Shadows of Desire

Chapter 5: A Shadow in the Dark

Amara sat frozen, the phone still clutched in her trembling hand. The room, once filled with heat and passion, now felt suffocatingly cold.

Jide's eyes darkened as he took the phone from her, checking the screen. "Unknown number?"

She nodded, her breath uneven. "It—it sounded like a voice distortion. Like they didn't want me to recognize them."

Jide's jaw clenched. He stood up, pacing the room like a predator calculating his next move. "This isn't a coincidence," he said finally. "Someone is watching you."

A chill crept down Amara's spine. She had dealt with threats before—angry clients, rivals in the legal field, even jealous exes—but this felt… different. More personal.

Jide turned to her, his expression unreadable. "Has anything like this happened before?"

"No," she whispered. But was that true? There had been strange moments—things she brushed off. A shadow lingering too long outside her office, the feeling of being followed late at night.

Jide exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. Then, suddenly, his expression softened. He sat beside her, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. "Amara, listen to me. You're not alone in this."

She wanted to believe him. But how could she? She barely knew this man. Yet, he had a way of making her feel safe and utterly exposed all at once.

"Stay with me tonight," he said suddenly.

Her brows furrowed. "Jide—"

"I won't push you into anything you don't want," he cut in, his voice low, steady. "But I don't like the idea of you being here alone after that call."

Amara hesitated. A week ago, she would have laughed at the idea of needing a man's protection. But right now? She wasn't so sure.

"Okay," she murmured.

Jide's shoulders relaxed, but his eyes held something else—something dangerous.

Whoever made that call had just made a mistake.

Because Jide wasn't just some wealthy businessman. He had secrets of his own.

And he wasn't abo

ut to let anyone touch what was his.