant look. "The timeline, sir. The team is proposing a three-week delay to finalize the backend integration with NeuroSpeech."
"Right," Daniel said, though he hadn't absorbed a word. He gave a distracted nod. "Do what needs to be done."
More murmurs followed, the conversation picking up again, but Daniel still wasn't there.
His thoughts circled around Esther like a relentless tide. The way she'd whispered she loved him, like it was both a confession and a plea. The tears she fought back. The way her shoulders had slumped as she turned to leave.
She had saved Betty. She had brought laughter back into the mansion. She had cracked something open in him he thought was sealed shut after Marian.
But Esther, she was young. Naïve. Too full of dreams.
And him?
He was too scarred, too buried under grief and guilt. There was no space left for love. Not real love. Not again.
So why did it feel like he'd just thrown away the one person who could have made him whole?
Daniel exhaled sharply and pinched the bridge of his nose. The voices in the room faded into background noise again, like static behind the scream of a heart quietly breaking.
And right after the meeting, he was back in his office, Daniel sank into his chair, the weight of the morning pressing against his chest like a boulder. The silence wrapped around him, heavy and suffocating.
He scrubbed a hand over his face, trying to center himself.
Then came the soft creak of the door.
He looked up sharply.
Thomas stepped in, his expression tight, jaw clenched, eyes dark with urgency.
"Sir," Thomas said, voice clipped. Just that one word, and Daniel already knew, something was wrong. Very wrong.
Daniel straightened, his hands curling around the edge of his desk. "What is it?"
Thomas walked closer and lowered his voice. "We've got trouble. Serious trouble."
Daniel's gaze sharpened. "Go on."
Thomas pulled out his phone and tapped on a message. "I just received a coded alert from one of my informants. The NeuroSpeech prototype, it's out there, sir. Someone's put it up for sale on the black market. Multiple interested buyers."
For a beat, everything stopped. The air went cold.
Daniel's jaw tensed as his back stiffened against the leather chair. "Are you sure?"
Thomas nodded grimly. "The data leak was real. Whoever Fatmata passed it to didn't just sit on it, they're trying to profit. Quietly, quickly. And if it falls into the wrong hands…"
He didn't need to finish. They both knew what could happen if the NeuroSpeech prototype fell into the wrong hands. If such a delicate neuro-interface technology was released prematurely, replicated and sold without proper calibration or clinical approval, it wouldn't just tarnish the company's reputation or cut into profits. It could actually harm the very people it was designed to help. An untested version could trigger neurological damage, device malfunctions, or emotional trauma for vulnerable users. And if that happened, the trust they had spent years building would vanish overnight.
Daniel's eyes darkened, a silent storm brewing in his chest. "Track the sellers. Every last one of them."
"Already in motion."
"Good. Book me a ticket to the closest possible location. I'm going there myself."
Thomas blinked. "Sir? You sure? We could try handling this discreetly.."
"There are no rules in the black market," Daniel said coldly, rising to his feet. "Only predators and prey. And I refuse to be the latter."
His voice was low but lethal, a quiet thunder rolling beneath composed fury.
"I won't let anyone steal what we've built. Not this time."
Thomas gave a firm nod, the weight of Daniel's resolve anchoring the moment. "Yes, sir. I'll arrange everything immediately."
As the door clicked shut behind him, Daniel stood still for a moment, his fists clenched at his sides.
He had already broken someone's heart today.
Now, he was ready to break bones.
Meanwhile in the washroom, Sarah leaned over the sink, her palms braced against the cool ceramic, breathing slowly. Her reflection stared back at her, tired, anxious, hollow. With a sigh, she turned on the faucet, hoping the splash of cold water would steady her racing heart.
The door creaked open.
Then slammed shut.
She jumped, whipping around, eyes wide.
"What are you doing here?" she snapped, her voice sharp, defensive. Her pulse quickened when she saw him.
John stood there, the ever-present smirk on his lips, arms crossed lazily as if he owned the space.
"I've missed you," he said smoothly, stepping in.
She backed away instinctively.
He closed the distance quickly, one hand reaching for her waist.
Sarah swatted it away. "Don't touch me, John," she hissed. "This stops now."
He chuckled, ignoring her resistance. "Come on, don't act like this. You and I, we had something."
"No, we didn't," she shot back, her voice rising. "It was blackmail. Control. You used me, manipulated me. I'm done playing your disgusting games."
His smile faded slightly, replaced with a hint of menace. "Now-look who's talking about being manipulated" he laughed "Don't forget who did you a favor when you needed one" he said, stepping closer, lowering his voice. "You think y that friend of yours had be anywhere near this building if I hadn't pulled the strings?"
"I paid for that with more than enough," she retorted. "I sold out people I cared about. I gave you information and also laid my body in many way you wanted it. That was the deal. But it's over."
John reached out again, but this time, Sarah stepped back, her voice trembling. "If you try that again, I swear I'll scream ."
He narrowed his eyes. "You think Daniel would believe you?" he said coldly. "You think anyone will? You're just the pretty face who wormed her way in. I've got more on you than you think. Scream and let have everyone know of your dirty acts"
Sarah stiffened, her eyes glistening with fury and something deeper, fear. "Then do it. Say what you want. But don't come near me again. I'm not letting you get your way with me, not anymore."
The tension hung thick between them. John stared at her, his jaw tight. But after a beat, he scoffed and stepped away, brushing past her on his way out.
As the door shut behind him, Sarah turned back to the sink, gripping the edge until her knuckles turned white. She stared into the mirror again, this time, her reflection was shaking.
She had played a dangerous game… and now it was starting to collapse around her.
Just as Sarah stepped out of the washroom, wiping her damp hands on a paper towel, she nearly bumped into someone standing by the door. Her heart skipped at the sound of a calm but clear voice.
"Let's talk."
Sarah looked up and froze.
Hawa.
Her figure was composed, but there was something sharp in her gaze. Sarah's fingers clenched at her sides, instincts flaring at the echo of what Hawa might've heard.
"It won't take long," Hawa added, turning and walking ahead, her heels clicking confidently along the tiled corridor. "Just five minutes. Or less."
They entered the cafeteria, mostly empty at this hour. Hawa claimed a quiet table by the window, gesturing for Sarah to sit opposite her. Wordlessly, Sarah obeyed, settling into the seat with her guard up and a tight smile plastered on her face.
"So," she asked, folding her arms, "what's this about?"
Hawa leaned back, fingers wrapped around her coffee cup. "Let's talk about John."
Sarah's stomach knotted at the mere mention of his name. She fought to keep her composure, even as the warmth in her cheeks faded.
"Why would we be having a conversation about your fiancé?" she asked, trying to sound unaffected. But her voice was strained. Too controlled.
"Because you've been spreading your legs for him," Hawa said flatly, her eyes never leaving Sarah's. She watched Sarah fumble slightly with her cup, the nervous gulp that followed giving her away.
"I know you've been sleeping with him. And I also know why."
Sarah's mouth parted, scrambling for words. "Hawa, I can explain"
"Spare me the details," Hawa cut in, her tone sharp but controlled. "I'm not here to cast blame or cry betrayal. I want us to work together."
Sarah blinked in disbelief, caught off guard. She had expected fury, maybe even a slap, not a proposal for collaboration.
"What…?" Sarah asked slowly, suspicion thick in her voice. "Why? What are you playing at?"
"I'm not playing," Hawa replied calmly. "John and I… our engagement was arranged. My stepfather made the match, and I didn't have much of a choice. But I want out. I've wanted out for a long time."
She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with intent. "John is dangerous, Sarah. He's manipulative, corrupt, and a pervert. He shouldn't be trusted, by anyone."
Sarah tilted her head slightly, arms still folded. "And you want what exactly? My help?"
"Yes." Hawa didn't hesitate. "I want you to help me bring him down. You know him better than most. You've seen sides of him I never wanted to, but now I can't ignore. I overheard your conversation in the washroom. And… I've seen things."
Sarah stiffened.
"I saw the video on his phone," Hawa continued. "The one of you at the hotel. I know he's been using it to blackmail you. But you don't have to keep playing along."
Sarah's face went pale. "He said he deleted it…"
Hawa's lips curled in a humorless smile. "He didn't. But I can help you. We can help each other."
Sarah swallowed hard, tension tightening across her chest. "And how exactly do we do that?"
"We find something," Hawa said, voice low and steady. "Something concrete. Something illegal or morally damaging. We expose him, not just to my stepfather, but to LewisTech. Once his credibility is gone, the marriage will be off, and he'll be out of the company."
Sarah stared at her for a long moment, weighing the risk, and the relief this could offer.
"You want to use me to ruin him."
"No," Hawa replied. "I want to free us both from him."
A long silence stretched between them before Sarah finally exhaled and gave a single nod.
"Fine. Let's bring the bastard down."
Nightfall cloaked the city like a thick veil. Somewhere off the grid, past the dust-laced roads and into a territory where GPS signals went silent, Daniel's car pulled up to an unmarked checkpoint. No signs, no cameras, just shadows and a rusted gate.
Thomas stepped out first, giving a subtle nod to the two guards standing at the entrance, faces hidden beneath hooded jackets. No words were exchanged. Only a flash of a digital key on Thomas's phone, coded access granted by a trusted contact buried deep in the underground.
Daniel emerged next, dressed in black from collar to boots, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. He wasn't nervous, he was cold, focused. But even he couldn't deny the unease crawling beneath his skin.
"This place reeks of corruption," he muttered.
Thomas didn't argue. "Because that's all it breathes. We're in the core of the Nexus Gate now. No one's real name exists here. Don't trust anyone. Not even the air."
The guards stepped aside, allowing them through.
Beyond the gate, the world changed.
Flickering neon lights painted the alleyways in hues of electric blue and blood red. Stalls lined the underground warehouse-like space, each selling something illegal, unethical, or classified. Human traffickers, arms dealers, cyber thieves, rogue AI developers, even disgraced scientists, all mingled under the unholy roof of the black market known only as "The Nexus Gate."
But Daniel wasn't there for curiosity.
He was there for his project.
"I want eyes on every tech stall, every encrypted exchange booth," he said under his breath. "We find who's selling the NeuroSpeech prototype, and we shut it down. Quietly, if possible."
"And if not?" Thomas asked.
Daniel's jaw clenched. "Then we burn everything tied to it."
They walked deeper in, passing shady merchants with masked faces and silver tongues, data chips stacked like diamonds behind bulletproof glass.
The hunt had begun.
The scent of burnt circuitry and heated metal filled the air as Daniel moved deeper into the underbelly of Nexus Gate. He and Thomas had split up briefly to cover more ground, but Daniel's mind remained razor-sharp, scanning every stall, every whispered deal, every flicker of data passed across shady hands.
Then he saw him.
Sankoh.
Leaning casually against a vendor's booth displaying advanced neuro-interface chips, dressed like he belonged, sharp suit, relaxed posture, and that ever-charming smirk.
The same man who'd had Esther laughing into her drink at the Prime Minister's wife's party.
Their eyes met. Surprise flickered for a moment before Sankoh pushed off the wall and approached, hands in his pockets like they were just two old friends meeting at a café instead of a digital underworld.
"Well well," Sankoh greeted, voice smooth. "Didn't think I'd see you here, Lewis."
Daniel kept his expression neutral, but his tone was firm. "I could say the same."
"I figured someone from your camp would show up eventually," Sankoh said, glancing around. "Word on the circuit is… a rare neuro-speech interface, highly classified, is being peddled tonight. Sounded a lot like something from your sandbox."
Daniel's jaw tightened. "And you just happened to show up?"
Sankoh chuckled. "Let's not pretend I'm here for the cheap thrills. I came for the same reason you did. And no, this isn't personal. It's business. You know how fast tech travels when it hits these shadows. I just want to be ahead of the curve."
Daniel's gaze sharpened. "Even if it means using stolen work? My work?"
"I'm not the thief," Sankoh replied calmly. "I'm just a buyer. And buyers don't ask questions, they invest."
There was a beat of silence, tension heavy between them.
Sankoh tilted his head slightly, eyes thoughtful. "Look, I like you, Daniel. I respect you. And I definitely meant it when I said I admired your work. Hell, if things were different, I'd have loved to partner with you."
"But?"
"But if I get my hands on that prototype before you do," he said plainly, "I'm not going to honor any unspoken bro code. I'm going to develop it, market it, and make a fortune. No hard feelings."
Daniel's stare didn't waver. "So that's how it is."
Sankoh smiled, not cruelly, just honestly. "That's how it's always been. You're just on the other end this time."
Daniel gave a slow nod. "Thanks for being direct."
Sankoh reached out, offered a firm handshake. "May the best man win."
Daniel clasped it, firm and unflinching. "I intend to."
And just like that, Sankoh disappeared into the crowd of whispers and deals, leaving Daniel with only more urgency in his pulse and a fiercer edge in his mission.
Because now, the race wasn't just against criminals.
It was against someone who played the game well.
And who wasn't afraid to win dirty.
The room shifted.
A low chime echoed through the dim corridor, followed by an abrupt hush that rippled like electricity through the thick crowd. Vendors closed shop. Conversations died off. All attention turned toward a wide archway guarded by two men in matte-black suits, faces hidden behind sleek masks that gave nothing away.
Daniel stood near the edge of the gathering with Thomas circling back to join him. Neither spoke. They didn't need to. The moment had arrived.
The Boss, the figure behind Nexus Gate, the one known only as Gara, stepped forward. A tall man, draped in a black silk tunic embroidered with golden neural patterns, his face covered by a sculpted half-mask, exposing only his calculating mouth and silver beard. He radiated authority, and the room obeyed.
"Welcome, esteemed guests," his voice boomed, modulated and precise, laced with command. "Tonight, we offer something… singular."
A black-cloaked assistant rolled in a reinforced case on a magnetic levitation cart. A hush swept again as the lid was unlocked with a biometric scanner, and then, slowly, lifted.
There it was.
The prototype.
Daniel's heart lurched.
Sleek. Compact. Etched with LewisTech's early beta imprint. It was unmistakably his.
The neural headband rested like a crown on silk, with its matching interface pad and display nodes arranged like sacred tools.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as Gara continued.
"Confiscated from an anonymous tech source," he said smoothly. "This is a neuro-interface device capable of translating neural impulses into auditory speech, offering voice to those who cannot speak. It's light-years ahead of anything on the market."
A pause.
"A full tech package is included. Early stage source code, firmware skeletons, engineering schematics. Everything a brilliant mind would need… to replicate, improve, or claim it."
Daniel's fists clenched at his sides, jaw tight.
"And now," Gara raised a hand. "The bidding shall begin. Starting price: two million USD, crypto-only."
Hands went up instantly. A wave of digital paddles flashed across the room. Sankoh among them.
Thomas shot Daniel a look. "We need a plan. Fast."
But Daniel wasn't moving yet. He was watching. Calculating. Trying to figure out who was pulling strings behind Gara, or if Gara was the final wall between him and justice.
And all the while, the price kept climbing.
Three million. Four. Four-point-five.
Daniel's pulse thundered.
He was no longer just in a race.
He was on the verge of losing everything he built.
And whoever won tonight… could decide the future of NeuroSpeech.