Nara sat at her desk, trying to focus on the proposal in front of her, but every once in a while her mind drifted back to the gallery's quiet halls, the warmth of Keigh's hand against her back, the soft press of his lips right before she stepped out of his car.
Her phone buzzed, breaking the thought before it could take over again.
Zuri: Babe, quick question, did you coordinate the anniversary gala?? The whole country is gossiping. I need to know if you were behind that chaos.
Nara blinked, then laughed under her breath. Only Zuri could text like an alarm bell wrapped in glitter.
She typed back carefully.
Nara: No, Z. I didn't work the event. Just attended as a guest.
She paused, rereading her own reply. "Attended as a guest" felt… incomplete. A lot had happened at that gala, Keigh's stunt, the Dynamites stepping in, the royal news that swept everything aside, but she wasn't ready to unpack all that with Zuri. Especially not over messages.
Her phone buzzed again almost instantly.
Zuri: So you were THERE. And you didn't say anything?? Do you know how many people are DM'ing me asking if I know what really happened? Spill. All of it.
Nara smiled, leaning back in her chair. Zuri's curiosity was legendary.
But instead of gossip, her fingers typed something else.
Nara: I… went on a date afterward.
There was exactly a 0.2-second pause before her phone exploded.
Zuri: A DATE?? With WHO?! Where? When? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HIDING THIS FROM ME?? I swear if you say "it's nothing" I'm blocking you.
Nara bit her lip, heat rushing to her cheeks despite being completely alone.
Nara: It wasn't planned. He took me to a gallery, a private one. We talked. We… kissed.
A string of messages poured in immediately.
Zuri:
YOU KISSED??
IN A GALLERY??
WHO OWNS A PRIVATE GALLERY???
Is he hot? He better be hot.
No, tell me everything. Right now.
Nara felt a laugh bubbling up, soft and uncontrollable.
She typed slowly, careful, but honest.
Nara: He's…
She stopped, thinking. How did she even describe him?
…someone who makes me feel safe. And seen.
Zuri responded with a dramatic voice note:
"Safe and seen?? Oh my god you're in trouble. That's the dangerous type."
Nara shook her head, smiling.
Nara: Don't jump ahead. It was just one evening.
There is no way she's telling her that she went out with this guy for a few dates.
Zuri: One evening doesn't end with "safe and seen" AND a kiss. Give me his name.
Nara hesitated.
Her thumb hovered over the keyboard.
She could trust Zuri. She always had, but something deep in her gut, something instinctive and protective told her to keep Keigh's name quiet. At least for now. Not because she doubted Zuri, but because everything around Keigh felt like holding a lit match in a room full of secrets.
Nara: Not yet. Let me figure things out first.
Zuri sent back a sighing emoji followed by:
Zuri: Fine. But I better meet him. Don't think you're escaping that.
Nara's smile softened.
Nara: When the time is right.
She put her phone face-down on her desk, breath settling. Herr heart, however, was still a little too quick, still remembering that kiss, still remembering the way Keigh looked at her like she wasn't just worth protecting but worth choosing.
And somewhere across the city, in a soundproof room where the lights burned low, Keigh was eliminating every threat to her without hesitation.
She didn't know that part yet, but she would soon.