This Is Bigger Than You Think

“He’s our main suspect.”

Amara just stood there.

No reaction.

No words.

Just silence.

Because her brain was trying to catch up… and failing.

“…you’re lying,” she said finally.

It came out weak. Almost like she didn’t even believe it herself.

Tobi didn’t argue.

“I wish I was.”

Amara shook her head slowly.

“No. No, this doesn’t make sense. Femi is many things, but this? Criminal? Data leak? Investigation? No.”

“You don’t know everything about him,” Tobi said calmly.

“I dated him!” she snapped. “For over a year!”

“And he still cheated on you.”

That line hit hard.

Amara went quiet.

Because… he wasn’t wrong.

She exhaled sharply and turned away, pacing slightly.

“This is too much,” she muttered. “First Kemi. Now this.”

Her chest felt tight again.

“God, what kind of day is this?”

Tobi watched her carefully.

“I know it’s a lot.”

“A lot?” she laughed weakly. “You just told me my ex might be a criminal and I might be linked to it. That’s not ‘a lot’, that’s madness.”

Tobi didn’t respond to that.

He let her feel it.

Process it.

Then he spoke again.

“Amara… did your company ever question you?”

She stopped pacing.

Turned slowly.

“What do you mean?”

“Any unusual meetings? Emails? Someone asking you strange questions?”

She thought for a moment.

Then shook her head.

“No… nothing like that.”

Tobi nodded.

“That means they’re still investigating quietly.”

Amara’s stomach dropped.

“So they don’t know yet?”

“They suspect. But they’re not sure who.”

Her heart started racing again.

“And if they trace it back to me?”

Tobi held her gaze.

“Then you’ll need to prove you’re not involved.”

Amara felt like she couldn’t breathe properly.

“How do I do that?”

“That’s where I come in.”

She frowned.

“You?”

He nodded.

“I need your help.”

Amara blinked.

“My help? In what?”

“In bringing Femi down.”

Silence.

That sentence hung heavy between them.

Amara stared at him like he had just said something insane.

“You want me to help you catch my ex?”

“Yes.”

She let out a dry laugh.

“This is not a movie.”

“I know.”

“I’m not some undercover agent.”

“I know that too.”

“Then why me?”

Tobi stepped closer.

“Because you’re the closest person we have to him.”

Her chest tightened again.

“Not anymore.”

“You still are,” he said. “Whether you like it or not.”

Amara shook her head.

“No. I’m done with him. I just found out he’s getting married to my best friend. I’m not inserting myself back into that mess.”

Tobi’s voice dropped slightly.

“You might not have a choice.”

That made her freeze.

“What does that mean?”

“It means if this case explodes and your name is connected…”

He didn’t finish.

He didn’t need to.

Amara understood.

Her future.

Her job.

Her reputation.

Everything could be affected.

She swallowed hard.

“This is not fair,” she whispered.

“No, it’s not.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“I know.”

“Then why am I the one in trouble?”

Tobi looked at her.

“Because sometimes, being innocent doesn’t protect you.”

That line sank deep.

Too deep.

Amara closed her eyes briefly.

Trying to steady herself.

Trying to think.

When she opened them again, her voice was calmer.

Still shaken… but clearer.

“What exactly do you want me to do?”

Tobi’s expression shifted slightly.

Like this was the moment he had been waiting for.

“I need you to get close to him again.”

Amara blinked.

Then laughed.

But there was no humor in it.

“You’re joking.”

“I’m serious.”

“You want me to go back to my ex… who is now engaged to my best friend… and start acting friendly?”

“Yes.”

“That’s insane.”

“It’s necessary.”

“No, it’s not. You people should go and do your investigation yourselves.”

“We’ve tried,” Tobi said. “He’s careful. Too careful. But with you…”

He paused.

Amara narrowed her eyes.

“With me what?”

“He won’t be on guard.”

That made her stomach twist.

“So I should go and pretend like everything is fine?” she asked. “After everything I just found out today?”

Tobi didn’t sugarcoat it.

“Yes.”

Amara shook her head immediately.

“No. I can’t do that.”

“You can.”

“I said I can’t!”

Her voice rose again.

People nearby glanced at them, but she didn’t care.

“That man broke me once,” she continued. “I just found out my best friend betrayed me with him. You think I can just walk back into that like nothing happened?”

Tobi didn’t respond immediately.

Then he said quietly,

“I think you’re stronger than you believe.”

Amara paused.

That line hit differently.

But she wasn’t ready to accept it.

“Strength is not stupidity,” she said.

“True.”

“And this feels like stupidity.”

Tobi nodded slowly.

“I understand why you feel that way.”

“But?”

“But if you don’t do this… things might get worse.”

Amara went quiet again.

Her mind spinning.

Her emotions all over the place.

Then she asked the one question that had been sitting in her chest.

“If I help you…”

Tobi looked at her.

“…what happens to me?”

Silence.

For a moment.

Then he answered.

“I protect you.”

Amara studied his face.

Serious.

No jokes.

No teasing.

Just… certainty.

“You promise?” she asked quietly.

Tobi didn’t hesitate.

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

Her heart skipped slightly.

Because for some reason…

She believed him.

And that scared her.

Amara exhaled slowly.

Then looked away.

Thinking.

Calculating.

Fighting herself.

Finally, she spoke.

“…I’ll think about it.”

Tobi nodded.

“That’s all I’m asking.”

She glanced back at him.

“But if I say no…”

“You won’t be forced,” he said.

Amara searched his face.

Making sure.

“Okay.”

Silence fell between them again.

But this time, it felt different.

Heavier.

More dangerous.

Because now…

She was standing at a crossroads.

Walk away and pretend none of this exists.

Or step into something she didn’t fully understand.

Something risky.

Something that could either save her…

Or destroy her completely.

Amara swallowed.

Then looked at Tobi again.

“One more thing,” she said.

“What?”

Her eyes locked onto his.

“If this goes wrong…”

Her voice dropped.

“…you better not disappear on me.”

Tobi held her gaze.

And for a brief moment…

Something unspoken passed between them.

“I won’t,” he said quietly.

But deep down…

Amara had a feeling.

Nothing about this situation…

Was going to be that simple.

To be continued…