Chapter 2

• “You never told me she was that beautiful,” John’s voice is a low murmur, and I can feel the edge of it cutting into me.
• I lean back in my chair, staring at the darkening skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office. The city lights flicker below, but I’m not seeing any of it. I’m still stuck in the conference room, still thinking about Funmi. Her words. The way she looked at me, like she saw something no one else ever had.
• “She’s just a means to an end,” I say, forcing the words out, even though they feel like ash in my mouth.
• John’s eyes narrow at me, his lips curling into a tight, amused smile. “You say that, but I can see it in your eyes, Cole. You’re already... intrigued.”
• I don’t answer him. I don’t have to. He knows me too well. Too much for my own good.
• But John’s words echo in my mind long after he leaves the office, and it’s not just Funmi I can’t stop thinking about. It’s her sister, Kemi.
• Kemi Williams. The one who lives in Funmi’s shadow.
• She’s always there—just out of reach, but never far enough for anyone to forget her. Beautiful, charismatic, and yet, something about her is unsettling. She’s a force in her own right, but unlike her sister, she wields that power with a kind of subtle grace that makes you unsure if you’re being charmed or manipulated.
• I met Kemi at a gala last year. She was effortlessly mingling with the upper crust of society, laughing and charming every single person she spoke to. I had barely noticed Funmi at the time—she had been a quiet presence in the background, just like always—but Kemi? She was a storm. Her beauty was magnetic, and her smile... it was lethal, hiding whatever she wanted from you, whatever she needed.
• When I ran into her again at a recent business event, it was impossible to miss the way she dominated the room. Everyone was enchanted by her. Even my father, the ever-stoic patriarch, couldn’t tear his eyes away. It was like she was the only person in the room who mattered. It was a skill, a craft—one that Kemi had perfected over years of practice. She never seemed to tire of it.
• But Funmi... Funmi had always been different. She wasn’t as quick to charm, not as eager to please. She held herself back. Maybe that’s why I felt an odd connection to her from the moment she entered that boardroom. But Kemi? She was something else entirely.
• And the worst part? They were both in this, together. They were a package deal.
• I lean back in my chair, closing my eyes and trying to push Kemi’s voice out of my head. But it’s impossible. I know what she’s capable of. The way she spins a web of attention around her—how, before you even realize it, you’ve stepped into her world.
• The next day, I’m at the Bruno Global Industries penthouse for an exclusive fundraiser, and sure enough, the Williams sisters are both there. Funmi’s presence is cool, controlled, like the quietest wave before a storm. Her sister, though—Kemi—she’s already the center of attention.
• She spots me across the room, and before I know it, she’s gliding over to me, all confidence and charm. Her dress clings to her like it was made for her—sleek, red, the color of danger.
• “Cole,” she purrs, her voice the kind that makes you want to lean in closer, just to hear more. “It’s been a while.”
• I stiffen, offering a polite smile. I don’t like being baited, especially by someone like her.
• “I didn’t think I’d see you here,” I say, trying to keep my tone neutral.
• She laughs, low and smooth, like she’s privy to some secret only she knows. “Of course you did,” she says, leaning in just a little too close for comfort. “Where else would I be? The real question is... what are you doing here, Cole?”
• I watch her eyes flicker to my wristwatch, the way she assesses me, as though she’s trying to figure out where I stand in the grand scheme of things. She’s always sizing people up, always calculating. I don’t trust her, and yet, there’s a part of me that’s hooked by the way she speaks, by the way she makes me feel... like I’m her prey.
• “I’m just here to make sure everything runs smoothly,” I say, the words slipping out easily enough, though I don’t know why I’m explaining myself to her.
• “I’m sure,” she says, her lips curving into a smile. “But I don’t think that’s the only reason you’re here.”
• Before I can respond, I catch Funmi standing across the room, watching us. Her gaze is steady, unreadable, and for a split second, our eyes meet.
• Kemi notices the shift, her smile turning into something sharper, more knowing. “You’ve got your eye on her, don’t you?”
• I turn my attention back to Kemi, trying to maintain my composure. “Who?”
• Funmi doesn’t respond to the question directly, her eyes still fixed on me, almost as if she’s daring me to make a move.
• Kemi’s gaze follows mine and then flicks back to me with an almost predatory grin. “You can’t hide it. Not from me.”
• I clench my jaw, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of seeing how her words affect me.
• “What do you want, Kemi?” I finally ask, impatience creeping into my tone.
• She shrugs, an innocent gesture, but I know better than to take it at face value. “Nothing,” she says with mock sweetness. “I’m just trying to figure out why you’re so interested in my sister. She’s not like me, Cole. She’s... different.”
• I feel a knot form in my stomach at her words, but I don’t let it show. “You’re both different,” I reply, keeping my voice even.
• Kemi chuckles darkly, leaning closer, her breath hot against my ear. “Trust me, Cole. You’ll learn soon enough. Funmi’s not who you think she is.”
• Her words linger in the air, twisting around me, sending a chill down my spine.
• I watch her walk away, her hips swaying with every step, and for the briefest moment, I consider her warning. Funmi wasn’t like anyone I’d ever met before. But then again, neither was Kemi. And if I wasn’t careful, I’d get caught between them. Between their worlds.
• I don’t notice Funmi approach until she’s right in front of me.
• “Is everything okay?” she asks, her voice a quiet, almost imperceptible whisper.
• I meet her gaze, the tension in the air thick, palpable. “I’m not sure.”
• She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I didn’t think so,” she murmurs, her words trailing off like a secret meant only for me.
• And just like that, I know—things are not going to be as simple as I thought.
• The game has changed, and I’m already in too deep.