Who Do I Believe?

“No…”

Amara shook her head slowly.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

But even as she said it…

Doubt had already entered.

Femi watched her carefully.

“You didn’t find it strange?” he asked. “A random guy appears, knows everything about you, and suddenly wants to ‘help’?”

Amara’s chest tightened.

Because that part…

Was true.

“He said he’s an investigator,” she replied.

Femi almost laughed.

“That’s what he told you?”

“Yes.”

“And you believed him just like that?”

Amara hesitated.

That hesitation again.

And Femi saw it.

“He’s playing you,” Femi said quietly.

“No,” Amara said quickly. “You don’t get to do that.”

“Do what?”

“Turn this around,” she snapped. “You don’t get to suddenly act like you’re the good person here.”

“I’m not saying I’m good,” Femi replied calmly. “I’m saying you’re in danger.”

“From who? You?”

Femi didn’t answer.

And that silence…

It didn’t help his case.

Amara stepped back slightly.

“Everything you’re saying sounds like manipulation,” she said. “Like you’re trying to confuse me.”

“I’m trying to wake you up.”

“After lying to me for months?”

Femi exhaled slowly.

“I know I don’t deserve your trust.”

“Correct.”

“But this is bigger than us.”

That line again.

Bigger than us.

Tobi said something similar.

Her head was starting to hurt.

“Then explain properly,” Amara said. “No half talk.”

Femi nodded.

“Okay.”

He walked to the chair and sat down, leaning forward slightly.

“Your company isn’t clean.”

Amara’s eyes narrowed.

“What does that mean?”

“It means the leak you’re hearing about…”

Her heart skipped.

“…is not what you think.”

Silence.

Amara felt her chest tighten again.

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying,” Femi continued, “there are people inside that company doing things they shouldn’t be doing.”

Amara shook her head immediately.

“No. That’s not true.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes!”

“Or you just want it to be true?”

That hit her.

Because honestly…

She didn’t know.

“You think I’m the one leaking data,” Femi said. “But what if I’m actually trying to expose them?”

Amara blinked.

“What?”

“I’ve been gathering information for months,” he continued. “Trying to build something solid.”

Her mind spun.

“This doesn’t make sense.”

“It will.”

“No, it won’t!” she snapped. “You expect me to believe you’re suddenly some kind of hero?”

“I didn’t say I’m a hero.”

“Then what are you?”

Femi paused.

Then said quietly,

“Someone who got too deep.”

That line sent a chill through her.

Because it sounded familiar.

Too familiar.

Amara folded her arms.

“And me?”

Femi looked at her.

“You were never supposed to be involved.”

Her stomach dropped.

“But now you are.”

Silence.

“So what exactly do you want from me?” she asked.

Femi leaned forward slightly.

“I need access.”

Her heart skipped hard.

“Access to what?”

“Your system.”

Everything inside her froze.

“No.”

The answer came instantly.

Sharp.

Firm.

“I’m not doing that.”

“Amara—”

“I said no!”

She stepped back again.

Her breathing uneven now.

“You just proved everything I needed to know.”

“How?”

“You are involved in something shady,” she said. “I don’t know if you’re the bad guy or the fake good guy, but I’m not helping you.”

Femi stood up slowly.

“You don’t understand—”

“I don’t need to understand!” she cut in. “You cheated on me. You lied. You hid a whole relationship with my best friend. And now you want me to commit crime with you?”

“I’m trying to protect you!”

“That’s exactly what the other one said!”

Silence.

That word slipped out.

The other one.

Femi caught it immediately.

“The other one,” he repeated. “So he’s already told you his own story.”

Amara’s chest tightened.

She didn’t respond.

Femi nodded slowly.

“Of course.”

“He’s trying to help me,” she said, but this time… her voice wasn’t as strong.

Femi noticed.

“Did he tell you everything?” he asked.

Amara stayed quiet.

“Did he tell you who he really works for?”

Silence.

“Did he tell you what happens when they ‘finish’ their investigation?”

Her heart started racing again.

“Stop it,” she said quietly.

“Did he tell you that people like you are usually used as bait?”

That hit hard.

Too hard.

“I said stop!”

Amara’s voice rose again.

Her chest tightening.

Her head spinning.

Because now…

Nothing felt stable anymore.

Not Tobi.

Not Femi.

Not even herself.

“I don’t know what’s true again,” she whispered.

And for the first time…

She looked genuinely lost.

Femi’s expression softened slightly.

“Then listen to me.”

Amara looked at him.

Torn.

Confused.

Emotional.

“Help me,” Femi said. “And I’ll make sure you come out clean.”

Her heart pounded.

“And if I don’t?”

Femi held her gaze.

Then said quietly,

“Then when this thing blows…”

A pause.

“…you’ll be standing alone.”

Silence.

That sentence echoed in her head.

Loud.

Dangerous.

Because it sounded possible.

Too possible.

Amara swallowed.

Her thoughts clashing.

Her emotions everywhere.

And then…

Her phone vibrated.

She looked down.

Tobi.

Message.

Just one line.

Don’t believe anything he says.

Her heart skipped.

She looked up at Femi.

Then back at her phone.

Then back at Femi again.

Two people.

Two different stories.

Both sounding real.

Both sounding dangerous.

Both pulling her in opposite directions.

Amara closed her eyes for a second.

Then opened them.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Because whatever she said next…

Would change everything.

She looked at Femi.

Her voice steady.

But her heart?

Far from it.

“…prove it.”

Femi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Prove what?”

Amara stepped forward.

“If you’re telling the truth…”

A pause.

“…then show me something real.”

Silence.

The room felt smaller.

Tighter.

More intense.

Femi stared at her.

Then slowly…

A small smile appeared on his face.

Not warm.

Not soft.

Something else.

Something that didn’t feel right.

“Okay,” he said.

Then he reached into his pocket.

Pulled out his phone.

Unlocked it.

And turned the screen toward her.

“Let’s start with this.”

Amara looked down.

And the moment she saw it…

Her heart stopped.

Because on the screen…

Was her name.

Attached to something she had never seen before.

Something serious.

Something dangerous.

Something that made one thing clear.

She was already in this.

Deep.

And there might be no way out.

To be continued…