BUKKY POV
At first, I treated it lightly, nostalgic. I remembered the NYSC days, the long walks, the games on the field, the evenings spent discussing dreams. It was harmless… just
a memory revisiting itself.
But familiarity is dangerous. It softens boundaries without permission. Conversations stretched longer, the humor became private, personal jokes started slipping in. Nine days to my wedding, I felt it—the shift in energy. I hadn't crossed any line. I hadn't intended to. But something was happening, something that felt like a bridge between past and present trying to stretch into my present life.
The first day Demi resurfaced, he was subtle. A friendly message on Instagram—nostalgic, teasing—but I could sense the underlying intention. He wasn't just saying hello; he was testing the waters.
He laughed softly, but bitterness clung to it. "He always wins, doesn't he?"
That sentence told me everything.
This wasn't about love.
It was about comparison.
"You need to stop," I said firmly. "Whatever you feel, you can't place it on me. I won't be your unfinished business."
His eyes darkened. "If things were different—"
"They aren't," I interrupted. "And they won't be."
When I stood up to leave, my hands were shaking—not because I doubted my choice, but because confrontation always costs something.
That night, I noticed Akanni watching me more closely. The warmth was still there, but so was concern.
I wanted to tell him everything.
I just needed the right moment.
By the second day, he began visiting me more openly. He arranged "coincidental" meetings in cafes and public spaces, always flaunting the success he had accumulated. Expensive cars, designer suits, luxury watches—he made sure I noticed the contrast between his world and Akanni's.
"So," he said casually one evening, sipping a $100 bottle of wine at a rooftop lounge, "still with the studio manager, huh? I hear he's doing well, but… a man managing someone's studio isn't exactly the same as someone running a business empire. You know what I mean?"
Calm and composed, I smiled faintly, swirling my own wine. "I hear you, Demi. But you forget, a man's worth isn't always measured by wealth or how flashy his car is."
Demi raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Oh, really? So all those numbers, all the deals, the contracts, the… 500 million in the bank… none of it matters to you?"
My smile didn't falter. my tone was firm but polite. "It's not about the money. You always knew me better than that."
That statement caught him off guard. Demi had expected hesitation, admiration, maybe even a little envy. Instead, he felt a flicker of frustration—and something else. Curiosity.
Over the next few days, Demi tried to impress me even further. Invitations to exclusive lounges, weekend drives to private estates, anecdotes about his investments and travels. He made subtle comparisons: "You know, Akanni could never pull this off."
I remained unfazed. Instead, she chose transparency. On the fourth day, during a quiet walk through the botanical garden, I stopped him mid-conversation.
"Demi," I said firmly, locking eyes with him, "there's something I need you to know."
He leaned in, intrigued. "What's that?"
I took a deep breath. "You remember the Lucas Group?" I asked.
His eyes lit up with recognition. "Of course. The conglomerate?"
"Yes," she said, my tone unwavering. "I'm the sole heir, Demi. My father left everything to me. The business, the properties… everything. I've managed it quietly over the years while focusing on my life and work. That's why all your wealth doesn't impress me. I know what it's like to run an empire, to build something real."
Demi wasn't stunned. "I know about all these"
Bukky nodded, serene. "Sure. And yet here I am, engaged to Akanni. Not because of his wealth, or connections, or even power—but because of who he is. His integrity, his mind, his heart."
For a moment, Demi didn't speak. He felt a mix of admiration, frustration, and a creeping respect he hadn't anticipated. All his flaunting, all his carefully calculated attempts to unsettle me, had failed. I hadn't flinched, I hadn't wavered.
"Wow," he finally said, his voice quieter, almost awed. "I didn't… I didn't expect that."
I smiled softly. "Sure. Or probably you were the one who invested lately in my company" I asked. He nodded, and I confirm my suspicious.
The rest of the nine days were tense. Demi tried subtly to reclaim the past, to charm, to remind me of old memories. I listened, engaged politely, but never crossed the line. I kept firm boundaries while allowing Demi to see that our history mattered, but my present and future were with Akanni.
AKANNI POV
From the beginning, I sensed it. Demi's reappearance wasn't random. I noticed subtle shifts in Bukky's energy—small smiles at messages, a fleeting hesitation when she mentioned errands, quick, thoughtful glances when Demi entered the room.
I didn't panic, cause I trusted Bukky completely. But I also acted smartly: i discreetly placed someone to monitor interactions, ensuring nothing untoward would happen.
It was during these nine days that I realized not just Demi's intentions, but the depth of Bukky's strength and clarity. She was unshakeable. And yet, even I couldn't deny the tension Demi brought—reminding him that the world was bigger than his own carefully controlled universe.
Friday
THIRD PERSON POV
One Day Before the Wedding
The hotel room was quiet at first, just the soft hum of the air conditioner and the faint city sounds below. Bukky had gone there to check on some last-minute arrangements for the wedding—flowers, decor, and the tiny touches that would make the day perfect. She didn't expect Demi to be there, claiming he wanted to "wish her luck" before the big day.
From the moment he appeared, the air shifted. Demi was confident, casually flaunting the wealth he had acquired since Bukky's corper days. The subtle lines of designer clothes, the glint of a gold watch, the ease of his movements—everything screamed power and status.
"I've built quite a life for myself," Demi said smoothly, leaning against the doorway. "Ekiti doesn't even know what hit it. And here you are, about to marry a studio manager. Doesn't it feel… small?"
Bukky's posture didn't falter. She met his gaze steadily. "I'm not impressed by what people have," she replied. "I'm impressed by who they are."
Demi chuckled, a low, self-assured sound. "You haven't changed a bit. Still bold, still… unafraid. I admit, it's thrilling. I expected you to be dazzled, but you're… unmoved."
Bukky smiled faintly, but there was a firmness to it. "You haven't met the whole story, Demi. My life isn't just about appearances. I've never been moved by wealth alone… and if you really want to understand me, you should know who I am."
His brow raised. "Oh?"
"I'm the sole heir of the Lucas Groups," Bukky said calmly, watching the way his eyes widened. "My family, our legacy—it's all mine. Money isn't something I chase. I already have it."
For a moment, Demi was quiet, processing. Then, unexpectedly, a smile spread across his face. "Well… that's interesting." But it wasn't the triumphant, teasing Demi Bukky remembered—it was a hint of respect. He realized she was her own person, untouchable by charm or wealth.
I smiled gently. "You were probably the one who invested in my company recently, weren't you?"
He nodded.
I had my confirmation.
Demi tried—subtly—to reclaim the past. I listened politely but held my boundaries firmly. Our history mattered, but my present and future belonged to Akanni.
AKANNI POV
Meanwhile, I had sensed something was off. For the past three days, I had noticed Demi's presence creeping into Bukky's life. Small calls, late-night messages, hints of nostalgia—but nothing crossed boundaries. Yet the way Bukky had become more distracted, more thoughtful at times, made me feel uneasy.
This morning, Leke had reminded me: "Remember your plan, Akanni. You've built something powerful in this city, and your wedding isn't just about love—it's your statement. Don't lose focus now."
I had nodded, absorbing the weight of it. I had made my fortune quietly, turning the Convergence Group into the largest company in Ekiti, ranking ninth nationwide. Leke was my right-hand man, and Mira managed operations seamlessly in my absence. I knew that the coming days required focus, and I would not let Demi disrupt that.
Tradition demanded distance. The groom was to stay away. I hated it. Leke reminded me of the bigger picture. "Your wedding isn't just love, Akanni. It's a statement."
Still, unease followed me.
That night, I broke tradition.
I drove to the Pluto Hotel—my hotel. I had booked the entire place for the wedding. Bukky was staying in the Presidential Suite.
With a spare key card Leke had arranged, I moved quietly through the corridor.
The sitting room was empty.
As I approached the bedroom door, I froze.
Voices.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
I leaned closer.
What I heard shattered something inside me.
The sound of intimacy—of closeness I wasn't prepared for. Their moans filled the room
My vision blurred.
I told myself to be strong. *It isn't worth it.*
But tears came anyway—hot, relentless. A night before our wedding, and this was how it ended?
Every instinct screamed for violence, for confrontation. To barge in. To end everything.
Instead, I smiled—a hollow, bitter smile.
I turned and walked away.
As I drove into the night, I swallowed my sobs. *Money always wins,* I told myself bitterly. *Everyone can be bought.*
By the time I reached home, the tears had stopped.
What remained was silence.
And a plan.