Chapter 1 - TOO MUCH ATTENTION
Daniel hated unnecessary attention.
Unfortunately for him, attention loved him.
The elevator doors slid open on the twenty-first floor, and almost immediately, heads turned.
“Morning, Daniel.”
“Hey stranger.”
“Looking good today.”
Daniel walked through the office calmly, coffee in hand, his expression unreadable as usual. Dark charcoal suit. Black tie loosened slightly. Watch glimmering under the office lights.
The kind of man who looked expensive without trying.
Kingsley Holdings was one of the biggest marketing firms in Nairobi, and despite being one of the youngest senior executives in the building, Daniel had already built a reputation people respected.
Smart.Disciplined.Focused.
Unfortunately…
Women noticed him more than his achievements.
Especially older women.
Daniel passed the reception desk and instantly caught two interns whispering before one of them quickly looked away.
He almost smiled, almost.
“Daniel.” He turned slightly.
Nancy from HR stood near the front desk holding a file against her chest. Mid-forties. Elegant. Divorced. Extremely confident.
“You ignored my email again,” she said playfully.
“I replied.”
“With one word.”
“You asked a yes-or-no question.”
Nancy laughed harder than the joke deserved.
A few nearby employees glanced over.
“You know,” she said while stepping slightly closer, “your attitude is exactly why women can’t stay away from you.”
Daniel took a slow sip of coffee.
“I think people in this office need more work to do.”
Nancy bit her lip slightly, it felt dangerous.
That was the problem, these interactions happened too often now and Daniel was getting tired of pretending not to notice.
Ten minutes later, Daniel stood confidently in front of a digital presentation screen inside the executive conference room.
Glass walls.Leather chairs million-shilling contracts being discussed casually.
“…if we secure the Nairobi contract before the end of the quarter,” Daniel continued smoothly, “the company’s projected growth increases by at least eighteen percent.”
Several executives nodded, even the CEO looked impressed. Daniel carried himself like a man who already knew success was inevitable.
Calm voice, sharp mind and zero panic.
But while everyone focused on the presentation, Mrs. Evelyn Carter focused on him and Daniel noticed it immediately. She was wearing an elegant black dress, wine-red and her expensive perfume filled the whole room. A married woman yet here she was, staring at him like she had already imagined bad decisions.
“You’re very good at what you do,” Evelyn said softly once the meeting ended.
Daniel closed his laptop calmly ....... Thank you.”
“And very confident for someone your age.”
“I know what I’m talking about.”
A slow smile appeared on her face.
“That makes you even more attractive.”
There it was, direct, unfiltered and dangerous.
Daniel held his gaze for a second before stepping back politely.
“Have a good afternoon, Mrs. Carter.”
He walked out before the conversation could become something else, but even as he left the conference room…He still felt her eyes following him.
The office suddenly felt louder.
A few female employees looked away quickly as Daniel passed by.
One pretended to be busy on her computer.Another smiled too long.
Daniel ignored all of it until his phone buzzed in his hand.
MARK: LUNCH NOW!! Before I report you for emotionally distracting female employees.
Daniel smirked slightly.
A second message appeared immediately.
MARK: Also Tevin says you’re probably somebody’s stepdad by accident already.
Daniel shook his head and headed toward the elevator.
Outside the building, a black BMW was parked carelessly near the entrance.
Mark leaned against it wearing sunglasses despite the cloudy weather. Loud, confident and zero shame. The type of man who could flirt during an earthquake.
Beside him stood Tevin, calmer and more composed, scrolling through his phone with the expression of a man constantly questioning his friendships.
“You took forever,” Mark complained immediately.
Daniel unlocked his car remotely.
“Some of us work.”
“Correction,” Mark said dramatically, “some of us survive sexual harassment daily.”
Tevin looked up from his phone.
“Honestly, bro,” he said seriously, “at this point your workplace needs prayer.”
Daniel sighed.
“You people exaggerate everything.”
“EXAGGERATE?” Mark almost shouted. “Brooo, older women look at you like rent is due tomorrow.”
Daniel laughed under his breath as they drove off to a nearby restaurant.
The waitress nearly dropped the menus when Daniel looked at her.
Tevin noticed immediately.
“Oh my God,” he muttered. “See? SEE?”
“I literally just sat down.” Daniel said.
“That girl forgot English for three seconds,” Mark replied.
Daniel leaned back in his chair calmly.
“Women flirt. Life continues.”
“No,” Tevin corrected while pointing at him. “Women flirt with normal men. The situations around you are becoming suspicious.”
Mark nodded immediately.
“One day,” he added dramatically, “you’ll accidentally destroy somebody’s marriage.”
“Not my problem.”
Tevin nearly choked on his drink.
“That,” he pointed aggressively, “THAT is exactly how it becomes your problem.”
For a second, Daniel went quiet, not because they were wrong, but because lately it actually felt like something was building around him. Something messy.
Then Daniel’s phone buzzed loudly.
He checked the message and suddenly frowned.
“What?” Tevin asked.
Daniel slowly turned the screen toward him.
It was a photo, of Daniel entering the office building that morning, taken from a distance.
Below it was one message:
You looked good today.
No name, no number saved, just that message.
The table suddenly became quieter.
Even Mark stopped joking.
Tevin leaned back slowly.
“Yeah,” he muttered carefully. “Your life is officially becoming dangerous.”
Daniel stared at the screen for a few seconds longer than he wanted to.
Because something about the message felt wrong.
Not flirtatious, not harmless, but obsessive.
And for the first time in a very long time…
Daniel felt watched.
