Chapter 26: Quiet Returns, Sharp Edges
Maya was discharged two days later.
Still fragile—skin pale, movements slow.
Back in her room in Banana Island, the duvet pulled high around her shoulders. The maid dropped a glass of fresh water on the bedside table and slipped out quietly.
The house downstairs was silent.
Maya waited.
Five minutes.
Ten.
When she was sure everyone had left the floor, she reached for her phone.
Battery low.
She plugged it in.
The screen lit up.
A notification appeared.
Becky.
Unblocked.
A message from the night before.
"Heard you dey hospital. You okay?"
Maya sat up too fast. The pillow slipped behind her back.
Her fingers trembled as she typed.
Maya:
I'm home now. Better small. Thank you for asking.
Three dots appeared immediately.
Then Becky replied.
Becky:
Chai. I was worried. Kings and Imani were talking… they thought I was asleep.
Maya froze.
A cold ripple passed through her chest.
She typed carefully.
Maya:
I heard them too. Through the door.
Pause.
Then the words came faster.
Sorry for everything. The party. The video.
I didn't set you up. I swear.
Mum and Ivy… they did it.
Her breathing tightened.
I was actually bringing the gift I bought for you. I wanted to surprise you.
When I came downstairs… they were laughing.
And you had already left.
Becky:
I know.
Maya blinked.
Becky:
I'm sorry I didn't give you time to explain.
It was overwhelming that day.
The deepfake don reach everybody now. People dey apologize.
A pause.
But that day… it pain me well well.
Maya's throat tightened.
Maya:
I know.
I cried every night.
Imani told me to stay away from you.
She said you didn't want to see me.
Her fingers hovered.
Then she typed softly.
But I miss you.
The way we gist about your school.
The way you laugh till your stomach hurts.
A moment passed.
Then Becky replied.
Becky:
Me too.
I miss our small talks.
Your funny voice notes.
Maya smiled faintly.
The first real smile in weeks.
Maya:
Can we keep this secret? Just us. For now.
Another pause.
Becky:
Yes.
But abeg… no tell Imani.
She go vex.
Maya let out a soft breath.
Maya:
Promise.
Get better first.
Maybe we meet one day.
Becky:
One day.
Rest well. Eat something.
Maya set the phone down.
Afternoon light slipped through the curtain, stretching across the wooden floor.
She closed her eyes.
And breathed easier.
For the first time in weeks.
⸻
Anderson Group Headquarters
The conference room projector hummed softly.
Damian stood at the head of the table.
Slides clicked forward.
Imani sat at the far end.
Five reports sat open in front of her.
Work meant for a team.
Now all assigned to her.
Deadline: tomorrow noon.
Damian had added them one by one.
No explanation.
He stopped speaking.
Looked directly at her.
"Imani."
She lifted her head slowly.
"You'll handle the presentation," Damian said.
A small pause.
"All sections."
pause.
"Q&A included."
The room went quiet.
Someone shifted in their chair.
Imani stared at her notebook.
Her pen stopped moving.
Damian continued.
"Your last draft was immature."
He clicked to another slide.
"Sloppy analysis."
His voice sharpened.
"Fix it."
"Or explain why we pay you."
Imani swallowed.
Her voice came out low.
"Sir… these reports are usually handled by five people."
Silence.
"And the deadline is tight for one person."
Damian didn't blink.
"Did You signed a five-year contract or not??."
His voice was calm now.
She replied, I did!
Cold.
"Deliver."
A pause.
"Or face the consequences."
Imani lifted her gaze.
Her eyes steady.
"I always deliver."
Another breath.
"But this… e no fair."
Damian leaned forward slightly.
"Fair?"
He gave a short laugh.
"Life isn't fair."
"You think I care?"
No one spoke.
"Work late."
"Work overnight."
"Just get it done."
Meeting dismissed.
Chairs scraped back.
People left quickly.
Imani stayed behind.
Staring at the screen.
Her phone buzzed.
Kings.
How far? You sounded down yesterday. Abeg talk to me. No carry everything alone.
Her fingers felt heavy.
Imani:
He called my work immature.
In front of everybody.
He gave me impossible workload.
Another pause.
I can't quit.
My mum's oxygen tank needs refill.
Doctor called today.
The Hospital bills is piling up.
Money no dey.
Her chest tightened.
I will stay.
I will endure.
The reply came instantly.
Kings:
Chai. That man wicked.
You're strong, but no kill yourself.
Come home early.
We go talk.
Imani stared at the message.
Then typed.
Imani:
Late night again.
Overtime.
No choice.
10:07 PM
The office was empty.
Lights dimmed automatically.
Only her desk lamp remained.
The spreadsheet blurred on her screen.
Imani rubbed her eyes.
In her mind—
Hospital machines.
Her mother's slow breathing.
The oxygen hiss.
An unpaid bill reminder.
Her thoughts hardened.
Why me?
Why now?
No answer came.
Anderson House – Later That Evening
The AC hummed quietly.
Jude sat in the parlour.
Temi stood by the window.
Arms crossed.
Jude studied her.
"What has become of you, Temi?"
She didn't answer.
"You knew Maya was fragile."
"You knew about her low sugar condition."
A pause.
"You remember when her dog died?"
Temi rolled her eyes slightly.
"It took us a month to convince her death is natural."
Jude leaned forward.
"She attaches deeply to the things she loves."
His voice softened.
"And now she won't even speak to you."
Silence.
"How do you plan to fix that?"
Temi turned slowly.
A small sarcastic smile.
"She'll get over it."
"Teenagers are dramatic."
Jude exhaled.
"You're impossible."
"Legacy this. Reputation that."
His voice hardened.
"But your family?"
"You push them aside."
Temi shrugged.
"Legacy keeps us here."
She gestured around the house.
"Banana Island."
"Shares."
"Power."
"You forget?"
Jude's voice dropped.
"I didn't forget."
"But my daughter was in the hospital because of it."
Another pause.
"We almost lost her."
Temi looked away.
"She'll learn."
"She'll toughen up."
Jude stood.
"Enough."
The Front Door
Later that night.
Ivy arrived.
Jude met her before she could enter.
His voice calm.
Too calm.
"Why did you create that deepfake?"
Ivy blinked.
A little too quickly.
"Uncle Jude… I don't know what you're talking about."
She tilted her head.
"Video?"
"People post plenty things online."
Jude watched her carefully.
"Don't play with my intelligence."
A pause.
"I will speak with your parents."
Ivy smiled faintly.
"Okay sir."
"But I didn't do anything."
She walked away.
Jude watched her leave.
Something about her reaction bothered him.
He couldn't explain why.
National TV Studio – Next Day
Bright lights.
Cameras rolling.
The host leaned forward.
"Mr. Anderson, a deepfake video targeting a young girl has sparked public outrage."
A pause.
"Your response?"
Jude looked directly into the camera.
His voice steady.
But strained.
"That video is fake."
"Created by someone trying to destroy my family."
He swallowed slightly.
"To Becky Bright—an innocent girl."
"My family handled the situation badly."
A breath.
"I sincerely apologize."
"To Becky."
"To her sister Imani."
"To everyone hurt."
The studio fell quiet.
"We are working to identify the person responsible."
The camera cut to audience reactions.
Online feeds exploded.
Public opinion softened slightly.
But not completely.
⸻
Damian's Office
Damian watched the interview.
The room was dark.
Only the television glow lit his face.
The host leaned forward again.
"Mr. Anderson… do you know who created the deepfake?"
Jude leaned toward the microphone.
His eyes hardened.
"We're getting close."
Damian didn't blink.
He muted the TV.
A slow smile appeared.
Soft.
Cold.
"No," he whispered.
"You're not."
He opened his laptop.
A video editing timeline filled the screen.