The city blurred past as Ochieng gripped the steering wheel, his Aston Martin tearing through the empty streets. Linet, still catching her breath, glanced at him.
"Did that just happen?" she asked, pressing a hand against her racing heart.
Ochieng exhaled sharply. "Yeah. And it changes everything."
His phone vibrated. Unknown Number.
He hesitated before answering. "Who is this?"
A familiar voice purred through the line. Professor Eunice.
"You owe me, Ochieng. Meet me at the Moonlight Hotel. Room 708."
The call ended before he could respond.
Linet stared at him. "That woman just saved your life, and now she wants something. Are you really going to meet her?"
Ochieng flexed his fingers against the wheel. "I don't have a choice."
Linet crossed her arms, her tone sharp. "She's dangerous. This could be a setup."
Ochieng smirked. "Then I guess I'll have to be more dangerous."
The tension between them crackled, but there was no time to argue. The game had only just begun.
---
Ochieng arrived at the Moonlight Hotel, its luxurious facade glittering against the night sky. The moment he stepped inside, the air was thick with wealth and secrecy.
Room 708.
He knocked once. The door swung open.
Professor Eunice stood there, draped in a silk robe, a glass of red wine in her hand. She studied him with unreadable eyes.
"You're late," she said smoothly, stepping aside to let him in.
Ochieng's gaze swept the room—lavish, expensive, and undeniably intimate.
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You didn't just save me out of kindness. What do you want?"
Eunice took a slow sip of her wine. "Richard wants you dead. That means you're important. More important than you realize."
Ochieng arched an eyebrow. "And?"
She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You need to stop thinking like a student and start thinking like a king. There's a war coming, Ochieng. You're at the center of it."
Ochieng's heart pounded. "What do you know about my past?"
Eunice smiled. "Enough to know that your parents' deaths weren't an accident."
A cold wave washed over him. "You're lying."
She placed a hand on his chest, her touch deliberate. "I never lie."
Ochieng inhaled sharply, trying to ignore the dangerous allure of her presence. "Who killed them?"
Eunice leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear. "The same people who are trying to kill you now."
Ochieng's fists clenched.
Eunice stepped back, watching him. "If you want revenge, you need power. And I can give it to you."
Ochieng's gaze darkened. "At what cost?"
Her lips curved into a knowing smile. "Everything."
And just like that, the line between power and seduction blurred.
Ochieng knew this was a game he couldn't afford to lose.
---
Ochieng took a seat on the plush couch, his body tense. "Explain."
Eunice placed her wine glass on the table and sat beside him, crossing her legs. "You think you're powerful now, but you're still playing small. The real power? It's behind closed doors, in places people like you aren't invited to. Unless… you have the right connections."
Ochieng smirked. "And I suppose you're my connection?"
Eunice chuckled, her voice dripping with amusement. "I could be. But it's not free."
She leaned in closer, her perfume intoxicating. "Ochieng, you have the potential to rule more than just a university. I see it in you—the hunger, the brilliance, the ruthless edge. You remind me of someone I once knew."
Ochieng narrowed his eyes. "Who?"
Her smile faded. "Your father."
A chill ran down his spine.
"You knew my father?" His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.
Eunice nodded. "And I know why he was killed."
Ochieng's heart pounded. "Tell me."
Eunice tilted her head, studying him. "No. Not yet. Not until you prove you're ready to step into his world."
Ochieng clenched his fists. "And how do I do that?"
She traced a finger down his arm. "First, you need to prove your loyalty—to me. Then, I'll tell you everything."
The room was suffocating, the air thick with tension. Ochieng knew he was standing at the edge of something dangerous, something irreversible.
He could walk away now, remain a student, a businessman, a silent power hidden in the shadows. Or he could take Eunice's hand and step into a world where power and danger were inseparable.
His decision would change everything.
Eunice leaned even closer, her lips inches from his. "Make your choice, Ochieng. Are you ready to embrace who you were meant to be?"
Ochieng swallowed hard. His hands trembled slightly, but his voice was steady. "Tell me what I need to do."
Eunice smiled, victory flashing in her eyes. "Good. First, we begin with a lesson in control."
The door clicked shut behind them, sealing his fate.