Zainab's body went completely still.
Not just frozen…
Paralyzed.
The gun in Safiya's hand was small.
Elegant.
Almost harmless in appearance.
But Zainab knew the truth.
It wasn't just a weapon.
It was death.
Safiya stepped fully into the office, her heels clicking softly against the floor.then she reached back and locked the door.
Click.
The sound echoed louder than it should have.
Final.
Sealing.
Zainab's throat tightened.
Her voice came out broken.
"S-Safiya… I was just… I was looking for Ibrahim's phone…"
Even she didn't believe her own words.
Safiya laughed.
Softly.
Coldly.
A laugh without humor.
"You're a bad liar," she said, tilting her head slightly.
Zainab's hands trembled uncontrollably.
Her back pressed against the table behind her, as if she could disappear into it.
Safiya took a step forward.
Then another.
The gun lifted slowly…
Until it pointed directly at Zainab's chest.
"You opened my file."
It wasn't a question.
It was a verdict.
Zainab swallowed hard.
"I didn't mean to"
The slap came fast.
Sharp.
Violent.
Her head snapped to the side as pain exploded across her face.
Before she could recover another force hit her back.
She stumbled.
Fell.
Her head struck the edge of the table.
Pain shot through her skull like lightning.
A cry escaped her lips as tears rushed to her eyes.
Safiya crouched slightly, her gaze locking onto Zainab like a predator studying prey.
"You poor rat," she whispered.
Her voice was low.
Dangerous.
Almost gentle.
"Do you know what you just did?"
Zainab shook, her body unable to stop trembling.
"You're the one behind everything" she whispered through tears.
Safiya smiled.
And this time…
There was no hiding it.
"Yes."
The word landed like a blade.
No denial.
No fear.
Only pride.
Then she tilted her head slightly, studying Zainab like something fragile, something disposable.
"And now," she said softly,
"you'll die."
Zainab's eyes widened in pure terror.
"No… please…"
Safiya's finger moved slowly toward the trigger.
Every second stretched.
Heavy.
Endless.
Zainab's body shook violently.
Her breath came in broken pieces.
"Please! I won't tell anyone!" she cried desperately.
Safiya chuckled.
"I don't trust poor people," she said casually.
"You people talk too much when money enters your hands."
Zainab shook her head rapidly.
"I swear! I swear I won't—"
Safiya stepped closer.
Closer.
Closer.
The cold metal of the gun touched Zainab's forehead.
Zainab gasped.
Her world went silent.
She closed her eyes.
Waiting.
For the end.
Then a sound.
Sharp.
Unexpected.
Safiya's phone rang.
The moment shattered.
Safiya hissed in irritation, lowering the gun slightly as she reached for her phone.
"What?!" she snapped.
A man's voice came through.
Loud enough for Zainab to hear.
"Madam, we have Ibrahim. But he's stubborn. He refuses to cooperate."
Zainab's heart jumped.
Ibrahim.
Alive.
Safiya's expression darkened instantly.
"Break him," she said coldly.
The voice hesitated.
"We will. But… he keeps calling out Zainab's name."
Everything stopped.
Zainab's breath caught.
Her name?
Safiya went still.
"He's calling her name?" she repeated slowly.
"Yes," the man replied. "He says he trusts her more than anyone."
Something changed in Safiya's eyes.
Something dangerous.
Jealousy.
Pure.
Burning.
Uncontrolled.
Her grip on the gun tightened.
Her hand trembled slightly.
Zainab could feel it.
The shift.
Safiya ended the call abruptly.
Silence returned.
But this silence…
Was different.
Heavier.c
Darker.
Safiya turned her gaze slowly toward Zainab.
And this time…
There was no mask.
Only hatred.
"So…" she said quietly.
"…Ibrahim is already attached to you."
Zainab shook her head weakly.
"I didn't do anything…"
The slap came again.
Harder.
Crueler.
Zainab cried out as pain exploded across her face.
Safiya grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her head up.
Their eyes met.
Zainab's filled with fear.
Safiya's filled with something far worse.
Obsession.
"I will not just kill you," Safiya whispered slowly.
A smile spread across her lips.
"I will make Ibrahim watch you die."
Zainab's heart shattered completely.
Her body collapsed inward as sobs tore through her chest.
But Safiya wasn't done.
She leaned closer.
Closer.
So close that her breath brushed against Zainab's ear.
"You know why Ibrahim's mother was kidnapped?"
Zainab's eyes widened in shock.
Safiya smiled.
"Because I planned it."
The words hit like thunder.
Zainab gasped.
"No…"
Safiya straightened proudly.
"I wanted Ibrahim to break," she continued.
"I wanted him desperate. Weak. Begging."
Her eyes gleamed.
"So I could control him completely."
Zainab shook her head, her voice trembling.
"You're mad…"
Safiya's gaze sharpened instantly.
"No," she said quietly.
"I'm powerful."
Then she leaned in again
Like a snake ready to strike.
"And if Ibrahim comes back alive"
She paused.
Letting the silence stretch.
"I'll tell him you were part of it too."
Zainab froze.
Her blood turned cold.
This was worse than death.
This was destruction.
Safiya stepped back slowly, adjusting her dress as if nothing had happened.
The gun lowered slightly.
"For now," she said calmly,
"you will live."
Zainab didn't respond.
She couldn't.
Safiya walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
She turned slightly.
And smiled.
"But only until Ibrahim watches you suffer."
Then she opened the door…
And walked out.
Like nothing had happened.
Like she hadn't just destroyed a life.
The door closed behind her.
Zainab collapsed to the floor.
Her body shook violently.
Her breath came in broken gasps.
Her heart felt like it was tearing apart inside her chest.
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Because now…
She understood everything.
This was not just kidnapping.
This was not about money.
This was not about a bag.
This was something deeper.
Darker.
More dangerous.
This was evil.
Carefully planned and executed.
And she was trapped inside it.
A prisoner in a story she never chose,a story written in fear, in betrayal and in blood