The name stayed with him longer than it should have.
Anthony’s office.
His mind was elsewhere.
Isabella Adeyemi.
He had confirmed it only hours ago.
Not speculation.
Not rumor.
Fact.
A powerful Heiress.
Not clueless Heiress_
She’s already at the peak.
He thought about the system.
Laughed.
“You are not holding back, Are you?”.
He chuckled.
The heiress of the most powerful family in Lagos… was the same woman from the lounge.
The one who argued over a bill.
The one who stood helpless.
Anthony let out a slow breath.
“…Interesting.”
He had expected many things in Lagos.
But not this.
Not her.
A quiet knock broke his thoughts.
“Sir,” his assistant said, stepping in, “your sister’s bus is arriving within the next twenty minutes.”
Just like that—
His focus shifted.
Pelumi.
Anthony picked up his keys without another word.
“Get the car ready.”
The terminal was exactly as he expected.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Unpredictable.
Anthony stepped out of the car, his presence immediately creating space—not because people recognized him, but because of the quiet authority that followed him.
Behind him, another vehicle pulled in.
His personal security.
Many daily sign-in(allocations) in the span of few days.
He was given a whole security agency.
He selected the top elites for himself, Adaora and Nelson.
With a female one to remain in Pelumi’s shadow.
Discreet.
But ready.
His phone buzzed.
A message.
We just arrived.
Anthony frowned slightly.
“Where exactly?” he muttered, typing quickly.
No reply.
His instincts sharpened instantly.
“Find her location. Now.”
Pelumi had made a mistake.
A small one.
The kind that didn’t feel dangerous—until it was.
“Let’s just stand over there,” one of her friends had said.
Just a few steps.
Away from the crowd.
Away from safety.
Now—
They were surrounded.
“Una no hear wetin we talk?” one of the men snapped.
Pelumi’s heart pounded.
She tightened her grip on her bag.
“We don’t have anything—”
“Then we go help una check.”
A hand reached forward.
She pulled back instinctively.
“No!”
The word echoed louder than she expected.
The man paused.
Then smiled slowly.
“You get boldness…”
His hand lifted again—
“Stop.”
A distant voice cut in cleanly.
Firm.
Unexpected.
Everyone turned.
Isabella hadn’t planned to stop by.
She had only come to inspect a nearby development project—another expansion under Adeyemi Holdings.
It was supposed to be routine.
But then she saw them.
Young.
Cornered.
And that face—
That same kind of unguarded innocence that scream!.
Protect me”_”. Get faster updates on g.com.
She couldn’t ignore it.
Something in her didn’t ignore it.
Now she stood there, composed, her presence alone disrupting the balance.
“This doesn’t concern you,” one of the thugs muttered, though less confidently now.
Isabella stepped forward.
“It does now.”
Behind her, her security detail moved into position.
Not loud.
Not aggressive.
Just… final.
The men hesitated.
Measured the situation.
Then began to retreat.
Slowly.
Unwilling to test what they already understood.
Pelumi exhaled shakily.
“Thank you…” she said, her voice still unsteady.
Isabella looked at her more closely now.
Up close—
Even more striking.
Not just beauty.
But clarity.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Isabella said calmly.
“This area isn’t safe.”
“We were waiting for someone…” Pelumi replied.
Isabella nodded slightly.
“You’ll wait somewhere safer.”
One of her men stepped closer.
“Ma’am, we should move. We’ll also locate whoever runs this group.”
Isabella’s expression hardened slightly.
“Do that.”
Then, to the girls—
“Follow me.”
“Thanks”
She felt extremely at ease like she’s a kin of her.
She felt the atmosphere secured on instinct.
Across the city—
Anthony’s phone lit up with a confirmed location.
Not at the terminal.
Close.
Too close to a known problem area.
His expression turned cold.
“Move faster!.”
The car surged forward instantly.
Behind him, his security convoy followed.
Back on the roadside—
Pelumi was just beginning to calm down when the sound of engines cut through the air.
Fast.
Deliberate.
She turned—
She was confused.
Who are they?
Where they part of Isabella’s convoy.
But, a man step out of the car.
Whose his expression was that of relief, upon seeing her unharmed.
Pelumi saw her.
Her jaws opened wide.
And her face was full of happiness.
At the same time, she was confused.
Anthony and sports cars with convoy?
In the same sentence.
Even her friends were green with envy.
“Anthony!”
She jumped into his arms.
She felt the change in his brother.
The air of authority.
The smell of confidence.
“Are you hurt?” Anthony asked.
While checking her up and down.
She stomped on his feet.
And, back away with her face red.
“I am now a full grown up lady.” She hissed hatefully.
“Hahahaha…”
” You are still that little brat with a running nose…”
“Stop pleaseee!” She grab a flesh around his waist.
Twisting it hard.
Anthony winced.
Adaora, Nelson and Isabella were shocked.
Especially Adaora and Nelson.
Isabella was just jealous of their bond.
“What of mom?”
“Hmmm… She’s fine and healthy”
“We were cornered by some men, but she saved us ” pelumi stated.
Men stepped out—alert, controlled, scanning.
Tension easing—
Then—
He saw her.
Isabella.
Standing just a few steps away.
For a brief second—
Anthony froze.
Recognition hit at the same time.
“You…” Isabella said softly.
Anthony’s gaze sharpened.
“The lounge.”
A beat passed.
Not planned.
Not expected.
Yet here they were again.
In a place neither of them should have been.
Anthony recovered first.
“You stepped in,” he said, his voice steady.
Isabella folded her arms lightly.
“So did you.”
A faint tension lingered—different from before.
Now there was context.
Weight.
Awareness of who they might be.
But still—
Strangers.
Pelumi looked between them.
Once.
Twice.
Then her expression slowly changed.
Curiosity.
Then realization.
Then—
A grin.
“Wait…”
Anthony didn’t even look at her.
“Don’t.”
Too late.
“You came rushing like this,” she said, gesturing dramatically, “and she just happened to be here saving us?”
She turned to Isabella, eyes bright with admiration.
“And she’s this beautiful?”
Anthony exhaled quietly.
“Pelumi.”
“So this is your girlfriend, abi?”
Silence.
Complete.
Even the air seemed to pause.
Anthony finally looked at her.
“Stop talking.”
Pelumi laughed.
“That means yes!”
Isabella watched them.
Then—
To Anthony’s slight surprise—
A faint, amused smile touched her lips.
Not confirming.
Not denying.
Just observing.
“Should I answer that?” she asked lightly.
Anthony shook his head slightly.
For once—
He let the moment sit.
Uncontrolled.
Unscripted.
Pelumi folded her arms proudly.
“I like her already.”
Anthony sighed.
But didn’t argue.
Because as he looked at Isabella again—
He realized something clearly.
This wasn’t coincidence anymore.
Not after the lounge.
Not after this.
And judging by the way she looked back at him—
She knew it too.
Some meetings were accidental.
But this one—
Was beginning to feel inevitable.
This is it for today.
Have a blast!
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