Chapter 3: A Familiar Touch

Amara had promised herself she would never let Daniel Adebayo hurt her again.

Unfortunately, keeping that promise was becoming difficult.

By 8:15 on Monday morning, she was standing outside his office with a notebook in her hand, repeating her responsibilities like a prayer.

Answer calls. Schedule meetings. Organise documents. Avoid unnecessary conversations with the boss.

Especially conversations about the past.

“Good morning, Amara.”

She turned to find Tobi Williams, Daniel's personal business associate, approaching with two cups of coffee.

“You look like you're preparing for battle,” he said, offering her one.

“Is it that obvious?”

“Only to someone who has survived working with Daniel for five years.”

Amara laughed despite herself.

Tobi smiled. “There. You look better already.”

Before she could respond, Daniel's office door opened.

“Amara, I need you inside. Now.”

Tobi raised his eyebrows. “And the battle begins.”

Amara gave him a warning look before entering the office.

Daniel stood behind his desk, studying a pile of documents.

“Close the door.”

She did.

“Your first assignment is to review these contracts and arrange today's meetings. The ten o'clock meeting has been moved to eleven, and I need the client files before then.”

Amara took the documents. “Anything else, sir?”

His eyes lifted to hers.

“Must you call me sir every time?”

“Would you prefer Mr Adebayo?”

“No.”

“Then I suggest you tell me what you would prefer in an email.”

She turned to leave.

“Amara.”

She stopped.

“Have you been sleeping?”

The question caught her off guard.

“Excuse me?”

“You look tired.”

“Thank you for noticing. I'll add that to my performance review.”

Daniel sighed. “You haven't changed as much as you think.”

“And you haven't changed at all.”

She walked out before he could reply.

By midday, Amara had completed most of her assignments. She was arranging the final set of documents when she noticed an old photograph tucked inside a folder on Daniel's desk.

Her heart skipped.

It was a photograph of them together at a university event. Daniel had one arm around her waist, and she was laughing at something outside the frame.

She remembered that day.

Daniel had borrowed money to buy her a dress because she had refused to attend the event in her old one. He had told her that he wanted her to feel beautiful, even if he couldn't afford expensive gifts.

Back then, they had dreamed of building a future together.

Now, he was her employer.

And she was trying to understand why he had abandoned her.

“Still keeping memories?”

His voice startled her.

She quickly put the photograph down.

“I was looking for the contract you asked me to arrange.”

Daniel glanced at the photograph.

“I thought I had lost that.”

“Apparently, you haven't.”

He came around the desk and reached for it at the same moment she did.

Their fingers touched.

It was such a small thing.

A brief brush of skin against skin.

Yet Amara felt the familiar warmth rush through her, and for one dangerous second, she forgot the three years of pain between them.

Daniel didn't move away.

Neither did she.

His gaze dropped to her hand.

“Amara…”

She pulled back.

“Please don't.”

His expression changed.

“Don't what?”

“Don't look at me like you still have the right to.”

The silence that followed was unbearable.

Daniel placed the photograph on the desk.

“I never stopped caring about you.”

“But you stopped showing up.”

He swallowed.

“I know.”

“No, Daniel. You don't know. You weren't there when I needed you. You weren't there when I had to explain to everyone why the man who promised to marry me had disappeared. You weren't there when I finally stopped checking my phone every night.”

Her voice trembled, but she refused to look away.

“So please, don't stand here and tell me you care as if those words can repair everything.”

Daniel lowered his eyes.

For the first time since she had returned to his life, he looked genuinely ashamed.

“I don't expect you to forgive me.”

“Good.”

“But I would like the chance to explain.”

Amara picked up her notebook.

“Then start by telling me the truth.”

She left him standing beside the desk.

At 4:30 p.m., Amara was preparing to leave when a woman in a fitted navy dress stepped out of the elevator.

She was beautiful, confident, and clearly familiar with the office.

“Hello,” the woman said to Amara. “I'm looking for Daniel.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

The woman smiled as though the question amused her.

“I don't need one.”

Before Amara could respond, the office door opened.

“Vanessa.”

Daniel's voice carried down the corridor.

The woman turned towards him.

“Daniel, we need to talk.”

He glanced at Amara.

Something passed between him and Vanessa—a look Amara couldn't interpret.

“Come inside,” he said.

Vanessa entered, then paused at the door.

Her gaze settled on Amara.

“So you're the new assistant.”

“Yes.”

Vanessa's smile was polite, but there was something cold behind it.

“I hope you're comfortable here.”

Amara returned the smile. “I am. Thank you.”

“Good. Daniel can be difficult to work with.”

“I'm sure I'll manage.”

For a moment, neither woman looked away.

Then Vanessa entered the office and closed the door.

Amara sat at her desk, pretending to review her notes.

Ten minutes later, she heard voices through the thin wall.

“You should have told her the truth,” Vanessa said.

“Not here,” Daniel replied.

“When, then? When she discovers everything herself?”

“Keep your voice down.”

“I'm tired of protecting you, Daniel.”

Amara's fingers froze above her keyboard.

Protecting him from what?

She stood quietly and walked towards the water dispenser, hoping to hear more.

But the office door opened before she reached it.

Vanessa stepped out, her expression unreadable.

She stopped in front of Amara.

“Can I give you some advice?”

Amara looked up. “Of course.”

“Stay professional. Do your job, collect your salary, and leave Daniel's personal life alone.”

Amara's stomach tightened.

“I intend to.”

“See that you do.”

Vanessa walked away.

Amara watched her enter the elevator, then looked towards Daniel's closed office door.

Who was Vanessa to him?

And what exactly was she protecting him from?

That evening, Amara was almost at the bus stop when a black car slowed beside her.

The passenger window lowered.

Daniel sat inside.

“Get in. I'll drop you off.”

“No, thank you. I'll take a bus.”

“Amara, it's getting late.”

“I've managed to get home for the past three years without you.”

His jaw tightened.

“Must everything be a punishment?”

She stared at him.

“Do you know what the worst part was?”

He said nothing.

“It wasn't that you left. It was that you made me believe I wasn't worth an explanation.”

For a moment, the confidence he wore like armour disappeared.

“I'm sorry,” he said quietly.

Amara looked away.

She wanted to believe him.

That was the problem.

Because somewhere beneath the anger, beneath the memories and the unanswered questions, a part of her still recognised the man behind the expensive suit.

And she was terrified that one day, it might choose him again.

“Good night, Daniel.”

She walked away.

Her phone vibrated before she reached the bus stop.

An unknown number.

Unknown: I warned you to stay away from Daniel.

Amara stopped walking.

Another message appeared.

Unknown: Vanessa isn't the only person hiding the truth.

Then came a photograph.

It showed Daniel and Vanessa standing outside a hotel, their hands joined.

The date on the image was three months after Daniel had disappeared from Amara's life.

Amara stared at the screen until the words blurred.

Three months.

While she had been crying herself to sleep, Daniel had apparently been holding another woman's hand.

A final message arrived.

Unknown: Ask him what happened the night he promised to marry you.

Amara's breath caught.

She had never told anyone about that promise.

Not even Tobi.

Her fingers trembled as she typed a reply.

Amara: Who are you?

The message showed as delivered.

But this time, no answer came.

Across the road, a woman stood beside a parked car, watching Amara.

When their eyes m