Victor sat alone in his office, replaying Kamau's final words in his mind. Someone close to him was working with Joseph. Someone he trusted.
The weight of the revelation pressed against his chest like a vice. His circle was small—Anita, Julius, a handful of senior officials. Any one of them could be the snake in the grass.
A knock at the door.
Anita entered, her expression unreadable. "We have a problem."
Victor straightened. "What now?"
She hesitated. "The press got an anonymous tip-off about our investigation into Joseph. They're running a story tomorrow."
Victor's blood ran cold. "What? Who leaked it?"
Anita's jaw clenched. "That's the problem. It had to be someone inside."
The betrayal was getting closer.
Victor leaned back, exhaling sharply. "Julius is running background checks on everyone in our inner circle. We'll find out who's behind this."
Anita nodded, but something flickered in her eyes, something Victor couldn't quite place.
Then her phone buzzed. She glanced at it, and for a split second, her expression changed.
Fear.
She masked it quickly, but Victor saw it.
Anita pocketed her phone. "I need to check on something. I'll be back."
She turned and left.
Victor stared after her.
And for the first time, doubt crept into his mind.
Could Anita be the traitor?
Victor didn't want to believe it. Anita had been by his side since the beginning. She had fought with him, risked her life for this cause.
But something wasn't adding up.
He needed answers.
That night, while Anita was away, Victor met with Julius.
"I need you to do something," Victor said quietly. "I need you to investigate Anita."
Julius blinked. "Anita? You think...?"
"I don't know," Victor admitted. "But she got a message today, and for a moment, she looked… scared."
Julius hesitated, then nodded. "I'll look into it."
Hours passed in tense silence.
Then, Julius called.
"We found something."
Victor rushed to Julius's office, his heart pounding. Julius handed him a file. "This is Anita's phone activity over the past few weeks. There's nothing suspicious, until today."
Victor scanned the report.
One particular number appeared multiple times. An encrypted line.
And then, his breath caught.
Julius pointed at the records. "This number belongs to one of Joseph's known associates."
Victor's blood went cold.
Anita had been in contact with Joseph's men.
She was the traitor.
Victor sat in stunned silence.
It couldn't be true. Anita, his closest ally, the person who had stood by him through everything was working with Joseph?
He needed to confront her.
That night, Victor sent a message: 'We need to talk. My office. Now.'
Anita arrived within minutes, her face unreadable. "What's wrong?"
Victor stood, gripping the file in his hands. "You tell me."
He tossed the file onto the desk. Anita glanced at it, her expression remaining neutral.
But Victor saw the way her fingers twitched.
"You've been in contact with Joseph's men," Victor said, his voice cold. "Why?"
Anita exhaled slowly, then sat down. "Victor, I need you to listen to me."
"No," he snapped. "You listen to me. Kamau died because of this. You leaked information to the press. You..."
"I did it to protect you!"
The room fell into silence.
Anita's eyes burned with frustration. "Joseph doesn't just destroy his enemies, Victor. He destroys their families, their futures. He threatened to kill you. And if I didn't cooperate, he was going to act."
Victor's hands tightened into fists. "So you sold me out?"
"I tried to control the damage," she whispered. "I only fed him small things nothing critical. I kept you alive."
Victor's stomach twisted.
Anita had betrayed him. But was it really betrayal? Or was it desperation?
"Do you trust me, Victor?" she asked, voice shaking.
Victor stared at her, his mind warring with itself.
Trust her?
Or cut her out completely?
One wrong choice could cost him everything.
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