The night was heavy with secrets.
Matilda sat in the back of a black luxury sedan, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the leather seat as she stared at the darkened streets rushing past. The air smelled of rain, the city washed in a cold drizzle that mirrored the storm brewing in her mind.
She had been careful. She always was. But Ochieng's empire was shifting beneath him, and with it, the fragile alliances she had once relied on. The surveillance footage had been a risk—a calculated move to uncover the truth. And now, she was caught between loyalty and survival.
The car slowed, turning into an underground parking lot. A lone figure stood near a dimly lit elevator, waiting.
Sophia.
Matilda stepped out, heels clicking softly against the concrete as she approached.
"You came alone?" Sophia asked, her voice unreadable.
Matilda smirked. "Wouldn't be much of a secret meeting if I didn't."
Sophia nodded, studying her for a moment before motioning toward the elevator. "Let's talk upstairs."
The elevator ride was silent, tension thick between them. When the doors opened, Matilda found herself in a penthouse far removed from the chaos of the streets below. It was sleek, modern—too clean, too polished. A place built for power moves.
Sophia poured two glasses of wine, handing one to Matilda. "You've been digging," she said, swirling the deep red liquid. "Ochieng won't like that."
Matilda took a slow sip, locking eyes with her. "Ochieng doesn't know everything."
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "And you do?"
Matilda set her glass down. "I know he's losing control. I know Wendy is playing both sides. I know that Jeff, Linet, and even Wendy have their own agenda. And I know that if I don't act now, I'll be nothing more than collateral damage."
Sophia smirked. "Smart girl."
Matilda leaned in slightly. "I want in."
Sophia's eyes gleamed with interest. "And what exactly are you offering?"
A pause. Then Matilda slid a flash drive across the table. "Evidence. Names. Accounts. The cracks in Ochieng's empire that no one else sees."
Sophia picked it up, weighing it in her hand. "And what do you want in return?"
Matilda's voice was steady. "A guarantee that when Ochieng falls, I don't fall with him."
Sophia chuckled softly. "Ambition suits you."
Matilda held her gaze. "This isn't ambition. It's survival."
Sophia leaned back, sipping her wine. "Then let's make sure you survive."
Outside, the rain poured harder.
And somewhere across the city, Ochieng was already preparing for war.