CHAPTER 18: Foundations
617 Words
Chapter 18: Foundations
Three days passed since the storm.
Cole Industries was quiet, like the silence after a tornado. Whispers in the hallway had slowed. Articles stopped dropping. No more surprise letters or unlisted calls. It was a silence that Zara didn’t trust—but she welcomed the break.
Xavier, on the other hand, was planning something.
---
It began with a text.
Xavier: Don’t be late. I have something to show you.
Zara replied: Is this another surprise boardroom ambush or actual good news?
He sent a winking emoji and nothing else.
Zara showed the text to Tasha, who raised an eyebrow. "If he proposes, and you say anything but 'yes', I will personally put you in a headlock."
Zara rolled her eyes but smiled.
---
The car ride was quiet. Xavier didn’t say much—just stared out the window like he was bracing for something.
They pulled up to a residential estate in the outskirts of Lagos. Palm trees swayed over high gates, and everything gleamed like it had been cleaned five minutes ago.
Zara blinked. "Whose house is this?"
Xavier stepped out. "Yours."
She froze. "What?"
He walked to the gate, motioning for her to follow. The moment she stepped through, it hit her: beauty, warmth, peace.
The two-story house had a garden filled with wildflowers. The porch had a swing. Inside, everything was modern but cozy. Earth tones, plush furniture, a kitchen Tasha would faint in.
Zara stood in the center of the living room, breath caught in her throat.
"Why?" she asked.
Xavier looked at her. "Because your apartment isn’t safe. Because you need space. Because you deserve better."
She shook her head. "Xavier, I can’t accept this. It’s too much. It feels like I’m... like I’m depending on you."
"You depend on you," he said. "This is just a gift. I’m not buying your love. I just want you to have peace."
Zara turned to Tasha, who was already twirling in the kitchen.
"Girl," Tasha said, grinning. "Take the house. Take the blessing. This man put central air and a backyard grill in this place. Do you know how much suya you can make here?"
Zara laughed, but her eyes welled with tears.
"I don’t want this to change things," she whispered.
"Then don’t let it," Xavier said. "Let it grow things."
She nodded slowly. "Okay. We’ll move in."
He exhaled in relief.
---
By the weekend, the girls had moved in.
There were houseplants by the windows, music in the halls, and laughter in the air. It was the first time in a long time that Zara felt like she could breathe.
And yet, something in her gut said: This won’t last.
---
At the Cole estate, Victor stood in his war room.
Blueprints. Files. Photos.
"She’s moved," his assistant said. "To a house Xavier bought."
Victor nodded. "Let them get comfortable. It makes the fall so much worse."
The assistant hesitated. "Are you sure about this? The board is restless. If you go too far—"
"I built this empire," Victor said, voice calm. "And I’ll be damned if a boy and his soft-hearted assistant take it from me."
He turned to the board behind him. A large photo of Xavier and Zara was pinned dead center.
"Prepare for phase two."
---
Back in the new house, Zara stood on the balcony, sipping tea. Xavier joined her, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders.
"You okay?"
She leaned against him. "I should be. And yet, I feel like something is coming."
He kissed her hair. "Let it come. We’ll face it together."
And beneath the stars, they stood in silence, unaware that the real war was just beginning.
- Writer
