Maiden Passion

Chapter 11

The city lights of Lagos blurred past as Ben drove toward Collins’ penthouse in Ikoyi. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, his mind racing. Collins had done many reckless things in the past, but this time, he had put Boca Holdings at risk.

Ben was tired of cleaning up his brother’s mess.

A Dangerous Welcome

When Ben arrived, the security at Collins’ building hesitated before letting him in. Everyone knew better than to interfere in family business. He nodded stiffly at the guard as the gates swung open. The lobby was marble and gold, but it couldn’t distract him from the weight in his chest.

He took the elevator up, each floor adding to the tension in his shoulders. Collins was waiting.

The penthouse door swung open before Ben could knock. Collins, dressed in a silk robe, a whiskey glass in hand, leaned lazily against the doorframe.

"Little brother, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?" Collins smirked.

Ben stepped inside without answering. The place reeked of expensive liquor, cigar smoke, and perfume—a sign that Collins had been entertaining. A woman’s laughter echoed from another room.

"You really don’t care, do you?" Ben’s voice was low but sharp.

Collins chuckled, closing the door. "If this is about the money, relax. I have it under control."

Ben’s patience snapped. "No, you don’t, Collins! Two million dollars? From a Dubai investor with a reputation for breaking bones when debts aren’t paid? This isn’t some bar fight you can charm your way out of!"

Collins waved his hand dismissively. "Come on, Ben. You’re the golden boy, always fixing things. I figured you’d handle it."

Ben’s hands curled into fists. "That’s the problem! You expect me to clean up your mess while you gamble and throw money at your baby mamas in different countries!"

Collins’ smirk faltered. "Watch your tone, Ben."

Ben stepped closer, his voice dangerously calm. "No. You watch yours. Because if this deal collapses and Boca Holdings suffers because of you, I will make sure you lose everything."

Collins’ face darkened. For the first time, real tension crackled between them.

"Are you threatening me?"

Ben didn’t blink. "No, Collins. I’m warning you."

Silence filled the room. Then Collins laughed. "Fine, fine. I’ll fix it. I’ll call the investor and handle it."

Ben didn’t trust him. "You have 48 hours. If you don’t pay up, I’ll fix it my way."

Without another word, Ben turned and left. Behind him, Collins stared into his drink, the cocky smile fading from his face.

Jane’s Game

Still seething, Ben left Collins’ penthouse and drove to his private office at Vinx Wrist Collections. He needed a distraction—anything to keep his anger in check. The city streets offered little comfort, but work was the one thing that gave him control.

But when he walked into his office, Jane was waiting for him.

She sat on his desk, her long legs crossed, a playful smirk on her lips. She wore a fitted red dress—deliberate, bold, and dangerous.

"You look stressed, Ben. Bad night?" she purred.

Ben didn’t stop walking. "Get off my desk, Jane."

She slid off slowly, walking toward him, her heels clicking against the marble floor. "So cold. You weren’t like this before."

Ben exhaled sharply. "What do you want?"

Jane placed a hand on his chest, her fingers tracing slow patterns against his shirt. "You know what I want, Ben."

His jaw tightened. "That was a mistake, Jane. A one-time mistake. And if you think—"

"Oh, I know," she interrupted, tilting her head. "But it was a very expensive mistake. One that I could use to my advantage."

Ben froze. Blackmail.

Jane smiled, sensing his tension. "I wonder what your perfect little wife would think if she found out. Or the investors you’re so desperate to impress?"

Ben’s pulse pounded. "You think you can control me?"

Jane stepped even closer, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "I know I can."

Ben clenched his fists. She was playing a dangerous game.

But so was he.

"I’ll give you one chance to walk away from this, Jane," he said, his voice calm but cold. "You’ve made your move. Now be careful with your next one."

Jane arched a brow. "Is that supposed to scare me?"

"It should," Ben replied, stepping past her. "You’re smart, Jane. Smarter than this. You think you know my weaknesses, but you’ve barely scratched the surface."

Her smirk faded slightly as he sat at his desk, pulling up files on his computer. She lingered for a moment longer, but the power dynamic had shifted.

"We’ll see, Ben," she said softly. "We’ll see."

After she left, Ben slumped back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. He couldn’t afford to slip up again. Not with Jane. Not with Collins. Not with Frank lurking in the shadows.

He pulled out his phone and called Tomiwa.

"We have a new problem," he said. "And this one wears lipstick."

"Jane?"

"She’s playing her hand. And it’s dirtier than I thought. I need dirt on her—everything. Family, finances, exes. Anything we can use."

Tomiwa’s tone turned serious. "I’m on it."

Ben hung up and leaned back. The game was getting more dangerous by the day.

But he wasn’t going down without a fight.