CHAPTER TWELVE
The rain began just as Aisha stepped out of her office the following evening.
She searched her bag for an umbrella, but before she could find one, a familiar voice called her name.
"Aisha!"
Daniel stood beside his car, holding an umbrella.
She almost smiled. Almost.
"You seem to have a habit of appearing whenever my life becomes complicated," she said.
"Maybe I'm just good at timing."
"Or maybe you need a hobby."
He laughed softly. "I have one. It's called trying to get you to talk to me."
"Then you need a better hobby."
Despite herself, Aisha smiled.
Daniel noticed, and for a moment, the tension between them eased.
"Come on," he said, holding the umbrella over her. "Let me take you somewhere we can talk."
She hesitated before getting into the car.
They drove to a quiet café not far from her office. The rain tapped against the windows as they sat across from each other.
Daniel told her about his conversation with Richard. His father had refused to explain why Robert's name frightened him so much, but Daniel had overheard him arguing with someone on the phone.
"He mentioned a meeting," Daniel explained. "A meeting he had with Robert recently."
Aisha leaned forward. "Recently? As in, Robert is back in Lagos?"
"I think so."
"Then why would your father keep that from you?"
"Because my father has spent his life believing that keeping secrets is the same as protecting people."
Aisha looked away. His words reminded her of her mother.
"My mum said Robert threatened her when she was pregnant with me."
Daniel's expression changed.
"I'm sorry, Aisha."
"I'm tired of hearing that everyone was trying to protect me. Nobody asked what I wanted. Nobody trusted me enough to tell me the truth."
Daniel reached across the table but stopped before touching her hand.
"I won't make that mistake with you."
She looked at him.
"Don't promise me things you can't keep, Daniel."
"I'm not asking you to trust me blindly. I'm asking you to let me prove that you can."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Aisha remembered the boy who used to wait for her after class, the boy who knew how she liked her tea and always saved her a seat. She had spent years convincing herself those memories no longer mattered.
But they did.
That was the problem.
"Fine," she said at last. "We'll investigate this together. But don't mistake that for forgiveness."
"I won't."
"And no more hiding things from me."
"Agreed."
When they left the café, the rain had slowed to a drizzle. Daniel walked her to her car, holding the umbrella above them.
At the door, Aisha turned to him.
"Daniel?"
"Yes?"
"If you ever lie to me again, I won't give you another chance."
He nodded solemnly.
"I understand."
She got into her car, but before closing the door, she looked at him one more time.
"Thank you for coming."
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Anytime, Aisha."
As she drove away, she glanced at him in the mirror.
For the first time in six years, she wasn't running from him.
She was choosing to face him.
And somewhere deep inside her heart, a small part of her wondered whether that choice might change everything.