The unknown

She forced herself to keep walking, her pace increasing slightly—but not too fast. She didn't want to look scared.

Because fear could be dangerous.

The footsteps behind her matched her speed.

Slow. Steady. Deliberate.

A cold shiver ran down her spine.

Who was it?

Why were they following her?

She stole another glance over her shoulder—still nothing. But she could feel it. Someone was there, hiding in the shadows, watching her every move.

Her legs felt weak, but she couldn't stop now. She needed to get away. She needed to be somewhere safe.

But where?

She had come to the wedding alone. She had no car waiting outside. No friend expecting her return.

She was on her own.

Her mind raced.

Then, up ahead, she spotted a taxi parked at the corner of the street.

Hope sparked in her chest.

She forced herself to stay calm, walking briskly but not running. Running would be a mistake—it would tell whoever was behind her that she knew.

Just a few more steps…

She reached the taxi and yanked the door open.

The driver barely had time to react before she slid in and slammed the door shut.

"Go," she gasped. "Now."

The driver frowned. "Madam, where—"

"Just drive!" she snapped, her voice shaking. "Anywhere. Just get me away from here."

The man hesitated for a second but then nodded. The engine roared to life, and the car sped off.

Gift exhaled shakily, her hands trembling as she rubbed them over her arms.

She had escaped.

But the unease in her chest didn't fade.

Someone had been following her.

And whoever it was… wasn't just some random stranger.

Meanwhile…

In the dark shadows of the street, a man stepped out from behind a tree, watching as the taxi disappeared into the distance.

He exhaled deeply, running a hand through his short, rough hair.

He wasn't surprised she had noticed him. She was smart. Strong.

And that was exactly why Chief Williams had sent him after her.

But what Chief didn't know…

Was that he wasn't going to hurt her

He was tired.

Tired of seeing innocent blood spilt. Tired of doing the dirty work for a man who saw life as nothing more than a game of power and control.

And maybe… just maybe…

Gift was his chance to make things right.

Damilare sat at the edge of the hotel bed, his head in his hands. His suit jacket lay on the floor, and his tie hung loosely around his neck. The air felt thick and heavy. No matter how much he tried to breathe, it wasn't enough.

His chest was tight.

His mind wouldn't stop racing.

Gift.

She had been there.

She had looked him in the eye, and in that moment, everything had come crashing down.

But the worst part?

Chief Williams had seen her too.

Damilare rubbed his face with shaky hands. He knew the kind of man Chief Williams was.

Smart.

Ruthless.

A man who never ignored details.

If Chief had noticed the way Gift looked at him,

Talked to him and the way his own body stiffened when he saw her—then he wouldn't let it go.

And that meant one thing.

That Gift was in danger.

Andrew's pulse pounded.

He had to find her.

He had to warn her.

Before Chief did something unforgivable.

He jumped to his feet, ready to move, but then—

A knock at the door.

His heart skipped.

Then, a voice. "Sir, Chief wants to see you."

Andrew swallowed hard.

His hands curled into fists as he took slow steps towards the door.

The moment he opened it, he met the cold, emotionless stare of one of Chief's men. The guard gave him a short nod, his face unreadable.

Andrew forced a breath and stepped out.

He had no choice but to go.

But deep down, he already knew.

Chief had figured something out.

And that was bad.

Very bad.

Andrew followed the guard down the dimly lit hallway, his pulse hammering in his ears.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

He knew Chief Williams. Knew how he operated. The man was too smart to let things slide. If he had noticed the way Gift had looked at him—or worse, the way he had looked at her—then things were already spiralling out of control.

Andrew clenched his fists, forcing his breathing to stay even.

He couldn't afford to show fear.

Fear was weakness. And in Chief's world, weakness was a death sentence.

The guard stopped in front of a large wooden door and knocked twice before pushing it open.

Inside, Chief Williams sat on a luxurious leather chair, his fingers lazily swirling a glass of whiskey. His suit was crisp, his expression unreadable.

But Andrew had been around him long enough to recognize the danger in his eyes.

"Sit," Chief said, his voice smooth but firm.

Andrew obeyed, lowering himself into the chair across from him.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then

"That woman," Chief said casually, taking a slow sip of his drink. "Who is she?"

Andrew kept his expression neutral. "A stranger."

Chief chuckled, shaking his head. "You're a smart boy, Andrew. But don't insult my intelligence." He leaned forward, placing the glass down on the table. "The way you looked at her… the way she looked at you… that was no accident."

Andrew's throat tightened.

He needed to choose his next words carefully.

"Maybe she mistook me for someone else," he said, keeping his voice steady.

Chief studied him for a long moment, then smirked.

"You know," he said, standing up and walking to the window, "I built my empire by reading people. Knowing when they're lying. Knowing when they're afraid."

He turned, his eyes locking onto Damilare's.

"And right now… you're terrified."

Andrew's jaw clenched.

Chief took a step closer.

"Who is she, Andrew?"

Andrew forced himself to hold his gaze. "No one."

Chief exhaled through his nose as if considering something. Then he turned and picked up his phone.

"Luckily, I don't rely on words." He tapped the screen once. "I sent someone after her."

Andrew s stomach dropped.

His pulse thundered in his ears.

No.

No, no, no.

If Chief had sent one of his men, that meant Gift was already in danger.

His fingers curled into fists beneath the table, but he didn't react. He couldn't.

He had to stay calm.

Had to think.

But then

Chief smirked. "Strange thing, though." He swirled his drink again, watching the liquid spin. "The man I sent… hasn't checked in."

Andrew frowned.

Chief Williams always got updates. Always.

If his spy had gone silent…

Could it be?

Andrew's mind raced. He knew Chief's men. Knew what they were capable of.

But he also knew that among them, there was one man who had grown weary of this life. A man who had seen too much bloodshed, too many innocent lives destroyed.

And if he was the one following Gift…

Then there was still hope.

Andrew forced himself to lean back in his chair, trying to appear relaxed. "Maybe he lost track of her."

Chief chuckled. "Maybe."

But his eyes said otherwise.

Andrew knew this wasn't over.

Chief would keep digging. Keep pushing.

And if he found out the truth…

Andrew swallowed hard.

Gift wasn't safe.

And he needed to get to her before it was too late.

Andrew could still hear Chief Williams' words echoing in his head long after he left the lounge.

"I sent someone after her."

Gift was in danger. And it was his fault.

He moved quickly through the dimly lit corridors, his mind racing.

Chief Williams wasn't the kind of man to leave loose ends. Gift had already survived once—Chief wouldn't make that mistake again once he found out who she is

Andrew's jaw clenched.

Because this wasn't just about Chief's usual power games.

This was personal.

A secret buried for years.

Gift didn't know the full truth. She had no idea that Chief Williams was the man who had her parents killed.

And worse?

Andrew had known all along.

He had known who was responsible for the bloodshed, for the screams, for the home Gift lost in one night.

And he had said nothing.

Because if she knew the truth, she wouldn't have stopped.

She would have come after Chief.

And Chief would have destroyed her.

So, he did the only thing he could to keep her safe

He let her believe he was dead, so Chief Williams wouldn't see Gift through him

It had been the hardest thing he'd ever done. Watching her break. Watching her grieve. Knowing she would never forgive him if she ever found out.

But he had to finish what he started.

He had to make sure Chief Williams paid for everything he had caused her, every little pain 

And now?

Now, Gift was walking straight into the hands of the man who had already taken everything from her once.

Andrew exhaled shakily. He had to move fast.

Because if Chief got to her first…

There wouldn't be a second chance

Gift sat in the taxi, staring out the window, but her mind was far away.

Too many thoughts.

Too many questions.

She had gone to the wedding expecting a happy reunion with Damilare, but instead, everything had turned upside down.

Andrew had looked at her—right into her eyes—and acted like she was a stranger. Like she didn't exist. That alone was painful.

But there was something else.

That man. 

The powerful one.

How people moved differently around him—careful, respectful, like he was someone they feared.

Gift had never seen him before—or at least, she thought she hadn't. But something about him felt... strange.

Not just because of his power.

Not just because of the way people treated him.

But because of how she felt when she saw him.

It was like a whisper in her chest, a warning she couldn't understand.

Like her body remembered something her mind had forgotten.

She let out a shaky breath, forcing herself to focus. Maybe she was just overwhelmed. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her.

She leaned back against the seat, closing her eyes for a moment. She just needed to get home.

By the time the taxi pulled up in front of her house, exhaustion had settled deep in her bones.

She paid the driver quickly and stepped out, hugging herself as she hurried to the door. The night air felt colder than usual, or maybe it was just her fear.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw Mary—her only cousin—standing in the middle of the room, arms crossed, worry all over her face.

"Gift, where have you been?" Mary asked, her voice tight. "You know that wedding wasn't the best place for you to be."

Gift sighed and dropped her bag on the table. "I know. I know. But Mary… you won't believe what happened."

She barely sat down before the words started pouring out—how Andrew had denied her, how a strange man had followed her, how she had run into a powerful man who made her feel so uneasy.

"I don't know what it is, Mary," she said, shaking her head. "It's like I've seen him before, but I can't remember where. And when I looked at him… I felt something. Something I can't explain."

Mary frowned, stepping closer. "What kind of feeling?"

Gift swallowed. "Like… fear. But also something deeper. Like a memory, I can't reach."

Mary's face grew serious. "Gift, are you sure you don't know him?"

"I don't!" Gift said quickly, but even as the words left her mouth, doubt crept in.

Before Mary could say another word

Knock. Knock.

A soft knock at the door.

Both of them froze.

It was late. Too late for visitors.

Gift's breath caught in her throat as she slowly turned to look at the door.

Mary reached for her hand, squeezing it. "Who could that be?" she whispered.

Gift's heart pounded as she stared at the door, fear creeping up her spine. Maybe is the man that's following me, she said in a low voice 

Whoever was on the other side…

They had come for a reason.