Nikolai Ivanov, Dmitri Petrov & Olu Fashola
The restaurant was dimly lit, all dark wood, soft amber lights, and a thick aroma of aged whiskey mingling with the subtle hint of rich, spiced food. Dmitri sat across from Nikolai at the long, polished mahogany table, his gaze steady as he skimmed over the paperwork they’d been reviewing. Nikolai, meanwhile, leaned back, his expression unreadable, fingers tapping against his whiskey glass in a rhythmic, almost thoughtful way. They were waiting,...
Ada Harrington and Jane Harrington
Jane sat on the edge of her couch, her fingers frozen around her phone, knuckles white as she read and reread the message. “Ada and Nathan are married. .” A short message, yet the words pierced her as sharply as if they’d been carved into her skin. The phone screen dimmed, but the words lingered in her mind, burned there like an afterimage she couldn’t shake.
She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, and a hollow laugh escaped her lips....
Olu Fashola & Indri Farrugia
The city’s buzz was a distant hum as Olu settled himself on the rooftop, the night cool and damp, the sky darkening as a thin layer of clouds drifted past. From here, the city lights sprawled out in all directions, sharp edges of buildings cutting into the night, yellow and white dots flickering in the distance like a long string of dim, endless stars.
Indri had told him to meet her here at midnight. Olu wasn’t sure if she’d actually show or if this was just...
Nikolai Ivanov & Olu Fashola
The gallery’s polished floors gleamed under low, cool lighting, reflecting the bold and eerie canvases mounted along the walls. Despite the buzzing crowd, Olu felt alone in the room, his presence like a shadow drifting between clusters of patrons. His gaze lingered on his latest piece, a fractured and dark painting streaked with deep reds and shadowy grays, each brushstroke hiding something unspoken.
Just as he was about to move, he felt the prickle of a gaze on...