The grand ballroom of the Emerald Grand Hotel was alive with opulence. Crystal chandeliers bathed the room in a golden glow as the city's elite mingled, their conversations laced with power and hidden agendas. The night wasn't just about celebration—it was a battlefield where alliances were forged and enemies measured each other in silence.
Ochieng arrived late, stepping into the room with an air of quiet dominance. His black silk suit was perfectly fitted, the subtle embroidery of dragons on his cuffs a reminder of his growing legend. The whispers followed him as he walked—the silent trillionaire, the shadow that ruled the eight major provinces.
Across the room, Sofia, dressed in a breathtaking blood-red gown, watched him with an unreadable expression. She held a glass of white wine, but her fingers were tense around the stem. She knew what was coming.
Just as Ochieng reached the center of the ballroom, the music shifted. The orchestra played a slow, haunting melody. A masked man approached, bowing slightly. "A pleasure to finally meet you in person, Mr. Ochieng."
Ochieng didn't miss the subtle tattoo on the man's wrist—a symbol of the underground syndicate rumored to have ties to his parents' deaths.
The air in the room thickened. Tonight was no ordinary gala. It was the beginning of something far more dangerous.