Unveiling gradually
380 Words
Maya decided to trust Lee, but with caution.
"Alright, Lee. I'm in. But if I get even a hint you're playing me, I'm gone."
Lee's face relaxed, a hint of relief in his eyes. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Maya."
Just then, the café's door swung open, and a suited man strode in, eyes scanning the room. He spotted Maya and Lee, and his gaze lingered.
Lee's voice dropped to a whisper. "Looks like Olajide's got eyes on us. Time to go."
Maya nodded, her mind racing. "Where to?"
Lee tossed some cash on the table. "Follow me."
As they slipped out of the café, Maya's phone buzzed. Sam's text: "Maya, Lee's connected to Amara Energy. Just confirmed."
Maya's grip on her phone tightened. Lee's "complicated history" just got a lot more interesting.Maya's instincts were on high alert as she followed Lee through the crowded streets of Lagos. They dodged vendors and pedestrians, Lee leading the way to a nondescript building in the Ikoyi district.
Once inside, Lee exhaled, his eyes scanning the empty hallway. "We're safe here. This is one of my secure locations."
Maya's phone still buzzed with Sam's message. She showed it to Lee. "Care to explain?"
Lee's expression turned serious. "Amara Energy is the target. They're big players in Nigeria's oil sector. I've been working to take them down from the inside."
Maya's mind connected the dots. "So that's why Olajide's after us."
Lee nodded. "He's their man. If he catches us, we're done."
Suddenly, Maya's phone rang. Sam's voice was urgent. "Maya, Olajide's men are closing in. Get out NOW."
Lee grabbed Maya's hand. "Time to move."
Lee pulled Maya through the building's back door, into a narrow alleyway. They sprinted between dumpsters and broken crates, Lee's grip on her hand like a vice.
They burst onto a busy street, blending into the evening rush. Lee hailed a taxi, pushing Maya in. "Driver, take us to the Marina. Fast."
The driver sped off, weaving through traffic. Maya turned to Lee, breathless. "What's the plan?"
Lee's eyes were on the rearview. "Lay low for now. Amara Energy won't stop until they crush us. We need leverage."
Maya's mind racing, she spotted a familiar landmark – the Marina's glittering towers. "Lee, I have an idea."
- Writer
