Chapter Four: A Game of Shadows

Adelani's fingers hovered over her phone screen, her heart thudding in her chest.

"You look lovely tonight. Enjoy the event."

Her head snapped up, scanning the room. The grand hall was full of people lost in conversation, clinking glasses, and polite laughter. No one was looking at her. No one seemed out of place.

And yet, someone was watching.

Her grip tightened around her phone. The message was harmless on the surface, but it felt invasive. Unsettling. She had told no one she was coming tonight, save for Tara. And she certainly hadn't posted anything online.

Her anonymous Twitter account was just that anonymous. No pictures, no personal details. She had been careful.

So, how?

"Everything alright?"

She nearly jumped at the voice. Alexander.

He was back, watching her with quiet curiosity. She hesitated, then quickly locked her phone and forced a small, composed smile. "Yes. Just a message from a friend."

His gaze lingered on her for a beat longer than necessary, as if he could sense something was off. But he didn't press. Instead, he glanced at the untouched water in her hand and smirked. "A bold choice for an event like this."

She let out a soft laugh, grateful for the distraction. "I wasn't in the mood for wine."

"And yet, you came," he mused, sipping his own drink.

"You seem surprised."

"A little," he admitted. "You always struck me as someone who preferred the quiet over the grand."

She tilted her head slightly. "And what exactly did I strike you as back then?"

His lips curved, as though he hadn't expected her to challenge him. He took a moment before answering. "Brilliant. Observant. And very good at keeping a safe distance."

Her stomach tightened, though she kept her expression neutral. "That's an interesting assessment."

"Accurate?"

She met his gaze, held it. "Perhaps."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The noise of the event faded into the background, and all that was left was the charged space between them.

Then, as if fate had impeccable timing, Tara appeared at her side, looping an arm through Adelani's. "There you are! I was starting to think you'd abandoned me to suffer through Malcolm's endless talk about crypto."

Adelani gave her a grateful look. "That does sound tragic."

Tara turned to Alexander and extended a hand. "I don't think we've met."

"Alexander St. John," he said smoothly, shaking her hand.

Tara's eyes flickered with recognition. "Ah, the professor."

Adelani shot her a warning glance, but Tara only smirked, clearly entertained.

"Former professor," Alexander corrected, his gaze sliding back to Adelani. "The hierarchy no longer applies."

Tara's brows lifted slightly at the weight of his words, but before she could respond, someone called Alexander's name again. He sighed, giving Adelani one last look. "I'll see you around, I'm sure."

And with that, he was gone.

Tara turned to her the second he was out of earshot. "Okay. Explain."

"There's nothing to explain," Adelani muttered.

"Right. Because that," Tara gestured to the space Alexander had occupied, "was completely normal. Totally platonic. No tension whatsoever."

Adelani rolled her eyes. "It's not like that."

Tara hummed, unconvinced. Then, as if remembering something, she nodded toward Adelani's phone. "By the way, you looked really focused on your screen earlier. What was that about?"

For a split second, Adelani considered brushing it off. But then she exhaled. "I got a message. From an unknown account."

Tara frowned. "What kind of message?"

Adelani unlocked her phone and handed it to her. Tara read the text, her expression shifting. "That's…weird. Are you sure it's not Dayo?"

Adelani stiffened. "I don't know. But if it is, what's his angle?"

Tara shrugged. "Men don't need logic. They just need a memory and free time."

Adelani sighed, taking her phone back. "I don't want to deal with this tonight."

"Then don't," Tara said firmly. "Whoever it is, let them stew. You're here to have a good time. So, let's *have* a good time."

Adelani wasn't sure what a "good time" looked like at an event like this, but she nodded.

Still, as the night continued, she couldn't shake the feeling that somewhere in the room, someone's eyes were still on her.

She exhaled, feeling as if she had stepped into something unfamiliar, something with weight.

Her eyes darted around the room.

No one was looking at her. No one seemed out of place.

But someone 'someone' was watching.