The apartment no longer felt like a place to rest.
It was quiet, but not peaceful. The kind of quiet that made every thought louder.
Shemmy stood by the window, arms folded, staring out at the city. Lagos moved like nothing had changed. Cars still passed. Lights still flickered. People still lived their lives.
Inside, everything felt different.
Daevyd walked in from the other room, phone in his hand. He had been on calls since they got back. Lawyers. Investors. Security. Every conversation sounded the same. Urgent, controlled, and incomplete.
"You've been pacing for a while," Shemmy said without turning.
"I'm thinking," he replied.
"You're avoiding."
That made him stop. He looked at her, but she didn't turn yet.
"I'm handling it," he said.
She faced him slowly. "No. You're trying to stay ahead of something that's already moving."
He didn't argue this time. That alone said enough.
Shemmy stepped closer. "You said Akinwale isn't the real problem."
"He isn't."
"Then who is?"
Daevyd exhaled, slower this time. "I don't know yet."
That answer unsettled her more than anything else that night.
"You always know," she said.
"Not this time."
The words sat between them. Heavy. Honest.
His phone rang again. He picked up immediately.
"Yes."
He listened without interrupting. His face didn't show much at first, but Shemmy saw the shift. Something had changed.
He ended the call and dropped the phone on the table.
"What happened?" she asked.
Daevyd looked at her. "The board just called for another vote."
Her stomach tightened. "What kind of vote?"
"This time it's not temporary. They want me out."
The room went quiet again.
"This is Akinwale," she said.
Daevyd shook his head. "No. This is bigger than him."
"How do you know?"
"Because he doesn't have that kind of reach. Someone else is pushing this."
Shemmy nodded slowly. "Astra."
"Yes."
She ran a hand through her hair, trying to think clearly. "This is getting out of control."
Daevyd looked at her. "It's already out."
That truth landed harder than anything else.
"So what do we do?" she asked.
He didn't answer immediately.
That hesitation caught her attention.
"You don't have a plan," she said.
"I always have a plan."
"Then say it."
He stepped closer. "I need time."
"We don't have time."
"I know that."
"Then stop acting like everything is under control."
That hit something.
His voice sharpened slightly. "I said I'm handling it."
"And I'm saying you're not."
The silence that followed was sharp. Neither of them backed down.
Shemmy stepped back, shaking her head. "You still don't trust me enough to tell me everything."
"That's not true."
"Then why am I always finding out after things explode?"
He didn't answer.
That silence said everything.
Her chest tightened. "So there's more."
"No."
"Yes," she said firmly. "There is."
He ran his hand through his hair, frustration finally showing. "I didn't want to drag you deeper into this."
She let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "Too late."
Then she said it, softer now, but stronger.
"I chose you."
That slowed him down.
"I chose this," she continued. "So stop deciding what I can handle."
He looked at her differently now. Less guarded.
"You don't understand how dangerous this is," he said quietly.
"Then make me understand."
He hesitated, then spoke.
"They're not just trying to take the company. They're trying to break me. And the fastest way to do that is through you."
Shemmy absorbed that.
"So I'm a target."
"Yes."
She nodded once. "Good."
That caught him off guard.
"If they're coming for me, then I'm not stepping back," she said.
"You don't get to decide that."
"I already did."
His tone hardened. "No."
"Yes."
"I'm trying to protect you."
"And I'm trying to stand with you."
They were close again. Too close. The tension between them thick and real.
Her phone buzzed.
They both looked at it.
Unknown number.
Again.
Shemmy picked it up and opened the message.
Her expression changed instantly.
"What is it?" Daevyd asked.
She didn't speak. She turned the phone toward him.
A photo.
Her.
Standing outside her studio earlier that day.
Taken from a distance.
Watched.
Followed.
Her chest tightened. "They're watching me."
Daevyd's jaw clenched.
Another message came in immediately.
Stay close to him. It makes it easier.
The room felt colder.
Shemmy held the phone tightly. "I'm not scared."
"You should be," Daevyd said.
"I'm not."
And that scared him more than fear would have.
His phone buzzed next.
He checked it.
And froze.
Shemmy stepped closer. "What is it?"
He turned the screen toward her.
One message.
Simple.
Check your shares.
His expression changed immediately.
He opened his financial dashboard. Scrolled quickly. Checked again.
Then stopped.
Because something was wrong.
Very wrong.
"What happened?" Shemmy asked.
Daevyd's voice dropped, but this time it carried weight.
"They've started the takeover."
The words settled into the room.
Not loud.
But final.
Then he looked at her and added quietly,
"And I'm already losing control."
D