KAWEME 

Kaweme jolted awake.

The sunlight was already slicing through the curtains.

She reached for her phone and gasped, “7:30 a.m?! Oh my God.”

She flew out of bed just as Malaika opened the door, already dressed and sipping tea like she had all the time in the world.

“I was wondering when you’d wake up,” Malaika said. “Aren’t you working today?”

“I have a meeting by 8:30 a.m!”

Malaika widened her eyes. “Wow. You should’ve told me. I knew there was no way you would have woken up early today, when you were still on the phone at 3 a.m. I could hear the giggling.”

Kaweme grinned, holding up her hand. “Can you blame me? I’m getting married!”

Malaika squealed. “I still can’t believe it! Honestly, if there’s anyone made for you, it’s that man. He’s perfect. Does he have a brother? I’m open to becoming in-laws.”

“Be careful what you wish for,” Kaweme laughed, heading to the bathroom and grabbing her towel. “His family is… complicated. Let’s just say we’re not doing matchmaking among the Mwansa brothers. One of them even got married yesterday. Very hush-hush.”

Malaika raised an eyebrow. “Hmm. Okay, noted.”

She followed her to the bathroom door. “Speaking of hush-hush, there’s a guy downstairs. He said he’s your temporary driver. What happened to Mr… what’s his name again?”

Kaweme paused. This was the part Japheth said to keep quiet about.

She called back over her shoulder, “He’s on training. Just a short one. We needed to switch things up anyway, rotate duties so people don’t get too comfortable.”

Malaika squinted. “That doesn’t make any sense, but okay. Where did you get this new guy from?”

“He’s… recommended. Please don’t ask too many questions.”

“Ah, I see. You’re not allowed to say.”

Kaweme peeped her head out of the bathroom with a toothbrush in hand. “Exactly.”

Malaika frowned. “Are you safe?”

“Yes.”

“Is everything really okay?”

“Everything is fine, Malaika. Look at me, I’m getting married! There might be trouble in paradise, but if I tell you, then I’ll be breaking trust. It’s not about you. It’s just… protection.”

Malaika nodded slowly. “Okay. I get it. But you do know I’ve got your back, right?”

“I know, and I’m grateful. But maybe, for a little while, you should keep a bit of distance.”

“Excuse you?! We’ve got a wedding to plan. If we need to bring in trucks of bodyguards, let’s do it,” Malaika said sternly, then grinned, “Besides, your new driver looks like a bodyguard anyway. Have you seen that man? Whew. I don’t know where you got him from, but he’s… not a regular driver. Japheth is letting you be driven around by that man?”

Kaweme narrowed her eyes playfully. “Keep your eyes off my driver, Malaika.”

Malaika burst into laughter. “Don’t worry, he’s safe. I already took a vow, no fraternizing with fine drivers. Let me not fall into temptation.”

“You? I don’t trust you.”

Kaweme shut the bathroom door with a smirk, and Malaika strolled off, humming a worship tune that drifted through the hallway.

 SHEM

By the time Shem stepped into the compound, the car was already gleaming. Someone else had done the cleaning, apparently, drivers in this house didn’t do menial tasks like washing vehicles.

“Must be nice to be rich,” he muttered under his breath.

Still, he wasn’t taking chances. He checked under the car, the boot, the bonnet, methodical, thorough. It wasn’t just paranoia. He was trained for this, and he was determined to do a good job.

Keep Kaweme safe, that was the assignment, but babysitting her chatty best friend wasn’t part of the job description. So when a lady stepped out of the house, all floaty dress and confident energy, he already had his guard up.

“Hey,” she said, eyeing him like she was placing an order. “You’re the new driver, right?”

He straightened, brushing imaginary dust off his shirt. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Great. After you drop Kaweme at work, I need to go pick fabric. You know… wedding stuff. She’s busy, and I’m chief bridesmaid, so I have errands. You’ll drive me?”

There was something about her, sugar and fire all in one. Spoiled, maybe. But interesting.

Still, he kept it professional.

“I’m sorry. I won’t be able to do that.”

She blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I said I can’t drive you.”

“Why not?”

“My assignment is to drive Kaweme. Not you.”

“Ouch.” She folded her arms. “So you’re too important to help the bride’s best friend now?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“Actually, it is. You work for her. And this errand is for her. So technically, you work for me too.”

He didn’t reply. Just looked at her. She was beautiful, and annoying.

She kept going. “The old driver knew how this worked. I came here to be polite, to give you a heads-up. But you’re being…”

Kaweme’s voice broke through the moment. “Good morning.”

Both of them turned.

She was walking briskly toward them, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.

“Hey, Shem. How are you today?”

“I’m fine, ma’am. And you?”

“I’m good.”

Malaika turned to her like she’d just been vindicated in court. “Please talk to this guy. I told him, after we drop you at the office, I need him to take me fabric shopping. And he said, ‘I’m only here to drive Kaweme.’ What does that even mean?”

Kaweme gave her a look, half-apology, half-plea. “Malaika, calm down.”

“No, tell him to calm down! He doesn’t even know how things run around here. If the job is beneath him, he should say so.”

“Malaika,” Kaweme said, firmer now. “Please. Just… calm down.”

There was a long pause. Then Malaika exhaled and stepped back.

“You know what? Forget it. I’ll go myself. I don’t have the energy.” She turned toward the house. “You two can carry on with your elite drama.”

“I’ll call you later,” Kaweme said gently.

Shem, saying nothing, opened the car door and got in.

Kaweme followed suit, entering the car and closing the door. The tension still lingered in the air.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “She didn’t mean to come off rude. She just doesn’t know about this arrangement.”

Shem kept his eyes on the road as he reversed. “It’s okay. I get it. There’s a lot going on.”

“I should’ve explained better. She had an arrangement with the previous driver. I’m trying to keep her out of… everything.”

He nodded. “No problem at all. I would’ve taken her, happily. But I can’t afford to be away from you. This job isn’t really about driving, you know that.”

“I know,” she said. “And I appreciate that you’re here.”

He gave a small nod, the engine purring underneath them as they pulled out of the gate.

There was a lot unsaid between them, but Kaweme had the sense that Shem heard it anyway. He had a protective big brother energy, and she appreciated it, she only wished that Malaika would make this easy.

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Shem hadn’t eaten since the day before. No dinner. No lunch. He could feel it now, a dull, gnawing emptiness in his stomach. But he swallowed the sensation. Hunger would have to wait. He had something more urgent to handle.

The day was winding down, and shadows had begun to stretch across the street by the time Shem slipped quietly into his brother’s office. He avoided the usual routes, bypassed the front guards, and let himself in through a side entrance. No one saw him. Not even Japheth.

When he opened the door, Japheth looked up, startled. “How did you get in? Nobody alerted me.”

“I have my ways,” Shem said simply, shutting the door behind him.

Japheth let out a low whistle. “That’s… unsettling.”

“It should be,” Shem replied. “It means your security is porous. Easily compromised. We’ll need to look into that.”

Before Japheth could respond, the restroom door creaked open, and Luyando stepped out, drying his hands on a small towel.

Shem froze. “Oh. I didn’t realize you had company. I’ll come back later.”

“No, it’s fine,” Japheth said. “Luyando knows everything. I’ve brought him up to speed.”

Shem turned, surprised. “What?”

“We need all the help we can get,” Japheth added, sensing his disapproval.

Luyando stepped forward, arms crossed. “What’s the problem, Shem? You think I’m going to sabotage Kaweme, my cousin, or Japheth, my best friend? If you’re in this deep, then I’m in it deeper.”

Shem narrowed his eyes. “I just thought… The fewer people involved, the better. The tighter the circle, the safer she is.”

Luyando threw up his hands. “I’m not just ‘people.’ I’m family.”

Shem didn’t argue. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a phone. “Then you’ll want to hear this.”

He tapped play on a voice memo. The room fell silent.

A muffled voice filled the space.

“What do you mean they found another driver?”

Another voice, tense, uncertain, responded.

“They said I needed training. The other guy resumed…”

Luyando’s face contorted. “That’s Nkandu. That’s definitely his voice.”

“Who’s Nkandu?” Shem asked.

“My former boss,” Japheth said grimly. “And technically, still Luyando’s boss, until he officially leaves.”

They leaned closer as the recording continued.

“Are they suspecting something? Have you been careless?”

“No! You’re the first person I’ve told. You gave me the contract, remember?”

“Well, they’ll find out soon enough. If they think you’re soft, they’ll take you out. I can’t protect you anymore.”

A pause. Then:

“Please. I have a family. Madam Kaweme was good to me…”

“Then you shouldn’t have taken the deal. If I were you? Disappear. Don’t go for training. Don’t call me again.”

The audio clicked off.

Japheth was silent for a moment. Then he exhaled, hard. “Nkandu… the acting chairman. They always seem too close for comfort, now it makes sense. I knew something smelled off.”

Luyando nodded, his voice tight. “Japheth, take it easy, if they suspect you’re on to them, you’re not safe.”

Shem turned sharply to Japheth. “What haven’t you told me?”

Japheth hesitated. “Before Kaweme’s father died, they tried to rope me in. They wanted me to front their project, handle the tech. Make it look like I was in charge. If things went south, I’d take the fall. At the time, I didn’t know the acting chairman was involved, just Nkandu.”

“And you didn’t think that was relevant to tell me?” Shem asked, eyes narrowing.

“I didn’t think it was connected. I thought it was just… business politics. I didn’t know it ran this deep.”

Shem stepped back, jaw clenched. “From now on, you tell me everything. There are no small details anymore.”

Japheth nodded solemnly. “I just want Kaweme safe. I don’t want her to worry. I want her focused on the wedding… not this madness.”

“She will be,” Shem said. “That’s my job.”

He turned toward the door.

“Thank you, brother,” Japheth said softly.

Shem nodded once. “We will tighten security. Immediately.”

Then he left.

Outside, as the night breeze kissed his skin, his stomach growled again. He checked his watch, there was no time to grab a quick bite. The real hunger now wasn’t for food.

It was for justice.

—————————————————————————————————————————-

KAWEME

Kaweme walked in just as the last rays of sunlight filtered through the half-closed blinds. Japheth and Luyando were deep in conversation, tension lining their faces. But the moment they saw her, they straightened up, too quickly, too rehearsed.

She narrowed her eyes.

“Guys, don’t do that. Don’t pretend everything’s fine. I saw Shem leaving. I know something’s wrong.”

Japheth stood and moved toward her, wrapping an arm gently around her shoulders. “Babe… it’s nothing you need to worry about. We’ll figure it out.”

Luyando added, “He’s right. It’s just… complicated.”

Kaweme stepped back slightly. “Please. Don’t treat me like I’m going to break. I want to know. I need to know.”

There was a pause. A silent agreement passed between the two men.

Finally, Japheth nodded. “Alright. Shem brought a recording from your driver’s phone. It confirms our suspicions, someone close to your father was involved. Deeply involved in his death. And it goes higher than we thought.”

Kaweme’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh God… this is getting scary.”

Japheth pulled her into a hug. “Calm down. You are safe. I promise you that.”

Luyando echoed, “We’re not going to let anything happen to you.”

Japheth held her close for a moment, then stepped back, his tone shifting, steady, resolute. “But we’ve been trying to fight this thing with logic. And that’s not going to cut it. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God… We can’t rely on just human wisdom anymore.”

Luyando nodded. “Yes. We’ve tried to be smart. But maybe we need to be spiritual now.”

Kaweme whispered, “You know… after I prayed last night, a scripture kept repeating in my heart. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. But then I remembered… My father died. My mother died. My sister died. And I wonder… were You with them, Lord?”

Her voice cracked.

“And now I think, maybe I’m next.”

“No,” Japheth said firmly. “You’re not them. That’s the voice of fear, not the voice of God. Don’t let the enemy cheat you out of the assurance you’ve been given.”

A hush fell over the room.

Then Japheth walked to the window and pulled the blinds shut. “We’re not just going to talk about faith. We’re going to stand in it.”

He turned to them. “When two or three gather… let’s summon heaven.”

Kaweme nodded slowly, wiping a tear. “Yes. Please. Let’s pray.”

She reached into her bag and grabbed her phone. “I’ll text Shem. Tell him I won’t need a ride. Japh, will you take me home later? I don’t feel like going home with your brother tonight. It’s just… awkward.”

“Of course,” Japheth said softly. “Anything you need.”

She smiled faintly, typed a quick message, and set the phone down. Then she walked to him and reached for his hand.

They joined hands, three of them now, and began to sing softly. A simple worship song, voices trembling but united.

Then the words faded into silence.

And they prayed.

Tongues rose like incense. Tears fell. Words were few, but the Spirit groaned louder. They called on the God of Heaven, the Defender of the weak, the Judge of all things hidden, to expose evil and protect the innocent.

They prayed until their fear turned to fire.

Until the room didn’t feel like an office anymore.

It felt like a war room.

 SHEM

Shem parked the car carefully and stepped out, stretching his back. His stomach reminded him again, loudly, that he hadn’t eaten since yesterday. But he’d already made up his mind: he would drop off the car, head to the staff quarters, and cook something small with whatever he could find around. He didn’t want to drive out again just for food.

As he reached for the keys in his pocket, his eyes caught a glint on the tiled driveway. Something gold.

He bent down.

A bracelet.

Delicate, clearly feminine. He turned it over in his palm. For a moment, his instincts kicked in, he studied it carefully, checking for any hidden cameras or chips, just to be sure it wasn’t a bug. But it was nothing of the sort. Just a fine gold piece with tiny floral etchings.

“Must be Kaweme’s,” he muttered. Probably slipped off her wrist this morning in the rush. He slid it into his pocket to return later.

He made his way toward the staff quarters, but just as he reached the door, a matronly voice called out.

“You! Young man!”

He turned. A stout woman in a headwrap and apron was hurrying toward him.

“You must be the new staff. I was looking for you this morning. Why didn’t you eat your breakfast before leaving?”

Shem blinked. “I didn’t know I was entitled to breakfast.”

She clicked her tongue. “Entitled? You’re required to eat! All staff are served breakfast and dinner, no excuses. Come, the staff buffet is still set.”

He gave a small, grateful nod. “Wow. Must be nice to work for the rich.”

She didn’t hear him, or maybe she did, and chose to ignore it. Either way, he followed her around the corner and into the hall.

He was expecting something basic, maybe rice and beans, leftover stew. Instead, he found a full buffet: meats, potatoes, grilled vegetables, warm soup, and cold drinks. Three other staff members were already scooping portions into their coolers, clearly taking food back to their quarters.

But Shem sat.

He wanted to eat here. Properly.

He was halfway through his second helping when a familiar voice floated into the room.

“Ah-ah, my dear Malaika, is this you?”

The housekeeper bustled forward, hands flapping excitedly.

“Yes, Aunty Chipo,” Malaika said, appearing at the door, breathless and frustrated. “It’s me.”

Shem stiffened slightly at the sound of her name. Malaika.

“I didn’t know you were here,” Chipo said, smiling. “You’ve come to see Kaweme, yes?”

“I’ve been here since yesterday,” Malaika sighed. “Did Kaweme tell you? She’s getting married.”

“Yes oh,” Chipo clapped her hands. “And it’s beautiful news. After all the sadness… this is such a blessing.”

“But we’re in over our heads,” Malaika said, throwing her hands in the air. “I spent the whole day in the market trying to find fabric. What am I even doing? I’m not a wedding planner. Kaweme doesn’t know the first thing about organizing a wedding, and frankly, neither do I.”

Chipo laughed. “My dear, calm down. That part is handled. I’ve already started interviewing top event planners in the city. We’ll assign one for the bride’s look, dress, makeup, bridal train. And another for the actual event. We’re not leaving anything to chance.”

Malaika exhaled, visibly relieved. “Aunty, you’re a lifesaver. Thank you. I was seriously losing it today.”

Shem watched from his seat. Her voice floated through the room like a song. He wasn’t trying to listen, but he heard every word. Her frustrations. Her relief. Her dramatics. Her presence.

Spoiled brat, he thought wryly. But he was smiling.

There was something soft and shiny about her, something that didn’t belong in his world. He’d been called many things. “Hard,” mostly. This girl? She was the kind who possibly cried over little things and thought fabric shopping was war.

He kept chewing. Quietly.

Then Malaika spotted him.

“Oh,” she said, eyeing him coolly. “The new driver.”

Chipo beamed. “Yes, that’s Shem. He’s going to be with us for a few weeks, probably till the wedding. Shem, this is Malaika, Kaweme’s best friend.”

“We’ve met,” Shem said evenly, setting his fork down. His eyes didn’t linger.

Malaika rolled her eyes slightly, a silent nod to the morning’s awkward encounter. “Aunty, I actually came back to ask about my bracelet. My uncle brought it from Dubai. Gold. I think I lost it yesterday around here. Can you please ask the cleaners? I’ve been panicking all day. I just… I can’t lose that bracelet.”

“Oh don’t worry,” Chipo said, patting her arm. “If it’s in this house, we’ll find it. You know I don’t let anything disappear.”

“Thank you,” Malaika sighed. “Let me know the moment you find it, please.”

With that, she turned and left. Shem’s hand brushed against his pocket. The bracelet, so it was hers. He would return it.

Eventually.

But not today.

His phone buzzed. A message from one of the surveillance sergeants.

Sir, we’d prefer to give you the update tonight. Something new has come up.

Shem stood immediately. The weight of the day, the warmth of the food, the thoughts of Malaika’s soft voice  and gold trinkets, fell away.

Back to the mission.

He dumped his tray, wiped his hands, and walked out.

No time for feelings.

Just the job.