Chapter 77 — The Calm Before The Storm
Three weeks had passed since the whirlwind of emotions that had nearly shattered Rihannat's sanity.
Three weeks since fear, confusion, revelations, and danger had turned her world upside down.
And somehow...
Life had returned to normal.
At least on the surface.
She resumed her daily routines. She attended classes, completed assignments, spent time with her friends, and moved through each day as though nothing extraordinary had happened.
Yet deep inside her heart lingered a quiet whisper.
A calm before the storm.
The thought came often.
But unlike before, she no longer allowed it to consume her.
Allah was in control.
That realization alone brought her peace.
She wasn't the one protecting herself.
She never had been.
Every danger she survived, every hidden trap she escaped, every unseen enemy she overcame...
Allah had carried her through them all.
So she left her worries with Him.
Just as Folakemi had advised.
And for the first time in weeks, she breathed freely.
Her paternal grandparents had eventually been informed about everything that happened at the party.
The family had deliberately delayed telling them.
The shock would have been too much at the time.
Even then, when they finally heard the truth days later, the elderly couple had been horrified.
How could something so complicated happen to their granddaughter?
How could an innocent child become entangled in such darkness?
The situation became even more painful when discussions about her maternal family arose.
There was no one left there.
Her maternal grandfather had passed away five years ago.
Her grandmother followed him two years later.
Both gone.
Both buried in Europe.
Leaving behind a tangled web of secrets, unanswered questions, and broken connections.
No wonder everything surrounding her identity had become such a mess.
The afternoon sun filtered gently through the leaves of a massive tree near one of the academic buildings.
The shade beneath it had become one of Rihannat's favorite places.
More accurately...
One of Basit's favorite places for her.
He had practically ordered her to use it.
"If I'm not around and your friends are busy, sit here and read. It's quiet and easy to monitor."
Typical Basit.
Always acting like an overprotective guardian.
Not that she complained much.
The location was peaceful.
A few students walked across the distance.
Small groups chatted quietly.
Some sat on nearby benches.
Others crossed the courtyard between lectures.
Rihannat remained focused on the book resting on her lap.
Occasionally she heard whispers.
Sometimes she suspected they were about her.
Most times she ignored them.
Today was no different.
Until a car stopped directly in front of her.
She barely glanced up.
The vehicle looked ordinary enough.
Low-key.
Unremarkable.
The kind of car that could easily belong to a university student from a wealthy family.
So she returned to her reading.
Then the driver's window slowly rolled down.
And everything changed.
The moment she caught a glimpse of the person inside, a strange chill crawled down her spine.
Her fingers froze.
Goosebumps spread across her skin.
An instinctive alarm rang loudly inside her head.
Danger.
Not visible danger.
Not obvious danger.
Something worse.
The kind that couldn't be explained.
The kind felt only by instinct.
It was as though a predator had locked its eyes onto its prey.
A suffocating pressure settled around her.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Silent.
Rihannat immediately shut her book.
She stood up.
And began walking away.
The rear door opened.
A man from the passenger seat quickly stepped out and opened the back door.
The person inside emerged.
Rihannat frowned.
Is he a student?
Impossible.
The man looked far too mature.
Perhaps in his forties.
And judging from the bodyguard opening doors for him...
Definitely not a student.
Bringing a bodyguard to a university?
Show-off.
She rolled her eyes internally.
Then she looked at him properly.
And every trace of annoyance vanished.
The man walked toward her with calm, measured steps.
Light.
Unhurried.
Controlled.
Yet every step carried an undeniable sense of power.
The kind that didn't need to announce itself.
His dark eyes resembled bottomless pools.
Cold.
Deep.
Impossible to read.
A faint smile rested on his lips.
But it never reached his eyes.
That contrast disturbed her.
His face looked calm.
His aura did not.
Everything about him screamed danger.
The kind that smiled before destroying people.
Rihannat instinctively stepped backward.
Her heart climbed into her throat.
She turned to leave.
Then his voice stopped her.
"Hello, young lady."
The voice was smooth.
Refined.
Yet carried unquestionable authority.
"You don't need to act as though you don't know I'm here for you."
Rihannat stiffened.
"I only need a few minutes of your time."
A faint smile appeared.
"And I assure you, I won't kidnap you or eat you in broad daylight."
His eyes glimmered.
"We can sit wherever you choose."
She blinked.
One second he had been several steps away.
The next—
He was standing directly before her.
Rihannat nearly jumped.
How?
She hadn't even noticed him closing the distance.
"Relax."
His voice remained gentle.
"We simply need to discuss something."
A pause.
"Or rather..."
The smile widened slightly.
"A cooperation between us."
"What do you say?"
Without waiting for permission, he sat beneath the tree.
Like someone completely accustomed to others accommodating him.
People stood when he entered rooms.
Not the other way around.
"Sir—"
"Hold on."
He raised a finger.
"You can call me Badmus."
Rihannat blinked.
"Okay, sir... I mean... Mr. Badmus."
"Much better."
His smile deepened.
A little.
"I'm not interested in any business," she said immediately.
"Or whatever reason you came here for."
The man chuckled softly.
"Don't reject the offer before hearing it."
His voice remained patient.
Measured.
Like a businessman negotiating a deal worth billions.
"I have a very attractive proposal."
He leaned back.
"You should at least allow me to present it."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"Or perhaps you don't want to hear it at all?"
A brief pause.
"Just don't regret it later."
"And don't say I never informed you."
Rihannat folded her arms.
"Firstly, are you even a student in this school?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Because I seriously doubt it."
The smile on his face widened.
"And secondly..."
She pointed at him.
"Why should I be interested in a proposal I never asked for?"
For the first time, something dangerous flickered behind his eyes.
Gone instantly.
Yet she saw it.
"Oh?"
He spoke softly.
"Perhaps I should discuss it with your adopted parents instead."
The words hit her like lightning.
Her expression froze.
Her heartbeat stumbled.
What?
Very few people knew about her true identity.
The information had been deliberately restricted.
Her family had made sure of it.
Her safety came first.
So how did this man know?
Who exactly was he?
And how much did he know?
Countless thoughts exploded inside her mind.
Yet she forced herself to remain calm.
"Are you threatening me?"
Her voice sharpened instantly.
The man's smile returned.
This time with genuine approval.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Most people trembled when confronted.
This girl pushed back.
"No, young lady."
His tone remained relaxed.
"I don't need to threaten you."
His gaze lingered on her briefly.
Then he redirected the conversation.
Professional.
Focused.
Typical businessman behavior.
"Now."
He clasped his hands together.
"Shall we return to our proposal?"
After a moment of hesitation, Rihannat slowly sat down.
Maintaining a considerable distance.
Far enough to run if necessary.
Close enough not to appear afraid.
"Fine."
She crossed her arms.
"I'm listening."
Vale concealed his satisfaction.
Good.
She was cautious.
But she was also curious.
Curiosity opened doors.
And doors could be exploited.
His gaze casually swept across the surroundings.
Immediately, he spotted them.
Security.
Lots of security.
Men positioned at strategic locations.
Watching.
Observing.
Protecting.
Most likely her family's people.
His lips curved faintly.
Then his eyes moved farther.
Beyond the obvious surveillance.
Into places ordinary people would never notice.
Hidden angles.
Blind spots.
Strategic positions.
And there...
He found them.
Several young men dressed as students.
Some reading.
Some chatting.
Some pretending to scroll through their phones.
Ordinary to everyone else.
Invisible to most.
But not to him.
His eyes narrowed.
They weren't family guards.
They belonged to someone else.
Someone he knew very well.
Someone who had inherited far more than he realized.
A faint smile touched Vale's lips.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
His son had stationed men all over the university.
Around one girl.
Not one.
Not two.
Dozens.
Watching.
Protecting.
Waiting.
Yet despite all that effort...
He still hadn't made a move.
Vale's eyes lingered thoughtfully on Rihannat.
Then toward the hidden guards.
Then back to her.
A question surfaced in his mind.
One that had been bothering him for weeks.
What exactly are you doing, Segun?
What are you thinking?
For the first time in a long while...
Vale realized he could not read his own son.
And that made segun far more dangerous than ever before.
The feeling was unbearable
The thought of it was very unsettling to him.
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