Crossing the Line

The unknown message left me shaking for almost thirty minutes. I checked the number but it was one of those MTN lines wey no get name attached. I wanted to delete it, but something told me to keep it. Maybe as evidence.

Work resumed normally the next few days. I was handling one campaign for a new perfume brand, so my days were busy with meetings and content ideas. But every evening when I reach the estate, my eyes always dey go Emmy’s house. Their compound was always quiet. Sometimes I see Ifeoma’s car leave early, other times Emmy’s Range Rover come back late.

On Thursday evening, around 7pm, my doorbell rang. I open am and see Emmy standing there with one small bag.

“Good evening Ada. Sorry to disturb. My wife travel to Abuja for one family thing. I notice your light dey flicker yesterday when I drive past. I bring bulb and one small extension if you need.”

I no expect am at all. “Ah, thank you. You no need to bother yourself.”

He smiled that his charming smile. “No bother. Neighbours help neighbours.”

I let him in. We ended up fixing the light together. As we dey work, we begin to talk properly. He told me how him build his company from supplying materials for small sites to owning big estates. The hustle was real. I shared my own story too — how I dey push for my family, especially my mother wey dey sell provisions for Surulere.

At a point, our hands touched when we dey pass the screwdriver. The air change small. He looked at me longer than normal.

“You know, Ada, you seem different from most girls wey dey this estate. You get fire for your eye. Like say you dey see things.”

I laugh to cover my nervousness. “Or maybe I just dey ask too many questions.”

He chuckled. “Curiosity is not always bad. Sometimes na wetin take person forward.”

Before he left, he paused at the door. “If you ever need anything — anything at all — just call me. My private line.” He gave me his personal number.

That night, I couldn’t sleep well. The man was married. Fine, rich, and connected. But the way him dey look at me… e no be normal neighbour look. And that message still dey my head.

The next day at the office, Tolu came to my desk during lunch.

“Ada, you dey smile since morning. Wetin dey happen?”

I told her everything — the bulbs, the conversation, the number. She just shake her head.

“Babe, this na red flag. Married man. Estate full of eyes. If you enter this one, e go scatter. Focus on your promotion. No let curiosity turn to something else.”

I know Tolu was right. But when I reached home that evening, one big parcel was waiting for me at the security post. Inside was one beautiful bouquet of flowers and one note:

“For the new light in the estate. Enjoy your weekend. – E”

My heart did one small jump. I know I suppose throw the note away, but I kept it. As I dey arrange the flowers, my phone beep. Unknown number again.

“Some gifts carry heavy price. Stop asking questions about the Nwosus.”

Now fear join the excitement. Who dey watch me? And why?

I decided to do one small search on the ex-fiancée, Adanna. Just one more. As I dey type her name, my power went off suddenly. When e come back, my laptop don restart and the browser history for that search don clear.

Coincidence? Or something more?

To be continued…