Shemmy Esther stepped into her family house in Ikotun that evening.
The familiar smell of egusi soup and pounded yam hit her first.
Her light yellow skin still flushed from the fitting with Daevyd.
The gold necklace he gave her rested warm between her full breasts.
Hidden under her blouse.
But her heart?
Still racing.
She had barely closed the door when her older brother, Femi, appeared in the sitting room.
Tall.
Broad.
Face like thunder.
"Semilore," he said.
Voice low and serious.
"Sit down."
Shemmy froze.
Her thick curves sank into the old sofa.
"What is it, Femi?"
He stared at her.
Eyes sharp.
"I heard about that tech guy."
"Daevyd Kng."
"People are already talking in the group chat."
Shemmy's stomach dropped.
"How did you—"
"Doesn't matter," Femi cut in.
His voice harder now.
"You are a fashion designer, not a plaything for Lagos boys."
"He is offering you work, fine."
"But mixing business with pleasure? That is how girls like you end up with broken hearts and empty pockets."
Shemmy felt heat rise in her cheeks.
"Femi, it's not like that."
"He is professional."
Femi laughed.
Short.
Bitter.
"Professional? The way you were smiling when you came in? I know that look, Semilore."
He leaned forward.
"Papa and Mama are not here to warn you."
"So I will."
"Stay away from anything more than business."
"Or you will regret it."
Shemmy opened her mouth to argue.
But her phone buzzed loudly in her bag.
She glanced down.
A message from Daevyd.
"Can't stop thinking about today. You looked perfect in that studio. Dinner tomorrow? I need to see you again."
Her heart flipped.
She quickly locked the screen.
Femi's eyes narrowed.
"Who is that?"
"Nobody," she lied.
Standing up fast.
"I need to go shower."
She escaped to her old room.
Heart pounding.
Femi's words echoed in her head.
But Daevyd's message burned hotter.
She quickly typed back.
"Tomorrow sounds good. Can't wait."
Then she smiled.
Touching the necklace again.
Maybe Femi was wrong.
Maybe this time it was different.
Across town in Lekki, Daevyd Kng sat in his sleek apartment.
Chocolate skin still warm from the fitting.
He stared at his phone.
Smiling at Shemmy's reply.
But the smile faded when another call came in.
Unknown number.
He answered anyway.
"Hello?"
A familiar female voice purred on the other end.
"Daevyd baby… long time."
His body went stiff.
"Nadia."
The name tasted like poison.
"What do you want?"
She laughed.
Soft.
Dangerous.
"I'm in Lagos now."
"Surprise visit."
"Business and… unfinished things."
Daevyd stood up.
Pacing the room.
His slim frame tense.
"We finished everything months ago."
Nadia's voice dropped.
Sweet but deadly.
"Did we? Because I still have the photos."
"And I still remember how you promised me the world."
"I heard you're launching big."
"And working with some fashion girl."
Shemmy.
Daevyd's blood ran cold.
"How do you know about her?"
Nadia laughed again.
"Lagos is small, baby."
"I always know."
"I'll see you soon."
"Very soon."
She hung up.
Daevyd stared at the phone.
Heart slamming.
Nadia was back.
The one woman who could destroy everything.
And she already knew about Shemmy.
Back in Ikotun, Shemmy lay on her bed.
Staring at the ceiling.
Daevyd's message still open.
She typed another reply.
Smiling softly.
But before she could send it, a new notification popped up.
An Instagram follow request.
From someone named Nadia Okoye.
The profile picture showed a beautiful light-skinned girl.
Smiling.
But the caption under her latest post made Shemmy's blood freeze.
"Back in Lagos for my man. Some things never end. ❤️"
And the tagged location?
Lekki.
Same area as Daevyd.
Shemmy sat up fast.
Her thick curves shifting under the sheets.
Heart pounding in her throat.
Who was this woman?
And why was she calling Daevyd "my man"?
The necklace suddenly felt heavy around her neck.
Like a warning.
Shemmy's fingers hovered over the block button.
But she couldn't press it.
Because at that exact moment, her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered without thinking.
A silky voice came through.
"Hello, Shemmy Esther."
"I'm Nadia."
"And we need to talk about Daevyd Kng."
Right now.
Shemmy's world tilted.
Her brother's warning rang loud in her ears.
But it was too late.
The storm had already arrived in Lagos.
And it had a name.
Nadia.