three cities

The extraordinary

As soon as Nelly stepped into the apartment, Amanda was already waiting by the window, arms crossed, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"No way, You've got to be kidding me," Amanda screamed, peeking through the blinds. "Tell me that is not Kelvin Agu's car outside."

Nelly sighed, dropping her bag on the couch. "You know it is?"

Amanda spun around dramatically. "You, my dear, have a lot of explaining to do."

"There's nothing to explain," Nelly replied, heading straight for the fridge to grab a bottle of water. "We had a work presentation today, I was hungry and he took me to lunch afterward."

Amanda gasped. "Lunch? With Kelvin Agu?" She rushed toward Nelly, her excitement barely contained.

"I thought you guys were enemies." She scoffed. "You need to be updating me when you make up with people so i don't hold past grudge."

"Okay, pause. Back up. You went on a date with Kelvin, and you're telling me like it's just another boring day at work?"

"When did you both even get that close."

Nelly rolled her eyes, taking a long sip of water. "It wasn't a date, Amanda. It was just lunch—after I saved the entire deal, by the way."

She probably shouldn't have said that, now she'll have to spend the entire evening talking about it.

Amanda raised a brow. "Oh? Now you have to tell me everything."

Nelly hesitated. She hadn't really processed everything yet. His gesture had seem personal, even if he wanted to buy her lunch he could simply ordered. "It's not that deep. I caught an error in the reports before the presentation. If I hadn't fixed it, the whole deal would've fallen apart. He was just… being appreciative."

Amanda smirked knowingly. "Kelvin Agu doesn't do 'appreciation'—at least, not in the usual way." She wasn't guessing, there have been several posts to back up this claim.

Nelly scoffed. "And you would know this how?"

"Uh, because I live in this city and read the news? The guy barely acknowledges anyone unless it's business-related." Amanda plopped onto the couch, eyes gleaming. "So the fact that he not only took you to lunch but also drove you home? Oh, girl, that means something."

Nelly shook her head. "You're overthinking it."

Amanda gasped dramatically again. "Wait. Don't tell me you actually like him?"

Nelly nearly choked on her water. "What? No! Absolutely not!"

Amanda narrowed her eyes. "Mmm-hmm. That reaction was way too defensive."

"Because it's ridiculous!" Nelly shot back. "Kelvin Agu is arrogant, impossible to read, and honestly, a little insufferable."

Amanda leaned closer. "And yet, you let him drive you home."

Nelly opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out. She hated how Amanda always saw through her.

"Look," Amanda continued, leaning back with a smug expression. "I'm not saying you're in love or anything. But something is definitely happening between you two."

Nelly groaned. "You're exhausting."

Amanda grinned. "And you, my dear, are in denial."

Nelly sighed, deciding to ignore Amanda completely. But as she headed toward her room, she couldn't shake the thought: Was Amanda right?

A sudden knock on the door interrupted both Nelly's thoughts and Amanda's endless questioning. Grateful for the distraction, she got up and made her way to the door. But as soon as she opened it, there was no one there.

She frowned. A prank?

"No way," Amanda said from behind. "The neighbor's kids don't stay out past six."

Nelly turned back inside, and that was when her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.

Lucky was casually lounging on the couch, his signature grin in place as if he had been there all along.

"Hope you don't mind," he said, amused by her reaction. "I'm not really a front-door kind of guy."

Nelly clutched her chest, exhaling sharply. "Lucky! What the hell?"

He chuckled. "Miss me?"

Lucky leaned back with an easy grin. "Nice to see you too."

His eyes gleamed mischievously as he continued. "So, I was in the neighborhood when I happened to see Agu Kelvin's car drive by. And I thought to myself—what on earth would that prick be doing in the streets of Wuse? Then, a little birdie whispered to me that he wasn't just taking a casual evening drive. He was dropping you off."

Before Nelly could react, Amanda jumped in. "So now you're spying on us?" she challenged, crossing her arms. "And as what, exactly?"

Lucky's smirk deepened. "As a concerned party, obviously." He shot Nelly a look. "I did convince you to take the job, didn't I? That makes me partly responsible for your well-being."

Amanda scoffed. "That is the dumbest excuse I've ever heard. Are you trying to say you've suddenly become a stalker?"

Nelly sighed. "It's fine. Let him stay." She had finally regained her composure.

Lucky flashed Amanda a mockingly triumphant look, earning himself a glare.

Nelly turned to him with a tired expression. "What do you want?"

He leaned in slightly, watching her reaction. "Where have you been for the past week?"

Her brows furrowed. "Why? Someone missed me?" he teased, his smirk never fading.

"Not in the slightest," she shot back. "Just answer the damn question."

Lucky leaned back with an easy grin. "Nice to see you too."

His eyes gleamed mischievously as he continued. "So, I was in the neighborhood when I happened to see Agu Kelvin's car drive by. And I thought to myself—what on earth would that prick be doing in the streets of Wuse? Then, a little birdie whispered to me that he wasn't just taking a casual evening drive. He was dropping you off."

Before Nelly could react, Amanda jumped in. "So now you're spying on us?" she challenged, crossing her arms. "And as what, exactly?"

Lucky's smirk deepened. "As a concerned party, obviously." He shot Nelly a look. "I did convince you to take the job, didn't I? That makes me partly responsible for your well-being."

Amanda scoffed. "That is the dumbest excuse I've ever heard. Are you trying to say you've suddenly become a stalker?"

Nelly sighed. "It's fine. Let him stay." She had finally regained her composure.

Lucky flashed Amanda a mockingly triumphant look, earning himself a glare.

Nelly turned to him with a tired expression. "What do you want?"

He leaned in slightly, watching her reaction. "Where have you been for the past week?"

Her brows furrowed. "Why? Someone missed me?" he teased, his smirk never fading.

"Not in the slightest," she shot back. "Just answer the damn question."

He shrugged. "Here and there."

Her patience was slipping. "What do you want, Lucky?"

His smirk softened just a little. "I wanted to talk."

"About?"

"I don't know." He exhaled. "Let's go for a walk. There's a garden just around the corner."

"I'm not in the mood," she huffed.

"It won't take long. I promise."

Amanda, who had been observing the exchange, was speechless. Lucky Dante pleading? If she hadn't seen it herself, she wouldn't have believed it. This was the Lucky Dante—who, ever since his name exploded onto the scene five years ago, had never been the type to ask for anything.

Nelly sighed, already regretting this. "Fine. But just around the block. Nowhere else."

They stepped out into the cool evening air. Most of the streetlights were out, leaving patches of shadow between pools of dim light. Nelly found herself grateful—at least she wouldn't have to deal with fangirls chasing after this playboy's shadow.

After a moment of silence, Lucky finally spoke. "So... a lunch date, huh?" He shot her a sidelong glance. "Tell me about it."

Nelly rolled her eyes. "It wasn't a date. We had extra work, I was hungry, and he bought me lunch."

Lucky chuckled. "Crescent 5, right? I heard." His voice was knowing, teasing. "You did a great job summarizing the drama of the day, by the way."

Nelly's breath caught for a second. Just how much did he hear?

She had been relieved when the whole fiasco between Kelvin and Austin didn't make the news, but now she wondered—how did Lucky know about it?

Almost as if reading her thoughts, he grinned. "These are my streets, Nelly." His voice was smooth, laced with authority. "Nothing happens here without me knowing. I am its king."

Just then, a woman spotted Lucky and gasped, pulling out her phone to snap a picture.

Nelly's expression tightened. A strange feeling bubbled inside her—annoyance? Frustration? She turned abruptly and started walking back toward her street.

"I'm sorry," Lucky said, quickly catching up.

She didn't reply. Was she angry? Or… jealous? The thought unsettled her.

There were so many questions she had wanted to ask him—questions no one seemed to have answers to. But every time she tried to form the words, something held her back. It was him, he quickly throws her off with a question of his.

Lucky must have sensed her tension because he smoothly changed the topic again.

"You enjoy it, don't you?" Nelly asked suddenly, forcing herself to focus on something else. "The fame. Being the center of attention."

Lucky let out a low chuckle. "And the confidence I walk in with?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Exactly."

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he let the silence stretch between them, as if savoring the moment.

Then, he smiled to himself. That's why, he thought. That's why I'm drawn to her.

She wasn't like the others. She wasn't moved by him.

And it had been a long time since any woman had made him feel that way.

So he decided to indulge her a little more.

Lucky chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Funny, isn't it?"

Nelly shot him a glare. She wanted answers—wanted him to explain himself, his personality, who he really was. Maybe then, she could piece together something about his past.

Lucky tilted his head, considering. "I wonder if 'enjoy' is the right word." He glanced at her. "Tell me, if a policeman arrests a criminal, would you say he enjoys doing it?"

She shook her head.

"In the same way, love, I perform these duties society has given me. Not out of fun, but obligation."

His words were cryptic, but Nelly recognized the pattern—he did this when he didn't want to give a direct answer.

"Duties, huh?" she echoed, deciding to play along. "So, what's your secret?"

Lucky smirked. "You could say I'm awesome."

"Not that," she pressed. "You know what I mean. What gives you that air of confidence you carry?"

Lucky paused, inhaling deeply.

Nelly's heart quickened. This is it, she thought. If I push just a little more, maybe I'll get something real.

But just as quickly as the moment came, it slipped away. His smirk returned, bolder than before. "She thinks she's winning," he mused aloud, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"My confidence is an armor," he finally said. "Not the usual kind. It's built from the people around me." He turned to her, smiling.

Nelly frowned. "I don't get it."

"Think of it this way," Lucky continued. "I only exude confidence around people I know I can beat."

Her face paled slightly. What?

"So you only prey on the weak?" she challenged, her mind racing. That didn't make sense—judging from their first encounter, even though he was physically stronger than all five men present, she doubted he could have taken them all on at once.

Lucky chuckled. "Oh, love. Not everything is about brute force." He flexed his biceps playfully, though I do have plenty of that.