Chapter 3: mystery man
Sewa dropped her files on her desk and leaned against it, arms crossed, as she looked at Moji with tired amusement.
"Don't you have work to do?" she asked, raising a brow.
Moji, comfortably seated in the chair across from her, giggled. "I finished all my work during the weekend so I could be free and hear all about it."
Sewa just shook her head. "I don't know if I should praise you for your efficiency or scold you for working just so you can play."
Moji gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. "Excuse you! It's not playing, it's gossiping. And research shows it extends a lady's life by fifteen years."
Sewa narrowed her eyes. "Whose research?"
Moji turned her head away with a cheeky smile. "Some dude we don't need to care about. All I wanna know is the mystery man." She leaned forward, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Sewa sighed and walked behind her desk. "Unlike you, I didn't free up my schedule over the weekend."
Moji scoffed, shaking her head. "That's a big lie. Your schedule is clear because of the dealings with Mr. Williams. You're free till the paperwork is done, and we both know that's not happening today."
Sewa knew when she was caught. She exhaled heavily, giving Moji a knowing look. Her best friend was relentless. There was no escaping this conversation.
"Fine," she said, sitting down and crossing her legs. "I'll tell you."
Moji grinned, leaning forward with anticipation. "Finally! Spill."
Sewa began "so last week Friday....
Sewa sighed, swirling the ice in her glass as she checked her phone again. Still no updates on her car. It wasn't the first time she had to rely on public transport, but she was beginning to miss the ease of having her own ride. At least the bar she'd chosen was nice—dimly lit with soft jazz humming through the speakers. The crowd was just the right amount of lively, not too rowdy, allowing her to enjoy her drink in peace.
As she leaned back against the cushioned seat, her phone vibrated.
Moji: Home alone. We could hang out or watch a movie or something.
A small smile tugged at her lips. Typical Moji—always finding a way to pull her into some late-night fun. Sewa considered it, but before she could respond, a distant rumble of thunder caught her attention. She glanced outside and frowned. Dark clouds loomed ominously, rolling in with alarming speed. Moments later, her screen lit up with a notification.
Uber services temporarily unavailable due to severe weather conditions.
She sighed, quickly typing a response.
Sewa: Can't make it. The storm's bad, no rides available.
With that settled, she took another sip of her drink, resigning herself to spending the night alone at the bar.
She had just waved over the bartender for another round when a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Uh... excuse me, but are you waiting for someone?"
Sewa turned, raising a curious brow at the man standing beside her table. Tall, well-built, and neatly dressed in a navy blue button-up and dark jeans. His beard was well-groomed, adding to his quiet charm, but what struck her most was the hint of hesitation in his stance—like someone not entirely comfortable with approaching strangers.
She tilted her head slightly. "And if I was?"
He cleared his throat, shifting his weight. "Then I'd be embarrassed and pretend I was just asking for directions to the restroom."
She smirked, setting her drink down. "Lucky for you, I'm not waiting for anyone."
"That makes this a little less awkward," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Only a little?" she teased.
He chuckled, glancing at the empty seat across from her. "Mind if I join you?"
She pretended to consider it. "Are you buying the next round?"
"That depends. What's your drink of choice?"
"Whiskey, neat."
His brows lifted in surprise. "Wow. No cocktails? No sweet mixes?"
She gave him a look. "Do I look like I order cocktails?"
He laughed. "Fair enough. Bartender, another whiskey neat for the lady, please."
As the bartender prepared their drinks, he turned back to her. "I'm Tobi, by the way."
"Sewa."
"A pleasure." He leaned forward slightly. "So, what brings you here alone? Rough day?"
She shrugged. "More like a long day. Just wanted to unwind."
He nodded. "I get that. I was actually supposed to meet up with a friend, but he bailed at the last minute. So, here I am."
"Unlucky for you," she said with a smirk.
"Or maybe lucky," he countered, eyes twinkling.
She laughed softly, lifting her glass in a mock toast. "Smooth."
"I try," he said, clinking his glass against hers.
Their conversation flowed effortlessly from there. Tobi, as it turned out, was charming in a way that didn't feel forced. He wasn't the overconfident type that threw around rehearsed lines, nor was he too timid. He had a certain ease about him, the kind of person who made conversation enjoyable.
"So, what do you do, Sewa?" he asked after a while, sipping his drink.
She placed her glass down. "I work at a law firm. Senior associate."
His brows lifted. "Impressive. You must be busy all the time."
"Practically married to the job," she admitted.
"That explains the whiskey," he teased.
She chuckled. "And you?"
"I run a real estate development company," he said. "Mostly commercial buildings, but we're expanding into luxury residential spaces."
She whistled. "Big shot."
He shook his head with a laugh. "More like constantly stressed shot. You probably understand the feeling."
She nodded. "Too well."
The storm outside raged on, but inside, the atmosphere was warm, comfortable. For the first time in a long while, Sewa found herself genuinely enjoying someone's company without overthinking it.
"So," Tobi said, leaning back, "tell me something interesting about you that's not work-related."
Sewa thought for a moment. "I can cook jollof rice better than anyone you know."
He smirked. "That's a bold claim. You have proof?"
She lifted her chin. "You'll just have to take my word for it."
"Hmm. I might need a taste test."
She arched a brow. "Is that your way of asking for a second meeting?"
He grinned. "Only if you're interested."
Sewa hesitated for a brief second before smiling. "Maybe."
By the time they realized how late it had gotten, the storm had calmed.
As they both stood, Tobi held out his hand. "I had a great time, Sewa."
She took it, shaking firmly. "Me too."
"Maybe we could do this again?" he asked, pulling out his phone.
She smirked, taking it from him and entering her number. "Maybe."
He chuckled, tucking his phone away. "I'll take that as a yes."
As they stepped outside, a cool breeze carried away the remnants of the storm. They exchanged a brief but warm hug before heading their separate ways.
Sewa smiled to herself as she walked away, realizing she hadn't felt this light in a long time.