Night settled slowly over Lagos.
The city lights flickered to life one by one.
Traffic crawled across the Third Mainland Bridge. Music spilled out of clubs. Street vendors shouted over honking cars.
But inside the car Shemmy felt none of it.
Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as she drove across Victoria Island.
Tunde's message still echoed in her mind.
"Come alone."
"Or Daevyd disappears."
Ruth's voice replayed too.
This is a trap.
Shemmy knew it was.
But she also knew something else.
Tunde never made empty threats.
Her phone buzzed again.
Another message.
A location.
Eko Atlantic Marina.
Midnight.
Her heart beat faster.
Across the city, inside TechWave headquarters, Daevyd moved quickly through the server room.
The restore process was still climbing.
SYSTEM RESTORE: 42%
Engineers worked furiously.
But Daevyd's attention was somewhere else.
His phone.
The photo.
Shemmy leaving her studio.
Alone.
He dialed her number.
It rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then it went to voicemail.
His jaw tightened.
Something was wrong.
He turned toward his security lead.
"Pull the traffic cameras around Victoria Island."
The man looked surprised.
"Sir?"
"Now."
Within seconds multiple screens lit up.
Live street feeds appeared.
Cars.
Pedestrians.
Headlights moving through the night.
Daevyd leaned closer.
"Find this car."
He sent Shemmy's plate number.
The technician typed rapidly.
Then one of the screens zoomed in.
"There."
A silver car moving toward Eko Atlantic.
Daevyd's chest tightened.
"She's going to him."
Meanwhile, the marina was quiet.
Too quiet.
Luxury yachts floated silently on the dark water.
The wind carried the distant sound of waves crashing against the sea wall.
Shemmy stepped out of her car slowly.
Her heels clicked softly on the pavement.
The place looked empty.
Then a voice spoke from the darkness.
"Right on time."
Tunde stepped forward from the shadows.
His suit looked perfectly pressed.
His smile even sharper.
"You came alone."
Shemmy's voice was cold.
"You said to."
Tunde walked closer.
"I must say… I admire the loyalty."
"Where is he?"
"Relax."
He gestured toward the water.
"This isn't about hurting him."
"Then what is it about?"
Tunde stopped directly in front of her.
"You."
Shemmy laughed bitterly.
"You're insane."
"No," Tunde said calmly.
"I'm patient."
He circled her slowly.
"You and I could build something extraordinary."
"You already tried that speech."
"And you didn't listen."
"Because the answer is still no."
Tunde sighed.
"That's unfortunate."
He snapped his fingers.
Suddenly headlights flooded the marina.
Three black SUVs rolled in from the entrance.
Doors opened.
Men stepped out.
Shemmy's stomach dropped.
"You said this was a conversation."
"It is."
"But conversations sometimes need witnesses."
Her voice hardened.
"You're proving exactly why I will never trust you."
Tunde smiled.
"You don't have to trust me."
He leaned closer.
"You just have to choose."
"Choose what?"
"Your future."
He pulled out a document.
A contract.
"Sign this."
Shemmy didn't even look at it.
"No."
Tunde's smile faded slightly.
"Read it first."
"I already know the answer."
"You haven't heard the condition yet."
Shemmy crossed her arms.
"Then say it."
Tunde spoke slowly.
"You join my company."
"You design exclusively for my fashion division."
"And in return…"
He paused.
"…TechWave survives."
Shemmy's eyes widened.
"What did you do?"
Tunde chuckled softly.
"You think last night's hack was random?"
Cold fear crept through her chest.
"You caused the crash."
"I opened the door."
"And I can close it."
Shemmy's voice trembled with anger.
"You're destroying his company just to force me."
"I'm offering a solution."
"I would rather burn everything."
Tunde studied her face.
Then he shrugged.
"That's disappointing."
At that exact moment another car screeched into the marina.
Headlights cut through the darkness.
Shemmy turned.
Her heart stopped.
Daevyd stepped out of the car.
His tall frame moved fast toward them.
Anger burned in his eyes.
"I knew it."
Tunde smiled slowly.
"Ah."
"Right on schedule."
Daevyd stopped a few feet away.
"You threaten her again and I promise you regret it."
Tunde tilted his head.
"Relax."
"I was just explaining the offer."
Daevyd's voice turned ice cold.
"There is no offer."
Shemmy grabbed his arm.
"You shouldn't be here."
Daevyd looked at her.
"I'm exactly where I need to be."
Tunde watched them carefully.
Then he clapped slowly.
"Beautiful."
"Truly inspiring."
Daevyd stepped forward.
"This ends tonight."
Tunde shook his head.
"Oh no."
He gestured toward the SUVs.
The men around them shifted slightly.
"You're not in control here."
Daevyd didn't move.
"You'd be surprised."
Another set of headlights suddenly appeared at the marina entrance.
Two black security vehicles rolled in.
Doors opened.
TechWave security stepped out.
The atmosphere turned electric.
Tunde laughed quietly.
"Well…"
"Now things just got interesting."
But then Shemmy noticed something that made her blood run cold.
More headlights.
Dozens.
Cars entering the marina from every direction.
Not security.
Not police.
Tunde looked confused for the first time.
"What the hell…"
A final car stopped in the center of the marina.
The door opened slowly.
A man stepped out.
Well dressed.
Calm.
Powerful.
And the moment Daevyd saw his face…
His expression changed completely.
Because this was not someone he expected.
And definitely not someone he wanted involved.
The man smiled slightly.
Gentlemen…
we need to talk.