Anita laughed softly.
If your bastard is truly his child, you wouldn’t be here.
You would be living in luxury inside a mansion.
Daisy’s jaw tightened, but she still didn’t talk.
Anita lifted her chin.
Let’s settle it with work.
She turned to the manager.
Sales competition, Anita announced.
One week, whoever loses leaves this store, the staff murmured.
The manager’s eyes lit up like he liked the idea of watching Daisy suffer.
Daisy looked at Anita and understood immediately.
This is her plan.
And Daisy finally spoke.
“Fine,” she said simply.
“I accept.
” Anita’s smile widened because she believed Daisy had just signed her own ending.
But Daisy was thinking of something else.
“If I win, I’ll prove it.
If I lose, I’ll still know who framed me.
” And she suspected one thing strongly.
Those fake messages.
that deleted surveillance, her phone being used.
Anita, the trap came quickly.
One morning, the store prepared for a special client, a celebrity brand ambassador named Jay Okoro.
Staff were excited, nervous, running around.
Anita moved like she was directing a stage play.
When Jay arrived, the air changed.
He walked in surrounded by assistants, dressed like a man who lived under cameras.
Anita accidentally positioned Daisy with a tray of coffee.
Then she bumped her.
Daisy stumbled.
The cup tipped.
Coffee spilled straight onto Jay’s head and expensive outfit.
A sharp gasp spread through the boutique.
Anita’s eyes widened in fake shock.
The manager’s mouth fell open.
“Daisy!” someone shouted.
“You’re finished.
” Daisy stood frozen, staring at the mess like her whole life had just collapsed again.
Her hands trembled.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“I didn’t.
” But before anybody could attack her, Jay lifted his head slowly, and instead of anger, his eyes narrowed with recognition.
He stared at Daisy, then his mouth opened slightly.
“Daisy.
” Daisy blinked.
“Sir,” Jay stepped closer, ignoring his assistant’s panic.
“Daisy Okaphor,” he said, voice full of disbelief.
It’s you.
The whole store froze.
Jay smiled.
An actual genuine smile.
You used to treat me like your kid brother, he said softly.
When we were younger.
Daisy’s eyes widened as memory hit her.
Jay, she whispered.
Jay Ooro.
Jay nodded almost laughing.
Yes.
Anita’s face went stiff.
The manager swallowed hard.
Jay turned to everyone, voice calm but dangerous.
“She did not do it on purpose,” he said firmly.
Anita tried to jump in.
“But sir, she poured coffee on your head.
” Jay glanced at his ruined clothes and shrugged.
“It’s nothing,” he said.
“Even this outfit is not worth shouting over.
Then he looked at Daisy again.
“How did you lose so much weight?” he asked quietly, like the question was personal.
Daisy’s throat tightened.
She didn’t know how to answer.
Jay exhaled slowly and then said loudly enough for everyone to hear.
“She’s with me.
Nobody touches her.
” The boutique went silent.
Then Jay turned to Daisy and held out his phone.
“Let’s exchange contacts,” he said.
“We won’t lose each other again.
” Daisy hesitated, then nodded slowly.
Jay looked at the manager.
“I want items worth 5 million,” he said.
Daisy will choose them.
“I trust her taste.
” Gasps filled the room.
Anita’s eyes almost popped.
The manager’s mouth opened and closed like a fish.
Jay added, “Ship them to my team.
” And Daisy, “Keep in touch.
” Daisy’s hands trembled as she nodded again.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Jay smiled softly.
“Don’t thank me.
You’re the one who used to protect me.
” And with that, he left, still smiling, while the whole store stood there like statues.
As Daisy watched him go, she felt two things at once.
relief because she had survived another trap and fear because Anita’s jealousy was no longer small.
It was burning and Daisy could already see it in Anita’s eyes.
Anita forced a smile and whispered to herself, barely audible.
I’m still leading sales, “You can’t beat me.
” But her eyes promised something else.
“This isn’t over.
” The boutique stayed quiet for a long time after Joro left.
Not quiet in a peaceful way.
Quiet in the way people become when they are shocked and ashamed, but still proud to admit it.
Daisy returned to her table and continued working like nothing happened, even though her hands were shaking inside.
Anita stood at her own corner with a tight smile that did not reach her eyes.
And the manager kept looking at Daisy the way a man looks at someone he no longer knows how to control.
By evening, Daisy was tired in her bones.
Her body was still weak from the fainting.
Her mind was still heavy from everything that happened.
And just when she was thinking of quietly leaving, Ethan walked in.
Not as the CEO, not as the man who could silence a room with one sentence, but as the man who kept appearing in her life when she least expected it.
He walked straight to her.
“You’re coming with me,” he said.
Daisy blinked.
“Where?” “To eat,” he replied.
“Now.
” Daisy opened her mouth to refuse out of habit, but the look in Ethan’s eyes told her he wasn’t asking, so she followed him.
The restaurant was not loud.
It was calm, clean, and expensive in a way that made Daisy feel like she shouldn’t sit too comfortably.
The moment the food arrived, Daisy forgot where she was.
She ate like someone who had been trained by hardship.
Fast, quick bites, eyes down, like the food might disappear if she slowed down.
Ethan watched her for a moment, then quietly pushed another plate closer to her.
“Slow down,” he said.
Daisy paused, embarrassed.
She wiped her mouth with a napkin and tried to smile.
“Sorry,” she said softly.
“It’s a habit,” Ethan didn’t laugh.
He didn’t mock her.
He just asked gently.
“What kind of habit makes you eat like you’re being chased?” Daisy stared at the food for a second, then her shoulders dropped.
The truth came out the way it always did when a person was tired enough.
“My house,” she said quietly.
“If you don’t eat fast, you don’t eat at all.
” Ethan’s face hardened slightly.
Daisy continued, voice low like she was afraid her own story might shame her.
“I have three younger brothers and one sister,” she said.
“And my mother?” My mother believes suffering is normal.
Ethan’s eyes stayed on her.
Daisy swallowed.
“I work, Ethan.
I work too much.
I do odd jobs.
I do anything that gives me money.
But there were times I still had nothing.
Her fingers tightened around the spoon.
Sometimes my mother took the little money I made and used it to raise them, Daisy said.
Even when I begged her to leave me something small, she would say, “You are the first daughter.
You must carry the family.
” Ethan’s jaw clenched.
Daisy forced a small laugh that carried no joy.
“You know what’s funny,” she said.
There were days I only had enough money to buy expired food, and I still felt lucky.
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
Expired food? Daisy nodded slowly.
In the supermarket, some things get thrown away.
Bread, packaged food, even vegetables in the market that people don’t want.
Those ones with soft parts.
You cut the bad side, soak the rest in hot water, and you eat.
She lifted her eyes to Ethan like she was daring him to judge her.
But Ethan didn’t look disgusted.
He looked angry.
Not at her, at life.
Daisy breathed out.
“But it’s different now,” she said quickly, almost like she needed him to understand.
“I can support myself now.
I don’t want you to feel obligated because of because of the baby.
” Ethan didn’t answer immediately.
He simply stood up when she wasn’t looking.
Walked to the counter, and paid quietly.
When Daisy asked for the bill, the waiter shook his head.
Madam, it has been settled,” he said.
And the manager said, “From now on, meals for you are on the house.
” Daisy froze.
She turned to Ethan slowly.
He sat back down like it was nothing.
“You don’t have to do that,” Daisy whispered.
Ethan looked at her.
“I’m not doing it to show off.
I’m doing it because I don’t want you hungry again.
” Daisy’s throat tightened, but she forced herself to nod because if she spoke too much, she might cry in front of him.
That night, Daisy went back to her small room, the same cramped place that suddenly felt even smaller now that she had seen what peace could look like.
She locked the door.
She washed her face.
She sat down and tried to breathe.
But peace did not come.
Because some people had a way of smelling when a woman was alone.
A knock came hard.
Impatient.
Daisy’s heart jumped.
“Who is it?” she asked, already knowing.
“It’s me,” a man’s voice replied, lazy and confident.
“Stanley Musa,” Daisy’s stomach turned.
Her landlord, a man who smiled too much and looked at her like she was a thing.
“What do you want?” Daisy asked sharply.
Stanley laughed.
I just came to check on you.
You have been acting like you don’t live in my house.
Daisy’s hand tightened around her phone.
Go away, she said.
It’s late.
Another knock came heavier.
Then the sound of the lock shaking.
Daisy stood up fast.
Stanley, she warned, voice trembling but strong.
If you touch this door again, I will call the police.
Stanley’s tone changed.
This is my house, he said.
I can enter anytime I like.
Daisy’s fear turned into anger.
You will not enter, she said.
Try it and you will regret it.
The door pushed again.
Daisy stepped back, grabbed the nearest thing she could hold, a small metal water flask, and held it like a weapon.
When Stanley finally forced the door slightly open, Daisy moved without thinking.
She hit his hand hard.
Stanley cursed loudly and stumbled back.
You’re mad,” he hissed.
Daisy’s whole body shook, but she lifted her phone.
“I’m calling the police now,” she said.
That was the only thing that made him hesitate.
He spat a threat and walked away, still cursing.
Daisy slammed the door shut and locked it again.
Her hands were shaking so badly she could barely type.
But she called Ethan once, twice, three times.
Then she remembered.
Her phone had been on silent earlier.
Her heart sank.
Before she could even think properly, she heard a car screech outside.
Footsteps, fast, heavy.
Then Ethan’s voice.
“Daisy?” Daisy opened the door and Ethan was there breathing hard like someone who ran through fear.
His eyes searched her body immediately.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Daisy nodded quickly, trying to look strong.
“I’m fine,” she said.
“I handled it.
” Ethan’s face tightened.
You handled it,” he repeated.
“Daisy, you are pregnant.
” Daisy’s mouth opened, but no words came.
Ethan looked around the cramped corridor with disgust and anger.
“This place is not safe,” he said.
“You’re leaving here.
” Daisy shook her head instantly.
“No.
” Ethan’s eyes flashed.
“No.
” Daisy stepped back slightly, gripping the door.
“Moving into a rich man’s space is easy,” she said quietly.
But being chased out later is worse.
Ethan stared at her.
Daisy’s voice softened, but the fear remained.
“I have not met your parents,” she said.
“I know how rich families behave.
They don’t want their children marrying a girl like me.
I’m already grateful your sisters accept me and the baby.
I don’t want to dream too far.
” Ethan’s expression changed.
“My parents like you,” he said firmly.
Daisy gave a small bitter smile.
You say that because you feel sorry for me.
Ethan stepped closer, voice low.
I’m not lying.
But Daisy shook her head again, stubborn with fear.
Ethan exhaled slowly, then reached for his phone.
“Felix,” he said the moment the call connected.
“Rent a safe filler tonight.
Not tomorrow.
Tonight.
Put bodyguards there.
Proper ones.
I don’t want excuses.
” He ended the call and looked at Daisy.
“If you won’t move for yourself,” he said.
“Move for the child.
” Daisy’s eyes filled and she looked away quickly.
The next day, trouble followed Daisy again because trouble always followed her.
A client named Lucas Noru had been pushing himself around the store like he owned the air inside.
He was not a good man and he didn’t hide it.
When he saw Daisy, he smiled like someone who already planned what he wanted.
“Come,” he said, acting friendly.
“Let’s have a drink somewhere.
We’ll talk business.
” Daisy kept her voice polite.
“I’m sorry, sir.
I don’t drink.
” Lucas laughed like she insulted him.
“What kind of sales girl doesn’t drink?” he asked loudly.
“Or do you look down on me?” Daisy’s eyes stayed calm, but her body tensed.
“I’m allergic,” she said.
Then she added quietly.
“I’m pregnant.
” Lucas scoffed.
“So,” he said.
“You think pregnancy makes you special?” He leaned closer, his voice dropping.
