The Reckoning

Chapter Twenty: The Reckoning

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Jade's Move

The air in the penthouse felt colder than it had in days. Jade stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring out at the city below, her reflection merging with the lights of Lagos, like ghosts of the past and present. She had made her decision—there was no going back. She had nothing left to lose.

The phone in her hand buzzed, breaking her thoughts. It was the contact she had called earlier, the one who had agreed to help her take the final step.

"It's done," the voice on the other end said. "Everything is in place."

Jade let out a slow breath, the weight of the moment pressing against her chest. "Good," she replied, her voice steady, but beneath the surface, her nerves were on edge. She had no illusions—what she was about to do would change everything. But she wasn't afraid anymore.

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Alexander's Struggle

Alexander sat in his office, staring blankly at the stack of documents in front of him. His mind was a storm of confusion, betrayal, and guilt. He had walked away from Jade, but the ache in his chest didn't go away. In fact, it grew worse with each passing moment. He had seen the truth—he had known about her secrets, but he hadn't truly understood the extent of her manipulation until now.

His phone buzzed on the desk. He didn't recognize the number, but the urgency in the tone of the voicemail made him pause. He hit play, and a voice—one he didn't know—spoke with chilling clarity.

"You're being watched, Alexander. What you don't know could destroy you. The woman you're trusting is not who you think she is. Don't say I didn't warn you."

His heart stopped. The message sent a shiver down his spine. Who was this? Was this another one of Jade's manipulations? Had she gone as far as to orchestrate an elaborate game to break him down completely?

No, he thought. It couldn't be. This wasn't her doing. He could feel it in his gut. Someone else was pulling the strings.

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Jonathan's Plan

Jonathan stood in the center of his opulent office, staring down at the black-and-white photographs laid out on his desk. Each picture represented another move in his twisted game. Every photograph, every document, every deal had been carefully curated for a purpose—a purpose he had been working toward for years.

Jade had made her choice, and now he was going to make hers for her.

He picked up the phone, dialing a number he knew by heart. When the line clicked, he spoke with cold precision.

"It's time. Make sure she knows the consequences of defying me."

The voice on the other end confirmed his instructions, and Jonathan's smile was one of satisfaction. It was almost over. Jade would have nowhere to turn. The pieces were falling into place. There was no way out.

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The Unraveling

Later that night, Jade sat at her desk, going over her final strategy. The plan had been set into motion. She was no longer at the mercy of anyone. But as the minutes ticked by, something gnawed at the back of her mind. She had made a deal with forces she could barely comprehend, and now it felt like they were closing in on her.

Her phone buzzed again, but this time it wasn't a message she had orchestrated. It was a news alert.

Breaking News: Scandalous Allegations Surface Against CEO of Middleton Enterprises—Exclusive Leaked Documents Expose Offshore Accounts, Fraudulent Activity, and Corruption.

The article was accompanied by photographs—pictures of her, of the deals she had made, and the lies she had told. It was all there, laid bare for the world to see. The walls were closing in, and Jade's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected this.

The timing was impeccable. It had to be Jonathan. He had used the last leverage he had over her to make sure that her rise—and fall—was spectacular. The public would never forgive her.

Her fingers hovered over the phone as she dialed a number she had hoped never to have to call again.

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The Confrontation

Jade's heart raced as she entered the building where she knew she would find Alexander. She had no more cards to play. She had been exposed, and everything she had worked for was crumbling before her eyes.

When she entered his office, the sight of him standing there, his back to her, felt like a cruel reminder of the trust she had betrayed.

"Alexander," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. He didn't turn around.

"You should have known this day would come, Jade," he said, his voice colder than she had ever heard it. He finally turned to face her, his expression hard, unreadable. "I don't know who you are anymore."

She took a step forward, but he held up a hand, stopping her. "No, don't. Not this time."

Jade's throat tightened, and she took a shaky breath. "I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted any of this. Jonathan… he—he has been using me. You don't understand. I was trying to protect you, to protect us."

Alexander's eyes darkened. "Protect us? By lying to me? By hiding who you really are?" He shook his head. "I've been a fool. All along, you were playing a game with me, and I didn't even realize it."

"I was trying to control the narrative," she admitted, her voice breaking. "I wanted to keep everything we had. But Jonathan… He's too powerful. He has too much control over me."

There was a long silence between them. Jade could feel the distance growing with every passing second. She knew she had lost him.

"Do you even know who you are anymore, Jade?" he asked, his voice quieter now, but still laced with betrayal. "Everything about you was a lie. I don't know how to look at you anymore."

Tears blurred her vision, but she refused to let them fall. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

He turned away again, his back now facing her once more. "I can't do this anymore."

Jade stood there, paralyzed, her heart breaking into a thousand pieces. This was it. She had lost everything—Alexander, her career, her future. All for a game that had spun out of control.

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The Final Twist

Outside the office, in the shadows, a figure watched the confrontation unfold through the frosted glass. A smirk tugged at the corners of their lips. They had been waiting for this moment—the moment when everything fell apart.

"Game over," the figure whispered to themselves