Underrated Secret Billionaire

Chapter 3: The Shadow of a Kindness

Jalen trudged along the expressway, his steps heavy and his thoughts heavier. The afternoon sun bore down on his back, but he barely noticed.

Everything he once held dear had just been stripped from him in a few bitter words and a returned cheque. His life, as he knew it, had crumbled like a poorly constructed pillar.

His phone rang sharply, breaking through his spiraling thoughts. The name on the screen made his lips twist in distaste.

It was Nina.

He hesitated, then answered. “Yes?”

Nina’s voice was sharp and full of venom. “How dare you lay a finger on my brother, Jalen? Do you know who we are? You think you can just beat up Andrew and walk away like a hero? I swear, I will make sure you regret this day!”

Jalen sighed. “If you’re calling to bark, then bark alone. I’m not listening.”

Before she could reply, he ended the call. Barely a second passed before another call buzzed in. This time it was Malik Freeman – one of his trusted company managers.

“Good day, sir,” Malik greeted respectfully. “Sorry to disturb you. We have a contract scheduled for dispatch. It’s with the management of Black Blossom… should we proceed?”

Jalen stopped in his tracks. “Black Blossom?” he echoed quietly. The irony punched him in the gut. Tiana’s company.

He clenched his jaw, his mind briefly rewinding to the years of silent support. Tiana never knew. He had anonymously facilitated her access to suppliers, investors, and legal teams. Even the seed capital that launched her into the big leagues was from him, disguised through an offshore fund.

The same woman who just handed him a divorce paper and offered him hush money now stood to benefit from one more contract.

He exhaled slowly. “Go ahead and send it,” he said at last. “But this will be the last business we ever do with them. Understood?”

“Yes, sir. I understand,” Malik replied. “Thank you.”

The line went dead. Jalen pocketed his phone and walked into a nearby coffee shop to breathe. The scent of roasted beans did little to lift his mood.

He sat outside, far from the crowd, nursing a glass of cold water and watching the road.

Minutes later, a sleek black sedan slowed near him. A woman stepped out. Her heels clicked confidently against the pavement.

She looked to be in her mid-twenties, her appearance sharp yet elegant. Her gaze landed on Jalen, and without hesitation, she walked toward him.

He squinted slightly. She was unfamiliar, but she carried herself like someone who knew him.

“Excuse me,” she said, her voice gentle yet certain. “Are you Jalen Adesina?”

He frowned. “I am. Do I know you?”

Without answering, she stepped forward and pulled him into a hug. It was unexpected, warm, and far too familiar for a stranger. Jalen stood stiffly, caught between confusion and disbelief.

She stepped back, smiling brightly. “I’m Sonia. Sonia Edeh. You saved my mom’s life six years ago by paying her hospital bills for her surgery. We would’ve lost her if not for your intervention. And as if that wasn’t enough, you gave my family a two hundred thousand dollars when you heard we had we were struggling in our business.”

Jalen blinked. The memory, fogged by time and emotion, stirred faintly. “Sonia...”

“Yes,” she nodded quickly. “That money changed our lives. Everything. My parents invested it in a small retail chain. We grew slowly, and now we run one of the largest distribution networks in the city.”

His face softened. “I remember now,” he said, finally embracing her. “You were just a girl in uniform, seated on a large stone in the street, sobbing.”

She laughed. “That day made me fearless. And you? You became the standard for every man I ever admired.”

Jalen chuckled. “Now you flatter me.”

“Not at all. In fact, there’s something I want to ask. There’s a business party today, in a few hours. Come with me,” she said.

He shook his head gently. “I don’t think I can. I’m not exactly dressed for anything social.”

“You look fine. It’s just a quick appearance. And not to worry, I’ve a closet there, where you can change into anything of your preference. Please, come with me,” she insisted, reaching for his hand.

Jalen hesitated. His instincts said no, but her sincerity tugged at him.

Before he could object again, she had already opened the car door and guided him inside.

“You’re persistent,” he murmured, settling in.

“I always get what I want,” she replied playfully, closing the driver’s door and starting the engine.

As they drove through the wide roads of the city, Sonia began to recount her family’s journey. “After that incident, we moved to California, started a corner shop, then opened a warehouse, and the rest followed. Today, we operate one of the fastest-growing import and distribution companies in the country.”

Jalen nodded slowly, impressed.

“The event today is to welcome a few companies that might partner with us on an upcoming expansion. It will be a small but powerful gathering.”

His heart began to thud.

“Do you already have partners lined up?” he asked.

She nodded. “A few names. One of them is Black Blossom.”

Jalen turned his head to the window, concealing the shift in his expression.

Tiana.

He should have known. A woman like her wouldn’t miss such an opportunity to climb higher. His jaw tensed.

Would she be there?

Most likely.

Tiana Brooks never passed on a chance to network, especially with a company like Sonia’s. He could already imagine her poised smile, the way she would laugh at strategic moments and command the attention of everyone in the room.

He looked down at his hands, still marked from the earlier fight. What would he even say if he saw her? Could he stand in the same room with the woman who shattered his pride?

Sonia noticed his silence but didn’t press.

“It’ll be a good evening,” she said gently. “Just relax. You don’t need to talk business if you don’t want to.”

Jalen gave a quiet nod, but deep inside, his mind churned with anticipation.

If Tiana was there, tonight might prove far more complicated than expected.