The Glass Barrier:
The silver Lexus pulled up to the grand entrance of The Azure, the most exclusive rooftop restaurant in Victoria Island. Eliana stepped out, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. She smoothed down the emerald-green wrap dress Anita had lent her. In the dim light of the apartment, it had looked elegant, but under the blinding, expensive chandeliers of the hotel portico, she felt every frayed thread and the slight fading of the fabric.
As she approached the massive glass doors, two hulking security guards in black suits stepped forward, their faces like granite.
"Invitation or reservation name?" the taller one asked, his eyes raking over her cheap plastic heels and the simple gold hoops in her ears.
"I... I'm here for a dinner," Eliana stammered, clutching her small clutch bag. "With Mr. Liam. "
The guards exchanged a look of pure, mocking disbelief. The shorter one let out a sharp, derisive snort. "Liam Sterling? Young lady, do you know who that is? Mr. Sterling is currently upstairs in a private suite. He doesn't have 'dates' with girls who look like they hopped off a yellow danfo bus. You've got the wrong hotel, or the wrong dream. Move along before we call the police for loitering."
"I'm not lying!" Eliana's face burned with a deep, searing shame. "He sent a car for me. Ask the driver—"thou I don't know if is laim sterling but his name is laim"
"The driver has already circled back to the garage. Now leave," the guard commanded, placing a heavy hand on her shoulder to shove her toward the street. "A girl in a ten-naira dress doesn't belong on this carpet."
"Is there a problem here?"
The voice was like silk—cool, deep, and carrying the unmistakable weight of old money. Eliana turned to see a man stepping out of a matte-black Lamborghini. He looked to be the same age as Liam, with sharp, aristocratic features and eyes that held a playful but dangerous spark. He was dressed in a white linen suit that screamed wealth, and his watch alone could have bought Eliana's entire neighborhood.
The guards instantly stiffened, their aggressive postures melting into subservient bows. "Mr. Kole! No problem, sir. Just a... a trespasser claiming to know Mr. Sterling."
The stranger, Kole, walked up to Eliana, his gaze lingering on her face with an intensity that made her catch her breath. He didn't look at her dress; he looked at the fire in her amber eyes. He reached out, gently removing the guard's hand from her shoulder.
"A trespasser?" Kole asked, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his face. "This woman has the face of a goddess and the poise of a queen. If Liam is keeping a beauty like this waiting, he's even more of a fool than I thought." He turned to the guards, his voice dropping into a cold, commanding tone. "She is with me. If I hear another word of disrespect toward her, I'll buy this hotel tomorrow just so I can fire you both personally. Do I make myself clear?"
The guards stammered their apologies, practically tripping over themselves to open the doors.
Kole turned back to Eliana, offering his arm with a flourish. "My name is Kole. And since my dear friend Liam is clearly lacking in manners, allow me to escort you to his table. Though, I must warn you... after seeing you, I might just decide to keep you for myself."
Eliana took his arm, her mind spinning. Who was this man? And if he was Liam's friend, why did his smile feel like a challenge to a war?