The night had finally arrived—the most anticipated event on Ridgefall's calendar. The Grand Prom Ball. A night where masks weren't just a theme—they were protection, armor, deception.
The campus had transformed into a fantasy. Golden lanterns floated above the garden, glowing softly against the deep indigo sky. A live orchestra played soft jazz while red carpets led to the extravagant ballroom set at the Ridgefall Royal Hotel—owned by none other than Gloria's family.
--
Ochieng stepped out of a matte-black custom Rolls-Royce Phantom, escorted by Jeff and Linet. He wore a sleek obsidian tuxedo, no mask—because he wanted them to see him. His watch sparkled. His presence? Even more.
Women turned, jaws dropping. Men adjusted their collars. Photographers snapped but didn't dare flash.
Inside, the ballroom was alive with motion and temptation. Vivienne (21) wore an emerald slit dress that hugged her every curve, her long lashes fluttering behind a diamond-encrusted mask. She approached Ochieng like a predator.
"Ochieng," she whispered, touching his chest. "You clean up well."
He didn't look at her. "I'm not here for flattery."
Vivienne's smile curled. "Then you'll love what I've planned."
---
Zahra stood in front of her mirror, heart pounding. She wore a shimmering lilac gown, her long braids cascading down her bare back. Her roommate, Nessa, gasped. "Girl… he'll faint when he sees you."
Zahra's hands trembled. "If he even wants to see me…"
But in her purse was a letter. A handwritten note slipped under her door that morning.
"Tonight, under the roses, no masks—just us."
—O.
Her heart lit with hope.
---
As couples twirled and clinked glasses, the announcer called for attention.
"Introducing a surprise performance from Ridgefall's finest," he declared.
Suddenly, a spotlight hit the stage—Clara, the stunning literature professor, in a deep red velvet gown, singing an old jazz ballad. Her voice was haunting. Seductive. Sad.
All eyes turned.
Especially Ochieng's.
Gloria, beside him, leaned in. "She's still yours, isn't she?"
"I don't belong to anyone," he replied coldly.
Gloria's smirk deepened. "Not yet."
---
In the hotel's VIP boardroom, Linet met with Xavier Damon, heir to an international banking empire.
"You're here for the prom?" she teased.
He smiled, pushing his contract across the table. "I'm here to see Ochieng's next move. And to offer what the Santiagos can't—global banking access. In exchange… I want access to the tech you're developing."
Jeff raised an eyebrow. "Bold. But what makes you think we're desperate?"
Xavier chuckled. "Because love makes men weak. And tonight, Ochieng's heart is exposed."
---
Zahra stood beneath a rose arch, petals gently falling from the ceiling like snow.
Footsteps.
Her heart stopped.
Ochieng appeared, slowly, his hands behind his back. No tux now—just a black shirt with sleeves rolled, face softer than ever.
"I was scared you wouldn't come," Zahra said.
"I almost didn't."
"Why?"
He paused. "Because tonight, everyone's watching. And if I choose you—there's no going back."
Tears welled in her eyes. "Then don't choose me."
"I already did."
He leaned forward, kissed her gently—and the garden exploded in applause. Spotlights hit them.
It had been a trap.
Vivienne stood behind the press cameras, smiling darkly. "And now the world knows his weakness."
---
In a dark room above the ballroom, Clara and Gloria sat together—two women who hated each other but wanted the same man.
"Do you think she stands a chance?" Clara asked.
Gloria laughed. "She's just the beginning of his downfall."
And somewhere in the crowd, someone else whispered:
"Let the real war begin."
-