Chapter 71 — The Ghost Behind The Board
"This is Omotara…"
Mrs. Collins' voice cracked the moment her eyes landed on the photograph.
Her fingers trembled violently as she snatched the picture from the table, staring harder as though denying what she was seeing would somehow change reality itself.
"When did this happen?" she whispered breathlessly. "She was my junior back in school…"
Her breathing became uneven.
"Is she… dead?"
Nobody answered immediately.
"Why didn't I hear about this?"
The room remained deathly silent.
Then suddenly—
"Oh my God!" Mrs. Collins staggered backward, staring directly at Mr. Mustopha. "Mustopha, explain yourself. Right now!"
The sharpness in her voice made everyone tense.
Mr. Collins rose to his feet almost instantly.
"Enough secrets," he thundered. "What exactly is going on?!"
The pressure in the room became unbearable.
For several long seconds, Mr. Mustopha said nothing.
Then he exhaled heavily and leaned back against the chair like a man finally surrendering to a burden he had carried for too long.
"I planned to keep this to myself…" he said quietly.
His tired eyes lifted toward them.
"For peace."
"But clearly, you people will never stop investigating."
He gave a humorless chuckle before rubbing his forehead.
"So perhaps it is finally time."
Another deep inhale.
"And maybe… better for me to explain now before you unknowingly knock on a beehive."
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
Even the air itself suddenly felt hot, sizzling.
Mr. Mustopha slowly folded his hands together.
"Yes," he admitted at last. "I work with I.V"
Gasps erupted across the room.
"But no," he continued firmly, "I did not kill that girl. Audhubillah. I would never stain my hands with something like that."
Mrs. Collins still looked horrified.
Mr. Collins narrowed his eyes.
Mr. Mustopha continued before anyone could interrupt.
"Yes… Omotara saw something she was never supposed to see."
His expression darkened.
"A document on Vale's table."
The room became still.
"A document connected to a family Vale could never completely destroy… no matter how much he tried."
Rihannat unconsciously stiffened.
"There was a photograph," Mustopha continued slowly. "A file. Detailed reports. Plans."
His voice lowered.
"Plans on how they abducted a girl."
"Plans on how to systematically destroy her family."
"How to cause internal chaos."
"How to make them surrender."
"How to take over their investments, resources, properties…"
His eyes settled directly on Rihannat.
"And the hidden identity very few people knew they possessed."
The silence afterward was terrifying.
Then—
"You were lucky, Rihannat."
Her heart stopped.
"The girl in that file..."
"…was you."
A collective gasp filled the room.
Faridat covered her mouth instantly.
Folakemi froze.
Rayyan's entire expression hardened.
Even Mr. Collins looked shaken.
"They have been monitoring you for a very long time now," Mustopha said quietly. "And I believe someone inside your school is feeding them information."
Rihannat felt cold all over.
"You are merely a piece on Vale's chessboard."
His gaze swept across the room.
"In fact… all of you are."
Nobody spoke.
"I am one of the board members under I.V," he admitted. "But I refuse to become the kind of monster Vale created. I refused him, he demoted and cut off a lot of resources for me."
"Well I never mind, I will rather go abroad and mingle than become an animal for him. Someone without conscience. I'm sorry my children, that was the reason why we were always travelling abroad then, we never had time for you.
His jaw tightened.
"The money I receive from them goes straight to orphanages, widows, and the less privileged. I do not spend it."
Then his expression softened slightly as he looked toward Rihannat.
"And do not misunderstand me… I did not know it was her initially."
He paused.
"Not until recently."
Everyone listened carefully as he continued.
"There was an incident the day she was officially celebrated as my goddaughter."
Immediately, several faces changed because they know.
"One of the girls in her school," he continued coldly, "a close associate of Folakemi back then… drugged her drink with an aphrodisiac."
"What?!" Mrs. Collins gasped.
Folakemi looked appalled and ashamed.
"Alhamdulillah, she never drank it," Mustopha said. "All the girls involved were arrested afterward by me."
His eyes darkened again.
"But that incident opened doors."
He leaned forward slightly.
"I began investigating quietly."
"I discovered how she struggled alone."
"How Basit secretly helped her without seeking recognition."
"How she continued protecting her heart and virtues despite hardship."
"How jealousy constantly surrounded her."
"How some girls repeatedly schemed against her…"
A faint shake of his head followed.
"…yet somehow, Allah kept protecting her every single time."
Rihannat lowered her gaze slowly.
"I assigned Qazeem to monitor the situation discreetly," Mustopha continued. "Secret security. Hidden surveillance around her."
Mr. Collins looked stunned.
"And what we uncovered…" Mustopha said carefully, "…was far bigger than school bullying."
The room became tense again.
"There is someone in your school watching your every move."
Rihannat's fingers slowly tightened around themselves.
"So be careful."
Then came the statement that completely shattered whatever stability remained in the room.
"I also discovered," Mustopha said slowly, "that Rihannat's mother comes from a royal family in Europe." isn't that why we all call her highness. Although most thought it's an alias but I know it's not, it's real.
Complete silence.
Nobody even breathed.
"There are properties, investments, and shares allocated to her by her great-grandparents…"
His next words landed like thunder.
"…worth trillions."
"What?!"
The room erupted instantly.
Mrs. Collins looked like the ground had vanished beneath her feet.
Her mind spiraled violently.
Watched.
Targeted.
Surrounded by enemies for years while remaining completely unaware..., In the dark.
A poisonous snake hiding in the shadows all along.
And her children—
Ya Allah.
Her children.
"Yes," Mustopha confirmed quietly. "She truly is from a royal bloodline."
His gaze moved briefly toward the Collins children.
"That elegance, composure, aura, intellect… it did not appear from nowhere."
Mrs. Collins slowly sank back into her chair.
Very few people knew.
She had hidden it intentionally.
"The wealth still remains untouched," Mustopha continued. "Apart from a small amount she withdrew years ago, she barely touches anything."
His tone carried reluctant admiration.
"The assets continued multiplying over time."
"She pays her zakat faithfully every year. Her lawyer and personal assistant handle the distributions to orphanages, homeless shelters, widows, and struggling families."
Mrs. Collins closed her eyes briefly.
Even after leaving everything behind…
Even after abandoning titles…
Even after disappearing for peace…
They still found her.
"She never wanted power," Mustopha said softly. "She let her brother take control while she chose a quiet life with her husband instead."
His voice lowered further.
"She feared conflict."
"Her uncles, brothers, and extended family were dissatisfied with the idea of a woman holding influence."
"So she disappeared before greed could turn into bloodshed."
The room fell silent again.
"And yet…" Mrs. Collins whispered weakly, "…all this is still happening."
Nobody had an answer.
Then Mr. Collins finally spoke.
"Who exactly is V.I?"
Even Mustopha's expression shifted.
"That," he said quietly, "is the problem."
"He is like a ghost, a phantom."
"No public appearances."
"No interviews."
"No magazine covers."
"No business galas."
"Nothing."
A dangerous silence followed.
Then suddenly—
Mr. Collins' eyes narrowed sharply.
"Two years ago," he said slowly, "Vale's illegitimate son took over the company."
Mustopha looked toward him immediately.
Mr. Collins continued.
"You conveniently left that part out."
The room stiffened again.
"Vale is no longer directly controlling the company."
Mr. Mustopha exhaled heavily.
"Yes," he admitted.
"And this son…" Mr. Collins continued carefully, "…is still a student."
Rihannat's heart skipped.
"But nobody knows where he studies."
"Everything about him is sealed confidentially."
His expression darkened further.
"And somehow… he defeated every legitimate heir during the succession battle without physically appearing at the board meetings."
Even Mustopha looked disturbed remembering it.
"Minimal appearances."
"Minimal communication."
"Yet he crushed all his brothers completely through proxy votes and strategic control."
Mr. Collins spoke grimly.
"He surpassed Vale."
A chill swept through the room.
"He is more ruthless."
"More cunning."
"More terrifying."
Mustopha nodded slowly.
"None of the board members have ever seen his face."
Even the adults looked unsettled by that fact.
A man powerful enough to control an empire…
Yet invisible.
Like a phantom.
"This," Mustopha said finally, "is why I have been protecting your family."
His gaze slowly shifted toward Rihannat.
"Because according to my recent findings…"
He paused.
The room held its breath.
"…that boy is in Rihannat's school."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then quietly—
"SubhanAllah…"
"Omotara is not dead, she was sent to Australia, never to return if she wants her family safe so she signed an agreement. Took a one way ticket and left for Australia that week after confinement for that whole week by Vale. She was lucky to be one of his hardworking and talented workers. One of the best secretary vale had then was motara. So she was spared.
A shadow moved along the last pillar without anyone noticing and left just the way he came. Segun smirk, a dangerous glint dancing in his eyes. Impressed but in a dark and twisted way. "So you've finally found out. That will be the last information you got Mustopha. No more, what I feed you is enough, don't take more than you can chew. You can't stomach it" he chuckled as he speaks to the air.
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