Kasarani was already alive with the rhythm of the city when I arrived—cars honking, street vendors shouting, the crisp morning air thick with the scent of frying mandazis and freshly brewed chai. The clock read nine sharp. I had an hour before I needed to clock in, enough time to gather my wits, process last night’s madness, and maybe—just maybe—convince myself this was all just a fever dream.
I exhaled deeply as Federick, stepped out and opened the car door. The warmth of the Nairobi sun kissed my skin as I moved to leave, my mind still weighed down with the events of the night before.
"Thank you, miss," Fedreck's voice pulled me back to reality.
I paused mid-step, turning to him with a frown. "For what?"
He offered a small, almost sheepish smile. "You see if you hadn’t agreed to marry the boss, he would have fired me—and I really need this job." His chuckle was nervous, the kind of laugh that carried both relief and remnants of past anxiety.
I blinked, stunned. Fired him?
"Wait, what?" My brows knitted together. "Why would he do that? It’s not like this is even a real marriage or something."
Frederick let out a knowing chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, you see… something came up, and he really needed a bride. Fast. And I was in charge of making it happen. I actually found a girl, but the moment she heard about his, uh, conditions, she bailed at the last minute." He let out a dramatic sigh. "If you hadn’t stepped in, my job would have been poof—gone!"
I stared at him, mouth slightly open.
He really would have fired him?
What kind of man was I dealing with?
I shook my head, inhaling sharply. "Well, don’t worry," I muttered. "I have my own reasons for marrying him."
"Ah, I see." Fedreck nodded with a knowing look, as if my reasons were some grand mystery he wouldn't dare question. "Nonetheless, I’m still grateful."
With that, he tipped his head in appreciation and slipped back into the driver’s seat, pulling away from the curb.
I released another deep sigh, rolling my shoulders as I turned to my phone.
It was an absolute wreckage.
Ten missed calls from Genny. Five from Grace. And just as I was about to process that, my stomach twisted at the sight of another name.
Daniel.
The audacity.
Before I could call Genny back, the front gate swung open, and there she was—Genny, standing with her hands on her hips, looking every bit like an exasperated mother ready to scold her runaway child.
"What gives, girl?!" she cried out the moment I stepped in. "I’ve been calling you all night, and you weren’t picking!"
I barely had time to process her words before Grace emerged from the house, toothbrush still in her mouth, a glass of water in one hand. Her disheveled sweatshirt and shorts combo told me she had only just rolled out of bed.
"What the hell happened?" she demanded, her voice muffled by the toothbrush. "You weren’t clear on the phone last night!"
I opened my mouth to respond—then froze.
Oh no.
My jaw slackened as bits and pieces of last night’s phone conversation played in my mind. Drunken ramblings, incoherent slurs, something about Daniel cheating, something about marriage—oh, God.
A laugh bubbled out of me before I could stop it, followed by another nervous chuckle as more embarrassing memories resurfaced.
"I called you guys?" I blurted out, running a hand through my hair. "Oh, I’m screwed."
***
Grace yanked the toothbrush from her mouth, her eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. "What?!"
"Oh, girl!" Genny groaned, throwing her hands in the air. "I always knew you were crazy, but this—this is next-level insanity!"
The two of them stared at me, waiting for an explanation—one that I wasn’t even sure I could give because what the hell was I supposed to say?
Genny, my partner in crime since high school, worked in the same company as me. Grace, on the other hand, was a skincare consultant for Lush and Beauty Cosmetics, the same company that gave me the contract to help that cheating bastard!
I let out a long, drawn-out sigh. "Yeah, I know. But just thinking about those two… I couldn’t think straight."
Grace shook her head. "Yeah, that’s crazy. From catching your boyfriend cheating to—" She paused mid-sentence, her gaze flickering to the coffee table.
I followed her stare. Newspapers were scattered across the surface, headlines in bold print, but it was the image in the Standard that made my breath hitch.
I stiffened.
My hands shot forward, snatching the newspaper as my heart slammed against my ribs.
"Oh. My. God."
Genny and Grace’s heads snapped toward me.
"What now?!" Grace asked, eyes wide.
I pointed at the newspaper, my mouth moving, but no sound came out. My throat was dry, my brain struggling to form words.
Genny frowned. "Girl, speak! What is it?"
I swallowed thickly, my finger trembling as I tapped the face of the man plastered across the front page.
"It’s him," I rasped. "He’s the one I just married."
Silence.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
Both girls screamed, Grace nearly choking on her water, while Genny clutched her chest like she was about to have a heart attack.
"You—" Grace pointed at me, eyes impossibly wide. "You fucking married Kurtis Otias?!"
I nodded repeatedly, my brain still struggling to comprehend it myself.
"Why?!" Genny demanded.
I blinked, forcing out a weak smile. "Uh… surprise?"
Grace grabbed her head. "Oh, no. No, no, no. Do you even know what you just did?!"
I opened my mouth to answer, but she wasn’t done.
"Kurtis freaking Otias! That’s the richest bachelor in Kenya—the only son of Martin L. Otias! One of the biggest tycoons in this country! Do you have any idea how rare this man is?!"
I could only nod.
Genny sucked in a deep breath, pacing the living room as if the weight of my marriage was too much for her to handle.
"Okay, girl," she exhaled sharply. "What have you done?"
I let out an awkward chuckle, scratching the back of my neck. "Uh… married him?"
Genny turned to me slowly, deadpan. "You just secured a rare gem."
Grace groaned, collapsing onto the couch. "Forget rare gem. That’s an entire freaking diamond mine!"
I sighed. "Well, technically, he married me—"
"Oh, girl, shut up," Genny interjected.
“Okay, let’s all calm down!” Grace exclaims, guiding me to the sofa and handing me a glass of water. “So, what’s the plan here?”
“Plan?” I echo, confusion knitting my brows as I take a sip.
“You just fucking married your boss. You do realize that, right?” she states flatly.
“Yeah, Eve. He’s the one who just bought Jade Jewelries,” Genny adds, her tone composed as both of them close in on me.
“And,” Grace sighs dramatically, “he’s technically my supervisor and also my team leader.” She shakes her head. “Of all the people, you had to pick him.”
“Why?” I frown, still not seeing the big deal.
“Come on, haven’t you heard the rumors?” Grace asks incredulously.
“What rumors?”
“Cold. Always annoyed. Doesn’t believe in second chances. Screw up once, and you’re out. People call him ‘The Devil Judge.’ Some say he’s not even human—just a nightmare in a tailored suit,” Genny explains, shuddering for effect.
“It’s not just rumors, Eve,” Grace cuts in. “He’s self-centered beyond belief. Everything has to go his way. I won’t deny he’s a genius, but—” she pauses, her expression darkening.
“But what?”
“His personality is absolute trash. I mean, if there was a contest for the worst human being alive, he’d win first, second, and third place. He really is a nightmare!”
I groan, collapsing into the cushions. “What the hell have I done?”
As if on cue, my phone blares to life. Dan. Of course, it had to be fucking Dan. I hit the speaker button with an eye roll.
“Where the hell are you, Evelyn?” he barks.
“What’s going on?” I feign innocence.
“Have you forgotten? We’re supposed to present the jewelry project today!” His voice is tight with anger.
“Ohhhh!” I gasp dramatically, pretending it had completely slipped my mind.
“Get here now! We’re meeting the supervisors. Including the new CEO. You need to be here!”
He hangs up before I can respond.
“Jeez, what a loser,” Genny mutters, shaking her head. “Damn, Eve, how could you just walk out like that?”
“I second that,” Grace says. “You should’ve kicked the door open and smashed the bottle of the wine over his head.”
I chuckle softly. Grace was fully capable of that. I had witnessed her single-handedly wreck her ex’s wedding. She was the firecracker of our trio.
Suddenly, an idea slams into me like a freight train. I shoot to my feet, palms slamming against the table.
“What is it?” they ask in unison.
A slow, wicked grin spreads across my face. “I’ve got it. This marriage might actually be the best decision I’ve ever made.”
“What?” Grace and Genny blink at me in confusion.
“Like you said, Kurtis doesn’t believe in second chances, right?” I ask, eyes glinting.
“Yeah,” Grace nods, “technically, he’s sponsoring the project.”
“Exactly! And if I do the presentation, initially, all the credit would go to Dan, since he’s the team leader. But we all know who actually did most of the work.”
“So?” Grace still looks puzzled.
I lean in, voice dripping with amusement. “Baby, this is Kurtis we’re talking about—the self-centered, control-freak Kurtis.”
Genny’s eyes widen, and suddenly, she claps, springing up. “I get it! If you answer most of the questions, he’ll know it was you who did all the work. By now, he would have already looked into your background.”
“Exactly,” I purr. “And once he realizes Dan is nothing but a fraud, his promotion will be as good as dead.”
“But Eve, the idea you created was already approved. His promotion is inevitable as the team leader,” Genny protests.
“Not if Kurtis sees him for the pathetic fake he is,” I counter, gripping a newspaper and crumpling it tightly in my fists. My pulse quickens with exhilaration. “I’m going to expose him. I’m going to rip his career apart, piece by piece, and show him exactly who the hell he messed with!”
Bright lights. Screams. Footsteps echoing down a corridor.I stood frozen in the hallway, a million thoughts clawing through my head, my heart hammering like a warning bell in my chest. Nurses rushed past me, the blaring siren of an approaching ambulance still ringing faintly in the distance.Someone had pulled me back as Dan carried her down the stairs—Selena’s limp body cradled in his arms, her head lolling like a rag doll, blood painting the edge of her dress.I didn’t know if I screamed or just imagined it."Get out of the way!" a nurse shouted as they wheeled her down the corridor.Dan didn’t even glance my way.He followed them, his shirt soaked with her blood, his face a mask of rage and fear. It hit me then—how much he cared. How deep it must’ve run, no matter how much he denied it before.They took her into the emergency ward, and I was left standing alone under those too-bright, too-cold hospital lights.[Hours Later – Waiting Room]The hospital was a cage of silence now, br
Although she insisted she could handle it, I couldn’t help but prepare for the worst. I needed to be ready—just in case.My stomach twisted as I stared down at the documents in front of me. Medical records, dates, and confirmation lines.“She’s pregnant?” I scoffed, letting out a dry, humorless chuckle, though the annoyance in my voice betrayed the anger simmering beneath the surface.“Yeah,” Fedrick replied flatly, standing to the side with his hands tucked behind his back. “Four months along, confirmed.”I gritted my teeth. “What a bastard…”“What should we do, boss?” Fedrick asked, his tone low and cautious.I let out a long breath, fingers tapping against the mahogany desk. “I wanted to step in, but she asked me not to. So we’ll keep our distance... for now.”I spun my chair around, gazing out the window at the rain streaking down the glass.“Gavin’s the one representing Bianco this time,” I added, voice steely. “I want you to keep both eyes on him. He plays dirty, always has. If
KURTISI was heading out for a meeting with some shareholders. The game was about to start, all thanks to Mr. Abdalla’s push. It should’ve been a good day.But fate always had its way of pulling the rug.The moment we stepped out of the house, the sky cracked open and rain began to pour, thick and unrelenting.Just as I was sliding into the backseat, Fedrick’s voice cut through the hum of the downpour.“Sir… isn’t that Miss Evelyn?”I looked up sharply, eyes narrowing at the figure stepping out of a cab just beyond the gate. My breath caught.It was her.Standing alone in the pouring rain—no coat, no umbrella, not even a shawl. Just the same dress she wore earlier that morning. Her hair clung to her cheeks, makeup ruined, her body trembling beneath the weight of the storm.“What the hell…?” I muttered, already flinging the car door open.Without thinking, I tore off my coat and rushed toward her, ignoring the rain as I wrapped it around her frail, soaked frame. Her lips parted, eyes w
You know, at this point, something like this shouldn’t shake me.But it does.Not because I’m seeing it again. God knows this scene is becoming a rerun at this point.What kills me—what burns right through my chest—is that he was the one who texted me. Urgently. Like something life-changing couldn’t wait another second. And then he brings her? And has the nerve to let me walk right into this mess like it’s some twisted open invitation?“Evelyn… I… it’s not what you think,” Dan stammers, keys slipping between his trembling fingers like guilt he can’t quite hold onto.I mean, seriously?His tie’s half-looped like he yanked it loose in a rush, three buttons undone, shirt disheveled like it had been clawed open. His coat’s just lying there on the floor, like it gave up trying to hold any dignity for him.I feel my throat tightening, the betrayal pressing hard against my ribs.“What’s the meaning of this?” I ask, breathless, my voice cracked between fury and disbelief. “If you’re going to
“Next Saturday, I want to take you out for lunch. Just the two of us,” Victoria whispered as Fedrick parked the car.I glanced at her with a teasing smile. “Well, if you’re buying, then why not?”We both chuckled softly.“Then it’s a date.”After a few parting goodbyes, we climbed into the car. The air inside felt thick—charged with tension, emotions, or maybe it was just my stupid heart acting up again. It couldn’t handle being around him without doing backflips in my chest.So, I did what any sane person would do when someone’s presence starts messing with your thoughts—I avoided looking at him altogether. I cracked the window open just a little and let the wind graze my face, focusing on anything outside that wasn’t him.As usual, he was completely absorbed in his laptop, typing away like the world around him didn’t exist.“What did you talk about with Victoria?” he asked, smooth as silk.“Nothing. Just girl talk,” I replied lightly, hoping he’d drop it.Silence followed. But it wa
Her breath was soft—gentle, almost rhythmic. By now, she was deep asleep. Completely gone.And yet I… I couldn’t take my eyes off her.The taste of her lips still lingered—faint but maddeningly present. They were slightly swollen, kissed raw by me, and my tongue kept chasing the memory like it wasn’t ready to let go.I’ve kissed a lot of women.Some were tactics—tools in the mess of scandals I used to orchestrate. Others were fleeting distractions, faces I barely remember now. But her?Evelyn was different.Every time I kissed her, something inside me shifted. My chest tightened, my pulse raced like I’d never done it before. There was this strange, almost helpless ache in me—like I could kiss her for hours and still want more.And now, lying beside her… watching her sleep?God.How the hell can someone be so damn beautiful doing nothing but breathing?Her lips were parted, ever so slightly, letting out the softest little sighs—almost a whisper. The kind of breath that brushed again