A storm brewed inside Ochieng. The Phantom's words echoed in his mind, each syllable unraveling a memory he had long buried beneath layers of wealth and power.
The others watched him carefully. Rolex stood with his arms crossed, his gold chain glinting under the dim light. Walter's fingers twitched near his belt—always ready for action. Ela, however, was the only one who dared to step closer, her green eyes sharp with curiosity.
"Are you going to tell us what's in that file," she asked, "or should we play a guessing game?"
Ochieng exhaled slowly and tossed the file onto a nearby stone slab. "It's irrelevant."
Gideon scoffed. "Doesn't look irrelevant. I've never seen you react to anything before. And now? You look like a man who just saw his own ghost."
Ochieng shot him a cold glance. "The past is dead. We don't talk about ghosts."
The Phantom chuckled from the shadows, his voice dripping with amusement. "Oh, but we do, Ochieng. You see, the past is never truly dead. It just waits… for the right moment to return."
Ochieng's patience thinned. "Say what you really want."
The Phantom tilted his head. "I want you to remember."
He snapped his fingers, and a second figure emerged from the darkness. A woman.
She was draped in a scarlet dress, her dark hair falling in smooth waves over her shoulders. The sight of her made Rolex tense, made Walter's expression turn grim. Even Ela—who rarely showed surprise—narrowed her eyes.
Because this wasn't just anyone.
This was Seline.
Ochieng's ex. The woman who had once held his heart in her hands… before she crushed it.
She smirked. "It's been a while, hasn't it, Ochieng?"
For the first time in years, Ochieng felt something close to hesitation. Seline had disappeared after their fallout, vanishing like smoke in the wind. And now here she was, standing beside his enemy.
"Why are you here?" His voice was calm, but his fingers curled into fists.
Seline took a slow step forward, her heels clicking against the cathedral floor. "Because I have something you want."
Ochieng's mind raced. This wasn't a coincidence. The Phantom had planned this—every second of it.
Walter shifted. "Boss… do you want me to—"
Ochieng raised a hand, silencing him. His gaze locked onto Seline. "Then say it."
Seline's lips parted. And then, in a voice soft yet sharp enough to cut glass, she said:
"I know who killed your parents."
A deadly silence followed. The weight of her words pressed against Ochieng's chest like an iron grip.
The Phantom clapped his hands. "Ah, now we're getting somewhere."
Ochieng's blood ran cold, but outwardly, he remained composed. "If you know something, say it. Or get out of my sight."
Seline smirked. "You've waited years for this truth. Don't you think it deserves a little… patience?"
She reached into her clutch and pulled out a small USB drive. "Everything you want is here. The names. The faces. The reason."
Ochieng stared at the drive, knowing that whatever was on it would change everything.
The Phantom took a step back, watching with amusement. "Now, Ochieng… the real game begins."
Ochieng took the drive without a word. But deep inside, he knew one thing for sure.
This was just the beginning.