Nadia Volkova's presence changed the atmosphere instantly. The moment she took her seat, a new tension settled over the room. It wasn't fear—it was something far more dangerous. Intrigue.
Ochieng had seen many women—powerful, cunning, seductive—but Nadia was in a class of her own.
She leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other, her emerald eyes locked onto Ochieng's with a smile that didn't quite reach them.
A predator assessing another predator.
The game had just taken an interesting turn.
---
The dealer shuffled the cards, but the real battle had already begun.
"So," Nadia said, her voice like velvet, "you must be the man who made The Phantom leave his own table."
Ochieng gave a small, unreadable smile. "I was just playing my hand."
"A hand so good it made one of the wealthiest ghosts in the world disappear?" She chuckled, tapping her manicured nails against the table. "You must be more than you seem, Ochieng."
She had done her research. Of course, she had.
Ochieng tilted his head. "And you must be here for more than just poker."
She smiled, but there was a sharpness to it. "Perhaps. Or maybe I just like the thrill."
A lie.
This was no casual visit. She had chosen this exact moment—right after The Phantom's mysterious loss—to make her move.
The timing was too perfect.
---
The cards were dealt, but neither of them even glanced at their hands.
"The game is bigger than you think," Nadia murmured, resting her chin on her palm. "You're playing against men who don't just control money. They control power itself."
Ochieng leaned back, studying her. "And what do you control, Nadia?"
Her lips curved. "Men like you."
Silence.
A few nearby players exchanged glances, but no one dared interrupt.
This wasn't just flirting. This was a warning.
Ochieng chuckled softly. "Good luck with that."
Nadia's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Oh, Ochieng. Luck has nothing to do with it."
--
Just then, a man in a crisp white suit entered the hall, his presence alone commanding attention.
It was Dmitri Ivanov, the head of the Russian Elite Syndicate.
And he wasn't here to play.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Dmitri's deep voice echoed across the room. "Tonight's real event is about to begin."
The screens around the casino suddenly changed, displaying something far more valuable than money.
It was a list of high-profile assets, companies, and industries—being put up for a silent auction.
Whispers erupted.
This wasn't just any auction. This was a battle for control over the world's most valuable resources.
And Ochieng wasn't just playing poker anymore.
He was about to enter a war of empire