THE ARREST CASE

Three years prior, Teni Adeleke disappeared with one note: "I’m sorry. I can’t."

Now she’s returned. As CEO of Vantage Holdings. As Ayo’s fiercest rival.

And tonight, sirens are involved.

The call came at 2:17pm.

Ayo was terminating his lawyer when his phone buzzed. Unknown Lagos line.

“Mr. Ayo?” The tone was clipped. Official. “Inspector Bello, Area F Command. You must report immediately.

Concerning Ms. Teni Adeleke.”

His pen stilled. Ink bled across paper.

“What occurred?”

“She’s detained. Financial fraud. We’re connecting her to your father’s case.”

Silence swallowed the office.

Ayo shoved his chair back. “Which station?”

“Area F. Come solo.” Click.

His heartbeat hammered.

---

30 MINUTES EARLIER - AREA F - INTERROGATION ROOM 2

Sterile. Freezing. That sick government green.

Teni sat with wrists shackled. Her cream blazer carried a coffee blot from when officers dragged her from her vehicle.

Across: Inspector Bello and a rookie. On the table: her navy folder. Ripped open.

“Ms. Adeleke,” Bello started, pushing photographs forward. “March 14th, three years back. 11:47pm. Your autograph.”

Transfer slip. 20 million naira.

Source: Adebayo Holdings - Samuel Ayo’s account.

Receiver: Cayman account - T. Adeleke.

“Embezzlement. Collusion. That’s heavy sentencing.”

Teni kept her face neutral. “I never pocketed it.”

“Your name’s on the wire,” the rookie snapped. “And footage shows you entering his office at midnight. Account for it.”

Another image. Teni at 21. Baggy hoodie. USB in palm. Stepping into Adebayo Holdings.

“Water,” she asked. Voice even.

“You’ll receive water after you address the anonymous tip from this morning,” Bello replied. “Alleging you caused Mr. Samuel Ayo’s disappearance.”

Her ribs tightened.

I did it to keep him breathing.

The thought circled. If she confessed, they’d pull Ayo in too. If she stayed quiet, she’d bear it alone.

Footsteps neared outside. Heavy. Enraged.

----

PRESENT - AREA F - LOBBY

Doors slammed wide.

Ayo. Tie undone. Blazer absent. Hair wild.

“TENI!”

Every eye whipped toward him. Officers. Detainees. Staff.

Behind glass, Teni caught his gaze. For the first time in years she seemed vulnerable. Young. Fractured.

“Ayo, stop”

He bypassed reception. “Where?”

“Sir, procedure”

“WHERE IS SHE?”

Bello appeared. “Mr. Ayo. Thank you for arriving. We need your testimony.”

Ayo forced into the interrogation room. Door sealed.

He assessed her. Bound wrists. Stained sleeve. Bare face. Crimson eyes.

The titan CEO resembled the campus girl he once loved.

“What’s the accusation?” he demanded, palms striking steel.

Bello slid the folder over. “Review it.”

Ayo scanned.

Page 1: Ledger entries. 20 million.

Page 2: Security stills. Teni entering after hours.

Page 3: Handwritten confession. 3 years old.

I, Teni Adeleke, diverted funds from Adebayo Holdings to protect Ayo Samuel. I assume liability.

His hands quivered.

“You...” He raised his stare. “You robbed my father?”

Teni stood. Shackles rattled. “I diverted it. I didn’t keep it.

Your father’s uncle’s enforcers cornered me.

‘20 million in 24 hours or your boyfriend’s family vanishes.’ They flashed photos. You. Your sister. Your mother.”

She breathed in.

“So I wired it. Hid it. Claimed guilt.

Because the other option was your burial.”

Quiet.

Ayo watched her. The woman who fled with a note.

The adversary who attempted to bankrupt him this morning.

The individual who committed a felony to keep him alive.

“Why conceal it?” he whispered. Rage evaporated. His voice cracked. “Three years, Teni.”

“Because at 22 you were furious and stubborn,” she said. Tears slid. “You’d have confessed or battled them.

I couldn’t endure watching you murdered over your father’s debts.

So I exited. Allowed you to loathe me. That hurt less than grieving you.”

Bello cut in. “The cash was never located. Until we traced it this week to your account.

Ms. Adeleke, you’re held for financial fraud. You possess the right”

“HALT.” Ayo moved forward. “Enough.”

He turned to Bello. “She’s blameless. I’m accountable.”

Teni flinched. “Ayo, don’t”

“I approved it,” he declared. CEO tone. Precise. “Father owed violent lenders. I was desperate at 22.

I directed Teni to move assets to buy negotiation time.

She followed my command.

Arrest me.”

Pandemonium broke out.

“What?!” The rookie rose.

“Sir, you can’t” Bello started.

“I can,” Ayo answered. He offered his wrists. “If she’s condemned, I’m condemned.

We executed it together.”

Tears poured now. “No! This was my call!”

Amid the noise, Ayo held Teni’s eyes.

He shaped three words with his lips.

I believe you.

Three years of misunderstanding shattered.

Then cuffs locked around his wrists too.

“Sir, you have the right”

Ayo ignored it. His attention stayed on her.

Two magnates. Two opponents. Two souls.

Chained inside a station.

Because of one secret designed to save him.

---

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***