My Contract Husband

Chapter 10 : The USB

The USB was smaller than Emma’s fingernail.

She held it between her fingers in the backseat of the bulletproof SUV, watching Abuja lights blur past the window. 3:14 AM.

“The real files,” she whispered again. Like saying it twice would make her father’s death mean something. “My dad hid them here.”

Alexander glanced at her in the rearview mirror. His eyes were tired. Bloodshot. “We need to get that to a secure server. Now. Before Daniel finds another way to us.”

Dane was driving. One hand on the wheel, the other holding shawarma. “Boss, Daniel’s signal is still on the move. Old tin mines, north side. Like you said.”

“Let him run,” Alexander said, typing on two laptops at once. “By 6 AM, the whole world will know what he did. What our father did.”

Emma closed her fist around the USB. The metal was cold. “My dad died for this.”

Silence filled the car. Only the sound of Dane chewing and keyboards clicking.

“I’m sorry,” Alexander said quietly. “I should’ve told you from day one.”

Emma laughed. No joy in it. “When? When you were planning our fake marriage? When you were bribing police with jollof and pounded yam?”

“I was trying to keep you alive,” Alexander said. His voice was rough. “Daniel has killed people for less than what’s on that USB.”

Emma looked out the window. “I know. I’m just... tired of secrets, Alexander. Tired of being the last person to know everything.”

*FLASHBACK*

Emma remembered 2 years ago. Daniel came to her office.

“Marry me or your father’s company goes down,” he said.

She slapped him. He laughed.

Now she understood why.

Alexander didn’t answer. He just reached back and squeezed her knee once. Quick. Then let go.

10 minutes later, they pulled into Alexander’s private office tower. 40 floors. Glass. Empty at this hour. Security everywhere.

Dane stayed downstairs. “I'll go watch gate. And order more shawarma. This is 4am emergency food situation. Also I'll call Martins tell him to bring backup.”

Inside the penthouse office, Alexander set up three computers in a triangle. “We upload the files to 5 different news sites. 3 international. 2 local. Then we send copies to EFCC, the police, and my lawyer. Dead man’s switch.”

Emma sat in his leather chair. It still smelled like him. “Can I do it?”

Alexander hesitated. Then nodded. “It’s your father’s work. It should be you.”

Emma plugged in the USB with shaking hands.

The folder opened.

Hundreds of files. Dates going back 15 years. Names. Bank accounts. Photos. Videos. Audio recordings.

The first file was labeled: `FOR EMMA - PLAY LAST`

She clicked it.

Her father’s voice filled the room.

_“Emma, my baby girl. If you’re hearing this, I’m gone. I’m sorry. I got mixed up with bad people. The Alexanders. The Daniels. I kept records because I was scared. If anything happens to me, take this to Alexander Jr. He’s the only one I trust. He saved my life once. He’ll protect you. I love you. Always. Be strong for me, okay?”_

Emma broke.

The tears came hot and fast. She pressed her hands to her mouth to stop the sob.

Alexander knelt beside her chair. He didn’t touch her. Just sat there. Present.

“My dad knew you,” Emma whispered through tears. “He trusted you.”

“I know,” Alexander said. “He saved my life 10 years ago. Car accident. He pulled me out. That’s why I found you when Daniel started asking questions.”

Emma wiped her face with the back of her hand. “Then let’s finish what he started.”

She started uploading.

File by file. Proof by proof.

Bank transfers to terrorist groups.

Fake contracts.

Murder orders with Daniel’s signature.

Her father’s name on some of them too. Witness, not participant.

At 4:30 AM, it was done.

Sent.

Published.

Leaked.

Alexander’s phone started ringing immediately. His lawyer. His PR team. CNN. BBC. Arise News.

Dane burst in. “BOSS! It's trending !#DanielAlexanderExposed dey number 1 for Twitter! News everywhere! EFCC has released statement!”

Alexander didn’t smile. “He’ll be desperate now. Cornered animals are dangerous.”

As if on cue, Emma’s phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

`I see you leaked them. Cute. Now I’m coming for what’s mine. The USB. And you. -D`

Emma showed Alexander. Her hands were shaking again.

His face went hard. “He’s in the city. He flew in on a private jet 20 minutes ago.”

Dane cursed. “How?! We just blew up his jet!”

“Because Daniel always has a backup jet,” Alexander said. “And a backup plan. And a backup for the backup plan.”

The office lights flickered.

Once. Twice.

Then went out completely.

Emergency lights came on. Red. Casting everything in blood.

“Power cut,” Dane said. “That’s not us. That’s him.”

Footsteps. Downstairs. Heavy. Many.

Alexander pulled Emma up from the chair. “We need to go. Now. Back exit.”

“What about the files?” Emma asked.

“Already backed up to 10 clouds,” Alexander said. “But Daniel wants the USB. The original. With your dad’s voice on it.”

He took Emma’s hand and dropped the USB in her palm. “Keep it on you. Don’t let go.”

They ran to the back exit stairwell.

Too late.

Six men in black tactical gear were already there. Armed.

At the front, Daniel. Bandaged arm. Burn marks on the left side of his face. But smiling like he just won the lottery.

“Hello family,” Daniel said. “Una miss me?”

Dane stepped forward, pulling his own gun. “You’re under arrest, Daniel Alexander.”

Daniel laughed. “Arrest by who? You? The guy who eats shawarma during stakeouts?”

“Put the USB down, Alexander,” Daniel said. “Or I start shooting. Starting with the girl.”

Alexander didn’t move. “You won’t. Because if you shoot, the files go public automatically. I set a dead man’s switch. 30 seconds.”

Daniel’s smile faltered. “You’re lying.”

“Try me,” Alexander said. “One shot. 30 seconds. Your whole empire gone.”

Standoff.

Daniel’s eyes darted. He wasn’t stupid. “You think you win?”

“I think we already won,” Alexander said. “The world knows now.”

Daniel lunged.

Chaos.

Dane tackled one guy. Alexander disarmed another. Emma ducked behind a desk.

Gunshots. But no one was hit.

30 seconds later, police flooded in. Officer Martins at the front with 12 officers and shields.

“Alexander,” Martins said. “You owe me pounded yam. And 5 million for overtime.”

Alexander nodded. “And a new office. This one is compromised.”

They cuffed Daniel. Real handcuffs.

Daniel was still smiling. “This is not over.”

As they were dragging him out, Daniel looked at Emma over his shoulder. “You think this is over? I have friends. I have money. I’ll be out in a week. And then I’m coming for what’s mine.”

Emma stepped forward. “No, you won’t. Because my dad wasn’t the only one who kept records.”

Daniel frowned.

“I have emails too,” Emma said. Her voice was steady now. “From you. To me. From 2 years ago. Threatening me if I didn’t marry you. Threatening my dad.”

Daniel’s face went white.

Alexander squeezed Emma’s hand. Proud.

---

Sunrise. 6:17 AM.

Roof of the building. City below them waking up.

“It’s over,” Emma said. She wasn’t sure she believed it.

“For now,” Alexander said. “Daniel has lawyers. He’ll try something. But the evidence is public now. He won’t get far.”

Emma looked at him. “So what do we do?”

Alexander turned to her. The sun was behind him. “We tell the truth. We go public. Together. As partners. As... whatever this is.”

Emma smiled. Small. Tired. “Are you asking me on a date? After all this war and explosions?”

“I’m asking you to stay,” Alexander said. “In my life. In the company. As my wife. For real this time. Not a contract. Not a lie. A choice.”

Emma’s heart pounded. “That’s a lot, Alexander.”

“I know,” Alexander said. “6 months ago I planned to protect you. Today I’m asking you to choose me.”

Emma looked at the sunrise. Gold over Abuja. Then she looked at him.

“Okay,” she said. “But you’re buying dinner. And no more secrets. Ever.”

“Deal,” Alexander said. And for the first time in months, he almost smiled.

His phone buzzed.

Text from Dane: `Boss, Daniel escaped from police van. Again. He’s heading to the airport. Took 2 hostages.`

Alexander cursed. Loud.

Emma sighed. “Round 4?”

“Looks like it,” Alexander said.

He held out his hand.

Emma took it.

“Let’s go catch him,” she said.