The Billionaire's Last Bus

--- Amara held her bag tight against her chest as the rain started to fall on Lekki. It was already 8pm. She had missed two buses. Her phone battery was at 4%. Her boss had kept her late again at the office, and now the whole street was dark and wet. "God abeg, make one bus just come," she whispered. Just then, the last bus pulled up, its headlights shining through the rain. Amara ran. She almost slipped. Her heel broke. She laughed at herself even though she wanted to cry. She climbed inside and searched her bag for her fare. Her heart sank. Her purse was gone. "Sorry, I... I think I lost my purse," she said to the driver, her voice shaking. "Please, I will pay tomorrow, I swear. I work just down the road." The driver shook his head. "Madam, no money, no seat. Come down." People in the bus were staring. Amara felt shame burn her face. She wanted the ground to open and swallow her. Then a deep voice spoke from the back. "I will pay for her." Amara turned. A man stood up. He was tall, wearing a black shirt soaked with rain, with a watch that looked more expensive than her whole salary. But his eyes were tired. Not like a rich man. Like a man who was running from something. He paid the driver for two people and sat down beside her. "Thank you," Amara said softly. "You don't know me. Why did you help me?" He smiled a small, tired smile. "Because today, everybody has turned their back on me too." Amara did not know his name. She did not know he was Tobi Adeyemi, the billionaire heir everybody in Lagos was talking about. She did not know his family was forcing him to marry woman he did not love that same week. She only knew one thing. When the bus moved and the rain beat the window, she felt safe "Amara," she said. "Amara," he repeated, like he was tasting the name. "I think I was supposed to enter this bus tonight." Amara laughed. "Na last bus be this o. If you miss am, you go sleep for bus stop." He laughed too, a real laugh, and for a moment, he forgot about his family, his money, and the wedding he was running from. He did not know that this one bus ride was about to change both their lives forever. ---