"I don't see what's bad here." Lucky's eyes glistened as they darted from one woman to the other.
"He embarrassed her." Amanda's voice carried an edge. "Would've taught him a lesson if not for—"
"Is that all?" Lucky leaned back. "Yes, everyone knows he's an arrogant son of a bitch. But he has good eyes, too." He shrugged. "I think you should take it."
Nelly rose slowly from her chair. "I'm not taking it."
Amanda shot Lucky a sideways glance.
"What did I do?"
But Nelly was already moving—not toward her room, but toward the balcony. Amanda watched her go, then turned back to Lucky.
"Leave her."
"I wasn't—"
"I know." Amanda's voice softened. "But leave her anyway."
---
The balcony overlooked Wuse. From the fifth floor, Nelly could see the city stretch out—cars moving, people walking, lives continuing. The beauty of it should have calmed her.
It didn't.
The offer sat in her phone like a live wire. Accept. Decline. The choice should have been simple.
At what cost?
She pressed her palms against the railing. Ken's face tried to surface, but the edges kept blurring. She hadn't even seen his body. Hadn't said goodbye. He'd just... disappeared. And his research with him.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
---
Inside, Lucky shifted on the couch. The silence had grown heavy. Amanda had disappeared into her room after a frantic phone call, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Since when do I care about a girl's problems?
He glanced toward the balcony door. Through the glass, he could see her silhouette—still, small against the skyline.
Since never.
He stood. Walked to the door. Opened it.
Sunlight caught her face full-on, and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. She was beautiful—he'd known that. But this was different. This was her unguarded; the mask slipped.
Her eyes swam with tears.
Tears of joy? He knew better.
"What are you still doing here?" She didn't turn.
---
"I came to congratulate you." His voice was light, careful.
"I said I wasn't taking it."
"Why?" The question escaped before he could stop it. Why do you care? He asked himself. He didn't have an answer.
She finally turned. "Why do you care?"
He spread his hands. "Well, since I'm here now..." A shrug. "I'm not one to leave a lady in distress. Especially a pretty one."
"You've used that line before." Her voice was flat. "Does it always get ladies dancing at your feet?"
He studied her. Every time they met, she seemed different. This morning, desperate and scheming. Last night, guarded and curious. Now—something else. Something raw.
"I thought it worked at the club."
"That was different."
"Why don't you really want to take the job, Miss Nelly?"
She flinched. Hearing her name from his mouth—with that unexpected gentleness—hit somewhere she hadn't expected.
"Because..." Her voice cracked. "Because I feel powerless there."
Lucky understood. He understood more than she knew. Kelvin Akor had that effect. Had it on everyone.
"I get it." He kept his voice low. "I'm not a fan of his either. But trust me—when need be, I can protect you."
She looked up sharply. "And who do you think you are?"
He opened his mouth. "Oh, I'm—"
She was already moving, yanking the door open, slipping inside. It slammed behind her. The lock clicked.
"Nobody cares, idiot!" Her voice came muffled through the glass.
He stared at the door. "You didn't even give me a chance."
---
Monday morning....
---
No matter how much she tried to hide her anxiety, it wasn't working; it felt too late to reverse her decision.
"Or don't go," Amanda yelled, noting her hesitation.
----
Amanda wasn't letting this go. If Nelly was going to accept—and apparently, she had—then Amanda was driving her herself. In a Ferrari. To make a statement.
The car purred to a stop before Akor Corp's gleaming tower. Nelly stepped out, already drawing stares. The Ferrari helped. So did Amanda's reputation. So did the fact that every onlooker and soon-to-be coworker was now wondering who she was.
Nelly straightened her dress. Here we go.
---
"Hi, I'm—"
"Nelly Samuel." The receptionist—Sarah, the same one from before—actually smiled. "Of course, I remember you. So the gamble paid off." She leaned forward, lowering her voice. "But please. Never do that again."
Nelly managed a small smile. "Okay."
"HR. Fourteenth floor."
---
The HR manager was a short man from the East. Chuks. He spoke loudly and licked his lips constantly between sentences. Nelly tried not to wonder what he'd eaten.
Instructions washed over her—benefits, policies, probation period. She nodded at the right moments, but her mind was elsewhere. Only one sentence surfaced clearly:
How to avoid Kelvin while carrying out her investigation. If all goes well, she won't be here long.
"I'll take you to your office now." Chuks stood.
---
The elevator ride was silent. Two other new hires—Sarah and Emeka—rode with them, all headed for the fortieth floor.
The doors opened onto a corridor lined with closed doors. Chuks led them past several before stopping at a massive entrance. A sign read: DATA ANALYSIS UNIT.
He pushed the door open.
Nelly stepped inside and stopped.
The office was enormous. Bigger than her entire apartment. On the right, a desk sat with a nameplate: Peter Aina. Across the room, closer to the floor-to-ceiling windows, another desk waited.
Nelly Samuel.
How did they know I'd take the job? She frowned
She crossed to her desk slowly, drawn by the light pouring through the glass. Her hand reached out, touched the nameplate. Real. This was real.
"Hope you like your office!" Chuks called from behind her.
Nelly didn't hear him.
Because outside the window, far below, a Highlander was sliding into a reserved parking space. The door opened. A figure emerged, dark hair reflecting in the sun, adjusting his suit, and looked up.
Their eyes met.