Three weeks later, I was head over heels for Nate. The kind of love that made me forget

myself—laughing at his silly texts in the middle of meetings, smiling at my phone like a teenager,

and waiting for his calls like they were oxygen.

During our monthly review, Tim was in my office going over sales reports, but I barely noticed

him. My phone screen lit up with a video call—Nate’s face filling the frame, his deep voice

teasing, “Wine girl, missing me already?” I didn’t even try to hide my grin. I picked up, letting

him see my face glowing under the soft office light. Tim’s eyes flickered toward me, unreadable,

before he turned back to the figures on the report.

Nate was magnetic. He had a way of speaking like every word was meant just for me. When he

finally asked me out properly, it wasn’t in some random café—it was at one of the most

luxurious restaurants on the island. Soft piano music, chandeliers dripping with light, waiters

gliding between tables like they were part of the décor. He leaned in across the table, his cologne

warm and intoxicating, and told me I was “the most beautiful problem” he’d ever had. My heart

melted.

That night, I called Katie while curling up on my couch, my voice spilling with excitement. “I

think he’s the one, Katie. The way he treats me… it’s like I’m living inside one of those romance

movies you like.”

Katie, ever the protective sister, didn’t match my enthusiasm. “Hmm. I’m happy you’re happy,

Telissa. But you know me… I’d like to meet this Nate myself. With the way you’re giggling, l’m

happy, l dey sure say this love dey shark your brain, bia l go love oh sha l’ll love to see him”.

Katie responded in pidgin English before disconnecting the call.

She was returning to Nigeria soon, and I promised she’d meet him. I couldn’t wait for my sister

to meet my dream man.

***************

When Katie finally arrived, I planned a quiet dinner at our penthouse. Nate would be joining us.

As I set the table and adjusted the candles, I caught Katie watching me with an expression I

couldn’t quite read—half curious, half cautious.

“He better be as good as you say,” she murmured.

But deep down, I could already feel it—Katie wasn’t just curious. She was suspicious.

Katie couldn’t shake the suspicious feeling about Nate. He was too smooth, too perfectly timed,

too good to be true.

The moment Nate walked into their penthouse, dressed in a crisp navy suit and wearing that

confident smirk that seemed carved into his face, Katie’s eyes sharpened. She observed

everything — the way his eyes scanned the room as though taking mental inventory, the

calculated pauses in his smile, and how easily he held Telissa’s hand like he’d known her for

years.

Dinner began lightheartedly — Telissa giggling at every witty remark Nate made, and Nate

returning her laughter with just the right dose of charm. But Katie kept testing him, tossing

casual yet pointed questions across the table.

“So, Nate… you said you were born in England? Which part exactly?”

“Manchester,” he replied smoothly, sipping his wine. “But Lagos has been calling me home for a

while.”

Katie leaned in. “And what exactly brings you to Lagos now?”

His smile didn’t falter, but his eyes flickered — just for a second. “Business… mostly

investments. You know how it is.”

Katie noted the vagueness. Nate was a storyteller, but one who knew when to leave gaps.

When dinner ended, Nate excused himself to take a call. Katie seized the chance. “Telissa, I

know you don’t want to hear this, but there’s something about him that doesn’t sit right with me.

He’s… too polished.”

Telissa frowned, defensive. “Katie, not everyone is like Tim. Nate is different. He’s kind,

attentive… he’s what I’ve been waiting for.”

Katie sighed, realizing she’d have to tread carefully. “Just… promise me you’ll keep your eyes

open.”

From the hallway, Nate’s voice carried back to them. His tone was different — harder, colder.

And he wasn’t speaking in English. Katie caught a word or two in Yoruba, enough to know he

wasn’t talking business… at least not the kind he claimed.

When he returned, the warmth was back in his face. But Katie knew one thing — Nate was

hiding something, and she was going to find out what.