Chapter 6 Abeni Mensah
Eboni Keep in Nzuri Hall
Waking up in my husband’s arms felt like the kind of peace only he could give me.
The room was quiet, the morning light slipping in through the tall glass windows, painting the marble floors with a soft gold hue.
Kojo was still beside me, his breathing calm with one strong arm draped across my waist.
For a moment, I just watched him. Over thirty years of marriage, and the man still looked like the day I fell in love with him.
His beard was fuller now, a bit of gray at the edges, but it only made him look stronger, wiser and more defined.
His skin was rich and smooth, and firm against mine.
I smiled faintly, remembering every version of him I had ever known, and realizing that somehow, even now, I loved him more than I ever thought possible.
He opened his eyes slowly and looked at me. There was something about the way Kojo looked at me that always made me feel like I was the only woman in the world. He didn’t speak right away, but just brushed his thumb along my shoulder, and that small gesture was enough to tell me everything he felt.
“You haven’t slept much,” he murmured, his voice deep and low.
“Neither have you,” I said softly.
He tilted his head slightly and gave that faint smirk that always came before he pulled me closer. “That’s because you keep me awake.”
I laughed under my breath, shaking my head, but before I could say another word, his lips were on mine. His hand slid down my back, pulling me against him until I could feel his heartbeat pressing against my chest. His kisses deepened, and soon, everything around us melted away.
Kojo had always known my body like it was his own creation.
There was no rush, or need for words. His touch spoke for him, and every place his hands traveled reminded me of the power we shared, and the balance we had built.
He was a strong man, but he never tried to shrink me.
He knew exactly who I was and never once made me feel like I had to be less.
When he pressed his forehead against mine, his breathing warm and slow, I whispered, “You know I love you, right?”
He kissed the side of my neck and answered in that calm voice of his. “I know, baby. And I love you more.”
What followed was slow and passionate, the kind of lovemaking that only comes from years of knowing and trusting someone completely.
There was nothing rushed, or uncertain. Every touch carried history.
Every sigh, every whisper, every look between us spoke to decades of power, loyalty, and love that had been tested but never broken.
When it was over, I laid against him, breathing in the faint scent of his cologne and the warmth of his skin. His fingers traced along my arm in lazy circles, and for the first time in days, I felt my body relax.
“I hate that it took tragedy to make us stop,” I said lowly.
Kojo’s voice was a low rumble in his chest. “You can’t control life, Abeni. You can only control what you do with it.”
I turned my face toward him and smiled faintly. “And what do you plan to do with it today?”
He chuckled softly. “Handle what needs to be handled.”
That was always his answer. Calm, and simple, but I knew exactly what that meant coming from him.
Kojo was not a man of many words, but every move he made spoke volumes.
His influence stretched far beyond our home, and far beyond Trill-Land’s borders.
I had built empires from shadows, and he had built weapons that could change nations, but together, we built something even stronger—our family.
We laid there in silence for a few more minutes, just breathing, and existing in that space we rarely allowed ourselves to have. When I finally pulled away, he reached for my hand and kissed it before letting me go.
“I’ll see you downstairs,” I said softly.
He nodded, still watching me with that same calm that could silence a room.
I rose from the bed and walked across the room, the cool marble beneath my feet a reminder that the day was waiting.
I went into the bathroom, the soft scent of eucalyptus filling the air from the diffuser I had left running the night before.
I stepped into the shower and let the hot water wash away the tension that had been building since the night my son was shot.
By the time I stepped out, the steam had filled the room, and I wiped the mirror with a towel. My reflection stared back at me, composed but tired. I applied my moisturizer, brushed my hair back, and applied my makeup with the same precision I used in business.
When I returned to the bedroom, Kojo was already on his phone, speaking low. His tone was firm and calculated. Even half-dressed, he looked powerful. I watched him for a second, then turned my attention to my wardrobe.
Everything inside my closet was custom-made, most of it from my own brand, Seraphine House.
I chose a cream silk blouse that buttoned high at the neck, trimmed with delicate gold threading, and paired it with a tailored skirt that hugged my hips perfectly.
The fabric shimmered under the light, whispering wealth without ever screaming for attention.
I slipped on gold heels and fastened my diamond cuff, each stone hand-cut and flawless.
My perfume was Seraphine No. 1, the signature scent that carried soft notes of amber and rosewood.
To finish the look, I reached for my Seraphine House clutch, a limited-edition ivory purse accented with gold hardware and a subtle emblem of our family crest. It was elegant, timeless, and fit perfectly in my hand as I prepared to face the day.
Kojo turned when he heard the faint click of my heels. His eyes swept over me slowly with that same look he always gave me when he wanted me to know he approved. “You look beautiful, baby.”
I smiled and reached for my clutch. “I always do.”
He laughed quietly and nodded. “That you do.”
I walked over and placed a kiss on his cheek before leaving the room. The elevator doors opened as soon as I pressed the button, and I stepped inside, adjusting my blouse as I descended.
When I reached the main floor, one of the nannies approached me. “Good morning, Mrs. Mensah. Zurie is still asleep.”
“Let her rest,” I said softly. “When she wakes, make sure she has a proper breakfast. Eggs, toast, fruit, and a glass of orange juice. Afterward, let her play outside for a bit. The air will do her some good.”
The woman nodded quickly. “Yes, ma’am.”
I walked through the foyer, past the towering floral arrangement in the center of the hall, and out toward the front door where my driver was already waiting beside the black Maybach. He opened the door before I reached it.
“Good morning, Mrs. Mensah,” he said politely.
“Good morning,” I replied, sliding into the back seat. The leather was cool against my legs, and the faint sound of the engine calmed me.
As we pulled away from the mansion, I turned my head to the window, watching the endless stretch of green that surrounded our estate. I thought of Pressure, of my grandson, and of the balance I had to maintain to keep this family whole.
There were battles waiting beyond these gates, and I was prepared for every single one of them.
The Trillmont Estate Hotel
The sun had just gone down, and I stepped out of the backseat of my Maybach, smoothing my skirt as the night breeze brushed against my skin.
The hotel’s gold-trimmed glass doors slid open before me, and the moment I entered, two of my men were already waiting near the lobby fountain.
Both were tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in black tailored suits.
We moved past the clerk without so much as a glance. My heels clicked against the marble floor, as we headed toward the elevator. I pressed the button for the top floor, and when the doors closed, I could see my reflection in the mirrored walls. I was feeling composed, flawless, and utterly calm.
By the time the elevator doors slid open, the air on the floor felt colder.
I could hear muffled sounds down the hall, and a rhythm of low moans tangled in pleasure.
I walked toward it without hesitation. The men stayed back as I reached into my purse and pulled out a slim keycard.
I slid it through the slot, heard the soft click of the lock, and pushed the door open.
Inside, the scent of sweat, perfume, and liquor hung in the air. A young woman was on top of Sterling Charm, moving in slow waves as his head fell back against the pillows. His face twisted in pleasure, unaware that his world was about to collapse.
When the woman finally noticed me, she froze, her body tightening before she slipped off him and grabbed the sheet. Her eyes met mine for only a second, and that was all I needed. I gave her a small nod, and she nodded back, just like we’d agreed.
Sterling blinked, squinting as if his mind was struggling to make sense of what he was seeing.
“What the hell—who the fuck are you? What the fuck going on?” he stammered, reaching for the edge of the bed.
I didn’t answer. I simply smirked and walked across the room, unhurried.
The bar in the corner glistened beneath soft lighting with bottles lined up like trophies.
I opened one of the crystal decanters and poured myself a glass of Dalmore Luminary 2022, a rare single malt worth more than most people’s cars.
The amber liquid glistened as I swirled it gently in my glass.
“I knew you would love everything Trill-Land has to offer,” I said, keeping my back turned as I lifted the drink to my lips. “The views, the service, the women.”
Sterling froze, realization dawning on him. “Wait,” he said slowly, his voice tightening. “You’re… you’re Pressure’s mother, aren’t you?”
I turned around and faced him. My expression didn’t change, but my eyes told him everything he needed to know. “Yes,” I said softly. “I am.”
He swallowed hard, his chest rising and falling. “What do you want from me?”
“I want your daughter,” I replied. My voice was calm, but it carried enough weight to let him know I was serious.
He blinked rapidly, shaking his head as if to reset his thoughts. “Kashmere? What does she have to do with any of this?”
I took a slow sip of my drink, savoring the burn before setting the glass on the bar. “She shot my son. Five times.”
His mouth parted. “That’s not—no. That’s not possible.”
“I don’t speak in possibilities, Mr. Charm.
” I walked closer, my heels quiet against the thick carpet.
“I speak in facts. Your daughter pulled a gun on my child outside of a hospital where his child was just born. My son could have died. He didn’t, because God still has plans for him, and I have plans for your daughter. ”
He ran a trembling hand over his face, muttering something under his breath. I could see the panic beginning to set in, and the disbelief slowly giving way to fear.
“I had every camera pulled at that hospital,” I continued. “And though the footage doesn’t show her face, I had the cameras checked at my son’s estate. She was seen running in with a gun, and not long after, running back out with luggage. You don’t need a genius to piece that together.”
He didn’t speak. The young woman on the bed held the sheet tighter around her chest, her eyes darting between us like she was trapped in the wrong movie.
I leaned against the edge of the table, my tone even.
“Do you know what I find fascinating, Mr. Charm? How small the world becomes when truth finds its way home. Who would’ve known how deeply we were connected had I not done my research.
You see, the company you’re so proud of, Charm Strategies… it’s not yours. It’s mine.”
His head snapped up. “What?”
“You built it, yes, but only on paper. I built its foundation. The donors, the contracts and the global connections. Every politician you’ve ever worked with was paid through accounts that trace back to Seraphine House.
You think you rose through talent and ambition. You rose because I allowed you to.”
He stared at me like I’d just spoken in another language. “That’s not possible. My firm—”
“Exists because I wanted it to.” I smiled faintly, though there was no humor in it. “Every major contract you’ve ever secured, every deal you believed you won on your own merit, came from me. And if I so choose, I can take it all away.”
He exhaled slowly, his voice shaky. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” I said as I walked toward him, “that within hours, I can have every government contract frozen, every investor you rely on withdrawn, and every political client you’ve ever advised refuse your calls.
Your company, your reputation, your name—it will all disappear.
You will be nothing more than a cautionary tale about arrogance. ”
He sat on the edge of the bed, speechless, his mind clearly racing to catch up. I poured another drink, this time without sipping it, and stared at him over the rim of the glass.
“I don’t want to destroy you, Mr. Charm,” I said softly. “But I will if I have to. I only want one thing. I want your daughter brought to me… alive.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know where she is. I swear, I’ve been calling her, leaving voicemails, trying to get her to answer. I haven’t heard from her since—since your son left her at the altar.”
I sighed, set my glass down, and turned toward the door. “That’s not good enough.”
Reaching for the handle, I opened the door slightly and spoke without looking back. “Nathan, come in.”
When Sterling’s eyes met his, his face drained of color.
“Nathan?” he said weakly. “You—what the fuck you doing here?”
Nathan was Sterling’s business partner, who turned on him at the blink of an eye. He didn’t answer Sterling. He just stood beside the door with his hands clasped in front of him and his eyes unreadable.
Before Sterling could speak again, I raised my hand, cutting him off. “You don’t get to ask questions,” I said. “You only get to listen.”
He stared at me, his breathing uneven. “Please, I don’t know where she is.”
“Then you will find her,” I replied smoothly. “Until then, think of yourself as collateral. If you want your company, your freedom, and your reputation intact, you’ll bring Kashmere to me.”
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. I could see the fear beginning to settle into his bones, and the reality of who he was standing across from.
“Get dressed,” I said finally, picking up my purse. “We’re leaving.”
The room was silent except for the sound of the ice melting in my glass.
I didn’t look back as I stepped into the hallway, my men falling into formation behind me.
I didn’t need to threaten him further. The real fear came from knowing exactly what I was capable of, and that there wasn’t a single person alive who could save him from me.