Caught in the wrong place
569 Words
Ijeoma’s hands trembled slightly as she held the file.
Her eyes were still fixed on the contents when the voice came again—
“I asked you a question.”
Her heart skipped.
Slowly, she turned around.
Akachukwu stood behind her, his expression calm… but his eyes were sharp.
“I… I was just picking it up, sir,” she said quickly, lowering her gaze.
He stepped closer.
Too close.
His presence alone made her nervous.
“Give it to me.”
She immediately handed over the file, careful not to touch him.
But as he took it, his fingers brushed against hers.
Just for a second.
Yet it felt longer.
Ijeoma quickly pulled her hand back.
“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to look inside.”
Akachukwu studied her face for a moment.
She looked genuinely scared.
Not guilty.
He sighed quietly.
“Next time, don’t touch what doesn’t belong to you.”
“Yes sir.”
He turned to leave…
Then paused.
“Wait.”
Ijeoma froze again.
“Yes sir?”
“Your name.”
She hesitated for a second.
“Ijeoma.”
He nodded slowly, as if committing it to memory.
Then without another word, he walked away.
Ijeoma stood still long after he left.
Her heart refused to calm down.
Why did he ask for her name?
Why did it feel like it meant something?
She shook her head.
“Don’t think too much,” she whispered.
But it was already too late.
Upstairs, Chelsea walked into Akachukwu’s office without knocking.
She closed the door behind her.
“You didn’t answer my question earlier,” she said.
Akachukwu didn’t look up from his desk.
“What question?”
Chelsea scoffed.
“That girl.”
Silence.
“She’s just a cleaner,” he replied flatly.
Chelsea walked closer, her heels clicking against the floor.
“You looked at her.”
That made him pause.
Slowly, he raised his head.
“And?”
Chelsea folded her arms.
“I know you, Adachukwu. You don’t ‘look’ at people without a reason.”
He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.
“You’re imagining things.”
Chelsea laughed softly, but there was no humor in it.
“Am I?”
She leaned closer.
“Or are you finally getting tired of being alone?”
The words hung in the air.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Downstairs, Ijeoma continued working, but her mind was unsettled.
Every small sound made her look up.
Every step felt heavier.
It was like something had changed.
And she didn’t understand what it was.
Most of the staff had left.
The building was quieter now.
Ijeoma was cleaning one of the offices when suddenly—
The lights went off.
Her heart jumped.
“Hello?” she called softly.
No response.
She took a step back—
And bumped into someone.
She gasped.
Strong hands held her arms to steady her.
“Careful.”
That voice.
Her breath caught.
Akachukwu.
The emergency lights flickered on slightly, casting a dim glow.
They were standing too close.
Too close.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Neither spoke.
Ijeoma could feel her heart racing.
Could he hear it?
Akachukwu’s grip on her arms tightened slightly… then loosened.
But he didn’t step away.
And neither did she.
From the hallway—
Someone was watching.
Chelsea.
Her eyes fixed on them.
Cold.
Calculating.
And filled with something dangerous. 💬
- Writer
