Binary Hearts

88| The Thin Line

Between Work and Love

Chidi and Hannah stepped out of his office, their laughter blending with the soft hum of office conversations. The atmosphere in Paystack had subtly shifted since her arrival, and Chidi could feel it. As they made their way to the coffee room, Hannah looked at him with an amused glint in her eyes.

"You've really changed, seriously," she said, her gaze lingering on him. "Chidi the cry baby back then," she teased.

Chidi chuckled, though a little nervously. "Yeah, well, people grow up."

They reached the coffee room where Adaora stood, preparing her cup of coffee in silence. Hannah barely acknowledged her, focused instead on her conversation with Chidi.

"We just established this coffee room so our workers wouldn't have to go outside and interrupt their work process," Chidi explained, gesturing around the room as if to show off the company's progress.

"Oh, how thoughtful," Hannah responded, her tone dripping with mild sarcasm. Then, without even looking at Adaora, she snapped, "Hey! Get me and Chidi a cup of coffee."

Adaora’s hand stilled as she poured her own coffee, her eyes narrowing slightly. Before she could respond, Chidi quickly interjected.

"I'll get it," he said, his voice a little too hurried, sensing the tension in the air. His discomfort was obvious as he moved towards the counter, but Adaora's calm demeanor stopped him.

"It's fine," Adaora said softly, already reaching for two extra cups. "I’ll get it."

Chidi hesitated, catching her eye, but she didn’t give him the chance to object further. The room grew quieter as she handed the coffee to Hannah, who accepted it without a word of thanks, and Chidi, who offered her a sheepish smile.

Back in the main office, the air was thick with whispered conversations. The staff had quickly grown to despise Hannah, with her arrogance and immediate sense of superiority. It hadn’t even been a full day, and she had already established herself as someone not to be liked. Her flirtatious behavior with Chidi, her commanding tone, and the way she dismissed the staff all but sealed her reputation. She wasn’t just a guest. She was here to stay. And worse—she was the new boss.

By the time the clock struck past four, the office had quieted down. Adaora packed her things, her mind drifting to her plans for the evening. She moved quickly, hoping to avoid any more encounters with Hannah or anyone else. As she reached her car, she heard footsteps behind her.

"Ada!" Chidi called, rushing towards her from the building's entrance.

Adaora stopped and turned, her eyebrows raised in mild surprise. "Oh, Chidi."

Chidi jogged over, slightly out of breath. "Will you be free this evening?" he asked directly, his tone casual but with a hint of something more. "I want to pay you a visit."

Adaora blinked, taken aback by the forwardness. "Uhmm... yeah, I guess. But won’t you be busy with Hannah? You two seem like long-time sweethearts." She said the last part with a faint edge, though she wasn’t sure where it came from.

Chidi laughed, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Jealous already?"

"Jealous?" Adaora scoffed, her face serious. "Far from that. I’m not jealous."

"Hmmm..." Chidi tilted his head, his expression softening. "I would love it if you were." He spoke quietly, the sincerity in his voice almost making Adaora pause.

Adaora felt her heart skip a beat, but she quickly shrugged it off. "Well, expect me at your place," Chidi said, before giving her one last smile and turning to head back.