*Chapter 14: Daniel’s Plan*
1098 Words
Daniel didn’t sleep that night.
He sat in his study, whiskey untouched, watching the east wing through CCTV. Room 304. Ada’s room. Light off at 11:02pm. On at 2:14am. Off again at 3:40am.
She wasn’t sleeping. Neither was he.
His mind replayed her words with David on loop: `It was always you. Not Daniel.` `We wait. For Baby B.` `No more lies. Promise me.`
His jaw clenched so hard it hurt. 33 years. CEO of Okafor Holdings. He’d crushed competitors, survived hostile takeovers, stared down his own father. But this? His brother + his woman + his babies? This cut deeper than any business loss.
He didn’t burst into her room. That wasn’t his style. Daniel Okafor didn’t react. He planned. 10 steps ahead. Always.
By 6am, his plan was ready. Step 1: Pretend he knew nothing.
*7:30am - East Wing*
Daniel walked into Ada’s room with coffee and a smile. Not his cold boardroom smile. A softer one. The one he used when he wanted something.
“Morning,” he said, setting the cup on her table. “Sleep well?”
Ada’s eyes darted to the door, then back to him. Guilty. “A bit. Nurse said Baby B’s vitals improved.”
“Good,” Daniel nodded, sitting on her bed like he had every right. Which he thought he did. “I cancelled my trip to Dubai. I’ll be here all week. For you. For them.”
Ada relaxed 2mm. He saw it. She thought he didn’t know. Perfect.
His phone buzzed. He answered on speaker. “Daniel Okafor.”
“Mr. Okafor, sir,” his PA said. “Mr. David is asking to sit in on the 10am Victoria Island deal. Says it’s about the land acquisition you discussed.”
Daniel didn’t look at Ada. But he felt her tense. “Tell David the deal is closed. I’m handling it personally now. And PA?”
“Yes sir?”
“Remove David’s access from the east wing security list. Effective immediately. He doesn’t need to be here if Ada is under medical supervision. My team can handle it.”
Click. He hung up.
Ada sat up straighter. “You… banned David from the wing?”
“Not banned,” Daniel said smoothly, stirring her tea with honey. Doctor’s orders. “Just protecting your rest. Dr. Mensah said no visitors except medical staff. Too many people = stress = bad for Baby B. You agree, right? For Baby B?”
He said her baby’s name like a weapon. Ada couldn’t argue. She nodded slowly. “Yes. For Baby B.”
Daniel smiled. Step 1 complete. Cut David off without Ada fighting him.
*11:00am - Boardroom*
David slammed his fist on the table. “You can’t cut me out of the Victoria deal! That was my project, Daniel! I brought the client!”
Daniel leaned back in the CEO chair. Calm. Cold. “The deal is worth 4 billion naira, David. High risk. High stress. And Ada’s doctor said no stress in this family right now. I’m protecting my family.”
“My family too!” David shot back. “Those are my niece and nephew—”
“They’re my children,” Daniel cut him off, voice dropping to ice. “On paper. In the hospital. In my estate. Don’t test me, little brother.”
The room went silent. 12 board members looked at their files. No one breathed.
David stood slowly. “You think you can erase me? From her? From them? I was there first, Daniel.”
Daniel stood too. Same height. Same eyes. Different kind of danger. “You were there once. I’m there every day. I pay the bills. I hire the doctors. I build the nursery. So sit down, David. Before I have security escort you out.”
David left. But not before looking at Daniel with pure hate. The war was official now.
*3:00pm - East Wing*
Ada tried calling David. Blocked. She tried messaging him. No delivery.
Panic rose in her chest. Baby B’s monitor beeped faster. Beep…beep…beep.
Nurse Amaka rushed in. “Miss Ada, breathe! You’re spiking cortisol! For Baby B!”
“I need to talk to David!” Ada said, tears falling. “It’s important!”
Daniel appeared in the doorway like he’d been waiting. “You can’t. For Baby B’s sake. Remember?”
Ada glared at him. “You did this on purpose!”
“I did what’s best for you and the twins,” Daniel said calmly. He walked in, dismissed the nurse with a nod, closed the door. “David is… distracting. Emotional. You need calm. You need me.”
“Don’t talk about him like that!” Ada snapped. Then immediately regretted it as pain shot through her stomach.
Daniel was at her side in 1 second, holding her hand. “Shh. Breathe. In. Out. With me. You see? Stress hurts Baby B. David hurts Baby B. I don’t. I keep you calm.”
His logic was twisted. But his hand was warm. His voice was steady. And Baby B’s monitor slowed back down.
Ada hated that it worked. Hated that her body calmed down when he held her hand. Hated that Daniel was right about one thing: David’s presence made everything explode.
*10:00pm - Daniel’s Study*
Daniel poured whiskey. Finally drank it this time.
On his laptop: private investigator’s report. DNA lab from 5 months ago. The lab tech had a new house in Lekki. Paid in cash. 3 days after Daniel’s DNA test came back.
`Sample mix-up?` Daniel wrote in his notes. `Or bribe?`
He didn’t know yet. But he would. Daniel always found the truth. Even when the truth broke him.
His phone buzzed. Unknown number. Text: `Stop cutting me off from her. Or I’ll tell her everything. Including why you really wanted that DNA test rushed.`
David.
Daniel smiled. Cold. No humor. He typed back: `Tell her. I dare you. Then watch what happens to your shares in Okafor Holdings. And to your access to any Okafor child. Ever.`
He hit send. Then blocked the number.
Down the hall, Ada lay awake, hand on her stomach. Baby A kicked strong. Baby B fluttered weak.
She whispered to them: “Mummy doesn’t know who to trust anymore. But I’ll keep you safe. Even from your fathers.”
And in the east wing, Daniel stood at his window, watching her room light, thinking:
`She’s mine. The babies are mine. David had 5 minutes 5 months ago. I have forever. That’s how this ends.`
Step 2 of his plan started tomorrow.
- Writer
