Chapter 3
Vanessa stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, her arms folded, staring at the glittering city below. The view was stunning, but all she saw was the past—an altar draped in white, a room filled with whispers, her father clutching his chest as the weight of betrayal crashed over him.
She exhaled sharply and turned to Gina, who sat curled up on the couch, watching her with cautious eyes. “Do you know what today is?”
Gina sighed. “Vanessa—”
“The anniversary of the worst day of my life,” Vanessa cut in, voice tight. She stalked across the room, grabbed the wine bottle, and poured herself another glass. “Zubby Daniels. That bastard left me standing there. Do you know what that did to my father?” She took a long sip, her hand trembling. “He was so proud, Gina. He had built an empire, raised a daughter he adored, and what did he get in the end? Humiliation. Disgrace.”
Gina watched her cautiously. “Vanessa, your father’s heart was already weak. You can’t keep blaming Zubby for—”
Vanessa spun around, her eyes blazing. “I will blame him! Because it was his fault! He made my father believe in a future that never came. That heartbreak is what killed him. Not his heart condition, not stress—Zubby Daniels did this.” She slammed the glass onto the table.
Gina sighed, rubbing her temple. “And what? You’re going to keep chasing revenge forever? What does that get you?”
Vanessa’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Satisfaction.”
She grabbed her phone, scrolling through her contacts with cold precision.
“Vanessa…” Gina’s voice was cautious. “What are you doing?”
Vanessa’s lips curled into a smirk. “Teaching him a lesson.”
She hit the dial.
Vanessa leans back, crossing her legs with a dangerous glint in her eyes. The call connects almost instantly.
“You still work at The Grand Royale?” she asks smoothly.
A male voice responds hesitantly, “Vanessa? Yeah… why?”
Her lips curve. “Zubby Daniels has a penthouse there, doesn’t he?”
A beat of silence. “Vanessa, what are you planning?”
She ignores the question. “I need access. His schedules, his room service orders, his private guest list—everything.”
“That’s risky—”
“Five million. Cash.” Her voice is silk, but her patience is razor-thin.
The hesitation fades. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Vanessa disconnects, tossing the phone onto the table.
Gina watches her carefully. “You’re digging into his personal life?”
Vanessa picks up her glass of wine, swirling it. “Oh, honey, I’m not just digging. I’m about to turn his whole world upside down.”
Nena leaned back in her chair, her sharp eyes scanning the stack of documents Chief Emma had sent over. The papers were neat, structured, and damning—detailing alleged fraudulent property acquisitions, illegal land sales, and strong-arm tactics that painted Obinna Ike as a ruthless businessman. But something wasn’t adding up. She drummed her fingers on the desk, her instincts kicking in. She needed more than just documents. She needed the truth.
Grabbing her phone, she dialed a number. “Tari, I need a full background check on Obinna Ike. Business dealings, legal troubles—everything. Make it snappy.”
Tari chuckled. “You never ask for the easy ones, do you? Give me five.”
True to his word, her phone buzzed within minutes. “Alright, boss lady,” Tari’s voice came through. “Obinna Ike—big fish in the real estate game, operates major deals, high-profile clients. But here’s the kicker—he’s not alone. He’s got a partner, Zubby Daniels.”
Nena froze. Her fingers clenched around the phone. “Zubby Daniels?” she echoed, her voice dangerously low.
“Yeah, the billionaire playboy himself. Womanizer, risk-taker, real estate mogul. His name is all over these deals with Obinna.”
Nena’s grip tightened. The name sent a flood of memories crashing in—Zubby at the party, the arrogance in his smirk, the dismissiveness in his tone. He was a menace, flaunting his wealth, surrounded by women, completely unbothered. And now, he was linked to her brother’s brutal attack?
She shot up from her seat, pacing the room. “That arrogant fool… the same bastard I saw that night… and now this? Both scums are behind my brother’s pain?” Her fury boiled over, her heart pounding.
A slow, wicked smirk curled her lips. “I’m coming for you idiots.”
She slammed her laptop shut and reached for her phone. If they thought they could get away with this, they had no idea who they were up against.
Zubby lounged in his expansive living room, a glass of whiskey in one hand, the city lights flickering beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse. Music played softly in the background as he scrolled through his phone, ignoring the half-dressed model pouting at him from across the room.
A sharp knock at the door. His butler walked in, holding a sealed envelope. “Sir, this just arrived. From the court.”
Zubby’s brows lifted slightly. “Court?”
He took the envelope, ripped it open, and unfolded the letter. His sharp eyes scanned the details. Case Filed: Fraudulent Property Acquisition. Plaintiff: Chief Emma. Defendants: Obinna Ike & Zubby Daniels.
His grip on the paper tightened. His jaw clenched. Obinna, what the hell did you drag me into?
A slow, amused smirk crept onto his face. “So, someone thinks they can take me down?” He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Cute.”
But then his eyes flicked to the bottom of the page. The name of the representing attorney. Nena Okafor.
His smirk disappeared.
Who is she? Do I know you?
Zubby exhaled sharply, tapping the paper against his palm. He hated courtrooms, but suddenly, this case had become… interesting.
He reached for his phone, dialing a number. “Get me everything on Nena Okafor. Now.”
He leaned back, his smile returning, but this time, it wasn’t amusement—it was intrigue.
Let’s see what you’ve got, counselor.
