CHAPTER 10: FACE TO FACE
474 Words
The room fell into a deadly silence. Eliana's heart pounded in her chest like war drums, each beat louder than the last. Damian didn't move at first. He stared at the door, jaw clenched, knuckles white around the wooden bat.
Marcus's voice echoed again from outside.
"Damian, I'm not here to fight. We need to talk. That's all."
Damian took a slow step forward, then another, and finally turned the knob. The door creaked open.
Marcus stood there.
No guards. No weapons. Just him in a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbow, a calmness on his face that didn't match the tension in the air.
"May I come in?" he asked.
Eliana stepped forward, but Damian raised a hand to stop her. "Say what you came to say from there."
Marcus gave a tired chuckle. "Still dramatic, I see."
Damian didn't smile. "You have 60 seconds."
Marcus sighed and leaned casually against the doorframe. "I know you gave Tunji access. I know you've spoken to the press. I even know about Didi." He locked eyes with Damian. "I don't care about the money anymore. I care about you."
That made Damian scoff. "You care about loyalty. Obedience. Power."
Marcus nodded slowly. "Maybe. But you're still my brother."
The words hung in the air like poison.
Eliana's eyes widened. "What?"
Damian didn't flinch.
Marcus continued, "She doesn't know, does she? That you're not just some pawn who ran away. You're my blood. And you turned your back on me."
"You turned your back on everyone when you started laundering blood money through fake schools."
Marcus stepped forward. Damian blocked the doorway.
"Move," Marcus said softly. "I won't touch her."
Damian stood taller. "You lied to me for years. You made me part of your corruption. And now you want to act like this is about family?"
"It is."
"You killed my father," Damian said.
Eliana gasped again.
Marcus looked down.
"I didn't kill him," he whispered. "But I didn't save him either. There's a difference."
Silence again.
And then a tear escaped Damian's eye. Just one. But it was enough.
"You destroyed everything I loved."
Marcus swallowed. "Then destroy me. But don't drag innocent people into it. Don't let Didi publish. Come back with me. I'll make it all disappear."
Damian stepped back and slammed the door in his face.
Eliana ran to the window and saw Marcus walk away slowly, then disappear into a black car parked at the edge of the street.
"Did he mean it?" she asked softly.
Damian wiped his face. "Yes. Every word."
"And now?"
He turned to her. "Now we go through with it."
Eliana walked to him, took his hand, and squeezed it.
"This ends with justice."
He nodded.
Then the phone rang.
It was Didi.
Her voice was trembling.
"They attacked the office. Tunji's missing."
- Writer
