Don’t Let Him Know

Amara stepped out of the hotel room slowly.

Her legs felt weak.

Her head was heavy.

Everything Femi said was still echoing in her mind.

Your name is already inside.
They’ll come for you.
Ask him about the file.

The door clicked shut behind her.

And just like that…

She was back in the quiet hallway.

But nothing felt the same anymore.

Her phone vibrated immediately.

Tobi.

Come downstairs. Now.

Amara stared at the message.

Her chest tightened.

Just a few minutes ago…

That message would have felt safe.

Now?

It felt… uncertain.

She swallowed.

Then typed:

I’m coming.

Her fingers hesitated for a second before hitting send.

Because now…

Every move felt like a decision.

Every decision felt dangerous.

She walked slowly toward the stairs.

Her mind racing.

Her thoughts clashing.

Tobi is helping you.
No, he’s using you.
Femi is lying.
Or maybe he’s telling the truth.

“God…” she whispered.

Second floor.

She slowed again.

Her eyes scanned the area.

And this time…

She saw him.

Tobi.

Standing near the corner.

Watching her.

The moment their eyes met, he straightened.

And started walking toward her.

“You’re okay?” he asked immediately.

His voice had concern.

Real concern.

Amara nodded.

“I’m fine.”

But her voice?

Not convincing.

Tobi studied her face.

“What happened?”

Amara hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then she spoke.

“He said I’m already involved.”

Tobi’s expression changed slightly.

“How?”

“He showed me something.”

“What?”

Amara swallowed.

“A file.”

Silence.

Just for a second.

But she saw it.

That tiny pause.

That flicker.

And her heart skipped.

“You’ve seen it before, right?” she asked quietly.

Tobi frowned.

“What file?”

Amara held his gaze.

“The one with my name on it.”

Another pause.

This one longer.

And that was all she needed.

Her chest tightened.

“You have seen it,” she said.

Tobi exhaled slowly.

“I was going to tell you.”

“When?” her voice rose slightly. “After I get arrested?”

“That’s not fair.”

“Then what is fair?” she snapped. “Everybody keeps saying they’re protecting me, but nobody is telling me the full truth!”

Tobi lowered his voice.

“Calm down.”

“No,” she said sharply. “I’m tired of calming down.”

People passing by glanced at them.

But Amara didn’t care.

Her emotions were too loud.

Too heavy.

“You knew my name was already inside something serious,” she continued, “and you didn’t think I deserved to know?”

“I needed to confirm things first,” Tobi replied.

“Confirm what? That I’m already in trouble?”

“That you’re not the source.”

Amara froze slightly.

“What?”

Tobi stepped closer.

“I needed to be sure you weren’t involved.”

That hit hard.

Too hard.

“So you were investigating me too?” she asked quietly.

Tobi didn’t deny it.

“I had to.”

Amara let out a weak laugh.

“Wow.”

Silence.

“So from the beginning…” she said slowly, “you weren’t just helping me.”

“I was.”

“No,” she shook her head. “You were watching me.”

Tobi didn’t respond.

Because it was true.

And they both knew it.

Amara looked away.

Her chest tight.

Her trust breaking in layers.

“Femi said something,” she muttered.

Tobi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“What?”

“He said you people don’t care who did it.”

“That’s not true.”

“He said you just need someone it can stick to.”

Tobi’s expression hardened.

“He’s lying.”

“Is he?”

“Yes.”

Amara looked at him again.

Searching.

Trying to read him.

Trying to find something solid.

Something real.

“Then why didn’t you show me the file?” she asked.

Tobi paused.

Then answered honestly.

“Because it would scare you.”

Amara laughed bitterly.

“Look at me, Tobi. I’m already scared.”

Silence.

Heavy silence.

Then she asked the question that mattered most.

“Am I in danger?”

Tobi didn’t hesitate.

“Yes.”

Her heart dropped.

“From who?”

Tobi glanced around briefly.

Then leaned closer.

“Right now? From both sides.”

Amara blinked.

“What does that mean?”

“It means if Femi suspects you’re working with us…”

Her chest tightened.

“And if your company suspects you’re working with him…”

Everything inside her went still.

“That’s…” she whispered.

“…bad,” Tobi finished.

Silence.

Amara ran her hand through her hair.

Frustration rising again.

“This is too much.”

“I know.”

“I didn’t sign up for this.”

“I know.”

“Then why am I the one in the middle of it?”

Tobi looked at her.

“Because you’re the connection.”

That word again.

Connection.

Amara closed her eyes briefly.

Trying to steady herself.

When she opened them, her voice was calmer.

But colder.

“So what now?”

Tobi studied her face.

“Did he ask you for anything?”

Amara hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then she answered.

“Yes.”

“What?”

“He wants access.”

Tobi’s expression changed immediately.

“Access to your system?”

“Yes.”

His jaw tightened.

“That confirms it.”

“Confirms what?”

“That he’s involved.”

Amara crossed her arms.

“Or maybe he’s telling the truth and you’re the one involved.”

That landed.

Tobi didn’t react immediately.

Then he said quietly,

“Do you believe that?”

Amara didn’t answer.

Because the truth was…

She didn’t know anymore.

Silence stretched between them.

Then Tobi spoke again.

“Listen to me.”

She looked at him.

“If he’s asking for access, it means he’s desperate.”

“Or it means he’s trying to expose something.”

“No,” Tobi shook his head. “It means he needs something he doesn’t have.”

Amara’s mind spun again.

“Either way,” she said, “I’m not giving him anything.”

“Good.”

Another silence.

Then Tobi leaned closer.

Lowering his voice.

“You need to keep talking to him.”

Amara frowned.

“Why?”

“Because now… we need to know what he’s planning.”

Her chest tightened.

“You’re still using me.”

“I’m working with you,” he corrected.

“That’s not what it feels like.”

Tobi didn’t respond to that.

Instead, he said something that made her heart skip again.

“Next time you see him…”

A pause.

“…we’re recording everything.”

Amara’s eyes widened.

“What?”

Tobi held her gaze.

“This is how we catch him.”

Silence.

Because that plan…

That plan just made everything more dangerous.

And somehow…

More real.

Amara swallowed.

Because now…

There was no pretending anymore.

She was fully inside this.

And whatever happened next…

There was no easy way out.

To be continued…