The room fell silent as Anita put the call on speaker.
A deep, measured voice filled the space. "Governor Nyagah."
Victor straightened. "Yes, Mr. President."
A brief pause. Then...
"You've caused quite a storm."
Victor exhaled. "The people deserve the truth."
The President sighed. "That may be so, but you've also put the country on edge. Protests are spreading. The judiciary is in turmoil. Joseph has allies in high places. They want you silenced."
Mutua crossed his arms. "And you, Mr. President? What do you want?"
The President ignored him. "Victor, I need you to come in. We need to talk."
Anita whispered, "It's a trap."
Victor hesitated. "With all due respect, Mr. President, I don't trust the system Joseph built."
A long silence. Then...
"You have 24 hours to decide, Governor."
The line went dead.
Julius clenched his jaw. "What now?"
Victor stared at the phone.
They had forced the highest office in the land to take notice.
But was this a chance to win or an invitation to die?
Victor's team debated through the night.
Elijah shook his head. "Walking into State House is suicide."
Mutua sighed. "Ignoring the President isn't an option either."
Anita rubbed her temples. "There's another problem."
She turned her laptop around. A leaked intelligence memo flashed across the screen.
"Internal security forces compromised. Rogue elements working with Governor Joseph."
Victor's stomach sank. "He's infiltrated the highest levels."
Julius cursed. "So even if the President is honest, Joseph's people will be waiting for you."
Elijah frowned. "We need a way to control the meeting."
Victor's mind raced. If he went in alone, he wouldn't come out.
But if he didn't go at all, Joseph's allies would use it against him.
Then an idea struck.
Victor stood. "We set the terms."
Mutua raised an eyebrow. "How?"
Victor smirked. "We choose the battleground."
---
The next morning, a message was sent to State House.
"I will meet the President. But on my terms."
The location? A historical site. Uhuru Gardens. A place of national significance, crowded with tourists and too public for an ambush.
Hours later, the President's motorcade arrived.
Victor stood waiting, his team watching from the distance.
The President stepped out, flanked by guards. He met Victor's gaze. "You're braver than I expected."
Victor smirked. "Or smarter."
They sat at a quiet bench. The President leaned forward. "You've proven Joseph is corrupt. But taking him down means war. His allies won't let you do it easily."
Victor's jaw tightened. "I didn't come this far to stop now."
The President studied him. Then...
"I'll help you. But you must do exactly as I say."
Victor frowned. "Why would you help me?"
The President exhaled. "Because Joseph isn't just your enemy. He's mine too."
Victor's eyes narrowed.
The battlefield had just shifted.
Victor studied the President carefully. The man's face was unreadable, his tone measured.
"You want Joseph gone," Victor said. "But why now?"
The President sighed. "Because he's out of control. His corruption was useful to some, but now it's a threat to the entire system. He's making enemies even in places he thought were safe."
Victor exhaled. "And what do you expect from me in return?"
The President leaned forward. "I will give you the legal backing to bring him down but on one condition."
Victor's stomach tightened. "Which is?"
"You expose only him. Leave the others out of it."
Victor stiffened. "You mean his allies in government? The ones who enabled him?"
The President nodded. "Joseph is the disease. The others? They are the organs we cannot afford to lose."
Victor clenched his fists. "If I do that, corruption survives."
The President's voice lowered. "If you don't, neither of us survive."
A tense silence filled the air.
Victor now had power, but at a price.
Was he willing to pay it?
---
Victor walked away from the meeting with a storm in his mind.
Back at their safehouse, Anita was waiting. "Well?"
Victor exhaled. "The President will help us,if we only take down Joseph."
Julius frowned. "That's not justice. That's politics."
Mutua ran a hand over his face. "But it's our best shot."
Elijah shook his head. "And when the next Joseph rises? What then?"
Victor looked around the room. His team had risked their lives for this fight.
But was a partial victory better than no victory at all?
Anita's voice softened. "You don't have to decide now."
Victor sighed.
Except he did.
Because if he didn't act first, Joseph would.
---
That night, as Victor wrestled with the choice before him, his phone buzzed.
A single message from an unknown number.
"You have a traitor in your camp."
Victor's heart pounded.
He looked around the room at the people who had fought beside him.
Had Joseph planted someone among them?
Or worse, had someone lost faith in him?
Victor clenched his fists.
If there was a traitor, he would find them.
And when he did, he wouldn't show mercy.
---