Chapter Nine — The Almost Kiss
1603 Words
Amara couldn't move.
Daniel's mother's words kept replaying in her head.
The person who killed her father.
Killed.
Not caused an accident.
Not destroyed his business.
Not ruined his life.
Killed.
Her father had been murdered.
And somehow, Daniel's mother knew who had done it.
"How long have you known?"
Daniel looked at her.
"I didn't know."
"But your mother did."
"I said I didn't know."
"Then call her back."
"I will."
"Now."
Daniel tried.
The call went straight to voicemail.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Amara's hands began to shake.
Daniel noticed.
"Sit down."
"I don't want to sit down."
"You're shaking."
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
She turned away.
"I've spent twelve years believing my father died in an accident."
"I know."
"I watched my mother break down after his death."
"I know."
"I grew up believing there was nothing we could do."
Daniel stepped closer.
"Amara—"
"And now you're telling me he was murdered?"
His expression softened.
"I don't know that for certain."
"Your mother said it."
"She believes it."
"That's enough for me."
She turned toward him.
"Take me to her."
"Not tonight."
"Why?"
"Because she clearly believes you're in danger."
"I am already in danger."
"Exactly."
"I need answers."
"And you'll get them."
"When?"
"As soon as we can do it safely."
Amara laughed bitterly.
"Safely?"
She shook her head.
"Daniel, someone broke into our hotel room. Someone followed us. Someone threw a threat through a window. You just told me my father may have been murdered."
She stepped closer.
"And you're talking about safety?"
Daniel stared at her.
"I don't want anything to happen to you."
The words silenced her.
His voice was quiet.
"I mean that."
Amara's anger softened for a moment.
Then she looked away.
"You barely know me."
"That's not true."
She looked back.
"What do you mean?"
Daniel hesitated.
"I've been trying to understand you since I saw your name on that application."
"Because of my father?"
"At first."
"And now?"
He didn't answer.
Amara waited.
"Daniel."
He looked directly at her.
"Now it's because of you."
Her heart skipped.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
She could hear the rain tapping against the windows.
Daniel stepped closer.
Neither of them spoke.
Amara should have moved away.
She didn't.
His eyes dropped briefly to her lips.
She noticed.
Her breathing changed.
"Daniel..."
"I know."
"What?"
"This isn't a good idea."
She swallowed.
"Probably not."
Neither moved.
He lifted his hand slowly, giving her enough time to stop him.
She didn't.
His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
Amara's eyes closed for half a second.
Then opened.
They were inches apart.
She could feel his breath.
He leaned closer.
Her heart pounded.
Then—
A knock sounded at the door.
They jumped apart.
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Of course."
Amara took a step backward.
"Who is it?"
"Lydia."
Daniel opened the door.
Lydia stood outside.
She looked between them.
Then raised an eyebrow.
"Did I interrupt something?"
"No."
"Definitely."
Daniel glared at her.
Lydia smiled.
"I have news."
"What?"
"I found the person who owns the car that was following you."
Daniel's expression immediately changed.
"Who?"
"His name is Michael Owusu."
Amara's stomach tightened.
"Do we know him?"
Lydia shook her head.
"But there's something strange."
"What?"
"He works for a company that was involved in the original property deal."
Daniel went still.
"Which company?"
Lydia handed him a file.
"Mensah & Asare Developments."
Amara looked at Daniel.
"That was my father's company."
"Yes."
"Then why would one of their former employees be following us?"
Daniel opened the file.
"He may not be."
"What do you mean?"
Daniel looked at the photograph inside.
His expression changed.
"What?"
He handed it to Amara.
She looked down.
The photograph showed Michael Owusu standing beside a younger man.
A man she recognized.
Her older brother, Kojo.
Amara's heart stopped.
"That's my brother."
Daniel stared at the photograph.
"How old is this?"
Lydia answered.
"Taken three weeks ago."
Amara shook her head.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"My brother lives in Takoradi."
Daniel looked at her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Call him."
Amara pulled out her phone.
She dialed.
No answer.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
Her heart began racing.
"Something's wrong."
Daniel reached for his phone.
"I'll have someone locate him."
"No."
"Amara—"
"I'll handle my family."
"You don't have to."
"I said no."
She walked toward the window.
Daniel watched her.
He could see the fear in her face.
He wanted to tell her everything.
The truth about her father.
The truth about his own family.
The reason his mother had warned him.
But he couldn't.
Not yet.
Because there was one secret he had never told anyone.
Not even his mother.
And if Amara discovered it, she might never look at him the same way again.
Later that night, Amara sat alone in the bedroom.
She stared at her phone.
Still no response from Kojo.
She opened her contacts again.
Then stopped.
There was another name.
Uncle Samuel.
Her father's younger brother.
He had disappeared from their lives shortly after her father's death.
Amara had always been told he moved abroad.
She had never questioned it.
Until now.
She called.
One ring.
Two.
Three.
He answered.
"Hello?"
Amara sat upright.
"Uncle?"
Silence.
"Uncle Samuel, it's me."
His breathing changed.
"Amara?"
"Yes."
"Why are you calling me?"
"I need to ask you something about Dad."
Another silence.
"What about him?"
"Did Dad have problems with the Asare family?"
The line went completely quiet.
"Uncle?"
"You shouldn't be asking these questions."
Amara's heart pounded.
"Why?"
"Because some things should stay buried."
"Did you know my father was murdered?"
He hung up.
Amara stared at the phone.
Then it rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
"Hello?"
A man's voice came through.
"Stop digging."
She froze.
"Who is this?"
"You've already been warned."
"Tell me who killed my father."
A low laugh.
"You think Daniel Asare will protect you?"
Amara's heart sank.
"Who are you?"
"Ask Daniel what happened on August 14, 2014."
The call ended.
Amara slowly lowered the phone.
August 14.
The date on the photograph.
She stood.
She needed to find Daniel.
She opened the bedroom door.
The sitting room was dark.
"Daniel?"
No answer.
She walked toward his room.
The door was slightly open.
She knocked.
Nothing.
She pushed it open.
Empty.
His phone was lying on the table.
A message was displayed on the screen.
Amara shouldn't have looked.
But she did.
The message was from his mother.
Daniel, you must tell her the truth before someone else does.
Amara stared at the words.
Then another message appeared.
She has the right to know what happened that night.
Amara's heart pounded.
What night?
She heard footsteps behind her.
She turned.
Daniel stood in the doorway.
His expression changed when he saw his phone in her hand.
"Amara."
She held it out.
"What happened on August 14, 2014?"
Daniel said nothing.
"Tell me."
"Where did you hear that?"
"Tell me."
He stepped into the room.
"Amara, there's something you need to understand."
"What?"
"I was there."
Her eyes widened.
"Where?"
"At your father's house."
Her blood ran cold.
"That night?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
"You were there when my father died?"
His jaw tightened.
"I was there before it happened."
Amara stared at him.
"What did you see?"
Daniel looked away.
"I saw your father arguing with someone."
"Who?"
He hesitated.
Then looked back at her.
"My father."
Amara's breath caught.
"Your father was there?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"You were nineteen."
"Yes."
"And you saw them arguing."
"Yes."
"What happened after?"
Daniel's face was filled with pain.
"I left."
"You left?"
"I was told to."
"By who?"
He didn't answer.
"Daniel!"
He finally whispered,
"By my mother."
Amara's eyes filled with tears.
"And then?"
Daniel looked at her.
"I heard a gunshot."
Silence.
Amara stopped breathing.
"You heard a gunshot?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you tell anyone?"
"I tried."
"What do you mean you tried?"
Daniel stepped closer.
"My father stopped me."
Amara's voice broke.
"Daniel..."
He looked at her.
"I've lived with that night for twelve years."
She stared at him.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
The guilt.
The secrecy.
The way he reacted whenever her father was mentioned.
Daniel had been there.
He had heard the shot.
And he had kept silent.
Amara took a step backward.
"You knew."
"I knew something happened."
"You knew my father might have been killed."
"Yes."
"And you still hired me."
"I didn't know how to tell you."
"You should have told me."
"I was afraid."
"Of what?"
Daniel looked into her eyes.
"Of losing you before I even had the chance to know you."
The words shattered the distance between them.
Amara stared at him.
Despite everything, her heart hurt.
Because beneath all the secrets, she could see the truth.
Daniel was afraid.
Not of her anger.
Of her leaving.
He stepped closer.
"I'm sorry."
Amara's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know whether I hate you."
Daniel's voice was barely a whisper.
"I don't want you to."
She looked at him.
For one dangerous moment, neither moved.
Then Amara turned away.
"I need time."
Daniel nodded.
"I'll give you time."
She walked back into her room.
But neither of them knew that someone else had been listening.
Outside the hotel suite, a figure stood in the corridor.
And the moment the door closed, the stranger sent a message.
Daniel told her about the gunshot.
The reply came immediately.
Then it's time to make sure he never tells her what happened after it.
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