Morning crept softly over Apu, the kind of quiet that came with rustling leaves and the distant crow of a rooster. Golden stepped out of the bus, eyes swollen from the night before. The streets she once found comforting now felt heavy—like they knew her secret.
She dragged her small suitcase down the familiar path and pushed open the gate to her house. The wooden door creaked as she stepped in. Ada was already at the dining table, folding some clothes into a small travel bag. She looked up, startled.
"Golden?" Ada blinked. "You're back already?"
Golden forced a small smile. "Yeah… just wanted to come home early."
"Ah-ah, but I was just about to call you," Ada said, setting down the folded wrapper. "I'm traveling to my hometown for some weeks. Didn't know you'd be back so soon."
Golden tried to sound curious. "Your hometown? Why now?"
Ada smiled faintly. "It's been a while since I visited. Some family matters came up. I'll be leaving this afternoon."
Golden nodded, voice calm, though her heart still felt like shattered glass. "Safe journey then."
"Thank you, my dear." Ada smiled warmly. "You sure you're alright? You look tired."
Golden chuckled weakly. "I'm fine. Just… cramps. That's all."
Ada frowned slightly, as though unconvinced, but decided not to press. "Alright then. Make sure you rest."
A few hours later, Ada's bus pulled away from the compound. The moment the gate shut, silence flooded the house.
Golden stood in the living room, staring blankly at the wall. Then slowly—like a dam breaking—she sank to her knees and began to sob. The cries came from deep inside her, raw and unfiltered.
The image of Diana's lips on Xavier's replayed like a cruel movie she couldn't turn off.
She pressed a pillow against her mouth to muffle her sobs, her shoulders shaking.
After what felt like hours, she curled up on the couch, staring at the ceiling. "He really did that to me," she whispered, voice hoarse. "After everything…"
She didn't go to work the next day. Mr. Adebayo had given her three days' off for the Lagos trip—and she intended to use every minute to hide.
She couldn't face anyone. Not yet.
Especially not him.
⸻
By evening, the sound of a car pulling into the compound jolted her.
She froze.
A familiar voice called out from outside, desperate.
"Golden! Please! I know you're in there. Just hear me out, I beg you!"
She didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Xavier's voice cracked with emotion. "Gold, please… I can explain. I swear, it's not what you think."
She remained quiet, staring at the wall.
Minutes turned into hours. The sky darkened. Still, he didn't leave.
He sat on the front steps, calling her name every now and then. "Gold, please. I can't go back to Lagos with you hating me. Just open the door, please."
Nothing.
Finally, when the crickets began their evening chorus, he sighed heavily and stood. "Alright. I'll come back tomorrow," he said softly, his voice breaking a little.
She heard his footsteps fade away.
⸻
At the Adebayo residence that night, the family dining table buzzed with chatter until Xavier walked in. Everyone turned to him, surprised.
"Xavier?" Mrs. Adebayo asked, setting down her cutlery. "You didn't tell us you were coming."
"Yeah," Mr. Adebayo added. "Weren't you supposed to be in Lagos? Did you see Golden? I sent her your address myself."
Xavier hesitated, taking a seat. "I… saw her."
Mr. Adebayo frowned. "You did? Then why the sudden visit? Did something happen?"
Xavier let out a slow breath. "We… had a fight."
Adenike's eyes widened. "A fight? What happened?"
He rubbed his face with both hands. "There was a misunderstanding with my PA, Diana. Golden walked in at the wrong time."
Mrs. Adebayo's expression softened with concern. "Oh, Xavier…"
"I've called, I've texted—she won't answer," he said, frustration mixing with sadness. "So I came back to explain. I can't just leave things like that."
Adenike crossed her arms. "Hmm. Honestly, that's rough. If I were her, I'd react the same way. You men don't understand—seeing something like that hurts."
Mr. Adebayo nodded slowly. "She's a good girl. You owe her honesty and patience, son."
Mrs. Adebayo reached for his hand. "Do you want me to call her?"
He shook his head. "No, Mom. I'll handle it. I just… need time."
"Then do that," she said gently. "But don't let pride destroy what you both built."
⸻
The next morning, Golden finally forced herself to go to work.
Her head was pounding, but she straightened her blouse and walked in like nothing had happened.
Mr. Adebayo smiled when he saw her. "Golden! Welcome back. I heard about what happened in Lagos."
Her heart skipped, but she smiled politely. "Oh… you did?"
"Yes. Xavier mentioned you two had a misunderstanding. I understand you're upset—and you have every right to be—but…" He paused. "At least, hear him out. He seems sincere."
Golden's lips tightened into a small, careful smile. "Okay, sir. I'll… think about it."
Inside, she had no such intention. Hear him out? The image of that kiss still haunted her every night.
⸻
Days passed. Then a week.
Xavier didn't give up.
He sent her food to the office. Left flowers at her gate. Wrote small notes that said "I'm sorry" and "Please believe me."
At first, she tore them all up. Then one night, she stopped.
She sat on her bed, one of his notes in her hand. "You're the only one I want, Gold."
Her chest ached.
The next day, she saw him waiting by the mango tree near her street.
He looked exhausted. But his eyes—those eyes—still held that same sincerity she fell for.
She stopped a few feet away.
Xavier turned, hope lighting his face. "Golden…"
"Talk," she said simply, arms folded.
He stepped closer, voice trembling but steady. "There was a file we forgot at my house. Diana suggested we move all the work there. She's my PA—I didn't think anything of it. I swear, I had no idea she'd do that. Please believe me."
Golden's voice was low, tired. "You're sure that's the truth?"
"I swear on everything. That's the truth."
She stared at him for a long, heavy moment. Then sighed. "Okay."
He blinked. "Just… okay?"
She smirked faintly. "Okay."
He chuckled quietly. He knew her well enough to read between the lines. That okay didn't mean forgiveness—but it meant a crack in the wall she built.
And that was enough for now.
"Can you at least unblock me?" he asked softly, eyes pleading.
Golden rolled her eyes. "You're annoying."
"Yeah," he smiled. "But you love me."
She sighed but unlocked her phone and handed it to him. "Happy now?"
He grinned. "Ecstatic."
From that day, Xavier made it his mission to win her back—every single day.
Morning calls. Evening visits. Flowers. Notes. Jokes.
And slowly, laughter began to sneak its way back into their conversations—tentatively at first, then freely.
When he finally returned to Lagos two weeks later, she watched him go with a quiet smile.
The hurt hadn't vanished. But love—stubborn, messy love—had started healing it.
——
Lagos—two weeks later.
The skyline glimmered in the afternoon haze, glass buildings glinting under the sun. Inside one of them, Xavier sat behind his mahogany desk, scrolling through a financial report on his laptop. His office was sleek and orderly—much like the man himself.
Diana stepped in quietly, file in hand. She was dressed elegantly, her perfume faint but deliberate.
"Xav," she said softly, her tone dripping with practiced sweetness. "I've gone through the projections you asked for."
He nodded, barely looking up. "Good. Leave them on the desk."
She set the file down, but didn't move away. Instead, she stood there, arms crossed under her chest, watching him intently.
"You've been different," she said finally.
Xavier sighed, leaned back in his chair. "Diana, don't start."
She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Start what? I just mean—you hardly talk to me anymore. We used to laugh. You used to smile more around me."
He closed his laptop. "We used to have boundaries. That's what's changed."
Her smile faltered. "Boundaries?"
"Yes," he said firmly. "You crossed too many lines, and I let it slide for too long."
She laughed nervously. "Oh come on, Xav. You act like I'm the devil. I just… care about you. Is that such a crime?"
He stood up, walking around the desk until he faced her directly. "Caring and crossing the line aren't the same thing. You know what happened last time. You almost destroyed something important to me. Don't make me regret giving you another chance."
Her jaw tightened. "So that's it? You're threatening to fire me now?"
"I'm not threatening you," he said calmly. "I'm telling you that if this continues—if you keep trying to blur the lines between personal and professional—I will fire you. And I don't want to, Diana. You've worked hard. You've helped this company grow. But don't push me."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then she looked away, blinking fast.
She'd met him two years ago—at their former workplace, before it went under. He had been different from everyone else there: smart, kind, driven. She'd fallen for him hard, even though he barely noticed.
When he left to start his own company, she'd volunteered to join him without hesitation, hoping proximity would turn into something deeper. Maybe, one day, he'd see her—not as his assistant, but as a woman.
But now…
Now his words cut through the fantasy she'd built for herself.
Diana inhaled sharply and forced a small, professional smile. "Understood, sir."
Xavier nodded, relieved but still wary. "Good. Let's keep things clean from now on. Strictly business."
She turned to leave, pausing at the door. "You really love her, don't you?"
He didn't hesitate. "More than you'll ever understand."
Diana's chest tightened, but she smiled anyway—a bitter, quiet smile. "Then I guess I'll stop trying."
She walked out, heels clicking softly across the floor.
For the first time in months, the office felt peaceful again. Xavier sat back down, glancing at the photo frame beside his laptop—Golden's smile beaming at him from within.
He exhaled deeply, whispering to himself, "No more chaos. Not this time."
——
The sun filtered through the glass walls of the building, painting soft lines across the marble floor. The hum of printers and chatter of staff filled the air — just another ordinary morning.
Mr. Adebayo leaned slightly against his desk, pretending to scan a report, though a knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Golden," he said suddenly, glancing up, "please head to the courier office down the street. They've got the files we need for the audit. Quick errand."
Golden nodded obediently, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Alright, sir."
As she walked out, her heels clicked softly against the polished tiles. She didn't notice the exchange of quick glances between her coworkers — or the faint sound of a phone vibrating with a message that read: "She's out. Get ready."
Minutes later, the sound of chatter inside the office quieted, tension mixing with excitement.
When Golden returned, the sun had dipped slightly, the light softer now. She walked through the gate, clutching the sealed envelope, already thinking about handing it over and finishing her work for the day.
That was when Chima came running — almost breathless, eyes wide, grinning like she'd just seen a miracle.
"Golden! You won't believe what's happening inside!" She blurted out.
Golden frowned, confused. "What's going on?"
But Chima only grabbed her hand, tugging her eagerly toward the building. "Just come! You have to see this yourself!"
Before she could protest, she grabbed her hand and pulled her back inside, weaving through desks and startled coworkers.
And then—
Everything stopped.
The room had gone quiet. Every face turned toward the center.
There, surrounded by soft petals scattered across the office floor, was Xavier—in a crisp suit, down on one knee, a small velvet box open in his hand.
Golden froze, her breath catching in her throat.
"Baby… what is this?" she whispered, eyes glistening, hands trembling.
Xavier looked up at her, his usual confidence replaced by something raw, vulnerable, and true.
"Golden…" he began, voice thick with emotion, "I've searched for the perfect words to tell you what you mean to me—but every time I try, the words fall short."
Her eyes welled with tears as she covered her mouth.
He smiled softly, taking a slow breath. "You are my calm in the storm, my anchor when life spins out of control. You walked into my life and turned chaos into peace. You didn't love me for what I had—you loved me for who I am. You saw me when I couldn't even see myself."
A soft murmur swept through the room. Some of the female staff already had tears in their eyes.
He continued, voice trembling slightly now.
"When you came into my world, everything made sense again. You challenged me, you fought with me, you made me better. You stood your ground when I was wrong, and you forgave me when I didn't deserve it."
Golden's lips quivered. She tried to speak, but no words came out.
Xavier smiled through the emotion building in his chest and opened the ring box fully, revealing a delicate, gold-banded ring that caught the evening light.
"I don't just want to call you mine," he said, his voice cracking. "I want to wake up beside you every morning. I want to fight and make up with you, laugh with you, build a home with you, raise little versions of us running around—messy, loud, beautiful. I want to grow old with you, Golden. I want forever with you."
Tears spilled freely down her cheeks.
He swallowed hard, eyes never leaving hers. "So… Mazi Golden—will you make me the happiest man alive, and be my wife?"
Golden stood frozen for a heartbeat—then took a shaky step forward.
Then another.
And then, instead of answering, she dropped to her knees in front of him, smiling through her tears.
"Xavier," she whispered, voice trembling. "Promise me something first."
He blinked, heart pounding. "Anything."
"Promise to never cheat on me," she said softly, "and never hurt me again."
He smiled, brushing away one of her tears. "I promise. Cross my heart."
Golden laughed through her tears, breath hitching. "Then my answer is—yes."
The room exploded.
Cheers, applause, screams. The staff clapped, some shouting "Say yes again!" while others whistled joyfully.
Golden stretched her fingers toward him, smiling through the tears. "Now, put the ring on already!"
Xavier chuckled shakily, sliding the ring onto her finger with trembling hands. Then he leaned in, kissed her hand softly, and whispered against her skin, "I'll always love you, Gold. Always."
Golden threw her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder. The applause grew louder, phones raised, laughter echoing through the office.
At the far end of the room, Favour stood silently, watching them.
Her eyes glistened—but her smile, though soft, didn't quite reach them.
She clapped slowly, hiding the tear that slipped down her cheek.
Mr. Adebayo grinned from ear to ear. "You're all invited to the wedding!" he shouted, and the staff cheered even louder.
And as Xavier and Golden kissed amid the noise, the world around them blurred.
For that one moment—it was just the two of them.
Forever beginning in a room filled with cheers.