What Did He Use Me For?

“…used me how?”

Amara’s voice came out almost like a whisper.

Like she wasn’t sure she actually wanted to hear the answer.

Tobi looked at her.

Really looked at her this time.

Like he was trying to measure how much she could handle.

“How strong are you?” he asked quietly.

Amara frowned immediately.

“Don’t ask me that kind of question. Just talk.”

“It matters.”

“No it doesn’t,” she snapped. “You’ve already said too much to stop now.”

Tobi exhaled slowly.

Then nodded.

“Okay.”

Amara folded her arms, even though her fingers were slightly shaking.

“I’m listening.”

Tobi glanced around briefly, then stepped a little closer.

Lowering his voice.

“That job you’re doing,” he said. “Zennix Solutions.”

Amara’s brows furrowed.

“What about it?”

“You trust them?”

Confusion replaced some of the anger on her face.

“What kind of question is that?”

“A serious one.”

“Yes, I trust them. It’s my job.”

Tobi nodded slowly.

“And Femi… how did you meet him?”

Amara hesitated.

“Through work.”

“How exactly?”

She shifted slightly.

“He was consulting for a project. That’s how we met.”

Tobi’s expression tightened just a little.

“And he got close to you… fast?”

Amara blinked.

“…yes.”

“He was helpful? Supportive? Always around?”

“Yes,” she said again, slower now.

Her stomach was starting to twist.

Because the questions were beginning to feel… connected.

Tobi continued.

“Did he ever ask you about work things?”

Amara frowned.

“Normal things.”

“Like what?”

She tried to remember.

“Just… random stuff. Office gist. Complaints. Nothing serious.”

Tobi held her gaze.

“Are you sure?”

Amara’s confidence dropped slightly.

“I mean… sometimes I would talk about projects. Stress. Deadlines.”

“Did you ever show him anything?”

Her heart skipped.

“What do you mean?”

“Documents. Emails. Files.”

Amara’s breath caught.

“No… I don’t think so.”

Tobi didn’t speak.

He just kept looking at her.

That silence again.

That pressure.

And suddenly…

A memory flashed.

Amara’s eyes widened slightly.

“…wait.”

Tobi leaned in.

“What?”

“There was one time,” she said slowly. “My laptop had issues. I was complaining about it.”

“And?”

“He offered to help fix it.”

Tobi’s jaw tightened.

“And you gave it to him?”

Amara swallowed.

“…yes.”

Silence.

Heavy silence.

Her chest started rising faster now.

“But that’s normal,” she said quickly. “He was my boyfriend. I trusted him.”

Tobi didn’t argue.

“Of course.”

“But that doesn’t mean anything,” she added, almost like she was trying to convince herself.

Tobi tilted his head slightly.

“How long did he have your laptop?”

Amara thought back.

“Two days.”

Tobi nodded slowly.

“Okay.”

“Okay what?” she asked, her voice rising again. “You’re making it sound like something bad happened.”

Tobi took a deep breath.

“Amara… I need you to stay calm.”

“Stop saying that!”

Her voice cracked again.

“I’m tired of people telling me to stay calm when my whole life is sounding like one bad movie!”

Tobi didn’t react to the outburst.

He just spoke carefully.

“Your company has been having internal issues.”

Amara froze.

“What kind of issues?”

“Data leaks.”

Her heart dropped.

“What?”

“Sensitive information getting out.”

Amara shook her head immediately.

“No. No, that’s not possible.”

“It is.”

“How do you know?”

Tobi hesitated.

Then said, “Because I’ve been tracking it.”

That sentence hit differently.

Amara stared at him.

“Tracking it?”

He nodded.

“That’s part of what I do.”

“What you do?” she repeated. “Which kind of work is that?”

Tobi ignored that part.

“For months now, certain company information has been leaking,” he continued. “Quietly. Carefully. Not enough to cause panic, but enough to cause damage.”

Amara’s breathing became uneven.

“And you think Femi is involved?”

Tobi didn’t answer directly.

“I think he got close to you for a reason.”

That was worse.

Because it wasn’t just an accusation.

It was a possibility.

A dangerous one.

“No…” Amara whispered.

Her mind started racing.

All the conversations.

All the times she trusted him.

All the moments she let her guard down.

“It can’t be,” she said again, but her voice was weaker now.

Tobi stepped a little closer.

“Amara.”

She looked up at him.

“If he used your access…”

Her chest tightened.

“…then you might be connected to whatever happened.”

Silence.

Pure silence.

The kind that makes your ears ring.

Amara blinked slowly.

“…connected how?”

Tobi held her gaze.

“On paper… it could look like you’re involved.”

That was it.

That was the moment everything truly broke.

“What?” she said, her voice shaking badly now. “No. No, no, no.”

She stepped back.

“That’s not possible.”

“You need to listen—”

“I didn’t do anything!” she said loudly. “I didn’t leak anything! I didn’t give anybody anything!”

“I know.”

“Do you?” she snapped. “Because right now you’re basically telling me I might be a criminal!”

“I didn’t say that.”

“But that’s what it sounds like!”

Her chest was rising fast now.

Panic creeping in.

Real panic.

“What if they find out?” she whispered. “What if they think it’s me?”

Tobi’s face was serious.

“That’s why I’ve been trying to reach you.”

Amara’s heart dropped again.

“For weeks?” she asked.

He nodded.

“I needed to warn you.”

Her throat went dry.

“Warn me?”

Tobi glanced toward the road, then back at her.

“There are people already looking into this.”

Amara felt dizzy.

“People like who?”

Tobi didn’t answer immediately.

And that hesitation…

It said everything again.

Amara’s voice dropped to almost nothing.

“…Tobi. Who are you?”

This time, he didn’t smile.

Didn’t dodge.

Didn’t joke.

He just looked at her.

Serious. Direct.

“Right now,” he said quietly, “I’m the only person trying to keep you out of trouble.”

Her heart pounded.

“That’s not an answer.”

“I know.”

“Then give me one.”

Tobi exhaled slowly.

Then finally said it.

“I work with a private investigation team.”

Amara’s eyes widened.

“What?”

“We’ve been tracking this case for months.”

Her legs suddenly felt weak.

“And Femi…” Tobi continued.

Amara’s breath caught.

“What about him?”

Tobi’s voice dropped.

“He’s not just your ex.”

Silence.

“He’s our main suspect.”

Amara felt like the ground shifted under her feet.

Because if that was true…

Then this was no longer just heartbreak.

This was something much bigger.

Something dangerous.

Something she was already inside…

Without even knowing.

To be continued…