The Man in the Photograph
564 Words
The following morning, Daniel arrived at the office earlier than usual.
His assistant, Grace, was already waiting outside his office.
"Good morning, sir."
"Anything urgent?"
"Your grandmother called. She wants you and Miss Amina to visit this weekend."
Daniel nodded.
"I'll let Amina know."
Grace hesitated.
"There's something else."
She handed him a plain brown envelope.
"It was delivered anonymously."
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a copy of the old photograph.
Across it, someone had written in bold black ink:
"She deserves to know the truth."
His expression darkened.
---
Meanwhile, Amina was settling into her office.
She was beginning to enjoy the work.
Reviewing reports, organizing meetings, and solving small problems made the days pass quickly.
For the first time since graduating, she felt capable.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
It was Daniel.
"Can we talk?"
She noticed the seriousness in his voice.
"Of course."
He closed the door behind him.
"If anyone contacts you asking questions about my past, don't answer."
Amina frowned.
"Why?"
"Because they won't be looking for the truth."
"They'll be looking for a scandal."
She studied his face.
"You look worried."
Daniel sighed.
"There are parts of my past I'd rather leave buried."
---
That evening, Amina stopped at a neighborhood supermarket on her way to visit her mother.
She missed ordinary life.
As she carried a bag of groceries to her car, a familiar voice called her name.
"Amina!"
She turned.
It was her university friend, Sarah.
"Amina! Is it really you?"
They hugged warmly.
"I've been seeing you all over the news!" Sarah laughed.
"So... are you really engaged to Daniel Okello?"
Amina smiled awkwardly.
"It's... a long story."
Before Sarah could ask another question, a black SUV pulled up beside them.
Daniel stepped out.
"I've been looking for you."
Sarah's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"The Daniel Okello?"
Daniel smiled politely.
"Good evening."
Sarah looked from Daniel to Amina and back again.
"You two actually look good together."
Amina felt herself blush.
Daniel reached for the grocery bags.
"I'll carry these."
"You don't have to."
"I know."
Before she could protest, he had already taken them.
Sarah leaned close and whispered,
"For a fake-looking couple..."
Amina looked confused.
"...you seem surprisingly real."
---
Across the parking lot, someone lifted a camera.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Several photos captured Daniel carrying Amina's groceries while she smiled at him.
The photographer immediately sent them to Vanessa.
A few moments later, Vanessa's phone buzzed.
She opened the pictures.
Instead of satisfaction...
She felt something she hadn't expected.
Jealousy.
Not because Daniel was pretending.
But because, for the first time, he looked genuinely happy.
"No," she whispered.
"This wasn't supposed to happen."
She stared at the photos again.
"They're starting to forget it's only a contract."
Vanessa picked up her phone and dialed a number.
A deep voice answered.
"Yes?"
"I have a job for you," she said coldly.
"I need you to find someone."
"Who?"
She looked at Daniel's smiling face in the photograph.
"The one person who can make Amina walk away from him forever."
The man on the other end laughed.
"I know exactly who you're talking about."
Vanessa smiled.
"Good."
"Bring him back to Kampala."
She ended the call, unaware that her new plan wouldn't just threaten Daniel and Amina's fake marriage...
It would uncover a secret that had been hidden for ten years.
- Writer
