Nelly adjusted the hem of her skirt as she stepped out of the taxi, the morning sun pressing against her skin like a silent warning. The streets of Abuja had changed. What was once familiar now felt unpredictable, a city she no longer recognized.
She had memorized the route to Agu Corp the night before, convinced she could navigate it with ease. But now, standing amidst towering buildings and unfamiliar turns, doubt crept in. Her phone's battery blinked red—1% left—before dying completely in her hands.
"Perfect." She muttered under her breath.
With no other choice, she picked a direction and walked briskly, hoping to stumble upon something familiar. But the further she went, the more the street changed. The sidewalks cracked, the air grew thick, and the crowd around her shifted from professionals to something rougher, more unfiltered.
Then—
"Sister, you lost?"
Four men leaned against a parked car a few steps away. Their clothes were worn, their eyes calculating.
"I'm fine," she said quickly, gripping the strap of her bag.
One of them stepped forward, blocking her path. "You sure? We can help."
The other one grinned. "Plenty of shortcuts around here."
Nelly's pulse quickened. She wasn't naive. They started to close in—predatory grins stretching across their faces. The street was eerily quiet. No one would see.
She took a step back.
Then—
They froze.
She wasn't sure why, but the confidence in their faces drained instantly, replaced by something she hadn't expected. Fear.
"Hey, what do we have here?"
The voice was smooth, rich, with an undercurrent of something almost... amused.
Nelly turned slowly, expecting to see a menacing man, the kind whose presence alone could unnerve a group of thugs.
Instead, he looked simple. Hair neatly groomed, deep brown eyes brimming with mischief, a smirk curling his lips in warm reception. But the details unsettled her—his shirt, buttoned halfway down, gave an intentional glimpse of his chest, as if he knew exactly what effect it had. He stood taller than all four men, probably around six feet.
She didn't recognize him.
But they did.
The trembling whispers reached her ears.
Lucky Dante.
The way they said his name, low and breathless, sent a shiver down her spine.
She turned back to him. "Who are you?"
His smirk deepened. "Oh, you're new. This is not my ideal place for first meetings, though." He chuckled, voice still calm, unbothered.
Then he shifted his gaze to the men, amusement fading.
"Now run along."
His voice was no longer playful. It was a command.
They didn't hesitate. In less than a second, they had vanished down the alley, the sound of their retreating footsteps the only proof they had ever been there.
Nelly exhaled, her grip on her bag loosening.
"If you don't know your way around the city, you ask," Lucky said, watching her with quiet amusement.
"I'm not here for a tour." She checked her watch and felt her stomach drop. 9:30 AM. She was almost late. "I need to find Agu Corp."
Lucky's gaze flickered with something unreadable before he grinned.
"I'll do you one better." He stepped beside her, matching her stride effortlessly. "I'll take you there."
All her natural instincts screamed at her. This man radiated danger. Not the reckless, violent kind—but something far worse. The type of danger that pulled you in, made you ignore all the warning signs until it was too late.
And yet, she followed him.
Five minutes later, they stood before a towering glass structure, Agu Corp inscribed boldly across its entrance.
Lucky turned to her, his smirk never fading.
"Try not to get lost again, princess."
Before she could respond, he was already walking away.
She exhaled sharply, pushing aside the strange pull he left in his wake.
She had bigger things to worry about.