Chapter 173 The cousin of the boss

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, rousing Mariama from her fitful sleep. For a moment, she was disoriented, the unfamiliar surroundings of Andre's guest room throwing her off balance. Then the events of the previous night came rushing back, and she groaned, burying her face in the pillow. A soft knock at the door made her sit up. "Mariama? Are you awake?" Andre's voice called from the other side. "Just a minute," she replied, quickly running her fingers through her hair and straightening her rumpled clothes. When she opened the door, Andre stood there, looking as if he hadn't slept at all. "Good morning," he said, his eyes scanning her face. "I hope you slept well." Mariama nodded, not trusting herself to speak. The awkwardness from their dinner seemed to have returned tenfold. "I thought you might like some breakfast," Andre continued, gesturing towards the hallway. "And we should probably discuss our next steps." As they made their way to the dining room, Mariama c