The following days at the office were a delicate dance between Amara and Femi. Their interactions remained professional, but there was an unspoken tension, a current that neither could ignore. For Amara, it was a test of her resolve to keep things strictly work-related, even as her thoughts frequently drifted to their conversation at the café.
On Friday afternoon, the team gathered for their weekly progress review. Femi, as usual, commanded the room with his confidence, but this time, Amara noticed the subtle ways his gaze lingered on her. She tried to dismiss it, focusing instead on her presentation, but her heightened awareness of him made it difficult.
After the meeting, Femi approached her desk.
"Amara, can I see you in the conference room for a moment?" he asked casually.
Her colleagues exchanged knowing glances, but Amara followed him without protest.
The Conference Room
Inside the glass-walled room, Femi closed the door and turned to face her.
"Relax," he said, noticing her guarded expression. "This is about work."
Amara crossed her arms. "What's on your mind?"
"I've been reviewing the project timeline," he began, pulling out a folder. "We're ahead of schedule, but I think there's room to refine some of the strategies. I want you to lead that effort."
Amara blinked in surprise. "Me?"
"You're the most detail-oriented person on this team," Femi said. "I trust you to handle it."
His words caught her off guard. She wasn't used to such direct praise, especially from him. "Alright," she said after a pause. "I'll take it on."
Femi smiled. "I knew you'd say yes."
As they walked out, Amara couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Whatever personal feelings lingered between them, she appreciated that Femi saw her value professionally.
An Unexpected Encounter
That evening, Amara decided to treat herself to dinner at a quiet restaurant near her apartment. She was halfway through her meal when she heard a familiar voice.
"Amara?"
She looked up to see Chika, her best friend from university, standing by her table.
"Chika!" Amara exclaimed, standing to hug her.
They hadn't seen each other in months, and the reunion was a joyful one. Chika joined her at the table, and they quickly fell into conversation, catching up on life and work.
"So," Chika said after a while, leaning forward with a mischievous grin. "Any man in the picture?"
Amara laughed nervously. "Not really. Work keeps me busy."
"Hmm," Chika said, eyeing her closely. "That doesn't sound convincing. Spill it."
Amara hesitated before telling her about Femi—carefully omitting certain details. Chika listened intently, her expression thoughtful.
"Sounds like this Femi guy likes you," Chika said when Amara finished.
"He's... complicated," Amara said.
"All men are," Chika replied with a shrug. "But the question is, do you like him?"
Amara didn't answer immediately. She wasn't ready to admit, even to herself, how much Femi had started to occupy her thoughts.
A Message from Femi
That night, as Amara settled into bed, her phone buzzed with a message.
> Femi: I wanted to thank you again for stepping up today. It means a lot.
Amara stared at the screen for a moment before replying.
> Amara: No problem. It's my job.
> Femi: Still, you're exceptional at it. Goodnight, Amara.
Her heart skipped a beat at his words, but she quickly shook off the feeling. She reminded herself of the boundaries she had set.
"Keep it together, Amara," she muttered to herself, switching off her phone.
But as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but wonder how long she could keep those boundaries intact.