CLAIMED BY MY BEST FRIEND'S FATHER

My lecturer called me poor in front of 300 students. "Miss Amara, if you cannot pay by Friday, you cannot sit for the practical." I had no money, I had not eaten in two days, and I had no idea that my best friend's invitation tonight would change my life forever. He didn't even look at me when he said it. He just flipped my file shut like I was nothing. I woke up that morning with nothing in my stomach. No bread, no tea, no money for the bus. I walked from my aunt's house to the university gate, almost 40 minutes under the hot sun. My cheap sandals were already biting my feet. My skirt was ironed but faded. I was already tired before the lecture even started. Dr. Bello is a tall man with a loud voice. He does not like late fees. He does not like excuses. When he got to my name on the class list, he stopped. "Miss Amara Okafor," he said. "Your lab fee of $500 is still outstanding. Two weeks now. If you cannot pay by Friday, you cannot sit for the practical." Three hundred heads turned at once. I felt my face burn hot. I clutched my old bag tighter, the strap already fraying at the edges. "I'm sorting it out, sir," I mumbled. My voice was so small I barely heard it myself. A laugh came from the front row. Then another. "Sorting it out how?" It was Sandra. Designer bag, perfect hair, red lips that never missed. She stood up a little so everyone could see her. "By washing plates at that cafeteria? Or should you just sell your body like the other poor girls do? I hear that pays fast." Her two friends burst out laughing with her. The whole hall burst out laughing. Some boys started whistling. I stared down at my notebook. My hands were shaking. My phone was cracked so badly the screen barely worked. Everyone in this university knew I was on scholarship. Everyone knew I was poor. I wanted the ground to open and swallow me. My phone buzzed in my bag. I knew who it was without looking. My mother. _My dear, I sent the $100 I had. Your aunt promised the rest by next week. Please don't skip meals, my love. Mama_ I wanted to cry. $100 wasn't even a quarter of the fee. She was skipping meals herself to send me that. She works long hours cleaning houses to pay for my school. Her back hurts every night. And still she sent me $100 like it could solve everything. I locked my phone quickly before anyone could see me crying. "Enough," a voice said. Lena stood up from her seat beside me. Tall, confident, Damian's daughter. She didn't care about designer bags. She cared about loyalty. Even in this hot lecture hall, her perfume was expensive and clean. On her wrist was a gold watch that cost more than my entire school fee. "Leave her alone, Sandra," Lena said. "Or do you want to donate your own pocket money? Since you talk so much?" Sandra rolled her eyes but went quiet. The lecturer cleared his throat and moved on like nothing had happened. The rest of the lecture was a blur. I did not hear anything Dr. Bello said. I was thinking about the practical on Friday. If I miss it, I will repeat the year. If I repeat the year, my mother will be destroyed. She has suffered too much for me to fail. When the class ended, Lena grabbed my arm. "Are you okay?" she asked. "I'm fine," I lied, quickly locking my phone so she wouldn't see the message. "You are not fine. You haven't eaten since yesterday, have you? I can see it. Your eyes are red and your hand is shaking." I didn't answer. How could I? My mother had sent what she could, and it wasn't enough for food and fees at the same time. My aunt promised to help, but she has her own children to feed. "Come home with me today," Lena said. "My mom's cook makes too much food anyway. And we have that group assignment. We can do it at my house. My driver is already outside waiting for me." I almost said no. I had heard about her father. Damian. Everyone in the city knew that name. Cold billionaire. Feared. The man with the scarred hands. They say he fired three managers last month for stealing. They say no one dares look him in the eye. "I don't want to trouble you," I said quickly. "It's not trouble. It's my house. Please, Amara. Just come. You look like you're about to faint." I looked at my empty purse. At my rumbling stomach. At her sincere eyes. "Okay," I whispered. "Just for the assignment." I had no idea that saying yes would lead me straight to him.