Maiden Passion

Chapter 12

The silence inside Boca Holdings’ boardroom was heavy, like a fog that settled with intention. Ben sat at the head of the polished mahogany table, back straight, his fingers steepled in contemplation. Across the table sat two of his father's most trusted advisers. They were speaking, but their voices faded into the backdrop of Ben’s thoughts—he was calculating, drawing mental lines between dots that only he seemed able to see.

For weeks now, he had been moving in silence. Vinx Wrist Collections was no longer just a passion project; it had quietly grown into a lifeline. He’d secured minor but strategic distribution agreements in Abuja and Accra and the early-stage whispers of interest from a tech conglomerate in Austin. But the success came with a price—Jane.

She was still on him like perfume that wouldn't fade. Her obsession had grown since that night. She would brush his shoulder in the hallway, whisper suggestive innuendos, or drop cryptic texts late into the night. It wasn’t just attraction. It was possession. And the worst part—Ben couldn’t show his hand just yet. Not until he figured out how deep her influence ran.

Meanwhile, Frank, Chief Laz's long-serving assistant, had taken a quiet but concerning turn. He’d started asking questions he had no business asking—about Diana’s father's assets, about Chief Laz’s offshore holdings, and, most curiously, about Vinx’s rapid growth. Ben had reported it subtly to his father, but Chief Laz was dismissive—too trusting of a man who’d been at his side for decades. What Chief Laz didn’t know was that Frank wasn’t just reporting to Shadrach—there was someone else. Someone more dangerous. A shadow man. Even Ben couldn’t trace his identity yet.

Ben tapped a single key on his laptop, turning off the presentation on the large screen. "Gentlemen, that’s all for now. Let me digest these projections before we proceed."

The two advisers nodded, shuffled their documents, and left the room with brisk professionalism. As the door shut, Ben exhaled and leaned back, just as the side door creaked.

Jane walked in without knocking, dressed in a slate grey sheath dress that clung in the wrong places, her eyes hungry, her lips already in a smirk.

"You’re dodging my calls, Benny."

He forced a calm smile. "Been in meetings."

She closed the door behind her. "Don’t play me. You said one night. It’s been weeks, and you’re still avoiding what we both know is real."

Ben stood slowly, his tone cool. "There’s nothing real about what happened. It was a mistake. One I don’t plan to repeat."

She stepped closer, her fingers trailing the table. "You sure about that? Because I have footage from that night. Security cam was accidentally left on. Imagine if Diana or the board saw it."

Ben’s jaw clenched. This was new. She hadn’t mentioned footage before. It wasn't just her word anymore—it was evidence.

"You think blackmail will keep me close? You think this will end well for you?"

Jane's smile widened. "It’ll end exactly the way I want. Unless... you’d rather negotiate?"

Before Ben could answer, his phone buzzed. A message from Tomiwa: "Frank was seen entering a private gambling lounge in Lekki. He's not alone. Following now. Will report back."

Ben’s eyes narrowed.

Jane tried to peek. "Secrets again?"

He turned the phone face down. "Get out, Jane."

She laughed lightly, stepping back. "You’ll call me when you realize I own you."

Ben waited until she left. Before pulling out a second phone—his secure line; only three people had the number. He dialed Tomiwa.

"Still trailing him," Tomiwa said before Ben could speak. "He’s meeting someone. Not Shadrach. Too careful. I think it’s the man Alex fears."

Ben stiffened. "Get a name. A face. And stay safe."

He ended the call and stood in the quiet room. Jane was no longer the biggest threat. Something darker was brewing—and if this mystery man had ties to Frank, then the rot in Boca Holdings ran deeper than anyone suspected.

---

Hours later, Ben met his father in their private lounge on the top floor of Boca Holdings. Chief Laz, dressed in a crisp white agbada, leaned back on the leather couch, his arthritic fingers curled around a glass of non-alcoholic wine.

"Son, you’ve been distant. Is business wearing you down"?

Ben shook his head. "I think we need to watch Frank more closely. He’s too interested in Vinx and Diana’s family. He’s playing both sides."

Chief Laz sighed. "Frank is loyal. He’s been my eyes and ears for twenty years."

"Even loyal men can be bought. Especially with secrets."

Chief Laz rubbed his aching knee. "You may be right. But be careful, Ben. This company’s enemies don’t always wear masks. Some smile over dinner."

Ben nodded, understanding the message: trust no one.

---

That evening, Ben sat alone in the Vinx studio, reviewing designs for a new wristwatch collection. The room was filled with sketches, prototypes, and innovation. He could lose himself here—but the past kept clawing back.

He thought of Diana. Of Gambia. Of how her father had looked him over with those piercing eyes before finally giving his blessing.

"You love her?" the old man had asked.

"More than I love myself," Ben had answered.

The man had nodded. "Then build something worthy of her. Not just a company. A legacy."

Ben was trying.

But Jane. Frank. Alex. The mystery man. All of it was a tangled web—and the center was starting to burn.

He picked up his phone and began drafting a message to Diana. He needed to tell her everything. Before Jane did.

Just as he hit send, a photo attachment came in from Tomiwa. It showed Frank sitting at a poker table—across from a man whose face was blurred by shadows. But Ben recognized the tattoo on the man’s wrist.

He’d seen it once before.

On a bodyguard at Shadrach’s villa years ago.

He deleted the message to Diana. The truth would have to wait.

Because the real game had just begun.