Picking Sides

Maxwell, a lawyer, proposes to Lisa during a romantic dinner, but their moment is interrupted by neighbor Zainab demanding he move his car. Soon after, he loses his job, draining his savings on an engagement ring and a failed investment. Lisa pressures him for money to attend a friend's expensive wedding, and he reluctantly agrees to give her 500k despite being broke. His financial woes deepen when he cannot pay his share of the electricity meter, leading to constant conflicts with Zainab. He lies to the landlord, but Zainab covers for him. Over time, they grow closer—she helps him budget, they celebrate her birthday (the anniversary of her mother's death), and he runs into Lisa with a new man, Bruno, at a bar. Zainab's client, Barrister Ayeni, backs out of a renovation contract, refusing to pay for materials she already purchased. Max represents her, but when he meets Ayeni, the barrister offers Max a job instead of settling. Max accepts secretly, leading to a confrontation when Zainab discovers the offer letter. He takes the job and argues against her in arbitration, getting her case dismissed. However, he later investigates Ayeni, finds a pattern of similar complaints, resigns, and threatens a class-action lawsuit, forcing Ayeni to settle with Zainab for double the original amount. Max delivers the settlement check to Zainab, apologizing for his betrayal. She accepts but remains hurt. When she learns from HR that he resigned, she visits to give him a cut of the settlement, but he refuses. He tells her he got a new job and that she was the first person he wanted to inform. He asks for another chance; after a tense moment, Zainab returns and kisses him, saying he has a lot of making up to do. They reconcile as the story ends.