a luxury boutique on Banana Island, staring at he

ping groundnut with her neighbo

tted for a dress wor

rning with a singl

companying me to the Hightower

the message for a

nly event for Lagos' elite? CEOs

e

meant som

for confirmation,

g OrionTech. I expect

table.

tings, standing awkwardly as a tailor

floor-length gown with an open back. "It softens her frame

igerian named Léon, who had been supervising

e dress hugged her in all the right places, her makeup was light but ra

ed... ex

so ter

rs-glass chandeliers, black marble floors, and

ulled up to the entrance, Ama

r, one brow rai

tement of

to her side. When he opened her door and offered

s cool. Firm

he murmured. "The vu

l one, but her ins

meras lit up the ni

oye! Ov

t your

unning woman

lling her close as they stepped through the entrance, past the came

verything

ghter echoed under crystal ceilings. Waiters in whit

did when overwhelmed: watc

his executive liaison, whatever that meant. For the most part,

ght of judgment, the curiosit

s this

d she co

iously untouchable man in the room,

lf to the restroo

hen Zara

specter

ody like liquid fire. Hair curled in waves, lips lacque

arms crossed. "Look at y

iffened.

lmost didn't recognize you.

around her clutch. "D

lade. "I don't need an in

g, Amara. These events? These people? This world? It's mine.

steady. "That's not

linked

don't confuse lust with love. He'll

and walked away, hips

d frozen f

, squared her shoulders, an

ld not spend it being intimidated by a woma

-even if it wa

-

he evening pa

tos. Damian's hand

e at the very end, when t

head against th

ou," he said, no

ed at him,

do

lways

was si

id she tell you s

es

n't. Not

"She said you c

ed. And for a moment, she saw a flick

t," he said

way, his hand brushed

er of the