Binary Hearts

3| Unexpected Allies 🤝🥰

"You really have quite some nerves," Chidi Okoye said, his voice tinged with irritation. "Come next week for the interview and see if, by some stroke of luck, you get a job. What else do you want?" he added, raising his voice, clearly frustrated.

"Okay... okay, I need money," Ada stammered, her voice shaking. Chidi Okoye burst into laughter.

"Money?" he scoffed. "Need urgent money for my mom's surgery," she added, her eyes pleading. "Just 500k, I know you can do it," Ada specified, her desperation evident.

"I thought as much. You have ulterior motives. Just want to beg, huh?" Chidi Okoye spat, his tone dripping with disdain. "Let's see if we even meet you here next week," he added before walking away.

Frustrated and on the verge of tears, Ada walked out of the company. "Rich people are so stingy," she muttered under her breath, cursing her luck as she descended the stairs.

"He has done it again, putting tears on their faces," a voice said. Ada looked around and saw a handsome man in a white hoodie sitting at the edge of the stairs. He was clearly referring to her experience.

Ada, pretending not to hear, continued walking away. "Coderada!.." he called out, his voice confident and assured.

Ada stopped in her tracks, turning back towards the man. "How did you know that name?" she asked curiously, approaching him.

"Do you know me, sir? I need a job," she continued, her desperation showing.

"Chill, pretty damsel," he said with a friendly smile. "I'm Tunde Adeyemi, a good and kind tech entrepreneur unlike that bastard," he added, handing over his business card to her. "I’ve heard about your skills. You’re quite well-known in the tech circles."

"Wait!" Ada stopped him as he started to leave. "Can you help with urgent money?" she asked, tears welling up in her eyes. "I really need it for my mom's health."

Tunde looked at her sympathetically. "I'm not so sure about that. I'm not a rich man," he said, hesitating. But seeing the desperation in her face, he couldn't just walk away. "How much do you need?" he asked finally.

"OMG! Just 500k or any amount you have," she said anxiously.

Tunde sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Meet me by 4 PM at Lekki Phase 1," he said. Ada thanked him profusely before turning to leave. But a part of Tunde couldn't let her go like that. He got into his car and trailed her.

"Hey! Why don't you just... let me give you a ride," he called out, and Ada accepted gratefully.

In the car, the silence was initially awkward. Ada turned to Tunde, her curiosity piqued. "How did you know the name Coderada?" she asked.

Tunde glanced at her with a smile. "Aren't you the one that won the 2019 Debugging Hackathon?" he replied with a question of his own.

Ada was surprised. "Yes, that's me. But how did you know?"

Tunde chuckled. "I'm a polymath. I am building a conglomerate company. I'm also a gamer and a social person. So, knowing you is not a big deal. Only a rich person like Chidi Okoye wouldn't recognize people like you."

Ada's curiosity deepened. "What's your relationship with Chidi Okoye?" she asked, sensing there was more to the story.

Tunde's expression darkened slightly. "Let's keep that for another day," he said, evading the question.

When they reached Ada's house, Tunde walked her to the door. Precious opened it, and her eyes widened in recognition. "Tunde Adeyemi! What are you doing here?" she exclaimed.