Chapter 1 A Chance Encounter

The sun beat down on the dusty streets of Ikoyi-Ile, a small village in Nigeria. Andre stepped out of the car, his eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. It had been years since he'd set foot in this place. The air was thick with the scent of fried plantains and the sound of lively chatter. As he walked towards the family house, a figure caught his attention. A girl, probably around his age, was busy sweeping the compound. Her dark skin glistened with a thin layer of sweat, and her bright smile lit up the entire space. Andre gaze lingered on her, intrigued by her beauty.

"Ah, Andre! Welcome home, my boy!" his father exclaimed, embracing him warmly. Andre mind wandered back to the girl as he greeted his family. Who was she? Why did she seem so captivating? He couldn't help but sneak glances towards her as they chatted. Later, as Andre settled into his room, his father's voice echoed from downstairs. "Andre, meet Nneoma's daughter, Sophia. She's been helping us out around the house." Sophia looked up, their eyes meeting for the first time. Andre's heart skipped a beat. He smiled, trying to play it cool. "Hello, Sophia." Sophia's smile faltered for a moment before she replied, "Hello, sir." The encounter left Andre curious. Who was Sophia beyond her role as a house help's daughter? He couldn't wait to find out more about this captivating girl. As the day went on, Andre

found himself glancing towards Sophia more often than he cared to admit. There was something about her that drew him in, something that made him want to know more. Little did he know, their chance encounter would be the start of something special.