Brevity Bard

The quiet town of Abeokuta in Ogun State was nothing like the chaos of Lagos. The streets were slower, the air fresher, and the people less suspicious. It was the perfect place to disappear, to become just another face in the crowd. Marcus Oladipo had chosen it for exactly that reason. Or rather, Claire had chosen it for him. She had arranged everything—his transport out of Lagos, a small, modest home tucked away from prying eyes, and enough cash to keep him afloat while he figured out his next move. It was her parting gift before she boarded her flight to South Africa, before she left him to pick up the pieces of his shattered life. For the first time in weeks, Marcus felt something resembling peace. But peace, he knew, was an illusion. Because the past never stayed buried. Days blurred into weeks. Marcus abandoned his old life completely. No more therapy sessions, no more wealthy clients confessing their sins on his couch. He kept to himself, spoke only when necessary, and avoided ma...

The wind in Johannesburg carried a different scent than Lagos—crisp, dry, and untouched by the weight of her past. Claire Adebayo leaned against the balcony of her new penthouse, a glass of wine in hand, watching the city lights flicker below. A new country. A new life. A new Claire. But freedom, she had learned, wasn’t about escape. It was about control. And now, for the first time in years, she was the one in control. One week earlier: The morning after the bloodshed, Claire sat in the private office of Victor’s estate lawyer. The chaos of his empire’s fall had left many scrambling, but one thing remained unchanged: Victor Adebayo had never trusted anyone but himself. And Claire. The lawyer, an older man with weary eyes and a perfectly tailored suit, slid the documents across the mahogany desk. “Mrs. Adebayo, as you are the sole signatory on all of Mr. Adebayo’s legal and financial accounts, the assets now transfer to you.” Claire picked up the papers, barely hearing his words. She h...

The echoes of gunfire faded, leaving only the crackling sound of flames consuming the remnants of Marcus Oladipo’s once-cozy office. Smoke billowed from shattered windows, blending with the dim light of Lagos’s night skyline. Marcus and Claire ran through the shadowed streets, their breaths ragged and hearts pounding. Adrenaline coursed through their veins as they darted down an alley, away from the carnage they had left behind. “Keep moving!” Marcus urged, pulling Claire’s arm as she stumbled. “I can’t… I can’t breathe,” Claire gasped, clutching the folder of evidence tightly against her chest. “We can’t stop now,” Marcus said, his voice a mix of desperation and exhaustion. “They’ll find us if we do.” Behind them, the chaos at Marcus’s office continued to unfold. Victor’s men and Baba Jide’s enforcers were locked in a brutal confrontation, but the scales were tipping. Victor’s empire, already riddled with betrayal and lies, was crumbling under the weight of Baba Jide’s calculated onsl...

Marcus Oladipo’s office had never felt so claustrophobic. The room seemed to vibrate with tension as Baba Jide sat across from Victor, their glares locked in a silent battle of wills. Claire sat off to the side, her demeanor calm but her mind calculating the next move. The folder in her lap—the one containing the damning proof of Victor’s financial betrayals—felt like both a weapon and a shield. Marcus stood awkwardly near his desk, sweat pooling at the back of his neck. He wasn’t a fighter, but even he could feel the confrontation brewing. His office was no longer a space for healing—it was a battleground. “You’ve got a lot to answer for, Victor,” Baba Jide began, his voice smooth but menacing. Victor’s lips twisted into a smirk, though his eyes burned with fury. “I owe you nothing, Jide. I’ve been generous with you, far more than you deserve.” Claire cleared her throat, drawing both men’s attention. “That’s not true, Victor, and we all know it.” Victor’s gaze snapped to her, his expr...

Claire Adebayo stood in Baba Jide’s lavish penthouse, the city lights of Lagos glittering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The faint hum of jazz music played in the background, but the tension in the room was razor-sharp. Baba Jide sat across from her, sipping a glass of scotch, his expression unreadable. His two enforcers loomed in the shadows, their presence a silent reminder of the danger Claire was inviting into her life. “You want me to take Victor out,” Baba Jide finally said, his deep voice carrying a hint of amusement. “And in return, you’re offering me what? A divorce payout?” Claire smiled coolly, masking the fear thrumming beneath her skin. “Not just the payout,” she said. “I can give you access to his businesses. His offshore accounts. All the assets he’s been hiding from you.” Baba Jide studied her for a long moment, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “You’re a bold woman, Claire. But tell me…” He leaned forward, his eyes piercing. “Why should I trust you?” Clair...

The atmosphere inside Marcus Oladipo’s office was suffocating. A heavy silence hung in the air as Claire sat across from Victor, her eyes cold but calculating. Victor, as usual, exuded his unshakable confidence, though Marcus could see the tension in his clenched jaw and the way his fingers drummed against the arm of the chair. Marcus was exhausted. He had been walking a tightrope for too long, and today felt like the moment it would all come crashing down. And then, the door burst open. Baba Jide strode in like a force of nature, his expensive suit doing little to soften the raw menace he carried with him. His two enforcers followed, their expressions stone-cold and unreadable. The air instantly thickened with a tangible sense of danger. “Doctor,” Baba Jide said smoothly, though his eyes held none of his usual charm. “I’m tired of waiting.” Marcus swallowed hard, rising from his chair. “Baba Jide, this isn’t the—” Baba Jide’s hand shot up, cutting him off. “I’m not here for your excus...