Introducing the Characters
Grace's Circle
- Grace Mensah: 27, beautiful but worn by hardship. Her gentle eyes hide a steel will to survive.
- Adwoa: Her 1-year-old sunshine, blissfully unaware of their struggles.
- Maame Akosua: Grace's mother, a prayer warrior who sends weekly "alert" messages of hope.
- Afi: Grace's loud, hilarious kelewele-selling friend who watches her back on the streets.
- The Boatengs: Cruel in-laws who blame Grace for their son's death and vow she'll never prosper.
Daniel's World
At Home:
- Daniel Ofori: 35, CEO of Ofori Holdings. A self-made billionaire with a guarded heart.
- Nana Kwabena & Abena Ofori: His traditionalist parents who want him to marry "properly."
- Madam Akua: The formidable house manager who's ruled his East Legon mansion for 5 years and is in love wuth Daniel.
- The Staff: Gossipy maids (Esi & Ama), chef (Auntie Yaa), and watchful driver (Kwesi) and security (Yaw).
At Ofori Holdings:
- Marina: Daniel's razor-sharp PA who knows his schedule better than he does.
- Mr. Ansah: The elderly, no-nonsense CFO who's like a father figure.
- Eugene: Daniel's Harvard-educated VP who's secretly jealous of his success.
- The "Office Witches": A trio of stylish junior executives (Akosua, Priscilla, and Nadia) who compete for Daniel's attention.
Prologue
The Accra heat wrapped around Grace Mensah like a heavy blanket as she adjusted the icebox on her head, the weight of her desperation nearly matching the physical burden. Inside, precious sachets of water and bottles of soft drinks—her entire future purchased with her last 400 Ghana cedis—sloshed with every step. Six-month-old Adwoa, tied securely to her back with a faded kente cloth, gurgled innocently, unaware that her mother's arms trembled from more than just exhaustion.
Two months ago, Grace had been a housewife in Suhum, tending to their small apartment while her husband Kwame worked long hours as a driver. The arrival of Adwoa had stretched their finances thin, but Kwame had kissed her forehead before his last trip, promising, "This overtime will get us ahead."* The police came at midnight instead.
Her in-laws' wrath came faster than the funeral arrangements.
"You and this baby drained his life!"* Ama Boateng had screamed, throwing Grace's belongings into the street. The insurance money vanished into family accounts, the apartment lease "reassigned" to Kwame's brother. With her parents gone and no savings, Grace used the last of her transport money to reach Accra, where at least the streets offered survival.
Grace wiped sweat from her brow and forced a smile as a trotro slowed nearby. "Pure water! Cold soft drinks!" she called, her voice hoarse from hours of shouting.
As the sun began its descent, Grace counted her remaining inventory with a sinking heart. Too much left. Too little sold.