A billionaire in a navy blue suit looked at the time again. Engineers wiped their brows. The doors were watched by security.
Then a clear voice broke through the noise. If you let me, I’ll fix it. People turned their heads toward the open hangar door.
A young woman stood there in a torn dress, her hair wild from the heat and wind. She looked thin, like she hadn’t eaten in a while. Her fingers were covered in grease.
She merely glanced at the engine with her bright, steady eyes. The tension was broken by laughter. Are you kidding? Engineer Sam asked, with a smile and a worn look on his face.
Sam’s
One of his engineers shook his head. Who let her in? Safety. Someone else called.
Please take her outside. Two guards stepped up. Andrew Jacobs, the billionaire CEO and owner of the sleek Bombardier Challenger parked outside, raised his hand. He was wearing a navy blue suit.
Stop. His voice was loud but calm. I’ve seen strange stuff in my line of work.
Allow the young lady to speak. The guards stood still. The girl moved one more time.
She said, “Sir.” Still looking at the engine. I heard your guys’ report that there was a strange noise when you landed.
Like a whistle. After that, the engine ran badly and wouldn’t spool up right after it was turned off. Can I have a look? Sam’s mouth sprang open in shock.
That is exactly what occurred, he mumbled. Andrew looked closely at her face. The hangar buzzed with the distant hum of generators and the faint smell of jet fuel.
Girls
The squad was shocked. The guards moved back. Someone gave the girl a pair of clean gray gloves.
Her hands shook for a second as she put them on. After that, they stopped shaking. She walked over to the engine with quiet assurance, examined the intake, delicately ran her fingertips along the sensor harness, and listened, as if the metal could tell her its secret.
She crouched down next to a little panel beside the compressor and tapped it softly. Do you even know what you’re touching? A young engineer asked. She didn’t say anything.
She grabbed a small mirror and a flashlight. Her face got close to the open panel. “There,” she said quietly.
That clamp is not right. It’s tight, but it’s not in the right groove. That makes a small hole in the air.
The leak makes a whistling sound when it is under pressure. And here, she followed a wire. There is a minor split in the insulation of this sensor wire.
It’s touching the bracket. It tells the engine the wrong thing when it gets hot. The system tries to fix things, but the engine feels harsh.
Sam blinked. How could we not see that? She remarked that both problems are hiding from each other. The sound comes from the leak.
The faulty wire makes the engine act sick. You still have problems if you simply fix one. Andrew moved closer.
Can you make it work? She looked at him, then at the tools. If you let me. For a long second, his gaze held hers.
Go ahead and do it. The hanger changed. The team went from skepticism to being on guard.
The girl’s hands moved quickly and in an orderly way. She loosened the clamp, put it back in the right groove, and tightened it until it clicked. She cut and rewrapped the sensor wire, put a sleeve over it, and tied it away from the metal bracket so it wouldn’t rub against it again.
She cleaned the area and looked it over three times. She worked like a singer who knows a song or someone who knows engines. Sam leaned forward and opened his mouth.
His head engineer muttered. Hey, boss? It’s possible that she’s right. What time? Andrew asked without checking the time.
Someone said, “Seventeen minutes.” The girl stood up straight. Her forehead was speckled with sweat.
She took off the gloves and put them on the cart carefully. She said, “I’m done.” It was quiet.
Sam took a deep breath. He answered, “We’ll test it,” attempting to seem sure. But his voice sounded different.
It had respect in it now. Andrew nodded once. Put it out there.
The guys worked quickly. The engine stand clicked and rolled over the smooth floor. The afternoon sun shone bright on the tarmac outside.
A ground cart was attached. The cables were connected. There were safety cones.
The team used short, thoughtful words. The girl stood back with her hands together, watching everything and ready to help if anyone needed her. Who are you? Andrew questioned in a low voice as he walked up to her.
She opened her mouth and then shut it. Her eyes shone, but she blinked the tears away. She added softly, “If the test goes well.”
I will tell you what my name is. He looked at her for a second and then nodded. Sam and his staff were done checking.
He gave Andrew a thumbs up and looked up. Andrew gave it back and headed to the control cart himself, the back of his suit crisp against the sun. He put his hand on the starter switch, but then he stopped and looked back at the girl.
The breeze lifted strands of her hair as she stood extremely motionless. There was something powerful and calm in her eyes, like a little flame that wouldn’t go out. Sam called, and everyone was clear.
They checked the cones again. The lines were apparent. Two mechanics got to safety.
The warning lights started to whirl, flashing red on the Challenger’s white wing. The air at the airport felt thinner, as if everyone in Lagos was holding their breath with them. Andrew put his thumb on the start button.
The clock on the wall of the hangar ticked once, like a knock. He said, “Here we go.” He pushed the button, and the environment around the engine came to life.
A low whine got louder and louder. Numbers went up on the little screen. The whining turned into a smooth surge, and suddenly a loud alarm went off.
Sam’s head turned quickly toward the panel. There was only one red light that blinked. The sound changed.
Everyone looked at the girl in the ripped dress. She stepped forward and looked at the engine. Then she raised her hand as if to say, “Wait, listen.” The hangar seemed to be stuck in time.
Everyone, from the mechanic to the engineer to the guard, and even Andrew Jacobs himself, waited to see if the engine would start up again or die like it had before. The warning light was bright red and lit up the metal surface with a slight glow. The sound of the jet engine fluctuated, going up and down as if it were stuck between operating and dying…
Olivia stood with her arm up, even though no one knew her name yet. Her words broke through the fear. Don’t turn it off.
Not yet. Pay close attention. Sam frowned.
Are you out of your mind? A light that says “warning” means “danger.” We could hurt the core if— She cut him off firmly. It’s not the core. It’s just the sensor getting used to the new settings.
I changed the wiring. The system takes a little time to accept the right reading. Everyone was surprised by how calm her statements were.
Andrew’s piercing eyes moved back and forth between Sam and the girl. He had operated billion-dollar businesses long enough to know when someone was in charge. And she did.
Andrew told him to keep it still. His voice put an end to any question. The turbine’s whining got smoother.
The caution light turned red. Once, twice, and then it turned green. People gasped in the hangar.
The hum of the engine changed into a continuous, forceful rush, which was the sound of perfection. The engine of a Challenger jet was working again. Sam staggered back.
His face got pallid. One of his engineers let go of his wrench. Another person said something under his breath.
Not possible. Andrew’s mouth opened, and his eyes got bigger in surprise. His best men had fought this machine for six hours, sweating, cursing, and failing.
And in less than twenty minutes, this destitute girl in a torn gown had done what none of them could. He turned to look at her slowly. What’s your name? His voice was so low that it sounded like thunder in the hangar.
The girl had a hard time swallowing. She stood straight, but tears filled her eyes. Olivia Williams is my name.
Most of the engineers didn’t care about the name, but Sam’s face fell like he had been hit. Williams, he said, came from Nigeria Aerospace University. Best in your class? “You, you, you’re her,” whispers spread across the floor of the hangar.
Everyone had heard the stories. The prodigy who had wowed professors and the young woman who was going to be great in aerospace. And then, nothing else.
It seemed as if the earth had swallowed her whole two years ago. Andrew’s piercing eyes stayed on her. He whispered softly, “Explain.”
And there, in the light of the engine that was still running, Olivia’s voice broke as she spoke. Two years ago, my dad woke up one morning and said he was going to marry a second wife. My mom couldn’t take it.
She poisoned his food, and after he passed out, she ate the same thing, vowing they would die together before she saw him betray her. She kept on even though her voice shook. I was the only child they had.
I was twenty, just out of school for a few months, and ready to start my dream job with one of the top aerospace companies in the world. But when they both died in front of me, I fell apart. I couldn’t deal with life.
I called off my interviews. I got rid of my phone. I walked about until I lost myself.
I ended up on the streets, begging to stay alive. The engine’s buzz was the only sound in the hangar. Sam even bent his head in remorse for making fun of her a few minutes before.
Olivia’s eyes were full with tears. But I went by this repair shop every day. I would look through the fence and think about the future I lost.
And today, when I heard your shouts and realized how helpless you all were, I thought, “Just once, let me try.” Even if they kick me out. People might laugh at me.
At least I won’t have died with my dream still inside. Lotta. Owlman.
Andrew’s throat got tight. For the first time in years, he felt like crying. He was used to working in boardrooms, signing contracts, and dealing with numbers.
But this young woman’s honesty hurt him more than any speech could. Sam’s voice broke. You—you saved us.
You saved him. He pointed to the shiny Challenger jet outside that Andrew was flying. We would have failed.
Andrew moved closer, and the sound of his polished shoes on the floor could be heard. He put his hand softly on Olivia’s shoulder. You didn’t only fix my engine…
You made me remember why second chances are important. He looked at the audience. You all saw it.
Keep this moment in mind. His voice was loud and commanding. Being great isn’t about how you look.
Not about names. It’s about honesty, skill, and passion. And today, this young woman had all three.
Olivia shook with fear, not knowing whether to bow or step aside. But Andrew wasn’t finished. He said, “Olivia Williams.”
From now on, you will never have to beg for food again. You will never again be homeless on these streets. I will make sure that everyone knows who you are.
The engineers gasped and clapped. Sam clapped, even though his eyes were blurry from crying. Olivia put her hands over her lips because she was so shocked.
Hope didn’t feel like a terrible memory for the first time in years. It seemed real. Andrew looked at the time.
In six hours, I need to be in London. And I won’t go there without you. Her eyes got bigger.
Sir? You fixed my plane. You go with me. The hangar exploded again.
Sam told his crew in a low voice. She is traveling to London. She saved on that plane.
A few minutes later, Olivia was outside the hangar, looking at her reflection in the shiny surface of the plane. She didn’t see a beggar for the first time. She saw who she was always intended to be.
But when she felt the cool metal, her heart raced with panic. Is this really happening? Or would it all go away like a dream? Andrew’s voice disturbed the silence behind her. Get set.
People all across the world are going to know your name. And none of them realized that Olivia’s adventure was only beginning as she climbed the steps to the private jet. The inside of the Challenger plane looked like a flying mansion.
The polished hardwood tables were surrounded by cream leather seats that curved beautifully. Light with a gold tone came down from the ceiling. It was soft but strong. Olivia sat stiffly beside the window, her torn dress and messy hair seeming very out of place in this rich environment.
She blinked to keep the tears from falling as she watched the lights on the runway outside. The door closed and locked. Engines roared.
The jet moved ahead, and with each vibration, Olivia’s chest got tighter. Once, when her life still made sense, she had fantasized of sitting in a plane like this. She had never thought she would be here, not as a passenger but as the person who saved the same machine that took them up into the sky.
Andrew Jacob leaned back across from her like a man who was used to being in charge of the universe. But he never stopped looking at Olivia. He looked at her like a historian looks at a rare, old book.
Finally, Andrew added, “You worked on my jet like you were born to fix it.” His voice was calm over the sound of takeoff. Be honest with me. Where did you get your training? Olivia gulped.
Sir, Nigeria Aerospace University. I was the best student in my class. The first woman to get a distinction in airplane repair.
Andrew lifted his eyebrows. And yet, here you are, famished and in a ripped dress. She was so ashamed that her face burned.
She looked down at her hands. Life broke me down. Nothing made sense after my parents died.
I didn’t want to battle anymore. For a minute, there was no sound in the cabin save for the engines’ steady thrum. Andrew reached into the space next to him and took out a small velvet box.
He set it down on the table between them. Olivia hesitated, then opened it. There was a modest yet beautiful gold bracelet inside with the initials A.J. on it. She opened her mouth.
Sir, I. Andrew put his hand up. My late wife owned this bracelet.
She thought it was important to help persons who had fallen. I’m giving it to you tonight because I don’t think you should have to live on the streets. You should be in charge.
Olivia’s eyes were full with tears. She couldn’t move or breathe. With shaking hands, she closed the package.
Andrew bent over. You will meet with officials from JJ Jet Maintenance in London tomorrow. This is the same firm that offered you a job. I will tell you that you are the woman who saved my opponent.
They will pay attention. Olivia’s heart stopped. JJ Jet Upkeep? Two years ago, before her world fell apart, she had dreamed of that moment.
She had cut them off, buried her future in sadness, and now, like a miracle, it was coming back. Sir. What if they make fun of me? She said softly.
Andrew’s steely look became softer. They also make fun of me for believing in you. But I don’t think they will.
Your present is too special. The plane stabilized at cruising altitude. A hostess came in and bowed politely.
Sir, dinner is ready. Andrew waved to Olivia. Bring her some clothing.
The hostess came back with a little case of toiletries and a beautiful gold dress that sparkled in the cabin lights. Olivia’s mouth dropped open. This? Is this for me? Andrew nodded.
You won’t go to tomorrow’s meeting in rags. You will walk in as the person you are supposed to be. Olivia smiled through her tears for the first time in years.
She went inside the bathroom of the cabin. Minutes dragged on. The room seemed different when she got back.
Under the lights, her hair, which was clean and put up in a pretty bun, shone. The dress fit her slim body well and was simple yet gorgeous. It turned her from a homeless child into a queen. It was as if hope itself had polished her eyes, making them look brighter.
Andrew stood up, shocked. He had seen models in Paris, actresses in Hollywood, and business executives in London, but he had never seen a change this big before. He said calmly, “You look like fate itself.”
Olivia giggled quietly, like she was shy. I don’t feel like fate. I just feel like myself.
Once more. Dinner was spent talking quietly. Andrew quizzed her about her childhood dreams, her instructors, and her passion for cars.
She spoke with passion, and her voice sprang to life as if a door inside her had opened. Andrew leaned back after the meal, and his eyes were hard to read. Olivia.
You will have an option when this jet lands. You can go and never come back, or you can step into the life you were meant to live. What will it be? Her hands were gripping the armrest, and her breath was shaking.
She thought back to the nights she spent on the street asking for bread. The days she strolled by Sam’s repair shop, looking at the life she had lost, and now this chance, which she thought was a door opening, had been closed forever. She broke down, yet her words were strong.
I shall step into it. I won’t run again. Andrew’s lips turned into the smallest smile.
That’s good. Olivia looked out the window as the jet flew into the night sky. The lights of cities below sparkled like stars in the sky.
She thought of her parents, the tragedy, the betrayal, and the pain. For the first time, she didn’t feel like they were shackles around her neck. There were shadows behind her, and she was walking into the light.
“I won’t waste this chance,” she said to herself as she closed her eyes. But Olivia didn’t know, and even Andrew couldn’t have guessed, that fate had more in store for her than just a job. There was a storm coming to London.
Things that are secret. Choices. And someone who would soon impact her life in ways she couldn’t even begin to conceive.
Andrew fixed his tie and looked at Olivia attentively as the jet flew higher into the dark. For the first time in years, he felt a glimmer of optimism in his own heart. But deep within, a voice told him, “What if I’m wrong about her?” What if she doesn’t succeed? And Olivia, even though she attempted to keep strong, felt her stomach twist with the same question.
What if tomorrow hurts me again? The Challenger flew across the Atlantic sky with two passengers on board whose lives were about to change forever. The Challenger jet’s wheels touched down at London City Airport just as the sky turned a pale orange at dawn. Olivia put her hands on her knees and tried to calm the storm inside her.
She felt that every breath she took was too heavy and every thought was too loud. She had promised Andrew she was ready, but now that the time had come, fear gripped her throat like iron. Andrew, looking fine as ever in his navy blue suit, saw.
He bent down to her and talked quietly. Keep in mind that Olivia’s skills are more important than how she looks. Just be yourself; don’t strive to impress…
The automobile that took them away shone black against the rainy streets. The rising sun shone on London’s tall buildings. Olivia’s eyes moved quickly between the city outside and her own shaking reflection in the tinted glass.
This is it. She told herself not to run anymore. By late morning, Olivia was inside a tall building made of glass and steel that was home to JJ Jet Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul International.
The boardroom was big, with a high ceiling and walls covered in screens showing airplane blueprints and bright figures. A group of executives in dark suits sat at the end of a long table. Their faces were so keen that they could cut glass. One man, who had gray hair and narrow glasses, straightened his tie and looked right at Andrew.
We had been waiting six hours for this meeting, Mr. Jacobs. I hope you have a solid reason. Andrew’s voice was calm and authoritative.
Yes, I do. I present to you Olivia Williams, the engineer who fixed my Challenger Jet after your competitors failed. People at the table whispered, and a woman in a red blazer raised an eyebrow.
That girl. Her eyes moved over Olivia’s body, stopping on her gold dress. She seems untested.
No, Olivia’s chest tightened. She held her hands behind her back so they wouldn’t shake. Andrew’s voice got sharper.
Don’t judge by what you see. Look at what she can do. The man with gray hair leaned forward.
Okay, Miss Williams, Mr. Jacobs has a lot of good things to say about you. But being good at a Nigerian hangar isn’t the same as being good at our level of international business. What did you fix on his jet, exactly? Olivia took a breath.
This was her time. The clamp for the compressor portion was put in the wrong groove, which caused a leak that made a whistling sound when the load was on. The insulation on a sensor wire had also broken at the same time.
The wire was rubbing against a bracket, which messed up the system and made the engine perform poorly. Either issue alone would be hard to find. They hid each other from view.
That’s why the repair crew didn’t do their job. As she spoke, her voice steadied and her passion came out. But engines do talk.
All you have to do is listen. The whistle was made of air, not core. The rough spool was a typo in the information, not damage.
Both repairs gave the machine back its truth. There was silence. The boss looked at her.
One of them, an older woman with silver hair twisted back into a bun, inclined her head and looked impressed, even though she didn’t want to. That’s right. The man with glasses frowned.
A manual can be memorized by anyone. Andrew’s jaw tensed, but Olivia raised her hand a little. “Can I?” she asked.
The woman in the red blazer pointed to the wall with the screen on it. Please go ahead. Olivia moved over to the screen, where a computerized drawing of a jet engine was gently spinning.
Her fingers were close to the controls. “Give me a random failure scenario,” she said. The man with glasses smiled.
You’re brave. Very good. He typed fast.
The screen flashed, and a group of numerals became mixed up. Next to the imaginary engine, a warning light flashed red. Olivia looked over the statistics, narrowing her eyes.
She said, “This isn’t the turbine or the fuel line.” It’s a vibration sensor that gives spurious high readings. The calibration offset is inaccurate, or the sensor is loose.
She hit a few keys to find the problem. Look! The way the vibration pattern works doesn’t fit the load on the body. This is an echo in software.
It will work after recalibration. She turned around and went back to the boardroom, calm and steady. If this were real, I would inspect the mounting first, but I can assure you that the engine is good.
The red caution light went out. The screen agreed. Fixed the sensor calibration error.
The room became quiet. The woman with the silver bun was the first to speak. She is right.
Her voice had power. That’s exactly right. The man with glasses leaned back and looked pallid.
Andrew smiled just a little bit. Do you see now? The executive in the red blazer crossed her arms. We can’t deny how smart she is…
But being smart isn’t enough. To run a branch, you need to be disciplined, a leader, and tough. Andrew got up.
The room was filled with his voice. Olivia has all three. She lived through the worst possible manner of losing her parents.
She was homeless for two years, yet she still carries her knowledge like a torch that won’t go out. What else could that be but strength? The woman with the bun nodded slowly. Maybe we should stop thinking less of women like her.
She looked at Olivia. If we gave you Lagos, Miss Williams, the biggest branch in Africa, what would you do? Olivia’s heart raced. She looked at Andrew and then back at the managers.
I would make it the most profitable branch in the world. Not for pride’s sake, but to show that no tragedy or situation can stop true potential. Everyone was quiet for a moment.
The man with glasses sighed and put down his pen. Give her a chance. What I’ve witnessed is true.
The woman in red pressed her lips together but nodded quickly. At last, the woman with the gray hair smiled a little. Olivia Williams, welcome to JJ Jet Maintenance.
Lagos is yours from now on. The words hit Olivia hard. Her tears made it hard to see.
She dropped her head and said, “Thank you.” Andrew’s hand rested softly on her shoulder. You deserve this.
But Andrew’s phone rang as they left the boardroom. He looked different as he read the message. Worry lines wrinkled his forehead.
Olivia saw. Sir, is there a problem? Andrew’s lips got tighter. Not everyone seems thrilled with this choice.
There may be… opposition waiting in Lagos. Olivia’s stomach sank. Was someone already planning to take away the life she believed she had lost after she finally stepped back into it? The door to the future was open, but there were shadows lurking just outside.
The flight back to Lagos was not the same. The Challenger jet buzzed with pride as it flew Olivia toward a future she never believed conceivable. It was the same engine that Olivia had saved. Andrew sat across from her, his phone vibrating all the time as he made plans for her appointment.
Olivia should have felt like a winner, but his remarks in London stayed with her and made her uneasy. There can be people in Lagos who don’t want you to go, and they could be anyone. When they got there, reporters packed the tarmac.
The flashbulbs went off. The cameras made a buzzing sound. People had already heard that a homeless girl had done what trained engineers couldn’t.
As security led them past the crowd, Andrew put his arm around Olivia to protect her. Inside the new Lagos branch of JJ Jet Maintenance, the air was thick with stress. The hangar looked great with new paint, equipment nicely arranged, and personnel lined up to meet her. But Olivia could tell that many were unsure about her.
Sam was there, too. Andrew had asked him to come see her take her first steps as the head of the branch. His face showed respect but also shame because he had laughed at her once, and the memory was heavy on his mind.
Mr. Adewale, the regional director, stepped forward. His hand felt stiff when he shook hands. He stated in a monotone voice, “So you’re the young woman from the papers.”
I have to say that I find it hard to believe that someone so new to the job will be in charge of our biggest operation in Africa. Olivia looked him in the eye, even though her heart was racing. “Don’t judge me by where I’ve been, but by what I can do,” she said calmly.
There were murmurs among the staff. Some people seemed impressed. Some people didn’t seem convinced.
The challenge came just a week after she took over as leader. A Gulfstream jet owned by a well-known client had serious engine problems right before an overseas journey. The Lagos branch was in a panic because they thought that if they failed, their reputation would be ruined before Olivia even got used to her job.
Adewale crossed his arms. Let’s find out what the girl with the miracle can do. His voice was full of skepticism.
Olivia pushed her panic down. Bring the plane in. They pulled the airplane into the hangar.
The mechanics gathered and whispered. Olivia strolled around the engine, her fingers stroking the metal as if she were trying to hear a heartbeat. She closed her eyes and thought back to all the years she spent in school, the books she read, and the love that never died.
She remarked after a long pause, “This isn’t a fuel problem.” The bleed valve is broken. When you put weight on it, it stays open, which lets air out of the compressor.
That’s why it stops. Sam moved forward. She is correct.
He didn’t think twice this time. I saw the symptoms too, but she told me what they meant first. Adewale frowned.
Then fix it. This branch will fail with you if you do. Olivia did the repair with firm hands.
She led the team and taught them as they worked, explaining why each step was necessary. The engine was checked and roared back to life perfectly in just a few hours. The client was shocked, shook her hand, and pledged to tell everyone how great she was.
For the first time, the workforce in Lagos cheered for her. But Olivia saw Adewale in the corner, his jaw tense. He was hurt because of his pride.
And hurt pride often led to deadly plans. Olivia was alone in her office that night. The cheers of her squad still resonated faintly in the hangar, but she felt sad.
She had done it again, but the expression in Adewale’s eyes told her he wasn’t done. There was a knock at the door. Andrew walked in, his face glowing with pride.
In just a week, you’ve done more than most people do in years. Lagos is alive because of you. Olivia grinned a little.
Not everyone, though, believes in me. Not jest, but jest. There are a dozen people who believe in me.
Andrew let out a sigh. Applause is quieter than envy. But believe me, you’ve planted something that no enemy can take away…
Another knock came before Olivia could answer. Jerry got involved. Andrew’s boy was taller than she thought he would be. He had a soft smile and eyes that looked at her with quiet passion.
He had come back from London after getting his MBA and was ready to start working as the company’s accountant again. Jerry remarked softly, “So this is the Olivia I’ve been hearing about.” Olivia blushed when I told her that she was the woman who mended my father’s jet and now runs Lagos.
I wouldn’t call it a command. Jerry laughed and said, “I just try to pay attention to what the machines need.” And I think people do too.
You pay attention better than most leaders. Over the next few weeks, they saw each other a lot over dinner at Andrew’s estate. Late nights in the office adding up numbers.
Quiet conversations on the balcony with a view of the Lagos skyline. Jerry’s calm presence calmed Olivia’s concerns, while Olivia’s fire encouraged Jerry in return. It didn’t take long for rumors to start.
The staff saw how Jerry’s eyes stayed on Olivia and how her smile lit up when he was there. Jerry asked Olivia to come to the balcony one night after a hard day of looking over contracts. The city below gleamed as headlights moved across the streets like rivers of light.
He looked at her, his heart racing. You came into our lives like a hurricane, Olivia. You fixed things that other people couldn’t, like engines and hope.
I don’t want to think about what life would be like without you. He got down on one knee and took a tiny velvet box out of his pocket. There was a diamond ring within that sparkled in the city lights.
Will you be my wife? Tears streamed down Olivia’s cheeks. She had been damaged, destitute, and unseen for years. Now she was selected and loved.
She murmured, “Yes,” and her voice shook. Months later, Lagos saw a wedding like no other. Flowers and lighting made the cathedral shine. The most important people in Nigeria were in the pews.
There were a lot of reporters outside. Andrew walked Olivia down the aisle himself, holding her hand tightly and crying. He said, “You used to be a girl in rags who fixed my jet.”
You are my daughter now. People stood up when Olivia got to the altar with Jerry. She said her vows in a voice that was both strong and humble.
I lost myself in the sadness of my parents’ deaths. I slept on the streets with no hope. But one day, I had the nerve to say, “If you let me, I’ll fix it.”
That moment altered everything for me. Not only am I the head of Africa’s biggest aircraft maintenance department, but I’m also getting married to the son of the guy who gave me a second chance. This shows that light can always find us again, no matter how dark it becomes.
People in the cathedral clapped loudly. Andrew cried out loud and held his hands up to the sky in thanks. Olivia held her baby boy in her arms a year later.
Jerry stood next to her with a proud smile. They gave the boy the name Jonathan, which was Andrew’s father’s name. Tears poured down Andrew’s face as he embraced his grandson.
He had established empires, flown across continents, and run industries, but nothing could compare to this. A family back together. A legacy that lives on.
He whispered to Olivia, “You were the answer I never saw coming.” My life is full. And Olivia, who used to be a homeless kid in rags, was now smiling through her own tears.
She had found her home, her reason for being, and her love. The girl who used to beg for scraps was now a lady whose tale moved the globe.
