three cities

The prince of the city

Lucky Dante was hardly a guy you could ignore.

Standing at 6 feet tall, with well-groomed hair, sparkly eyes, and a face that looked like it had been sculpted by the gods themselves, he was everyone's type. His features carried an effortless charm—one that made women swoon and men watch with equal parts admiration and envy. He was the kind of man who didn't need to try.

Yet Lucky wasn't just about looks. His charisma was a force of nature. He was intelligent, had a way with words and was genuinely kind, he knew how to make people feel specia, even if he forgot their names the next moment. There was never a dull moment around him. It didn't take long to cement his place as the life of the party, and his presence alone could make the most exclusive events feel even more special.

He was reckless. His eyes always had a sense of danger in them. You'll need to get closer to notice a few scars around his broad chest-needing no invite as he always bares them for the world to see.

Lucky wasn't just Abuja's most talked-about playboy. The city was his playground, and everyone knew it. From the finest clubs in Wuse to the high-rise penthouses in Maitama, he moved with the confidence of a man who knew the rules didn't apply to him.

The week barely ran by without being filled with news of him and a high-profile lady, yet he was loved for his influence.

Tonight, like many others, he was in his element. The VIP section of the club 24/7 pulsed with energy, filled with the rich, the powerful, and the beautiful. He walked through the crowd like he owned the place, which, in many ways, he did. In his arm was vivian-the VP's daughter.

Yet, beneath the glamour, beneath the reputation. No one knew Lucky Dante beyond the rumours and things he did. His personal life was a full of secrets. Yet no one cared. And one of them was starting to itch at the back of his mind.

Lucky had met thousands of women in his life. Some were forgettable, some were entertaining.They all were after fame, money or his influence. But none had ever occupied his thoughts long after they'd left his sight.

Until two weeks ago.

Nelly.

There was nothing particularly unusual about their encounter—or at least, that was what he told himself. He had saved a damsel in distress. It wasn't his first time. Simple. A moment of heroism that had been the origin of his playboy lifestyle him. But something about her had lingered, gnawed at him in a way he couldn't quite explain. The look in her eyes when she had glanced up at him after the rescue—uncertain, wary, yet oddly familiar—stuck with him. He had felt something like that before, not with any of the other girls he had been with, or that's what he thought.

And then, there was the way she had nearly melted in his presence at the club, only to suddenly disappear into unconsciousness. He had thought of her since, more than he cared to admit. More than was normal.

He twirled his glass lazily, watching the golden liquid swirl under the dim lights of the VIP section. Around him, Abuja's elite carried on in their usual fashion—dancing, drinking, indulging. It was a world he ruled, a world that had always belonged to him.

Yet tonight, his mind was elsewhere.

"Lucky?"

Vivian's voice pulled him back. She was sitting beside him, legs crossed, watching him with mild amusement and concern. "It's unlike you to be absent-minded," she remarked, twirling a strand of her sleek, dark hair.

She was right.

Lucky Dante didn't get distracted. He didn't sit around brooding over a woman, let alone one he barely knew.

And yet, here he was.

He exhaled sharply, downing the rest of his drink before flashing Vivian a smirk. "Maybe I'm just bored," he said smoothly, leaning closer, playing his part as effortlessly as always.

Vivian chuckled, shaking her head. "You, Bored? Or bothered?"

Lucky simply smiled she was right. It truly was unlike him to be bothered, but deep down, he knew the answer.

And that was the real problem.

Lucky dismissed the thought with a smirk, leaning back in his seat as if to shake off the feeling entirely. He was Lucky Dante, the prince of the city. Women were drawn to him like moths to a flame, and he basked in their adoration. He didn't chase; he didn't linger.

Yet, here he was, letting a single encounter gnaw at him.

Vivian leaned in. Bitting her lips as she reached for his.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You're in a good mood, Vivian."

"Am I?" she challenged. "It's not like you to be this... distracted."

Lucky swirled the remnants of his drink, watching the amber liquid move. He wasn't one to dwell, but there was something about Nelly—something that had crawled into his mind and refused to leave. The way she had looked at him before she passed out. The way she had seemed so alone despite being surrounded by people.

He let out a breath, setting his glass down. "It's nothing."

Vivian gave him a skeptical glance but didn't push further. She knew better than to press him when he didn't want to talk. Instead, she leaned in closer, her fingers lightly tracing the lapel of his jacket. "Well, whatever it is, I hope it doesn't make you boring," she teased. "That would be a shame."

Lucky chuckled, letting his easygoing mask slide back into place. "Don't worry, love. I'm still me."

And with that he stood. Pulling her up with him as he slide to the dance floor. Lights and stares were turned in their direction as they danced away into the night.

Nelly hadn't expected to see him. It had been a whole month since that night at the club, and in all that time, Lucky had been nothing more than a fleeting thought she stubbornly pushed aside.

But here he was, standing by Nadia's desk, flashing that signature grin of his while she giggled uncontrollably.

Nadia noticed her first. "Oh, Nelly, you didn't tell me you know Lucky Dante ," she teased, "to a point hes coming to pick you up."her eyes darting between the two of them.

Lucky turned to face her, his usual air of confidence intact. "Hey, stranger," he greeted smoothly. "You've been avoiding me."

Nelly scoffed, has she? Though he had crossed her mind a few times she didn't think they were close. And they weren't adjusting the strap of her bag. "I've been working." She managed to add.

He chuckled. "So work means completely forgetting about your hero?"

Nadia giggled at that, and Nelly shot her a glare before sighing. "What do you want, Lucky?"

He placed a hand over his heart, feigning hurt. "Is that how you greet an old friend?" Then, without waiting for a response, he gestured towards the exit. "Come on, I'll walk you home."

She hesitated. "I can—"

"It's not up for debate, Nelly." His tone was light, but the look in his eyes said he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Nadia kept giggling like a fangirl who had encountered a new celeb.

"A ride home wouldn't hurt for a change she thought."

With a resigned sigh, she fell into step beside him, her pace matching his as they walked out towards the gate.

The first few step were silent, the only noise was often interrupted by ladies making sounds at the sight of Lucky. Even nearly pushing her aside to take pictures with him. Lucky, as always, was his usual cheerful self, seemed unfazed by the attention he was getting. pulling laughter out of her when she least expected it.

"You really enjoy it don't you," Nelly scoffed. "The attention, the crowd dancing to your tune."

He didn't answer.

"You know," he said after a while, his voice carrying a more serious edge, "I was starting to think you really forgot about me."

Nelly glanced at him, raising a brow. "I told you, I was working."

"Yeah, yeah," he mused. "I just figured after I practically saved your life, you'd at least check in once in a while."

"How was I supposed to,'' she barked. "It's not like you left a way to contact you."

"Even if you did why should I check in."

"You are really impossible."

He stopped walking, turning to face her fully. "And you, Nelly, are interesting."

His words caught her off guard, and for a second, she didn't know how to respond. He wasn't teasing, wasn't being his usual flirtatious self. He was just looking at her, as if trying to figure her out.

She cleared her throat, breaking eye contact. "We should keep moving."

As they walked, Lucky glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. There was something oddly familiar about her and he couldn't quite place it.

"You're not from around here are you," Lucky said breaking the 30 seconds of silence.

"What makes you say that."

"Just a hunch," he added, and the fact you couldn't recognize me the first time.

"Yeah, I'm not."

"I am from portharcourt, but I grew up here, only had to leave about 10 years ago."

"That explains why you were lost the other day." He chuckled, "You probably thought the city was the same one you left."

Lucky dulled for a moment, there was something about the phrase 10 years ago that hit him. But he couldn't quite tell.

"What about you," Nelly called back his attention 'where are you from."

"I'm from everywhere." He smirked.

"That's not an answer."

"Well that's the only one you're getting."

They had reached their apartment gate.

She scoffed. "You're not coming it."

"I don't plan to."

"That was Lucky, right?" Amanda asked before Nelly could even close the door. "Why didn't you invite him in?"

"It's not too late; you can go do that yourself," Nelly retorted, kicking off her shoes.

Amanda grinned. "Oh my, did he touch a nerve?" She spun on her heels and rushed toward the gate, only to stop abruptly. "He's gone."

Nelly smirked at her disappointed expression. She was more than happy to have a quiet evening to herself.

But Lucky's behavior puzzled her. He never needed an invitation to come in. Amanda would have loved his company, even if they spent most of their time bickering.

"I find it strange he didn't come in," Amanda mused, almost as if reading Nelly's thoughts. Then, she pulled out her phone, scrolling through a news feed. "Come and check this out."

Nelly barely glanced at the screen. "What am I supposed to see? It's no longer news seeing one of his antics every day."

"It's what you're not seeing," Amanda said cryptically.

Nelly frowned. "I don't understand."

"Look again and think before telling me what you see."

She skimmed through the articles, unimpressed. "I don't see anything. If you don't have anything better to do, I need to rest."

Amanda leaned against the wall. "This is, what, the fourth time you've seen Lucky?"

"And?"

"Even that little scene at the club should have been enough to get media attention—something Lucky thrives on."

"I'm still not following."

Amanda sighed dramatically. "Lucky barely speaks to some women, and yet they make headlines just for breathing in his direction. But you? He's spent days with you, and somehow, there's not a single picture of you two out there. Doesn't that seem... odd?"

Nelly rolled her eyes. "It's not your fault, Amanda. You have way too much free time."

She brushed off Amanda's words, but deep down, the thought had crossed her mind before. Ever since she found out who Lucky really was, the question lingered: Would she eventually be classified as one of Lucky's conquests?

And yet, she was nowhere to be found in the gossip columns. No rumors.

A part of her was relieved. Another part of her wondered why.

Perhaps she was overthinking things.

With a sigh, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.