Chapter One — The Woman in YellowThe first time Daniel saw Amara, she was standing beneath a broken umbrella at a bus stop in Lagos, arguing with a danfo driver.It was a Monday morning, and Lagos was already behaving like Lagos.The roads were crowded. Horns were competing with the noise of generators, hawkers were moving between cars, and everyone seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere.Daniel had been awake since five that morning.His mother had called him three times before seven."Daniel, don't forget your aunt is coming this weekend.""I won't, Mama.""And please, your uncle asked about that girl you told us about.""Mama, there is no girl.""Then find one."She had ended the call before he could respond.Now, standing in traffic with a cup of coffee in one hand and his office bag in the other, Daniel wondered if his mother had somehow arranged for the entire city to frustrate him.Then he saw her.She wore a yellow blouse and a long black skirt. Her natural hair was tied neatly behind her head, and she held a broken umbrella over herself while trying to explain something to a driver."I told you I entered at Yaba!" she protested.The driver shook his head."You entered from Surulere.""I know where I entered!"Daniel smiled despite himself.The woman looked angry, but somehow she was still beautiful.The argument continued until she finally gave up and walked away.A gust of wind suddenly lifted her umbrella, sending it rolling across the road.She chased after it.Daniel laughed.She turned around and caught him laughing."Is something funny?"Daniel immediately stopped."No.""You were laughing.""I wasn't.""You definitely were.""I was laughing at the umbrella."She looked at the umbrella lying several metres away."Of course."There was something about the way she said it that made him laugh again.She shook her head and walked away.Daniel watched her disappear into the crowd.He didn't know her name.He didn't know where she lived.He didn't know anything about her.But somehow, he knew he would remember her.He was right.Chapter Two — A Familiar FaceThree days later, Daniel walked into a small café in Yaba to meet a client.He was halfway through checking his phone when he heard a familiar voice."Please, I said no sugar."He looked up.Yellow blouse.Same woman.This time, no broken umbrella.She noticed him almost immediately."You."Daniel smiled."Me."She narrowed her eyes."The man who laughed at me.""I didn't laugh at you.""You laughed while I was fighting for my life.""You were fighting a danfo driver.""Exactly. It was serious."Daniel laughed.She tried not to smile."My name is Daniel."She hesitated."Amara.""Nice to meet you properly, Amara.""You've met me before.""I've seen you before.""There's a difference?""Yes."She smiled."What's the difference?""Meeting you properly means I get to know your name."For a moment, she said nothing.Then she smiled."That's actually a good line.""I wasn't trying to impress you.""You're a liar.""Maybe."She laughed.That was how it began.Not with fireworks.Not with dramatic music.Just two strangers in a small café, laughing over a broken umbrella.Daniel eventually discovered that Amara worked as a project coordinator for a real estate company. She was twenty-eight, loved old Nigerian music, couldn't cook very well despite her mother's repeated claims that she could, and had a habit of talking to herself whenever she was stressed.Amara discovered that Daniel was thirty-one, worked in finance, hated unnecessary arguments, loved football, and called his mother almost every evening.Their friendship grew naturally.Coffee became lunch.Lunch became evening walks.Evening walks became long phone calls.Soon, Daniel found himself checking his phone every morning just to see whether Amara had sent him a message.One evening, while they sat inside his car near the Lekki waterfront, Amara asked him a question."Daniel?""Yes?""Are you seeing anyone?"He looked at her."Why?""I'm just asking.""No."She looked out the window."Okay.""Why?""No reason."Daniel smiled."Are you?""Am I what?""Seeing anyone?"She smiled."No."Neither of them said anything after that.But something changed that night.Chapter Three — Choosing HerDaniel didn't plan his first kiss.It happened on a rainy Friday evening.Amara had had a terrible day at work. Her boss had blamed her for a mistake she hadn't made, and by the time Daniel picked her up, she was exhausted."I don't want to talk," she said."Okay.""I don't want advice.""Okay.""I just want to sit somewhere and be angry."Daniel nodded."There's a perfect place for that."They drove to a quiet restaurant.After dinner, they sat in the car while the rain hit the windshield.Amara finally sighed."Thank you.""For what?""For not trying fix everything."Daniel turned toward her."I can't fix everything.""I know.""But I can stay."She looked at him.Something softened in her eyes

Amara Williams arrives at university in a convoy of expensive cars, surrounded by security and privilege. To everyone on campus, she is the untouchable daughter of one of Nigeria's most powerful businessmen.David Okoro sees her differently.Their first meeting is far from romantic. A misunderstanding at the campus library turns into an argument, and neither expects that their paths will continue crossing.Despite their different worlds, Amara and David gradually fall in love.But their relationship becomes dangerous when David discovers that Amara's family is connected to a secret involving the university.