The first leak hit like a bullet in the dark.
A confidential document—Chinedu's five-year roadmap—appeared on social media, complete with project outlines, investment targets, and even sensitive negotiations with foreign partners. The timing was brutal: just as Imperial Bank's goodwill campaigns were winning public favor, the document painted him as calculated, ruthless, and intent on controlling entire sectors.
Journalists swarmed the story. Commentators screamed: "He wants to own Nigeria outright!" Rivals gleefully amplified the leak. Investors grew nervous.
For the first time, Chinedu felt the sting of betrayal inside his own walls. The document could only have come from the boardroom.
Oreo, face hardened, delivered the news bluntly.
"It's Madu. He sold them out. Someone got to him—money, pressure, I don't know. But he's been feeding documents for months. This one was the killshot."
Chinedu didn't reply immediately. Betrayal by an enemy was expected. Betrayal by one who shared his table cut deeper.
But the real blow came the next morning.
The Central Bank of Nigeria issued a stunning directive:
Effective immediately, Imperial Bank's license is suspended pending full investigation into compliance with anti-money laundering and anti-monopoly regulations. No new accounts may be opened, and existing operations are frozen until further notice.
The shock was seismic. Customers rushed branches, fearing their savings were at risk. Rival banks spread rumors that Imperial was "finished." The stock market reeled.
On TV, a stern-faced Deputy Governor of the Central Bank declared:
"This is not punishment, but prudence. Nigeria's financial security cannot be compromised by unchecked expansion."
But everyone knew it was a coordinated strike. With the EFCC probing, the Finance Minister rallying against him, and now the Central Bank cutting off his lifeline, it was clear: the state itself was moving against Chinedu.
That night, Chinedu sat in his Lagos mansion, staring at the city lights. Ireti paced like a caged lioness. Tunde's fists were clenched on the table. Oreo kept reading the leaked document again and again, his voice tight with anger.
"This was timed, Chinedu. They used Madu's betrayal as cover, then hit you where it hurts the most. Without the bank, expansion slows. Without expansion, confidence weakens. And if confidence weakens—"
"—they'll think they've won," Chinedu finished, his voice calm, almost cold.
The room fell silent.
He rose slowly, looking each of them in the eye.
"They think Imperial Holdings lives and dies on one arm. They think freezing the bank stops us. But Imperial was never just a bank. It is farms, oil, roads, energy, films, restaurants, airlines. The bank is the fulcrum, yes—but even without it, the machine moves. We will not pause. We will not break."
Ireti's eyes softened with fierce loyalty. "Then what's the play?"
Chinedu turned to the window, watching the storm clouds gather over Lagos. His mind was already ten steps ahead.
If they want to fight with law, we'll fight with law. If they want to fight with the people, we'll fight with the people. And if they want to fight with betrayal… then we will root out every traitor, one by one.
He turned back, voice steady as steel.
"Tomorrow, we begin the counteroffensive. And this time—we won't just defend. We'll make them regret striking first."