Chapter 9: Betrayal Within
1114 Words
Adebola returned to her office, the adrenaline from the board meeting still coursing through her veins. The victory was small, but meaningful — a temporary shield against Morenike’s relentless schemes. Yet, as she sank into her chair, the nagging feeling of unease returned.
Her phone buzzed again. Another email from a board member. Adebola frowned and opened it carefully:
“Ma’am… I hate to say this, but I think we have a leak. Some internal memos have been reaching Morenike before the official release. We need to act quickly.”
Her chest tightened. Someone within her inner circle had betrayed her. Someone she had trusted.
Chinedu appeared silently behind her, noticing the tension in her expression. “You found out?” he asked.
“Yes… and it hurts more than I expected,” Adebola admitted. “To think someone I considered loyal is feeding her information… It’s not just business anymore; it’s personal.”
Chinedu nodded solemnly. “Betrayal always feels heavier when it comes from those closest to you.”
She rubbed her temples, trying to steady her racing thoughts. “We need to identify them before they cause irreparable damage. Every document, every memo — review it. Every message — trace it. Nothing escapes us now.”
He placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll handle it together.”
Adebola gave him a small, grateful smile. His presence was the only thing grounding her in the chaos of the corporate battlefield.
By mid-morning, the team had gathered in her office. Adebola paced the room, reviewing logs, emails, and reports with meticulous precision. She watched her team carefully, noting every twitch, every hesitation, every flicker of expression.
Hours passed. Frustration gnawed at her — there were too many possibilities, too many ways Morenike could manipulate events. And then she noticed a pattern: subtle, almost imperceptible, but there. Certain memos were accessed at odd hours, often by the same person.
Her stomach twisted as the realization sank in. “It’s… him,” she whispered under her breath.
Chinedu looked up, sensing her conclusion. “Who?”
“One of the junior managers I trusted… he’s been feeding Morenike information,” she said, voice tight with controlled anger.
Chinedu’s jaw set. “Then we confront him. Carefully. No rash moves. We need proof before anyone else suspects anything.”
Adebola nodded. “Agreed. I can’t let emotions drive this… but I won’t forgive betrayal either. Not now, not ever.”
The confrontation was tense. Adebola summoned the junior manager to her office. He entered confidently, oblivious to the storm about to descend.
“Adebola, what’s—” he began, but she cut him off with a steady gaze.
“Sit,” she said calmly, though every muscle in her body was taut. “I have some questions about recent memos and the way certain information has been disseminated.”
His expression faltered slightly. “I don’t—”
“I have evidence,” she interrupted, sliding a tablet across the desk. Emails, timestamps, access logs — all pointing clearly to him.
He swallowed, suddenly aware that the game had ended. “I… I can explain,” he stammered.
Adebola’s voice was cold. “Save it. Morenike has been exploiting your carelessness for weeks. If this were any other time, I might have let you off with a warning. But not now. Not when my father’s health and the company’s future are at stake.”
Chinedu stepped in quietly, his presence adding weight to her words. “You made your choice. Now accept the consequences.”
The junior manager hung his head, realizing that the boardroom wars had just become personal. Adebola’s resolve, forged in months of pressure and heartbreak, had hardened into something unyielding.
After the confrontation, Adebola leaned back in her chair, finally allowing herself a long, slow exhale. The betrayal stung, but it also clarified one thing: she couldn’t trust blind loyalty — only discernment, strategy, and her own instincts.
Chinedu sat across from her, his gaze steady. “You handled that well,” he said softly.
Adebola’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “It hurts… but it had to be done. I can’t let emotions cloud judgment. Not with Morenike waiting to exploit any weakness.”
He nodded, his eyes lingering on her with something deeper, unspoken. The air between them felt charged — a mix of tension, relief, and the spark that had been building for weeks. Adebola caught herself staring, heart skipping a beat, and looked away quickly.
She couldn’t afford distractions, not yet. There were battles to fight — in the boardroom, at Lawson Holdings, and within her own heart.
Later that evening, as Lagos hummed outside the office windows, Adebola reviewed the revised contracts, preparing for the next board challenge. Chinedu remained nearby, quietly reviewing financial reports, his presence a constant reassurance.
For a moment, the two of them worked in silence, the weight of their shared mission connecting them more than words could.
Adebola finally spoke, her voice soft. “Do you ever feel… exhausted by all of this?”
Chinedu looked up, eyes thoughtful. “Every day. But seeing how far you’ve come… how you face everything with courage… it inspires me. You’re stronger than you realize.”
Her chest tightened at his words. For the first time in months, she let herself feel the possibility of hope — hope that they could survive Morenike’s schemes, hope that her father would recover fully, hope that the bond with Chinedu could survive the chaos.
But just as she allowed herself that thought, a new email popped up on her screen. Her eyes scanned the message, and her stomach dropped.
It was from an anonymous source:
“Morenike knows you’re closing in on her inside network. She has another move planned — and this time, it won’t just affect the company. Be careful… or someone you trust may pay the price.”
Adebola felt the weight of the words. The battle was far from over. But she didn’t flinch.
She looked at Chinedu, who met her gaze, unwavering.
“Then we fight,” she said quietly. “Together.”
He nodded, a faint, approving smile tugging at his lips. “Together.”
The city lights outside the window shimmered, distant and relentless, much like the challenges ahead. But inside that office, Adebola felt a spark of determination — a fire that would not be extinguished, no matter the shadows that lingered, no matter the betrayals waiting to strike.
She had survived this far. She would survive the rest.
And Morenike would learn — the hard way — that Adebola Lawson was not a girl to underestimate.
- Writer
