THE 24-HOUR SEARCH

ATTRACTION AT FIRST SIGHT

ELSA' POV

I stared at the cake table like a proud mother whose son had graduated from Harvard. Mom did a great job. I watched Mr. Daniel and his wife cut through the giant cake. Cameras flashed everywhere, my cheeks were starting to cramp from smiling, and I truly felt blessed to be here.

Then something vibrated inside my purse. At first, my brain—glorious but sometimes slow—thought it was excitement. Then the music started blasting.

“Adulthood is a scam, believe it or not. No mama, no papa to fend for you!

My ringtone. It was very loud now.

In front of Ghana’s version of royalty and Hollywood elite.

I wished instantly for the ground to open and swallow me like a hot puff-puff.

I glanced over—and saw the event planner freeze. Her eyes widened as she looked at me as if she had discovered she accidentally wore funeral clothes to a wedding. I slipped out of the hall so fast even the ushers didn’t see me pass.

I tried to keep smiling through the embarrassment, but inside, I was screaming. I am definitely changing my ringtone now.

I ran towards the washroom.

Then suddenly—

“Aaa! What’s wrong with you?!

She yelled. I don't know who, but a lady just yelled at me for bumping into her.

I snapped my neck so fast I nearly dislocated it.

It was the actress I admire. I smiled at her, feeling embarrassed, and gave a wave. She rolled her eyes at me, and I tried walking away. I don't blame her; I blame myself for not trusting my mom and wearing jeans and a round-necked shirt because I didn't think that I was going to see these great people here.

And then—I slipped. And fell—in slow motion—like a Nollywood actress fainting dramatically on command.

But before I could hit the ground…

I hung there. Suspended. Held firmly.

The same one the actress I admire or admired had been talking to.

The actress looked offended. I looked like someone whose soul had just left her body. And the man… The man stared at me like I was the moon he finally found. No, no, no, I'm just imagining things.

I blinked. He stared. The actress blinked.

What on earth was happening?

_____

PRINCE POV

I stepped out of the hall to catch my breath. Weddings are loud, people are everywhere, and I needed a moment of quiet before Daniel dragged me onto the dance floor in the name of “brotherhood.”

As soon as I leaned against the wall, someone approached me.

A woman.

Not just any woman—the movie actress. The one everyone had been whispering about.

She gave a slow smile, the kind people practice in front of a mirror.

Prince Adams, right?she asked.

I nodded. "Yes."

"You’re Daniel’s friend?"

"His fortunate older friend, apparently."

She laughed too loudly. "Oh, you’re funny. So… are you single?"

I raised a brow. "Why?"

She stepped closer. "Because I think you’re… interesting."

"Interesting?" I forced a polite smile. "Thank you."

She tilted her head. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Not yet."

Her eyes lit up. "Perfect—"

Then I saw her.

Across the hall.

A girl in jeans and a simple shirt… who looked completely out of place and painfully aware of it.

She was beautiful in a way that punched the air out of my lungs.

Not polished, not calculated—beautiful like a sunrise you weren’t expecting.

Her hair caught the light, her eyes widened in fascination—

Wait! Is she the same lady I saw earlier who opened her mouth in shock when she walked in? I swear she nearly fell backwards right there. How come I didn't see her beauty earlier?

I looked away quickly before I did something stupid like… stare.

I shook my head and tried to focus on the actress again.

She was still talking.

Something about her latest movie… I think.

Then I heard her yell.

“Aaa! What’s wrong with you?!"

I turned sharply.

And there she was again—the girl.

She had bumped into the actress.

Wine spilled on the floor.

She apologized frantically.

She tried to walk away, but then she slipped.

Before I even realized it, my body reacted on its own.

I caught her mid-air, one arm under her back, the other steadying her waist.

She smelled like vanilla and warm sugar—soft, sweet, warm.

Her face was inches from mine.

Her eyes…

God.

Her eyes.

I stared too long.

I knew I did.

But I couldn’t stop.

The actress cleared her throat angrily.

I snapped out of it.

She asked again, "So… do you have a girlfriend?"

I didn’t even think.

"Yes," I said.

She blinked. "Who?"

I looked right at the lady inches away from my face.

Still holding her, still drowning in her eyes.

"Her."

Her eyes widened so much I thought she’d faint.

I pulled her upright gently.

She whispered a shy, "T-thank you."

I wanted to say, "Please don’t walk away."

But she excused herself and hurried off.

Daniel arrived a few seconds later.

"Prince! Where have you been?! I’ve been looking everywhere."

I didn’t even hide my smile.

"I found her."

"Who?" Daniel frowned.

"My wife."

Daniel stared at me like I had lost my mind. "Where? How?"

I pointed.

First at the actress, scanning with my fingers to find the young lady who was seconds ago beside her.

Daniel nodded. "Oh! You’ve met the movie actress. My brother’s wife invited her. She’s a bit much but—"

"No," I cut in, smiling wider.

"I mean her."

I pointed in the direction the lady had gone—toward the washroom.

Daniel blinked. "Her? The girl in jeans?"

"Yes," I said simply.

Then I patted his shoulder and walked back into the reception before he could ask more questions.

"Okay, what is her name at least?" he yelled.

"I don't know!" I yelled back.

For the first time in a very long time…

Something in me felt alive.

_______

ELSA' POV

I practically ran into the washroom like someone being chased by embarrassment itself. The bright lights, the marble floors, the big gold-framed mirrors—everything looked too fancy for my current emotional state. I pushed open one of the small private rooms, stepped inside, and locked the door behind me before the shame could follow me in.

My phone was still ringing.

Of course. The ringtone had finished disgracing me publicly but still had energy to stress my life privately.

I quickly answered the call.

The moment she picked up, I didn’t even greet her. I just started play-crying dramatically.

“Mamaaaa,” I whined, doing my best impression of a sad puppy. “You embarrassed meeee.”

“Excuse me?” she snapped immediately. “Did I follow you there?”

“Mummy! My ringtone! Do you know how loud it was? Everyone heard it. Everyone!”

“Did I not tell you to change that ringtone? But nooo. You think it is funny.”

I paced the tiny space, nearly tripping over my own shoes from stress.

“Okay fine, but you’re the one who called! And you didn’t even warn me!”

“Warn you? Elsa, should I send a letter before calling my own daughter?” she fired back. “And you, you too, you couldn’t call me to tell me you reached? We sent cake! My cake to a famous couple! Did you carry it safely? Did they drop it? Did someone steal it? Why didn’t you call me?”

“Mum—”

“Answer me!”

“Mum—”

“Elsa, speak!”

“Okay tell me—have you seen the couple? Are they stars?”

I snorted. “Mum… they’re not just famous. Dignitaries are here. Like important people. Famous people. Movie stars. The kind who smell like money.”

There was a dramatic gasp. Then silence. Then—

“El-saaa,” she said in a whisper as if she had seen a ghost. “Please, I beg you in the name of the Lord we both serve, behave yourself. Don’t embarrass me. Don’t shout. Don’t laugh loudly. Don’t run. Don’t talk too much. Don’t eat fast. Don’t—”

Mom—

Don’t argue with me.

I leaned against the wall, rubbing my forehead.

That’s when his face flashed in my mind.

The man.

The one who caught me mid-air, stared into my soul, and apparently decided to declare me as his girlfriend in front of a movie star. What was that about.

I covered my face with both hands.

His eyes.

His scent.

His jawline.

His voice.

Oh Lord.

Before my brain could stop my mouth, I whispered under my breath—

I like you too.

Ehn?. What did you just say?

My entire soul jumped out of my body, hung in the air, and slapped me.

I—I said… I love you, Mama! I lied quickly.

Okay. Suspicion was dripping from her voice. Better behave yourself and talk to guests about my bakery business ! I would have done that If I came. So no excuse from you.

Mom okay bye! I squeaked and hung up before she could list 47 more warnings.

I let out the longest exhale of my life and pressed my hand against my chest.

My God, I muttered.

I tossed my phone back into my bag like it had personally offended me and leaned against the door, trying to recover from all the emotional whiplash in the past five minutes.

And one question refused to leave my mind:

Who is that man?