Chapter 33

Zara hadn’t planned to walk into Regan’s office that afternoon. She told herself she would be calm, professional. She told herself she was done letting him get under her skin.

But after the show Imani pulled earlier with the gift delivery — the flowers, the note — her blood was boiling too fiercely for calmness.

Without knocking, she pushed his office door open.

Regan, who had been reviewing documents for the upcoming family dinner, looked up sharply.

The second his eyes met hers, he tensed.

There was fire in her gaze — raw, unforgiving.

“Zara,” he said, standing up slowly. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” she repeated, her voice sharp with disbelief. “You’re seriously asking me that?”

He frowned. “Zara, what happened?”

She threw the small card onto his desk. The one that came attached to Imani’s flowers and gifts.

“From Regan Kareem to my darling Imani.”

Regan stared at it like it was a snake about to bite him.

“What the hell is this?” he asked, genuinely confused.

“You tell me!” Zara snapped. “Sending flowers and gifts to your darling Imani? In our workplace? Are you trying to humiliate me, Regan?!”

Regan’s mouth opened, but no words came out at first.

He picked up the card, turning it over as if somehow it would explain itself.

“I didn’t send this,” he said finally, his voice rough.

Zara let out a harsh laugh. “Save it! I’ve seen it. I’ve read it. Don’t stand there and insult my intelligence.”

“I’m not lying,” Regan insisted, stepping around the desk toward her. “Zara, believe me. I don’t even know about these gifts. I didn’t send anything!”

“You expect me to believe that after everything?” she hissed, backing away from him.

Regan felt helpless — a rare emotion for him.

He hated it.

He hated how her eyes, once filled with warmth when they looked at him, now blazed with betrayal.

“Zara, please—”

“Save it,” she cut him off. “We both know what this is. You can’t help yourself, Regan. And I can’t help but be the fool who keeps hoping you’ll change.”

Her voice cracked slightly at the end, and it broke something deep inside him.

He wanted to grab her, shake her, make her listen.

But what right did he have?

“I didn’t send those gifts,” he said again, quieter this time. “But… I understand why you don’t believe me.”

The silence between them stretched long and bitter.

Finally, Zara smiled bitterly. “Good. At least we’re being honest about something.”

Zara watched him for a long moment, something breaking quietly inside her.

“You know what?” she said, lifting her chin proudly. “Forget it. I don’t even want an explanation anymore. I’ll play my part — the perfect fiancée in public. But in private?”

She smiled, a slow, devastating smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“In private, you’re dead to me.”

She turned on her heel and strode out, leaving the door swinging gently in her wake.

Regan slumped back in his chair, feeling like the biggest fool alive.

Without another word, she turned and walked out, leaving the heavy scent of hurt and distrust hanging in the air.

Regan sat heavily back in his chair, staring at the fake note, his mind spinning.

Who had sent it?

Who had set him up?

His jaw clenched.

There was only one person who stood to gain from this.

Imani.

He swore under his breath, vowing that he would get to the bottom of it.

But by then, would Zara still be there to hear the truth?

Back at Zara’s office,in the shared workspace, Zara returned to her desk, ignoring the way Imani watched her with smug satisfaction. She pretended not to notice the two other female staff members who exchanged uncomfortable glances.

Let them stare.

Let them talk.

Zara had bigger battles to fight.

At that moment, Nathan — a junior executive — walked past her desk, a stack of files in his arms. He caught her eye and smiled shyly.

Something inside Zara shifted.

Fine. If Regan thought he could make a fool of her, she would remind him exactly what he was risking.

She gave Nathan a small, almost flirtatious smile. “Busy day?” she asked lightly, her voice low and smooth.

Nathan’s face lit up. “Always is. But it’s worth it when the view’s this nice,” he said, with an awkward but genuine chuckle.

Zara laughed softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Careful, Nathan,” she teased. “Flattery might just get you in trouble.”

He grinned. “Maybe it’s worth it.”

Their exchange was light, innocent — but deliberate. And she knew Imani was watching.

Good.

Let her carry the gossip straight to Regan.

Over the next hour, Zara kept it subtle: casual conversations with Nathan about work, playful teasing about his tie, a brief touch on his arm when he dropped a document on her desk.

Nothing obvious.

Nothing vulgar.

Just enough to set the rumors ablaze.

And judging by the way Imani kept glaring at her from across the room, the plan was working.

When Nathan finally walked away, Zara leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

If Regan wanted to act like he didn’t care, then two could play that game.

Back at Regan’s office,Regan sat brooding behind his desk, barely hearing the words coming out of his assistant’s mouth.

“Sir… the family dinner. Your father said not to forget. Tomorrow evening,” she repeated.

Regan nodded stiffly.

The family dinner.

The announcement of the wedding date.

He swallowed the bitter taste rising in his throat.

Everything was spiraling out of control.

He had betrayed Zara — the only woman he had begun to genuinely care about.

And now he was being forced to smile and pretend in front of everyone.

When the assistant left, Regan pulled out his phone.

He transferred five million naira to Imani’s account.

The note: “Shop. Eat. Stay quiet.”

Maybe that would keep her distracted — at least for now.

But a sick feeling twisted in his gut.

He knew Imani too well.

She wasn’t the kind of woman who could be bought off forever.

With a heavy sigh, he slumped lower into his chair, wishing he could rewind time.

Wishing he had walked out of that hotel room instead of letting his weakness destroy everything.

Later that same day,Zara was still at her desk when her phone buzzed.

A message.

From Regan.

“Can we talk?”

She stared at it, her lips curling in disgust.

Talk? Now he wanted to talk?

Ignoring the message, she straightened up and grabbed her purse.

Nathan noticed. “Heading out?”

She smiled at him warmly. “Just stretching my legs. Maybe you can join me for a coffee break later?”

Nathan’s eyes lit up. “I’d like that.”

She nodded, feeling a strange thrill.

Not because she liked Nathan that way.

No.

But because for once, she wasn’t the one left feeling powerless.

As she walked past Imani’s desk, she caught the other woman smirking.

“Oh, by the way,” Imani said sweetly, tapping her manicured nails against her mug. “Enjoy your little flirtation, dear. You’ll need a distraction when you realize some men never truly belong to just one woman.”

Zara paused, turning her head slightly.

With a cool, unbothered smile, she said, “Thanks for the advice. You must know all about sharing men, right?”

Imani’s smile faltered.

Without waiting for a reply, Zara walked away, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor, each step a declaration of war.

Let the games begin.