The club felt louder the longer Nancy stood inside it.
The bass from the speakers vibrated through the floor, slipping up through her heels and into her chest like a second heartbeat. Lights flashed across the room in slow waves of purple and blue, catching on glasses, jewelry, and the surfaces of expensive watches.
Nancy stood beside Amara near the edge of the dance floor, her drink resting lightly between her fingers. Around them, bodies moved to the music—laughing, dancing, shouting over the sound.
But Nancy wasn't dancing.
She was watching.
Her eyes moved slowly across the room, studying the people the same way she studied a crowded street before crossing it.
Some men were loud, their laughter rising above the music as they competed for attention. Others sat quietly with women draped around them like decorations.
Then there was the table near the center.
Nancy's gaze returned there again.
The man Amara had pointed out earlier still sat in the middle of it, relaxed like the entire club belonged to him. He leaned back slightly in his chair, one arm resting along the backrest while the other held a glass loosely.
He wasn't doing much.
But people kept walking up to greet him.
Nancy noticed the pattern almost immediately.
A man would approach.
They'd shake hands.
Sometimes laugh.
Sometimes speak.
Then the person would leave looking satisfied.
Waiters moved around the table constantly, bringing bottles Nancy was certain cost more than her rent.
She took another slow sip of her drink.
Amara nudged her lightly.
"You're still looking."
Nancy didn't look away.
"I'm observing."
Amara laughed. "Observing what?"
Nancy tilted her head.
"That man."
Amara followed her gaze again.
"Hmm," she said knowingly.
"What?" Nancy asked.
"That one is not small fish."
Nancy smirked faintly.
"I can see that."
The man at the table laughed at something someone beside him said, but his attention shifted briefly across the room.
For a moment his eyes landed on Nancy.
She didn't look away immediately.
Instead she held the glance calmly, her expression unreadable.
Then she looked back at her drink like nothing had happened.
Across the room, the man leaned slightly toward Chioma, who sat beside him.
"Who's the girl in black?"
he asked.
Chioma turned to follow his line of sight.
She spotted Nancy almost instantly.
"Oh," she said with a small smile.
"That's Nancy."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Nancy?"
"Friend of a friend."
He watched her again for a second.
Nancy was laughing at something Amara said now, her head tilted back slightly.
There was a confidence in the way she stood—like she didn't feel the need to impress anyone.
He nodded once.
"Invite them over."
Chioma smiled knowingly.
"Alright."
She stood up from the table and made her way through the crowd toward Nancy and Amara.
Amara spotted her first.
"Chioma is coming."
Nancy turned just as Chioma reached them.
"You girls are hiding here?"
Chioma asked playfully.
Amara laughed.
"In our defense, we just got here."
Chioma leaned closer.
"Come greet someone."
Nancy raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
Chioma gestured casually toward the central table.
Nancy followed her gaze.
The man was still sitting there, glass in hand, talking to someone beside him. But even from across the room, his presence stood out.
Nancy studied him for a moment.
Then she smiled faintly.
"Alright."
Amara looked excited already.
"Let's go."
The three women moved through the crowd toward the table. The music grew louder the closer they got, the bass pulsing against Nancy's ribs.
As they approached, the man glanced up again.
This time he watched them walk over.
Chioma reached the table first.
"Gentlemen," she said lightly.
"Let me introduce you to someone."
Nancy stepped forward calmly.
"This is the Nancy I mentioned earlier,"
Chioma added.
The man looked at her properly now.
Up close, he seemed even more relaxed than before. His shirt was simple but clearly expensive, sleeves rolled up slightly at the wrists.
He smiled.
"Nice to meet you."
Nancy returned the smile.
"Likewise."
Amara greeted the others at the table while Chioma took her seat again.
"Have a seat,"
the man said, gesturing toward the empty chair beside him.
Nancy sat down gracefully.
A waiter appeared almost instantly.
"Drink?"
he asked.
Nancy glanced at the glass already in her hand.
"I'm good."
The man chuckled softly.
"You don't trust free drinks?"
Nancy tilted her head.
"Free drinks usually come with expectations."
He laughed.
"Fair point."
For a moment they simply watched the crowd together.
Then he spoke again.
"You don't look like someone who enjoys places like this."
Nancy looked at him.
"That's funny 'cus i actually do"
"Why? If I may ask",
the man replied intrigued.
"Maybe I enjoy observing people."
He seemed amused.
"And what have you observed so far?"
Nancy shrugged slightly.
"That the man hosting this table is important."
He smiled.
"Important?"
"People don't keep greeting someone who isn't."
He leaned back in his chair.
"You're very observant."
Nancy took a small sip of her drink.
"Lagos teaches you to be."
He studied her face for a moment.
"So what do you do?"
Nancy didn't hesitate.
"I survive Lagos."
He laughed again.
"That sounds like a full time job."
"It is."
One of his friends leaned over then.
"Boss, we're opening another bottle."
The man nodded casually without looking away from Nancy.
"Go ahead."
The bottle arrived seconds later, glasses clinking as the others poured drinks.
But the conversation between Nancy and the man continued.
He asked where she stayed.
She answered vaguely.
He asked if she came to clubs often.
She shrugged.
"Only when it's worth it."
He smiled at that.
"And tonight?"
Nancy met his gaze.
"We'll see."
Time moved strangely inside the club. Music changed, people rotated around the table, laughter rising and fading like waves.
But the attention between Nancy and the man never quite disappeared.
At some point, he leaned slightly closer so she could hear him better over the music.
"You should come see me tomorrow."
Nancy raised an eyebrow.
"Tomorrow?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
She tapped her finger lightly against her glass.
"And why would I do that?"
His smile returned.
"Curiosity."
Nancy considered him for a moment.
Then she shrugged.
"Maybe."
He chuckled softly, like he already knew the answer.
Outside, the night air felt comforting.
Nancy and Amara stepped out of the club together, the music fading behind them as the door closed.
Amara grabbed Nancy's arm immediately.
"Nancy!"
"What?"
"That man likes you."
Nancy laughed.
"You're dramatic."
"I'm serious!"
Nancy reached into her bag as her phone buzzed.
She pulled it out.
A new message.
Unknown number.
She opened it.
An address.
Below it, a short message.
"Tomorrow."
Nancy smiled slightly.
Amara leaned closer.
"What did he say?"
Nancy locked the phone and slipped it back into her bag.
Then she started walking toward the road.
"Looks like tomorrow will be interesting."