The Space Between Truth and Fear
1054 Words
**Part 1: The Morning After**
The sun had barely risen when Jane’s phone buzzed—a message from Tara.
**"Emergency brunch. My place. 10 AM. Wear something cute."**
Jane groaned into her pillow. Tara’s "emergencies" usually involved gossip, spicy jollof, and aggressive matchmaking. And after last night’s conversation with Nathaniel, her nerves were too raw for one of Tara’s interrogations.
She typed back:
*“Can’t. Work stuff.”*
The reply came instantly:
*“Liar. You’re dodging me because of Dimples. See you at 10.”*
Jane sighed. Tara knew her too well.
---
**Part 2: Brunch and Interrogation**
Tara’s apartment smelled like cinnamon and fried plantains. She swung the door open in a vibrant Ankara wrap, earrings bouncing as she pointed a wooden spoon at Jane.
“Talk.”
Jane sank into the couch. “Nothing happened.”
“Lies. Your aura’s practically sparkling.” She plopped a plate of puff-puff into Jane’s lap. “You kissed him.”
“What? No!” Jane’s face burned. “We just… talked. About things.”
“Things,” Tara repeated, unimpressed. “Men like Nathaniel don’t do lakeside dinners for ‘things.’”
Jane picked at the puff-puff. “He told me about his past. The scandal in Lagos. Amara—an ex-colleague—warned me about him.”
Tara paused. “Wait. She *called* you?”
Jane nodded. “Said he’s charming, but selfish. That he’ll throw anyone under the bus to save himself.”
Tara’s brows drew together. “Do you believe her?”
Jane hesitated. “I believe she’s hurt. But Nathaniel showed me an apology email he sent her. After we talked.”
Tara whistled. “Damn. That’s… surprisingly grown-up of him.” She dropped onto the couch beside her. “So, what now?”
Jane stared at her lap. “Trusting him feels like stepping off a cliff.”
“Or onto solid ground,” Tara offered. “Not all men are Jide.”
Jane’s phone buzzed. A message from Nathaniel:
*“Board meeting moved to 3 PM. Don’t forget the partnership drafts.”*
Professional. Neutral. No mention of last night.
Tara peeked at the screen. “Ugh. Corporate men and their allergy to emotions.” She squeezed Jane’s shoulders. “If you like him, stop overthinking. If you don’t, stop wasting your glow.”
Jane laughed. “Since when did *you* become the wise one?”
“Since always. Now eat before I make it awkward.”
---
**Part 3: The Boardroom Battle**
The LTS Innovations boardroom hummed with tension. Nathaniel stood at the head of the table, presenting the Women in Tech proposal.
“This isn’t charity,” he said, clicking to a slide of revenue projections. “It’s investment. We’re building a talent pipeline the industry is desperate for.”
A silver-haired board member leaned forward. “And if the universities back out?”
Jane answered before she could stop herself. “We’ve secured MOUs from three institutions. The risk is low.”
Linda’s eyes narrowed. “Ms. Ajayi, let’s not confuse enthusiasm with expertise.”
Nathaniel didn’t miss a beat. “Jane drafted those MOUs. Her expertise is why this proposal’s even on the table.”
Linda’s nails tapped out a warning on the desk. Resentment flickered behind her smile.
The board voted yes.
As they filed out, Linda brushed past Jane, murmuring:
“Enjoy your victory lap. They always end with a fall.”
---
**Part 4: The Unspoken Thing**
Nathaniel caught up with Jane near the elevators. “You were brilliant in there.”
She kept her eyes on the floor numbers. “It was a team win.”
“Jane.” His voice dropped. “Look at me.”
She turned. His tie was crooked, collar loosened. The faint scent of cedar and something warmer curled in her chest.
“About last night—”
The elevator dinged. A group of interns piled out, giggling.
Nathaniel stepped back. “Later.”
But *later* didn’t come.
---
**Part 5: The Warning**
That evening, Jane’s inbox pinged.
No subject. No sender.
She opened the encrypted file.
A screenshot of a Lagos newspaper article:
**“Ayocom Tech Scandal: Whistleblower or Fall Guy?”**
Below it, a handwritten note:
**“Ask him who really doctored those reports. —A”**
Jane’s pulse spiked. Her hand trembled.
---
**Part 6: The Choice**
She found Nathaniel on his office balcony, staring at the city’s bruised skyline.
“We need to talk.” She held up her phone.
He read the message. His jaw tightened. “Amara.”
Jane crossed her arms. “Is there more to the story?”
He exhaled. “It’s complicated.”
“Then uncomplicate it.”
Silence stretched. Then—
“It started with our CFO, Dele. Amara suspected something. But she stayed quiet. When I blew the whistle, the investigation dragged her in. Not because she was guilty—because she was close.”
“You sacrificed her,” Jane said quietly.
“No.” His voice cracked. “I didn’t know she’d be caught in the fallout. By the time I realized, it was too late.”
Jane’s chest tightened. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Would you have believed me?” he asked. “Or would I have just become another Jide to you?”
The question lingered—heavy, honest.
Jane turned away. “I need time.”
He didn’t follow.
---
**Part 7: The Phone Call**
At 2 AM, Jane dialed a number she hadn’t used in months.
Amara answered on the third ring. “I wondered when you’d call.”
“I need the truth,” Jane said, steady.
A pause. Then Amara spoke—about silence, shame, and how Nathaniel’s redemption arc erased her part in the story.
“I’m not innocent,” Amara admitted. “But neither is he.”
Jane stared out the window at the moon. “Thank you. For being honest.”
“What will you do?”
Jane thought of Nathaniel’s voice, the regret in his eyes. The way he never pushed her boundaries, never forced her hand.
“I’ll choose,” she whispered. “For myself.”
She hung up.
Then opened her laptop.
There was an email to write.
- Writer
