Love, Lies & Lekki Phase 1

Adaeze Nwosu had one rule in life — never pick up calls from unknown numbers.

She broke that rule on a Tuesday.

To be fair, it was not entirely her fault.

The rain had started without warning somewhere between Ozumba Mbadiwe and Ligali Ayorinde, the kind of Lagos rain that falls like God personally has a quarrel with the city. She was already soaked from the bus stop to the pharmacy, her umbrella had betrayed her somewhere near the junction, and her phone screen was so wet that when it rang, she swiped right without thinking.

"Hello?" she said, pressing it against her ear.

"Where is the document?" a deep voice said. No greeting. No sorry wrong number. Just — where is the document.

Adaeze blinked. "Sorry?"

"The acquisition file. Benson said he sent it to this number. Where is it?"

She pulled the phone from her ear and stared at it. Unknown number. Not a single contact she recognised. She put it back. "Oga, I think you have the wrong—"

"I don't have time for this." The voice was tight, clipped, the kind of voice that was used to giving instructions and having them followed immediately. "Benson. Tell him to resend it now. The board meeting is in forty minutes."