't sleep t

the scene over and over. The café. The spilled coffee. Dam

give her a job

someone a job because

ay it was a prank. Or maybe security wou

confirming a 10 a.m. interview at OrionTe

message like it wa

she was o

hing from Surulere to CMS, then taking a tricycle across the bridge to the island. H

uilding was imp

e entrance, a rotating silver sculpture spun slowly-a stylized "O" with stars

g digital displays, and plants that somehow didn't look real-but were. Amara felt o

ator, and then into a minima

ee you shortly,"

, heart in

xpected. No music. No ticking clock. Just th

n he wa

ence sucked the air from the room. It wasn't just that he was handsom

a st

already moving

barely

graduated two years ago. Freelan

slightly.

dependents. No immedia

. "Is that.

ything is relevant. Why

tened. "Because

icked to he

honest,"

staff to give me a job applica

't expecti

be a lawsuit," sh

e gave a short, lo

efore. That would

ow to respond, so

his chair. "You ma

ed your

act

pa

ersonal assistant. It's temporary.

inked. "

immediately.

.. wh

, "I like unpredictable thi

game, but she couldn't argue. Not with the way her medica

id. "What are

a shelf, and pulle

thing about me. No discussing personal matters. You'll foll

alary made her blink-₦750,000 monthly.

e when necessary, and fiercely loyal. Not

st part

want to kn

o

s, the hospital bills, the fact that she was practicall

she said, fo

ed the c

ek badge, and a card with the words

loyed. Just

company's upcoming product launch, coordinate with PR firms in Du

being thrown

ls with poise, organized chaos into order. Her only problem was the

he day. But once, she caught him watchin

aze-not curiosity, not lust-some

ked awa

packing up her thing

presence be

't cough

the glass wall, look

ile. "I have st

l. "Don't hide anything from me, Mi

wisted. Was i

ck," she li

hing for a long mo

ke that, he

Amara cried

as weak-but becau

o business being in. A world of billionaire

s racing a

mo

all s

e... fate was finally

me was Dam