LUSTING TO HAVE HER WAY

PLAYING WITH FIRE

CHAPTER 9

Forty-eight hours had passed, and Bismarck had neither yielded to pressure nor accepted Angela's offer.

He sat alone in the sitting room, quietly thinking through his next move.

Suddenly, KK rushed in.

"Bismarck! Come and see something!"

Bismarck looked up.

"What is it?"

KK was breathing heavily.

"One guy come for gate ask whether Bismarck dey. I tell am say you dey inside. As I dey watch, madam come outside come dey talk with am. Dem dey talk small-small, but I hear your name once or twice."

"The guy no look correct at all. Na one black motor with tinted glass carry am come. I snap am from the window. See."

He handed his phone to Bismarck.

The moment Bismarck saw the photograph, his expression changed.

"Hmmm..."

His eyes hardened.

"It's him."

KK frowned.

"You know am?"

Bismarck nodded slowly.

"He's the man who tried to kidnap me at Black Corks Hotel."

KK stared at the photograph again.

"Are you serious?"

"Very."

KK clenched his fists.

"If I ever see this man around here again, I go stab am. I swear!"

He shook his head.

"But wetin madam dey do with this kind person?"

Bismarck did not answer, but he became curious about how Angela had become involved with the man.

He forwarded the photograph to his own phone before handing KK's phone back.

"Thank you."

"Just be careful. And make sure you stab no one."

KK chuckled and returned to his duty post.

Left alone, Bismarck leaned back.

Pieces of the puzzle were gradually beginning to fit together.

So Angela was behind the attempted kidnap.

She's determined to silence me.

Moments later, Angela walked into the sitting room.

Without acknowledging him, she headed towards the exit.

"Angela."

She stopped.

After about three seconds, she slowly turned.

"What is it?"

Bismarck held her gaze.

"Why are you so desperate to silence me?"

Angela looked at him blankly.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Bismarck stood up.

"Meeting you here was a coincidence."

He took a slow step forward.

"But every attempt you make to get rid of me only pulls me closer to the truth."

His voice remained calm.

"You arranged the failed kidnap at Black Corks."

He paused.

"And now you've brought the same man here."

Angela's face remained unreadable.

Bismarck continued.

"This is the last warning I'll give you."

He looked straight into her eyes.

"Stop pushing me."

"Because if you don't..."

"...you won't like what happens next."

Angela let out a humourless laugh.

"You don't get to sit in my house and threaten me."

She turned away.

"And one day..."

She looked back over her shoulder.

"...you'll realize that you made a terrible mistake by coming here."

Without another word, she walked outside.

Her car unlocked with a beep from the remote control.

Moments later, the gate swung open, and the vehicle sped out of the compound.

Bismarck watched until it disappeared from sight.

For several seconds, he remained by the window.

The sound of the car gradually faded into the distance.

October 21 was approaching quickly, and yet the woman who was supposed to be preparing for one of the happiest days of her life seemed increasingly consumed by fear.