Chapter 3: The First Touch
383 Words
Three days. Three nights of silence, rules, and stolen glances.
Ada learned the penthouse rhythm. Smith left at 6 AM. Returned at 8 PM. Ate alone. Worked until midnight. He never called her name. Only "Girl."
On the fourth night, she broke Rule 2.
He was reading by the window, city lights painting his face. The scar looked softer in the dark. Human.
"Why me?" The words escaped before she could catch them.
Silence. Then the book snapped shut. He didn't turn. "You looked me in the eyes."
"I asked a question." Her voice was stronger than she felt. "My father had other debts. Why buy me?"
Slow. Deliberate. He stood. Each step toward her was a countdown.
"Because," he said, stopping inches away. She had to tilt her head to see him. His eyes were not empty now. They were storms. "When I saw you at Chief Adeyemi's party two years ago, serving zobo with pride in your rags... you didn't bow. You didn't flinch. Every other woman wanted my money. You wanted nothing from me."
Ada's breath caught. She remembered that party. The cruel laughter when she spilled zobo. The tall man who didn't laugh. Who watched her like she was the only real thing in the room.
"You remember me?" she whispered.
"I remember everything." His finger traced the air beside her cheek, not touching. "Especially the way you looked at me. Like I was a man, not a god."
The air crackled. Dangerous. Forbidden.
"Rule 8," he murmured. "You do not ask why anymore."
Then his finger touched her. Just the barest brush on her bottom lip.
Ada gasped. It was like being struck by lightning and drowning at once.
Smith froze. His entire body went still. Like he hadn't expected fire to burn him too.
For one second, the God of Lagos looked lost.
Then the mask slammed down. Cold. Cruel. Empty.
"Go to your room." His voice was rough gravel. "Now."
Ada fled. Her lip tingled where he touched. Her heart betrayed her with one wild, terrified beat.
Behind her, Smith Adeyemi gripped the window frame until his knuckles went white.
She was supposed to be payment. A possession. A lesson in power.
So why did one touch feel like he was the one in debt?
#Vote#
- Writer
