Soft daylight spilled into Isabella’s penthouse, casting long, clean lines across the polished floor.
The city of Lagos was alive outside—cars in motion, distant chatter, the steady rhythm of a working day in full swing.
Everything felt… normal.
And yet—
She wasn’t.
Isabella stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, arms lightly folded, her gaze drifting over the skyline without really seeing it.
Her fingers tapped faintly against her arm.
Something was off.
No… she was off.
Her thoughts circled back—again and again—to Anthony.
His calm composure.
The quiet authority in his voice.
The strange sense of security she felt whenever he was near.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
“Why…?” she murmured.
Why did he linger in her thoughts like this, in the middle of a busy day no less?
Why did it feel like something was pulling her toward him?
It didn’t make sense.
She had dealt with powerful men all her life.
Men with wealth, influence, powerful background, and presence.
But none of them had ever unsettled her like this.
She exhaled slowly, turning away from the window.
“Clara.”
Her assistant stepped forward promptly.
“Yes, ma’am?”
Isabella hesitated briefly, then spoke with controlled calm.
“Find out where Anthony is. I want real-time updates.”
Clara blinked—just slightly—but nodded.
“Right away.”
It didn’t take long.
Clara returned, tablet in hand, her expression… unusual.
“Ma’am… I found his movement.”
Isabella straightened subtly.
“And?”
Clara hesitated again, then said, “He’s heading toward Apex Entertainment Company.”
Silence.
Then—
“Apex?” Isabella’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Out of all places… there?
Her mind moved quickly, connecting dots that weren’t even fully there yet.
A faint, dangerous thought crept in.
Entertainment company… actresses… rising stars…
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
“…I see.”
Clara gaze shifted, sensing the change in atmosphere.
Isabella stood abruptly, grabbing her car keys.
“I’m heading out.”
“Ma’am?”
But Isabella was already walking.
The drive was fast.
Too fast.
Her grip on the steering wheel tightened unconsciously as the city lights blurred past her.
Her thoughts weren’t any calmer.
Why Apex?
Is he scouting talent?
Or… is he just another man looking for a beautiful face to entertain himself?
The thought irritated her.
No—it angered her.
And that alone made her expression darken.
Halfway there—
She suddenly slowed the car.
Then stopped.
The engine idled softly as silence filled the space.
Isabella leaned back slightly, her brows knitting together.
“What am I doing…?”
Her voice was quieter now.
“Why am I even going there?”
Jealousy?
The word felt foreign.
Unfamiliar.
Yet… disturbingly accurate.
She closed her eyes briefly.
This wasn’t like her.
She wasn’t impulsive.
She wasn’t emotional. Get faster updates on g.com.
And she certainly didn’t chase after men.
…So why now?
A few seconds passed.
Then—
Her eyes opened.
Clear.
Resolved.
She shifted the gear.
“Ridiculous.”
And stepped on the accelerator again.
At the same time…
Anthony’s car pulled into Apex Entertainment.
Pelumi stepped out beside him, her eyes already scanning the environment with curiosity.
“So this is the place?” she said, folding her arms slightly.
“Not bad.”
Anthony gave a small nod but didn’t respond immediately.
His gaze had already shifted forward.
Something was happening.
Voices.
Raised ones.
They walked further in—and the scene revealed itself.
A young girl—no older than her early twenties—stood cornered, her expression tense, eyes slightly red as she tried to hold herself together.
Opposite her stood one of Apex’s biggest stars—arrogance practically radiating off him.
“You think you can just walk in here and take roles?” he scoffed.
“Do you even know who I am?”
The girl swallowed.
“I… I just came for the audition—”
“Then learn your place!” he snapped, stepping closer.
Pelumi’s expression darkened instantly.
“Ah,” she muttered.
“One of those.”
Anthony didn’t move yet.
He observed.
Measured.
Nearby, staff pretended not to see.
No one dared to step in.
The tension thickened.
The star’s voice rose again, sharper this time.
“People like you should be grateful you’re even allowed inside—”
That was when Anthony stepped forward.
“Is that how Apex runs its standards now?”
His voice wasn’t loud.
But it cut cleanly through the air.
Everything paused.
The star turned, irritation already forming—then froze slightly upon seeing Anthony.
Pelumi stepped beside him, eyes blazing.
“You heard him. Or do you need it translated?”
“Who is this gigolo? And what are you doing here.”
“He was probably dumped by his sugar mummy.” They all laughed.
Anthony was calm.
Way too calm.
Pelumi was shocked.
And_
Isabella eyes scanning him.
Maybe he will give out any expression.
But none was shown.
He was calm.
“Who’s the one in charge here?”
Not far from the scene…
Isabella stood quietly, having arrived moments earlier.
She had seen everything.
And yet—
She hadn’t intervened.
Not because she couldn’t.
But because she was watching.
Watching him.
Her eyes lingered on Anthony.
So this is why you came…
Not for pleasure.
Not for indulgence.
But for something else entirely.
“Don’t tell me, Anthony just acquired this entertainment company…”
“Check any update about on Apex entertainment company, see to it maybe Anthony has acquired it.” She texted Clara her P.A.
Interesting.
Back at the scene—
Before things could escalate further, hurried footsteps approached.
The manager rushed in, visibly panicked.
“I’m so sorry—Mr. Anthony!” he said quickly, slightly out of breath.
Then his eyes shifted—
And landed on Pelumi.
Who was very clearly not in the mood.
“Sorry?” she snapped.
“That’s what you have to say after your ‘big star’ was busy insulting my brother?”
The manager stiffened.
“…Brother?”
Pelumi stepped forward slightly.
“Yes. Any Problem with that?”
The manager paled.
Anthony didn’t say anything, nor stopping her from going further.
His gaze settled calmly on the manager.
“Handle your people,” he said.
The tone was soft.
But absolute.
A brief silence followed.
Then Anthony added—
“Effective immediately… that star is banned.”
The words landed like a hammer.
Shock rippled across the lobby.
He was about to head upstairs with pelumi, when he saw Isabella clapping.
“Straight to the point, as always.”
Anthony turned.
Their eyes met.
For the third time.
Isabella.
A quiet tension filled the air—familiar, yet deeper now.
Pelumi’s gaze shifted between them.
Once.
Twice.
Then a slow, mischievous grin spread across her face.
“Oh?” she said, folding her arms.
“So this is the famous Isabella?”
Isabella raised a brow slightly.
“And you must be the protective sister.”
Pelumi chuckled.
“Protective? Maybe. But right now I’m more interested in why you’re both looking at each other like you forgot the rest of us exist.”
A brief silence.
Then—
Anthony exhaled softly.
Knocking her head.
Earning himself a hateful glare from her.
Isabella looked away for a split second.
And Pelumi?
She was already enjoying this far too much.
The atmosphere shifted—lighter, yet charged with something unspoken.
And just like that—
Things were no longer simple.
Her eyes scanning the two.
“We are about checking out the company, mind joining us?” Pelumi said bashfully.
Anthony glare at her.
He hasn’t made up his mind.
Maybe she’s a friend, or a foe.
But Pelumi dragged Isabella along the stairs.
She doesn’t even know her way round the company.
And, the manager and other board members were clueless about what to do.
Anthony sighed weakly.
“Bring the little actress along, and show me the way around the company.”
“And them?”
The manager stutter.
“Let them be…”
What a fate!.
Two hearts_
Experiencing the budding of a feeling unknown to them.
A union that will shock the great city of Eko (Lagos) and beyond
And…
That’s it for today.
we are still celebrating our new little boy.
Have a blast!.