Ruben walked into the house just as Nathan was grabbing his keys.
"Oh, you're done? I was just gonna…" Nathan started, but Ruben interrupted.
"You know what? Come on," Ruben said curtly, already heading back out.
Nathan followed, confused by Ruben's strange energy.
"What's going on with you?" he asked as they got into the car, but Ruben didn't answer.
They were halfway to Nathan's office when he finally spoke.
"Can you tell me what happened last night—during and after the episode?" Nathan asked.
"Nothing much happened," Ruben said, staring straight ahead.
"Nothing much? Then can you explain Necro—I mean, the girl's jacket I found in my room?"
"I can't tell you that."
"You don't have a choice."
"I do, Nathan. And I'm choosing not to tell you. Not yet."
Nathan blinked in disbelief. "Who's trying to kill me? Or hurt me? That's the only way to explain your behavior."
Ruben's face tensed. He couldn't say it—not without proof. Not yet.
"That girl… she's my girlfriend. We just started dating yesterday."
Nathan slammed the brake with his tongue. "Your girlfriend? Her? Of all the women in Windhoek—"
"You didn't just badmouth her," Ruben snapped.
"Tell me another lie," Nathan muttered.
"You don't believe me?" Ruben challenged. "Or is it because you found her beautiful last night?"
Nathan looked uncomfortable.
"She's not—beautiful. I mean, maybe she dressed fancy, but no makeup… nothing that stood out."
"Oh, so unless a woman's caked in makeup like Catty, she's not beautiful?" Ruben shot back. "My girlfriend is naturally beautiful—cuter than your wife."
Nathan scoffed. "Even if someone held me at gunpoint, I'd die before admitting she's beautiful."
"Wait… so she was at my house last night?" Nathan asked, realization dawning.
"Yes. And you'll be seeing her often," Ruben said flatly.
"I'll get you an apartment. You can meet her there," Nathan offered coldly.
"Not happening," Ruben refused.
A silence fell between them. Nathan massaged his temple.
"You okay?" Ruben asked.
"My head feels… heavy. Not a headache. Just—something on it."
Ruben's heart skipped. The device. He wasn't supposed to sleep with it. He pulled the car over immediately.
"What is it?" Nathan asked nervously.
"You've got a bug in your hair. I need to remove it."
Nathan flinched. "Bug? Like a—real bug? Get it out, man!"
Ruben carefully removed the tiny device embedded in Nathan's hair.
"There. You should feel better now."
"Oh yeah… much lighter," Nathan exhaled.
They arrived at the office. Nathan couldn't stop analyzing Ruben's erratic behavior.
"The last time you acted like this, I lost a business partner. What's going on?"
"Give me your phone," Ruben said.
"Why?"
Ruben gave him a look—firm, unreadable. Nathan handed it over.
Ruben connected it to his laptop, syncing it for real-time tracking and call surveillance.
"Why are you doing this?" Nathan asked.
No answer. Ruben walked out and headed toward Damien's office. Nathan, frustrated, went into his own.
A group from the factory project came in, trying to speak about Vicky's situation, but Nathan waved them off.
"Drop the files in the box. I'll review them later."
He glanced at one file and froze when he saw Adam's name attached to a Shikongo Factory proposal.
"How the hell did this happen?"
Meanwhile, in Damien's office—
"Ruben?" Damien asked, stunned to see him.
"Uncle… I know this is all strange. But I can't explain everything yet."
"What's going on?"
"I need you to monitor Nathan. Every place he visits today. He mustn't leave the office without me. I have… important work."
Damien nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll handle it."