Chapter Two

The bus stop was a short walk from Stella's apartment. The air was already warm with the promise of another scorching Abuja day, and people were beginning to gather—some huddled in small groups, others checking their phones or tablets as they waited for the next bus. Stella was early; she always preferred to be ahead of the crowd, though she wasn't sure why. Perhaps it was because she enjoyed the quiet of the world before it came alive with the noise of the day. Or maybe it was because she could never quite shake the nerves that accompanied big moments, like today.

She stood under the shade of a tree, her mind racing with thoughts of what the day would hold. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she fished it out to check the time. There were still a few minutes before the bus arrived. She tapped the screen to open her email, skimming the subject line once more: Offer Letter: Personal Secretary to the CEO of Mars Corporation. It was real, after all, though a small part of her still felt like it couldn't possibly be.

Lost in thought, Stella's attention snapped back when a sleek, silver Audi R8 V10 came to a stop in front of her, its dark-tinted windows reflecting the soft sunlight. As the window rolled down, it revealed Peter—the man who had been pursuing her heart for years.

Stella blinked, not quite believing what she was seeing. Peter, the same Peter who had always ridden a bicycle or motorcycle, was now sitting behind the wheel of this luxury vehicle. It didn't make sense. If she hadn't known Peter so well, she might have mistaken him for one of those Yahoo boys—internet fraudsters who were often rumoured to resort to rituals to enhance their scams. But no, Peter wasn't the type to scam anyone for money. He wasn't a fraudster. In fact, he detested people who engaged in such acts, firmly believing that everyone should work hard to earn their money rather than defraud others of their hard-earned wealth.

His smile was as mesmerising as ever. 'Get in, Stella,' he said, his voice smooth and inviting.

'Nice car, Peter. I didn't know you upgraded,' she remarked, her tone light but curious.

Hop in,' he replied, evading her comment with a grin as he gestured towards the passenger seat. His usual relaxed demeanour was still intact, but something about him seemed different today—almost too polished. She had heard people describe Peter as cold and domineering, yet he always softened when he was with her. Could it be that he revealed his gentle side only to her and his best friend, Richie?

She vividly recalled the day they first met at Chinedu Provision Store. Peter had been playing a game with his friends, yet even amidst their laughter, his expression was serious, almost detached. There was an aura of cold authority around him. But the moment he spoke to her, his face transformed, as if he were born with that warm, radiant smile.

Stella knew Peter was the kind of person who dressed smartly and elegantly, like a modern Chinese or Korean celebrity. She admired his impeccable style. Yet, despite his striking resemblance to a Korean drama star or a young, wealthy CEO, this sudden display of wealth left her both confused and curious.

Stella hesitated for a moment. It wasn't just the car that threw her off; it was the entire situation. Peter, who had always kept things simple, was suddenly driving a sleek, expensive car as if it were no big deal. Had he always been this way? Or was this a new side of him she was just discovering? She wanted to ask, but something held her back. Maybe it wasn't her place, or perhaps she was simply overthinking things.

Finally, she settled into the plush seat, still trying to make sense of it all. The rich, leathery scent of the car's interior enveloped her, heightening the surreal feeling of the moment. Peter had always portrayed himself as a simple man, an ordinary provision store owner. Could someone in that line of work truly afford a luxurious car like this? Perhaps he could, but it would likely be second-hand—not a sleek, high-end model like an Audi R8 V10 Performance. This car was worth over one hundred and ninety million naira here in Nigeria. How could Peter afford that overnight? Had he won a lottery? If he had, she would have heard about it. Maybe it was a friend's car? No, she shook her head. Peter wasn't the type to borrow a car just to show off. He was too genuine for that. If he had a car, it was because it was truly his own.

She remembered telling him about her new job during their chat the previous night and wondered if he had come to pick her up on her first day of work. The thought was sweet, but she refused to believe he would go so far as to borrow a car just to impress her. Peter, she knew, would never try to impress her with something that wasn't truly his. He would rather dazzle her with what he genuinely had.

Curiosity gnawed at her as countless questions flooded her mind about his sudden rise to affording such a car. But she kept her thoughts to herself, letting the soft purr of the engine fill the silence between them.

'How have you been?' Peter finally asked, glancing at her as they pulled away from the curb. He could sense her confusion but chose not to address it just yet. Today was a big day for her, and he didn't want to dampen her excitement.

'Cool,' Stella replied, her eyes scanning the familiar streets of Abuja, though she was distracted by everything around her—the sleekness of the car and the answers she desperately wanted to hear from Peter.

Peter's eyes twinkled with pride. 'Congratulations again, Ella. It's a big step.'

'Thanks,' she muttered, feeling warmth spread through her despite the swirl of questions in her mind. Today wasn't the day to interrogate him; she wanted to focus on her new job rather than risk ruining her happiness with probing questions. She had always believed Peter was part of her future and trusted that the right time would come for them both.

Peter had confessed his deep, passionate love for her many times, but she had declined, explaining her reasons to him in few words or rather, in parables she believed he understood. She wanted to secure a job to support him before taking things further. She longed for love and trust, and while she searched for a job, she couldn't deny that she was also ready for a home of her own, with a husband and children. She knew Peter was the man who could give her that, but she wanted to be in a position where she could support him too.

As they drove on, Stella glanced at him again. What Peter wanted was what she wanted—probably what everyone wanted. He had told her countless times that he loved her, and she believed him. But was it just part of some dream he had carried for years? She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Did it even matter? She had turned him down so many times, opting to stay friends until she could stand on her own two feet. Now, with a steady job in hand, she was fully ready to commit to him.

The familiar scent of his cologne and the warmth of his calm presence in the car made it hard for her to look away. Peter was handsome, the kind of handsome that left people staring. Everything about him seemed perfect, as if he had just stepped out of a glossy magazine. And for the first time, Stella wondered if she had made the right decision to keep their relationship strictly platonic for so long.

Peter was the kind of man who turned heads wherever he went. Tall and broad-shouldered, he carried himself with a quiet confidence that made people instinctively take notice. His smooth, chiselled features, high cheekbones, strong jawline, and deep-set, almond-shaped eyes that glinted with an intense focus could make anyone pause. His sun-kissed skin and neatly trimmed beard added a touch of rugged charm to his otherwise refined appearance.

There was something magnetic about him; it was the way he dressed with effortless sophistication, always in well-fitted clothes that accentuated his athletic physique. His style, combining sharp modern cuts with understated elegance, reminded people of polished stars in Korean and Chinese dramas or the youthful CEOs gracing the covers of luxury magazines. Yet, it wasn't just his looks—it was his aura, a mix of confidence and mystery that drew people in, leaving them curious and slightly intimidated.

Women often found themselves stealing glances at him, captivated by his calm demeanour and the way his smile seemed reserved, yet softened whenever he looked at Stella. It was as if he held a secret world behind those eyes, one that he allowed her alone to see. Despite his commanding presence, there was a gentleness that surfaced when he was with her, a side that contradicted the cold and domineering reputation others had attributed to him.

And in that moment, as Stella's gaze lingered on him, she couldn't help but question herself again. Was keeping him at a distance truly the right choice? Or was she simply hesitant to acknowledge that the future she longed for was already within her reach?