"Huh?"
"What do you mean, 'huh'? Kelvin. He's my boss."
"Our boss. Come on, it's just an honest question."
Nelly knew the question was genuine. The happy girl had no ulterior motive. She had an idea what kind of conversation Sarah was looking for.
"You can't deny he's hot."
She found herself blushing. Of course she'd tried not to think about it. She'd been smitten by his looks from the first day she met him. But she'd finally found another image to help push him out of her mind.
Lucky Dante. And she'd personally ruined that relationship to keep it from going further.
Then there was Austin. Why had all the men around her suddenly become so good-looking?
"Nelly, don't think too much about it. God, you can be quite uptight."
"I'm sorry." She chuckled nervously.
"Come on, you don't even have to apologize." Sarah squeezed her arm. "Always hold your head high. You're gorgeous too."
Yeah, true. Strangely, she'd always forget that. No—she never considered herself beautiful anymore. Only one person deserved her best look.
---
A little while later, they were checking out their purchases.
Sarah began giggling excitedly. Nelly turned to see what was up with her.
"Oh, I think someone has finally grown some balls."
She turned to see a tall, dark guy approaching. He was slender and shining—the type that could pass for a model. She'd noticed him earlier when they walked in, checking out some products. She'd assumed he'd left.
Sarah pinched her. Nelly shot her a hard look. Sarah gestured toward the approaching man, muttering something inaudible.
"Hello, I'm Shawn. Just thought I should say hi."
Nelly's face grew rigid. She turned swiftly to face her friend.
"Hi! I'm Sarah." Sarah stepped forward. "Pardon Nelly—she's kinda shy."
"Oh, Nelly. Nice name."
The cashier finished ringing them up and called out the total.
Nelly reached for her card.
"Don't worry, I'll pay."
"You don't have to," she replied sternly.
The tall model looked taken aback. Sarah grabbed Nelly's card and shoved it into her bag. "It's bad luck to refuse a gentleman."
Nelly frowned.
"I'm going to tell you now, sorry Shawn—whatever it is, I'm not interested."
His face twisted into disappointment. Nelly was sure he was the kind of guy who never took no for an answer. Reminded her of someone she knew.
No, no, no. Anytime she thought of him—
Sarah and Shawn were still talking as he helped carry their bags to their Uber. Almost done.
Immediately they left the hallway and entered the parking lot. A loud screaming tore through the hazy atmosphere, startling Nelly. It sounded like... girls screaming.
A second later, it was her colleague's turn to scream.
"It's... it's—" Sarah grabbed her arm.
Nelly turned to face her. "It's Lucky Dante, isn't it?"
In one far corner near the mall gate, the eccentric playboy was entertaining a few fans. Female fans. Her stomach twisted in disgust.
Suddenly he lifted his head, scanning the area as if looking for something... someone.
She quickly ducked behind a car, leaving Sarah and Shawn confused.
"What's wrong, Nelly?" The excitement still bubbled in Sarah's voice. "I'm going to ask him for a selfie."
"Please don't."
Sarah's confusion deepened. "Do you know Lucky?"
"Who doesn't know Lucky Dante?" Nelly laughed nervously.
"Everyone does. Why are you acting weird, then?"
Nelly's heart stopped for a beat as she heard the noise grow closer. Please don't.
A second later: "Are you hiding from me, princess?"
Sarah screamed—so high they all had to cover their ears.
"You—you know Lucky?" She looked ready to pass out.
Beads of sweat appeared on Nelly's forehead. She'd warned him not to come near her again. He was a distraction.
Yet standing here in his usual carefree smile and unbuttoned white shirt, the playboy was ever handsome. It pained her that she couldn't deny it.
"I'll take that." He stretched his hands toward Shawn. "I take it you're not related to any of these ladies? Or are you perhaps trying to get familiar with my princess?" Lucky shot him a curious glance.
Nelly could have sworn she saw Shawn shiver before he handed over the bags. "I think I'll go now." The poor model stammered.
Exhausted, she stood up. "What do you want, Lucky?"
"Get in. We'll talk on the way."
---
Sarah couldn't wrap her head around the conversation flying through the car. Never mind the fact that she was in the same ride as Lucky Dante. And what was this she was hearing?
Nelly had slapped and rejected him. It had never been heard of—Nigeria's most sought-after bachelor rejected. And worse, he was back again.
She stared at the rearview mirror. It really is him. Nelly was pretty, but for Lucky to want her this badly... it seemed out of the ordinary.
"What do you want, Lucky?"
"You've been avoiding me."
"I work. Some of us still do. We don't have time to play around or please fans."
"And you don't pick up my calls."
"I told you not to call me."
Even the Uber driver seemed to be enjoying the drama and tension.
"I stopped by your house. The model directed me here."
She was right—he'd come looking for her. Nelly wasn't having any of it.
"What do you want, Lucky?" Her head was beginning to hurt. She'd had a different evening planned, if only she hadn't made a commitment with Sarah.
"Would it kill you to say you missed me?"
There it was again—that smugness in his voice. She hated it the most. No way in this world did she miss someone so full of himself.
"You seem stressed, princess."
And what was with this nickname? When had they agreed—why the hell was she even responding?
"Get out, Lucky." She flared.
---
Sarah didn't know what to feel. She'd only assumed it was time to form a friendly bond with her new, pretty colleague. Nothing much—just shopping and chill for the next day being a public holiday.
She'd assumed Nelly was interesting. But not interesting enough to turn down Lucky Dante. Who in their right mind turns down Lucky?
As if that wasn't enough.
When they got to the house, not only was it located in the high-class area of Wuse, but when they knocked, she would have never guessed who would answer the door.
It was none other than Amanda—the former Miss Nigeria.
What is really going on? How did Nelly know all these famous people at once? Lucky was literally dying for her, and Amanda was acting like her personal caretaker.
Nelly noticed a sickening look on her new friend's face. Worried, she went immediately to her, ignoring Lucky, who had made himself comfortable on the sofa.
As she leaned in, Nelly was thrown aback by what she heard.
Her friend was panicking, but it wasn't because she felt unwell.
"Nelly... who are you really?" Sarah could barely breathe.
---
In a neatly designed parlor that was tastefully furnished, a tall, chubby man relaxed in one of the cushions. Dressed in a relaxed outfit of singlets and shorts, a stool stood before him with an open bottle of wine.
Samuel smiled to himself. Five billion—just made in one go. He pulled out his phone and checked the figures again.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Nine zeros. He was truly a billionaire now.
A thought appeared in his mind that made his hand tremble slightly.
Opening his message box, he typed:
"Nelly is alive, and is asking questions."