Chapter 2 Maya Clark

Maya Clark stared through the glass wall of her office, watching a fleet of delivery trucks maneuver through the compound below.

One after another, they rolled past the iron gates of Clark's Logistics & Import, carrying cargo that represented millions of naira and, to Maya, something far more precious: her parents' legacy.

She leaned back in her chair and exhaled slowly.

"You're staring again."

Maya didn't turn around. "I'm working."

Her best friend, Serena, dropped a heavy file onto the desk with a dull thud. "Staring at trucks isn't working."

"It is when I'm the owner."

Serena folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. "You're twenty-two."

"And?"

"And most twenty-two-year-olds are worrying about assignment deadlines, weekend parties, relationship drama, and whether they have enough money for takeout."

Maya finally turned her chair around. "Well, I'm worrying about customs clearance, three delayed shipments, a supplier who thinks I'm naive, and whether my accountant is secretly trying to ruin me."

Serena burst out laughing. "See? Exactly my point."

Maya rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her lips as she pulled the file toward her.

Clark's Logistics & Import was printed across the heavy cardstock in bold black letters. She ran her fingertips over the embossed text. There had been a time when seeing that name brought a rush of pride. Now, it was a constant reminder that she had everything to prove.

Her eyes drifted back to Serena.

They had met years ago, long before Maya ever imagined sitting behind her father's mahogany desk, struggling to keep his life's work afloat. Through every shift and tragedy, Serena had remained anchored by her side. She was the rare kind of friend who could annoy Maya for five minutes straight and still be the first person on speed dial when the sky started falling.

Serena had witnessed Maya at her absolute lowest-the sleepless nights, the sharp outbursts, the suffocating silences, and the days when Maya wanted nothing more than to shut out the entire world. Yet, she had never walked away. Maya didn't trust easily, but Serena was an exception.

Perhaps that was why Serena could get away with saying things that would have landed anyone else permanently on Maya's blacklist-like reminding her of her age while she was trying to run an empire.

"What?" Serena asked, catching Maya's gaze.

"Nothing."

"You're doing that thing again."

"What thing?"

"Thinking too loudly."

Maya snorted. "You've known me too long."

"Unfortunately," Serena quipped, though her eyes softened.

Maya smiled despite herself. Serena was right; she knew Maya too well to be fooled by a brave face. She knew when Maya was pretending to be fine, and right now, Maya genuinely needed her.

Opening the file, Maya got straight to business. "What's the issue with the Lagos shipment?"

Serena pulled a chair up to the desk. "The supplier altered the delivery schedule."

Maya's brow furrowed. "Again?"

"Again."

"Fantastic."

"And there's more," Serena added carefully.

Maya looked up slowly from the paperwork. "Why does that phrase always precede a disaster?"

"Because your life is a drama series," Serena offered with an apologetic grin.

"My life is exhausting."

"Same thing."

Maya closed the folder. "Tell me."

"The transportation company handling the secondary leg of the shipment just pulled out."

The color drained slightly from Maya's face. "What?"

"They sent an official notice this morning."

"On what grounds?"

"They didn't provide a clear reason."

Maya stood up, leaning her palms against the desk. "Who was handling it?"

When Serena named the firm, Maya's stomach tightened. It was one of the largest logistics operators in the country. She walked back to the window, her mind racing.

This shipment was critical. Losing the contract wouldn't just mean a massive financial hit; it would crush Clark's reputation before they could prove they could contend with the industry giants. And Maya refused to lose.

"Find me an alternative supplier," Maya commanded.

Serena raised an eyebrow. "Just like that?"

"No." Maya picked up her phone, her posture straightening. "I'm going to handle it myself."

A slow smile spread across Serena's face. "There she is."

Maya glanced over. "Who?"

"The woman who thinks she can fix the entire world."

"Someone has to," Maya replied quietly.

She turned back toward the glass. For a brief second, her reflection caught the light-young, resolute, but visibly worn. There were buried parts of herself she never let the outside world see, grief and memories locked away so deep she could almost pretend they didn't exist.

Almost.

Her phone vibrated sharply in her palm. An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen.

She let it ring once, twice, before answering. "Hello?"

Silence met her on the line.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

Nothing. Then the call abruptly disconnected.

Maya stared at the dark screen, a cold prickle of unease settling in her chest.

"Who was that?" Serena asked, noticing her shift in posture.

"I... I'm not sure." Maya forced a calm expression and slipped the phone into her pocket. "Probably a wrong number."

She sat back down and opened the file once more. There was no time for distractions. Whatever belonged in the past was going to stay there-she had no intention of letting old ghosts ruin her future.

"Let's fix this shipment," Maya said, her tone steady.

Serena nodded approval. "That's my girl."

Maya managed a small, determined smile.

She didn't know it yet, but the decision she made in her office that morning was about to rewrite everything-not just for Clark's Logistics, but for herself, for Alexander, and for the life she thought she had so carefully built.