Olaedo instinctively stepped back, slight, controlled, but noticeable. For a second, she forgot the polished image she was supposed to maintain.
Chibuzor recovered instantly. His arm slid around her waist in one smooth motion, pulling her close enough to close any gap their slip might have created.
"I've got you," he murmured. His tone held irritation, not tenderness.
Olaedo didn't break her smile. Not even a crack. But her soft whisper cut back just as sharply. "Don't get used to it."
The boisterous aunt didn't notice anything amiss. She stepped back with a wide grin and whispered to her husband as they walked away, "She seems shy, but that's okay."
As Olaedo and Chibuzor continued their rounds, something in the atmosphere shifted. The polite admiration around them became sharper, more focused.
People watched them with curiosity, with gossip heavy interest, and with envy that simmered quietly beneath the surface.
