The lecture hall was dimly lit, the late evening class dragging on as students barely paid attention. At the front of the room, Professor Raymond adjusted his glasses, his deep voice cutting through the half-asleep crowd.
"…And that brings us to the concept of ethical dilemmas in business acquisitions."
Ochieng sat near the back, one hand tapping idly against his laptop. His eyes weren't on the presentation. They were on her.
Linet.
She sat in the second row, posture perfect, eyes focused. To everyone else, she was just another brilliant student—quiet, disciplined, untouchable. But ochieng knew better.
He knew the secrets she carried.
The rumors of her connections to underground business deals, her influence in corporate boardrooms despite being just a university student. And most of all, he knew about the envelope she had slid into Professor Raymond's desk earlier that day.
A bribe? A threat?
Ochieng intended to find out.
The class ended, students shuffling out with relieved murmurs. Linet took her time gathering her things. Ochieng watched as she exchanged a glance with Professor Raymond—something unspoken passing between them.
Then, she left.
Ochieng followed, keeping a careful distance as she walked across the campus. It wasn't until she reached the parking lot that he made his move.
"You're getting careless," he said, stepping into her path.
Linet barely flinched. Instead, she tilted her head, her lips curling into a smirk. "And you're getting nosy."
Ochieng crossed his arms. "What was in the envelope?"
Linet stepped closer, her perfume a subtle distraction. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
He held her gaze. "I don't think Professor Raymond is just your lecturer."
Linet chuckled. "Maybe he's more. Maybe he's less."
Ochieng wasn't amused. "Are you blackmailing him?"
She leaned in, her voice a whisper. "If I were, would you stop me?"
Ochiengs jaw tightened. He wasn't sure of the answer.
Linet brushed past him, getting into her sleek black car. Before she drove off, she rolled down the window.
"Stay curious, ochieng," she said, "but don't get in my way."
The tires screeched as she pulled out of the lot, disappearing into the night.
Ochieng stood there, the wind carrying the faintest trace of her scent.
This wasn't over.