NO STRINGS ATTACHED

 

In the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria, Henry and Jessica found themselves entangled in an unexpected web of professional companionship. Both interns at Wolfax Nig Ltd, a leading IT firm, their desks were adjacent, and their projects often intertwined, leading them to collaborate daily. The best data analysis company in town was a place everyone wanted to learn from, thus having them around like other interns before them was a routine the company was used to. However, it wasn't just their work that kept them together and made them that close; it was also the fact that Henry lived just a stone's throw away from Jessica. Victoria Island to Ajah might seem like a stone throw, but the distance and stress weren’t that easy. 

Every morning, they found themselves sharing a ride to the office, navigating the chaotic Lagos traffic together. Jessica was used to the bustle in Lagos as she grew up there, unlike Henry that youth service brought to Lagos from Port Harcourt. The routine began innocently enough, with casual conversations about work and the city. However, as the days passed, their connection deepened, and a genuine friendship developed. The traffic kept them longer on Victoria Island, waiting till late hours to get back home. They shared drinks together, and slowly they got fond of themselves.

 

Both Henry and Jessica were in committed relationships; thus, their partners started suspecting that there might be more to the connection than just professional collaboration. No gist ends without them mentioning the other person’s name. Henry’s girlfriend, who lives in Port Harcourt, started feeling distant from her boyfriend. Most calls have Jessica beside him. Working hours extended till 9 pm, and she wasn’t getting comfortable with that. As for Jessica, her boyfriend was busier than her. This gave her space to fraternize more with Henry. Weekend time-outs started, and they had plans for every free time they could share until Dafe knew the name Henry was a constant recurrence. The whispers and raised eyebrows became unavoidable, and soon enough, they were confronted by their partners about the nature of their relationship.

Determined to prove that their bond was purely platonic, Henry and Jessica decided to set some ground rules. They established a "No Strings Attached" pact, vowing to maintain a strictly professional relationship outside of work hours. They emphasized that their connection was rooted in mutual professional goals and the convenience of their geographical proximity.

As the weeks passed, the duo faced various challenges in sticking to their pact. The fact they had to talk about it elevated their latent feelings for themselves. The emotional support they provided each other at work naturally spilled into their personal lives. They found comfort in sharing their ambitions, fears, and dreams. However, every time the lines got dim, they reminded themselves of the importance of their mission to prove the doubters wrong.

To further dispel any doubts, Henry and Jessica made a conscious effort to involve their partners in their lives. They organized double dates, now involved Henry in some weekend outings, and had casual get-togethers when Henry’s girlfriend came to town to showcase the transparency of their relationship. As they navigated through the complexities of work and personal life, Henry and Jessica discovered the true meaning of loyalty, friendship, and commitment.

Then the farmer’s analysis job came. It was firstly a data cleaning process, but the time given by the government to deliver the job needed overtime. Their working hours have been extended, and the next three weeks are going to be more late nights and weekends. Two blocks from the office was a hotel that was offered for proximity for the job to be completed. The pressure intensified, and the boundaries started to blur. From adjacent desks at work to adjacent hotel rooms after work, the strings were getting attached, and then the evening came.

 

As they found themselves working late into the night, the atmosphere in the hotel room became charged with both professional urgency and an undeniable tension. The proximity that was once a convenience now posed a threat to the carefully maintained boundaries. Late-night discussions turned from data analysis to personal reflections, and the lines between friendship and something more became increasingly difficult to distinguish.

The unspoken tension reached its peak one evening as they found themselves engrossed in a task, surrounded by scattered papers and glowing computer screens. A moment of vulnerability led to a shared realization that the "No Strings Attached" pact might have become more of a challenge than a solution. The connection that started as professional had evolved into something deeper, and the undeniable chemistry could no longer be ignored…...