By morning, Lagos was on fire.
Phones buzzed.
News alerts flashed.
Every social media platform carried the same headline.
FASHION WEEK SCANDAL: DESIGN THEFT ACCUSATION ROCKS LAGOS ELITE
The video of Shemmy confronting Tara on stage had already crossed two million views overnight.
Hashtags flooded the internet.
#FashionTheftLagos
#JusticeForShemmy
#TundeExposed
Inside the Lekki apartment, Shemmy sat on the couch staring at her phone.
Her full-figured body felt heavy with exhaustion.
The adrenaline from last night had worn off.
Now came the aftermath.
Her screen showed thousands of notifications.
Supportive messages.
Interview requests.
Fashion bloggers defending her.
But also—
Threats.
Accusations.
And trolls.
Daevyd walked in from the balcony, phone pressed to his ear.
His tall slim frame was tense.
"Yes, I understand," he said calmly.
"But the designs are legally protected."
Pause.
"No. TechWave has nothing to do with this."
Another pause.
His jaw tightened.
"I'll speak with the board this afternoon."
He ended the call slowly.
Shemmy looked up.
"Investors?"
He nodded.
"They're nervous."
She sighed.
"This was supposed to be my fight."
"In Lagos," he said quietly, "everything becomes everyone's fight."
Her phone buzzed again.
Ruth calling.
Shemmy answered.
"Tell me something good."
Ruth laughed.
"I have plenty."
"First—Tara Adedayo's Instagram comments are a war zone."
"Second—three fashion bloggers just exposed her old plagiarism accusations."
"Third "
Ruth paused dramatically.
"Tunde's company stock just dropped."
Daevyd raised an eyebrow.
"How much?"
"Eight percent since this morning."
Shemmy blinked.
"That's huge."
Ruth continued.
"But there's bad news too."
Shemmy braced herself.
"Tara is denying everything."
On the TV, a news interview played.
Tara sat confidently in front of the camera.
"I have never stolen anyone's designs," she said calmly.
"These accusations are a publicity stunt."
The reporter asked carefully,
"What about the timestamped sketches?"
Tara smiled politely.
"In fashion, ideas overlap. I believe this is a misunderstanding."
Shemmy's hands trembled.
"She's lying."
Daevyd sat beside her.
"She's protecting herself."
"And Tunde."
The TV switched to another breaking headline.
TECHWAVE UNDER INVESTIGATION AFTER FASHION WEEK CHAOS
Shemmy turned sharply.
"What?"
Daevyd grabbed the remote.
The news anchor spoke seriously.
"Sources close to Adebayo Holdings claim TechWave founder Daevyd Kng may have manipulated digital records to fabricate evidence in the fashion theft scandal."
Shemmy's eyes widened.
"That's insane."
Daevyd's expression hardened.
"Tunde."
His phone rang immediately.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Tunde."
The voice on the other end was smooth.
"Good morning, Daevyd."
"What do you want?"
Tunde chuckled.
"You embarrassed me last night."
"You deserved worse."
A pause.
"You see, that's your problem," Tunde said softly.
"You fight emotionally."
"Business is colder."
Daevyd's eyes darkened.
"You funded stolen designs."
"And you just dragged your company into the scandal."
Silence.
Then Tunde spoke again.
"Your investors are calling, aren't they?"
Daevyd didn't answer.
"That's what I thought," Tunde continued.
"You see, when you attack me…"
"…I attack everything."
The line went quiet.
Then one final sentence.
"TechWave won't survive this week."
The call ended.
Shemmy stared at him.
"What did he say?"
Daevyd looked at the floor for a moment.
Then at her.
"He's targeting the company now."
Shemmy felt a wave of guilt.
"This is because of me."
He grabbed her hands firmly.
"No."
"This is because he's losing."
But before she could reply
His phone buzzed again.
This time it was his lead investor.
He answered immediately.
"Yes?"
The voice was cold.
"We need an emergency board meeting."
"Now."
The call ended.
Daevyd ran his hand through his hair.
"This could get ugly."
Shemmy stood.
"Then we face it."
He looked at her carefully.
"You didn't sign up for corporate war."
She stepped closer.
"I signed up for you."
Their eyes locked.
But across the city
Inside a glass office tower
Tunde stood by the window overlooking Lagos Island.
Nadia leaned against his desk scrolling through her phone.
"The internet is destroying Tara," she said.
Tunde didn't look worried.
"That's temporary."
"What's your real plan?"
Tunde smiled slowly.
"The board meeting."
Nadia looked up.
"You're attacking TechWave investors."
He nodded.
"And once the company collapses…"
He finally turned to her.
"…Daevyd collapses with it."
Nadia smirked.
"And Shemmy?"
Tunde picked up a folder from his desk.
Inside were new sketches.
Shemmy's sketches.
He slid them across the table.
"We destroy her next."
Nadia's eyes lit up.
"This war is going to be fun."
Across Lagos
At TechWave headquarters
The boardroom doors opened.
Daevyd walked in.
All the investors were already seated.
Watching him.
Waiting.
And none of them looked friendly.
The war had officially begun.