The Tycoon Reluctant Bride

The aftermath

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*Chapter 14

The video was everywhere by 6am.

#DamianConfession was trending #1 in Nigeria.

#TeamAmara was trending #3.

And #AdelekeScandal was right behind it.

My phone wouldn’t stop buzzing.

10 missed calls from my aunt.

20 texts from numbers I didn’t know.

And one voicemail that made my blood run cold.

_"You stupid girl. You’ve ruined us. Get home NOW."_ - Uncle Okoye.

I deleted it.

Downstairs, amian was already gone. A note on the table:

_"Emergency meeting. Stay home. -D"_

Rule #1: Keep it professional.

But last night was the least professional thing he’d ever done.

By noon, I couldn’t take it. I told the driver to take me to Adeleke Tower.

The lobby was chaos. Reporters. Security. Phones in my face.

"Mrs. Adeleke! Was it real?"

"How do you feel about his confession?"

I kept my head down and walked in.

That’s when I saw her.

Zara.

Tall. Blonde. Red dress. Sitting in the waiting area like she owned the place.

She stood up the second she saw me.

"So you’re the gold-digger," she said. Loud enough for everyone to hear.

My stomach dropped. "Excuse me?"

"Don’t play dumb." She walked up to me. Heels clicking. "Damian and I were together for 3 years. You think a press conference changes that?"

"Zara, this isn’t—"

"Shut up." She got close. Too close. I could smell her perfume. "You’re just a contract. A PR stunt. And when he’s done with you, I’ll be waiting."

My hands were shaking. Rule #2: Do not get jealous.

"I’m not—"

The elevator dinged.

Damian stepped out.

His eyes went from me, to Zara, to the reporters filming everything.

His expression went blank. Deadly.

"What are you doing here?" he asked Zara. Cold.

"Coming to check on my fiancé," she said sweetly. "Or did you forget to tell your new wife about us?"

The lobby went silent.

Damian didn’t even look at her. He walked straight to me. Took my hand.

"Let’s go," he said quietly.

"Damian—" Zara started.

"I said let’s go."

And he pulled me into his private elevator. Away from the cameras. Away from her.

The doors closed.

And then he turned to me.

"Are you okay?"

Just like that. Not angry. Not cold.

Worried.

About me.

I shook my head. Tears I didn’t know were there fell.

"I don’t know what’s real anymore," I whispered.

Damian reached up and wiped a tear with his thumb.

"Me either, Amara," he said. "But I know I don’t want to lose you."

The elevator stopped.

Rule #7: No falling in love.

We were breaking every single one.