CHAPTER THREE — The Man Behind the Mask
569 Words
The car slipped through the quiet streets of Lekki, rain slicked roads reflecting the city lights like shattered glass. I couldn’t stop thinking about Alexander. About his hands on mine, his smell, the way his eyes had pinned me down like I was something precious… something dangerous.
I wanted to ask a hundred questions, but the words stuck. Instead, I watched the way he drove calm, controlled, like he had done this a thousand times.
Finally, he spoke.
“Do you understand why you shouldn’t have been at the Hilton tonight?” His voice was low, almost dangerous, but there was a strange softness buried beneath it.
“I… no. I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.
His eyes met mine. “You have no idea what kind of people move in that room. Some will kill to protect their secrets. Some will kill to take what they want.”
A shiver ran down my spine. Lagos was glamorous, yes but it was also ruthless. And apparently, so was the man driving me.
He glanced at me, his gaze sharp, almost assessing. “And you… you’re too curious for your own good.”
I wanted to defend myself, but the truth was, he was right. Curiosity had brought me here. Curiosity might get me killed.
We arrived at a high rise building tucked into a quiet corner of Victoria Island. The lobby was empty, except for two men in suits who bowed their heads subtly as he passed. No words. Just recognition. Power.
“You live here?” I asked, trying to hide the awe in my voice.
He smirked. “For now. It’s safer than your apartment.”
The elevator ride was silent, the tension thick. Every time our hands brushed, my pulse spiked. It was maddening I didn’t know whether to be terrified or exhilarated.
When we reached the top floor, the door opened into a spacious apartment overlooking the lagoon. The lights were dim, warm, intimate. And just like that, I felt exposed and alive at the same time.
Alexander set my bag down and finally looked at me. Really looked at me. “Adaora… you don’t understand. Being near me it’s dangerous. Not because of me, but because of the life I live. The people who want to control it… or destroy it.”
I stepped closer, unable to stop myself. “Then why didn’t you stay away? Why did you… save me?”
His breath hitched slightly. His gaze darkened. “Because I can’t. You… you make me reckless. You make me feel things I don’t let anyone feel.”
Electricity crackled between us. I wanted to look away. I couldn’t. My stomach twisted. My pulse thundered. And then he stepped closer. So close I could feel the heat of his body.
“You’re dangerous,” he whispered, his lips almost brushing mine. “But… I can’t stay away.”
My breath hitched. I wanted to argue, to remind him that I didn’t even know him, that this was insane. But when his hand brushed my cheek, the world narrowed to just us.
The door clicked behind me. Somewhere in Lagos, someone was still out there. Watching. Waiting. Threatening.
But in that moment, all I could feel was him Alexander Durojaiye.
And I realized, with terrifying clarity: my life had changed. And I was already his
- Writer
