BOUGHT BY THE BILLIONAIRE

AFTERMATH

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*Chapter 22: AFTERMATH*

Morning came too fast.

Chioma woke up on Daniel’s office couch. Blanket over her. His blanket. It smelled like him.

Her lips were swollen. Memory hit her like a truck.

Daniel kissing her. Breaking Rule #50. Calling her name like she was the answer.

Her heart jumped. Then the office door opened.

Daniel walked in. Suit perfect. Hair perfect. CEO mask glued on. Like last night never happened.

Like he didn’t kiss her until she couldn’t breathe.

He didn’t look at her. Went straight to his desk. Papers. Pen. Coffee. Normal.

Chioma sat up slow. Blanket fell. “Daniel?”

He finally looked up. Eyes cold. Empty. The Daniel from Day 1 was back.

“This was a mistake,” he said. Flat. Final. No emotion.

Chioma’s chest cracked. “What?”

Daniel stood up. Walked to the wall. Rule #50 frame was still broken on the floor. He stepped over it like it was nothing.

“Clause 7 exists for a reason,” he said, back to her. Voice controlled. “I lost control last night. It won’t happen again.”

Chioma stood up. Legs shaky. “You don’t mean that. You kissed me like—”

“Like what?” Daniel turned now. Eyes sharp. Cutting. “Like I was desperate? Like I forgot who I am? Yes. I was desperate. For 5 minutes. Then I remembered.”

He picked up a contract from his desk. Slapped it down. Their contract.

“Clause 7: No romantic involvement. No feelings. No kissing. You signed it, Chioma. I wrote it. We both break it, we both lose.”

Chioma’s tears started. “So that was nothing? Me calling you Igwe was nothing?”

Daniel’s jaw clenched. For 1 second his mask slipped. Pain flashed. Then gone.

“It was a mistake,” he repeated. Softer this time. Like it hurt him more than her. “A billionaire CEO doesn’t fall for his fake wife. My mother did. Look where it got her.”

Chioma flinched. “Don’t compare me to—”

“I have to,” Daniel cut her off. “Because if I don’t, I’ll do it again. And again. And I’ll destroy you, Chioma. Is that what you want?”

Silence. Heavy. Broken glass crunched under Chioma’s feet.

Chioma wiped her eyes. Stood straighter. “No,” she whispered. “I don’t want you to destroy me.”

Daniel nodded once. Sharp. “Good. Then we forget last night. Rule #50 is being replaced today. New rule: No contact outside Ada’s care. Understood?”

Chioma stared at him. At the man who held her like she was precious 8 hours ago. Now acting like she was a stranger.

“Understood, Mr. Okoye,” she said. Voice dead.

Daniel flinched at “Mr. Okoye”. But recovered fast. “Good. Breakfast is at 7. Don’t be late. Rule #3.”

He walked out. Door closed. Quiet. Final.

Chioma collapsed back on the couch. Hands shaking.

8 hours ago his lips were on hers. 8 hours ago he whispered “I’m sorry, I tried not to.”

Now: “This was a mistake.”

Her phone buzzed. Text from unknown number.

*Unknown:* _Rule #50 is gone. But I replaced it with Rule #51. Do not test me, Chioma. - D_

Chioma laughed. Bitter. Broken. He broke his #1 rule for her... then made a new one to protect himself from her.

Daniel Okoye was a coward.

But Chioma wasn’t done.

He could run. He could hide behind rules.

But she felt his lips on hers. She felt him shake when she called him Igwe.

He wasn’t sorry.

He was terrified.

And Chioma was just getting started.

*End of Chapter 22*

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