Chapter 13: The Twin of his daughter?

    The sharp tone stopped her in her tracks, its chill enough to send a shiver down her spine. But this was Nnenna, and she had come prepared with a thick skin. A voice like that wouldn''t scare her off.

    The director, Ikenna however, was unfazed. "Don''t mind him," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "He''s always moody. Come on in."

    Another sharp voice followed, colder and more authoritative. "Ikenna, are you going over me now?"

    The tension in the air was palpable, but Ikenna didn''t even flinch. "Yes, I''m going over you," he replied with an easy smile, his tone light but unapologetic. "And what can you do about it? You can''t even walk yet."

    Ignoring the glare directed his way, Ikenna took Nnenna''s hand and guided her deeper into the room.

    As they entered, Nnenna finally got a clear look at the man from the day before. For a moment, her breath caught as her eyes took in his face.

    It was sharp, chiseled, and undeniably handsome. His piercing gaze held a mixture of cold detachment and restrained intensity, drawing her in despite herself.

    It took her a second to recover from her surprise, but when she did, she spoke calmly. "You''re quite handsome. You don''t seem like you''re from this kingdom either."

    Her observation hung in the air, her voice steady despite the tension around her.

    Her quick recovery left both men momentarily stunned. Nnenna, completely unaware of their reactions, grabbed a chair and plopped down casually, as though it were her own living room.

    "So, what are we playing? Who won this game? Should we start another one?" she asked, her voice light and filled with curiosity.

    Ikenna "..."

    Four "..."

    She raised her head to look at the two men, tilting it slightly in confusion. "What''s up with you guys?"

    The calm and indifferent way she treated him was nothing short of a miracle in Ikenna''s eyes.

    Four, however, remained unmoved. His sharp eyes flicked across the chessboard, already planning his next moves.

    It seemed as though he didn''t even register the conversation happening around him, or perhaps he was simply too disinterested to care.

    Ikenna pulled another seat and sat down "The game is almost over. If you can wait for some minutes, we''ll be done."

    She nodded, curiosity piqued as she decided to observe their game. It wasn''t every day she got to watch two geniuses battle it out.

    The board between them seemed alive, every piece strategically placed to protect, attack, or bait. The air was thick with unspoken calculations as the two opponents sat motionless, their eyes locked on the chessboard.

    On one side was Ikenna, a seasoned master she had heard of his aggressive plays once from Prince Somto.

    His sharp movements had already captured most of his opponent''s pawns, and his knights were well positioned to corner the king. His confidence radiated as he tapped his fingers against the table.

    On the other side sat the mysterious man, who seemed like a calm and composed player whose strategic depth was unparalleled.

    Despite the apparent disadvantage on the board, he showed no signs of worry. His hand hovered over a piece, hesitation only lasting a heartbeat before he made his move.

    Ikenna grinned. "A bold choice. But not enough to stop me." He immediately responded by advancing his queen, placing the man in what seemed to be a deadly check.

    Nnenna gasped silently, certain the man was trapped. Yet, the young strategist only smiled faintly. His fingers moved swiftly as he slid a bishop diagonally across the board.

    Ikenna''s grin faltered. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the board, trying to understand the subtle shift. Then he saw it. A trap.

    "You sacrificed your rook earlier to create this opening..." Ikenna muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

    The man nodded, his tone calm yet commanding. "You were too focused on my left flank. You left your king vulnerable to my pieces on the right. It''s over."