Collided worlds

Chapter five

Trojan's POV

Trojan woke up with a pounding headache.

He had spent the better part of the previous night drinking like his life depended on it — which in a way, he felt it did. His parents' ultimatum had been replaying in his head on a loop since they dropped it on him two days ago.

He couldn't risk losing everything. Not his inheritance, not his lifestyle, not the empire his parents had spent decades building. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed a plan.

He was still lying there trying to manage his hangover when his phone buzzed on the nightstand. He squinted at the screen.

It was Dami — one of his closest friends, based in Amsterdam. They had met during a business trip where Trojan had represented his father at an international conference. Dami ran four companies of his own with branches across Europe. One of the few people Trojan actually respected.

He picked up.

"Hey fam," Dami's voice came through cheerfully. It was clearly still nighttime in Amsterdam.

"How you doing," Trojan replied flatly.

There was a brief pause.

"You good? You don't sound like yourself."

"My parents have given me an ultimatum," Trojan said, sitting up slowly. "Get married before my birthday or lose everything."

"Damn," Dami said. Then laughed. "Don't they know you're not ready for all that?"

"Clearly they don't give a damn," Trojan muttered.

"So what's the plan?"

Trojan was quiet for a moment. Then something clicked.

"I go back to the office. The Lekki branch — the one handling tech, international trade and business. Show them I'm being responsible." He paused. "And I find a girl. Someone I have history with who would be willing to sign a contract. Just enough to convince my parents I'm serious about settling down."

"A fake marriage," Dami said slowly. Then burst out laughing. "Bro."

"No strings attached," Trojan said, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Nobody gets hurt. My parents get what they want. I keep everything. Simple."

"I knew you'd figure something out," Dami laughed. "Only you."

"I have to go — I need to start making moves," Trojan said. "And I'm still upset about that party."

"Once Nigeria is sorted you'll party twice as hard," Dami assured him.

They both laughed and he ended the call.

Trojan stared at the ceiling for a moment, turning the plan over in his mind.

A fake marriage. Clean, controlled, temporary.

He smiled to himself.

This was going to be easy.