The Questions He Shouldn’t Ask
1570 Words
The next morning, Daniella arrived at Adebayo Prime Realty with one thought on her mind.
Stay calm.
She had barely slept after Stephen’s mother called her.
The woman’s voice had brought back every fear Daniella had buried for eleven years.
She knew the warning had not been an empty threat.
Stephen’s mother had always been powerful.
And now, with Stephen beginning to question the past, Daniella was terrified that everything she had protected for years would collapse.
She walked toward her desk and opened her laptop.
A shadow fell across the table.
She looked up.
Stephen.
Her heart immediately began beating faster.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Good morning.”
He placed a folder on her desk.
“The Victoria Island campaign.”
She opened it.
“I’ve reviewed your proposal.”
“And?”
“I like it.”
Daniella looked surprised.
“Thank you.”
“But I want changes.”
Her eyebrows lifted.
“What changes?”
“I want you to personally present the campaign to the board.”
She stared at him.
“The board?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a big responsibility.”
“I know.”
“Why me?”
Stephen looked directly into her eyes.
“Because I want to see what you’re capable of.”
Daniella nodded.
“I’ll do it.”
He didn’t move.
She looked up.
“Is there anything else?”
“Yes.”
His voice became quieter.
“I have questions.”
Her stomach tightened.
“About the project?”
“No.”
She knew exactly what he meant.
“Stephen—”
“Don’t call me that.”
She froze.
He looked almost irritated.
“Call me Mr. Adebayo.”
Daniella nodded.
“Of course, Mr. Adebayo.”
He stared at her for a few seconds.
“Where did you grow up?”
“Lagos.”
“Where in Lagos?”
She hesitated.
“Surulere.”
“Which secondary school?”
Her heart skipped.
Why was he asking these questions?
“A school in Lagos.”
Stephen’s eyes narrowed.
“That isn’t an answer.”
She forced a smile.
“Does it matter?”
“It might.”
“Why?”
He leaned closer.
“Because I think I know you.”
Daniella’s heart nearly stopped.
She stood.
“I have work to do.”
She picked up the folder.
“Daniella.”
She stopped.
“Why are you afraid of me?”
She turned slowly.
“I am not afraid of you.”
“Then look at me.”
She did.
Their eyes locked.
For a moment, the office disappeared.
She saw the boy she once loved.
He saw something he couldn’t explain.
Stephen stepped closer.
“You look at me like you know me.”
Daniella’s voice trembled.
“Maybe I know the kind of person you are.”
“What kind of person am I?”
She swallowed.
“Someone who doesn’t give up.”
Something changed in his expression.
Those words.
They sounded familiar.
He remembered a girl saying almost the same thing.
“Stephen, you don’t give up. You’re going to succeed one day.”
He blinked.
The memory disappeared.
Daniella saw his expression change.
She quickly turned away.
“I need to work.”
Stephen finally stepped back.
“Fine.”
He walked away.
But he wasn’t satisfied.
Not even close.
⸻
Later that afternoon, Daniella presented the new marketing strategy to the board.
She stood confidently in front of the executives, explaining how the company could increase sales by targeting younger investors.
Stephen watched from the end of the table.
He couldn’t stop looking at her.
She was different from the woman he had expected.
Confident.
Intelligent.
Calm under pressure.
When she finished, the room fell silent.
Then one of the directors smiled.
“Excellent presentation.”
Another nodded.
“I agree. We should approve it.”
Stephen leaned back.
“I agree.”
Daniella looked at him.
Their eyes met.
For the first time since returning to his company, she felt proud.
She had earned her place.
After the meeting, Stephen caught up with her in the hallway.
“You did well.”
“Thank you.”
“You were nervous.”
“A little.”
“You didn’t show it.”
She smiled.
“You taught me something a long time ago.”
Stephen frowned.
“What?”
She immediately realized her mistake.
“Nothing.”
“You said I taught you something.”
“I meant someone else.”
He stared at her.
“Who?”
She walked away.
Stephen followed.
“Daniella.”
She stopped.
“You’re hiding something.”
She turned.
“We all have things we don’t talk about.”
“Not from me.”
“You’re not entitled to my past.”
His jaw tightened.
“Maybe I’m trying to understand it.”
“Why?”
He didn’t answer.
Because he didn’t understand why she mattered.
Because he hated her.
At least, he was supposed to.
But every time he looked at her, that hatred became harder to hold onto.
⸻
That evening, Vanessa arrived at Stephen’s office unexpectedly.
She walked in wearing an elegant dress, carrying a small gift bag.
“I wanted to surprise you.”
Stephen looked up from his laptop.
“Vanessa.”
She smiled.
“You sound disappointed.”
“I’m just busy.”
She placed the bag on his desk.
“I brought you something.”
“Thank you.”
He barely looked at it.
Vanessa noticed.
Her smile faded.
“Stephen.”
“Yes?”
“Are you seeing someone?”
He looked at her.
“No.”
“Are you interested in someone?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
That was enough for her.
“It’s Daniella, isn’t it?”
Stephen’s expression hardened.
“Don’t bring her into this.”
“So there is something.”
“There is nothing.”
“Then why are you defending her?”
“I’m not.”
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“You’ve changed since she arrived.”
Stephen stood.
“That’s enough.”
Vanessa stared at him.
“You’ve never spoken to me like that.”
“Because you’re imagining things.”
“Am I?”
She walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
“I’ve waited three years for you to make me your wife.”
Stephen remained silent.
Vanessa looked hurt.
“Maybe I should stop waiting.”
She walked out.
Stephen sighed.
He rubbed his forehead.
His relationship with Vanessa had never felt complicated.
Until Daniella returned.
⸻
Meanwhile, Daniella sat in her car outside her apartment.
She couldn’t bring herself to go inside.
Her mother’s warning kept echoing in her mind.
Then her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She stared at it.
She didn’t answer.
It rang again.
She answered reluctantly.
“Hello?”
A man’s voice spoke.
“Daniella?”
“Yes.”
“I’m calling about Daniel.”
Her entire body froze.
“Who are you?”
“You don’t know me.”
“Then how do you know my son?”
The man laughed softly.
“You should be more careful about the secrets you keep.”
Daniella’s heart pounded.
“What do you want?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why call me?”
“To warn you.”
“About what?”
“Stephen is investigating your past.”
She closed her eyes.
“How do you know?”
“Because some people don’t want him to find the truth.”
The call ended.
Daniella stared at her phone.
Someone else knew.
Someone knew about Daniel.
She immediately started the car.
⸻
Across town, Stephen sat alone in his office.
His assistant had placed an old university record on his desk.
Stephen stared at the document.
Daniella had enrolled in university eleven years ago.
But there was something strange.
Her records showed that she had withdrawn unexpectedly.
No explanation.
No transfer.
Nothing.
Then, three years later, she appeared in Lagos again.
Stephen frowned.
Why?
What had happened during those missing years?
His phone rang.
It was his mother.
He answered.
“Mother.”
“You’re asking questions about Daniella.”
Stephen’s eyes narrowed.
“Who told you?”
“I know everything that concerns you.”
“I found her university records.”
Silence.
“Why did she leave?”
“She wanted to.”
“That’s not what the records say.”
His mother sighed.
“Stephen, let the past remain buried.”
“No.”
His voice was firm.
“I’ve spent eleven years believing she betrayed me.”
“She did.”
“Then why are you afraid of my questions?”
His mother said nothing.
Stephen stood.
“Did you threaten her?”
The silence was answer enough.
His eyes widened.
“Mother?”
“I did what I had to do.”
His heart sank.
“What did you do?”
“She was going to destroy your future.”
Stephen’s voice became cold.
“What did you do to her?”
Before his mother could answer, the call ended.
Stephen stared at his phone.
For eleven years, he had hated Daniella.
But now, for the first time, he wondered if he had been hating the wrong person.
And if his mother had truly forced Daniella to leave…
There was only one question left.
What was she protecting him from?
To be continued…
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