PART TWO: THE LOVE WE CHASE!

  Six months after the Lagos debacle, Adanna had rebuilt her life in Abuja. Her new role as a consultant for the Ministry of Technology gave her purpose, if not the passion her previous life had held. She'd rented a modest apartment in Maitama district, far from the luxury she'd once enjoyed, but it kept her safe, anonymous.

Until one rainy evening when she spotted a familiar silhouette outside the National Assembly complex.

Taiwo Adeleke was leaner than she remembered, his face more weathered. They had studied together at the University of Lagos before his family's sudden financial collapse sent him dropping out to care for his siblings. Seeing him here – in an expensive suit, stepping into a government vehicle – was shocking enough that she nearly missed her step.

When their eyes met across the rain-slicked pavement, recognition flashed, followed by something unreadable. He nodded slightly before disappearing into the black SUV.

The next day, a bouquet of lilies arrived at her office with a card: "Some dreams take longer to realize. Dinner at Transcorp Hilton, 8 PM? – T"

Against her better judgment, she went.

"Fifteen years is a long time," Taiwo said when they were seated in the luxurious restaurant overlooking Abuja's glittering skyline. "You haven't changed, though. Still the smartest woman in any room."

"And you've changed completely," she replied, studying him. "Presidential Special Advisor on Cybersecurity is quite a journey from the boy who couldn't afford textbooks."

His laugh was bitter. "Life takes unexpected turns. My path took me through military intelligence, Silicon Valley, then back here to serve Nigeria. But enough about me—why is Adanna Okafor, rising star of Lagos tech, hiding in a mid-level ministry position?"

Something in his eyes made her tell him everything – about Emeka, the betrayal, the discovered corruption, her flight from Lagos. Taiwo listened intently, asking occasionally clarifying questions that revealed his strategic mind.

"The people who set you up are dangerous, Adanna," he said finally. "The corruption you stumbled upon connects to officials here in Abuja. You're not safe."

Before she could process this, his security detail rushed in. There had been a breach in Taiwo's home security system. They needed to leave immediately.

In the chaos that followed—the gunfire outside the hotel, their escape through service corridors, the safe house in Gwagwalada—something shifted between them. Old feelings resurfaced, complicated by present dangers.

"I need to get you to Port Harcourt," Taiwo explained as they prepared to leave the safe house two days later. "I have contacts there who can protect you while I untangle this mess in Abuja."

What he didn't tell her: Emeka Nwosu had contacted him, claiming innocence and requesting to meet. The web of conspiracy was more complex than either man understood, with Adanna caught in the center.