The story continues in Chapter Two...

I gripped the phone tightly, my heart hammering against my ribs. "What did you just say?"

"Femi didn't just give her your inheritance money," Pamela confessed through her tears. "Funmi promised him a five percent stake in her logistics firm if he cleared her custom clearance forms through his bank's trade desk! He thought he was signing routine commercial tax waivers, but he was approving forged bill-of-lading documents for illegal cargo!"

Ada covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide with shock.

"Pamela," I said, keeping my voice as steady as possible. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because Funmi is going to destroy everyone to protect herself!" Pamela gasped. "She knows the Federal Investigation Bureau is going to open those crates tomorrow morning because of your court injunction. She’s going to the Yaba apartment right now to force Femi to sign a fake confession taking full responsibility for the entire operation!"

"He's an idiot," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "A arrogant, gullible idiot."

"Bolu, if Femi signs those documents, your name is on those joint banking records too," Pamela warned. "They will drag you into this as an accomplice! You have to stop him from signing anything tonight!"

The call disconnected with a sharp click.

I stood up instantly, tossing the warm tea aside and grabbing my heavy denim jacket from the chair.

"Bolu, no," Ada said, rushing to block the bedroom door. "You are not going back there! Let Femi burn in the fire he built for himself! It's not your job to save him!"

"I'm not going back to save Femi, Ada," I said, pulling my van keys from my pocket, my eyes hard as flint. "I'm going back to secure the original paper ledger he keeps in his study safe. If Funmi gets her hands on that ledger, she wipes her name from the records and leaves my family's estate liable for millions in customs fines. I built my business with my own two hands, and I am not letting that woman tear it down."