Binary Hearts

16| Uncertain 🙂🥱

Ada woke up to the gentle warmth of the morning sun streaming through the large windows. She stretched luxuriously on the king-sized bed, feeling the softness of the high-thread-count sheets against her skin. The unfamiliar surroundings of the mansion took a moment to register, and she marveled at the opulence of her new room. The bed was immense, the kind she'd only seen in movies, and the décor was tasteful, with neutral tones accentuated by splashes of color in the artwork on the walls.

As she lay there, she felt a pang of worry about Chidi Okoye. The memory of his collapse haunted her thoughts, but she tried to focus on the positives of the day. It was her payday, and Paystack was set to release a new version of their software—90% of which was her work. She felt a swell of pride mixed with the anxiety of the unknown.

After brushing her teeth in the spacious, marble-lined bathroom, she heard her phone buzz with a notification. She picked it up to see a message from First Bank. Her eyes widened as she read the balance: ₦97,000 had been deposited into her account. Tears welled up as she thought of her mother, wishing she could have saved her with this money. She sat on the edge of the bed, feeling the weight of her loss and the loneliness of her success.

Needing a distraction, she turned on the flat-screen Samsung TV mounted on the wall. The news was already buzzing about Chidi Okoye's collapse. Reporters and concerned users flooded the gates of Paystack HQ, all seeking answers. Mr. Folarin, the acting spokesperson, addressed the crowd.

"The CEO collapsed due to health reasons. We are all human, and sometimes we fall ill," he said, trying to quell the speculation. "The new version of Paystack will be released today at 10 AM as promised."

Ada's worry deepened. She thought of calling Chidi but realized she didn't have his number. The sense of emptiness grew as she felt isolated in her mansion, disconnected from those who mattered.

Meanwhile, at Tunde's company, he watched the same news report, feeling a knot of concern for Ada. His anger from the previous days had dissipated, replaced by a sense of urgency to reconcile with her. He knew the pressure she must be feeling.

"You'll handle the company matters for the few days I'll be off," Tunde instructed his secretary, Hannah, before heading out to the island. His first stop was his friend Mide's new house, a grand mansion that took him by surprise.

  *************************************

"Everything is going as planned, sir. Ada is now in the new house you gave her, and I'm sure she's worried right now," Joshua, Chidi Okoye's personal assistant, informed him.

"But sir, won't it affect the company if you're not present on launch day?" Joshua asked, concerned.

"Don't worry about that. I've taken care of everything," Chidi replied confidently.

Joshua hesitated before asking, "Sir, do you have feelings for Miss Adaora?"

Chidi's face grew contemplative as memories of his first encounter with Adaora flooded back. He didn't answer, lost in thought.

Tunde greeted Mide warmly, admiring his friend's new lifestyle. They settled down to talk, and Tunde shared his concerns about Adaora.

"You're not dating this girl, so what right do you have to question her like that? She must be frustrated," Mide pointed out.

"But I kissed her," Tunde replied earnestly. "I kissed her that day, and she didn't pull back."

"Hmmm, that still doesn't prove you guys are dating," Mide countered.

"It wasn't just a normal kiss. I claimed ownership with that kiss, I swear," Tunde said with a serious expression.

"Bad guy!" Mide laughed, patting Tunde on the back. "Just talk things out. It's love troubling you both."

After a moment of silence, Tunde nodded. Mide offered him a drink, but Tunde declined, taking the wine with him as he left. He drove back to his company on the island, determined to find Ada.

Tunde arrived at the garage to find no trace of Adaora. He wasn't surprised, thinking Ada would be at work. He was greeted by Mama Yellow, an older woman living nearby.

"Tunde! How you dey?" she called out.

"I dey fine, Mama Yellow," he replied with a smile.

"It's been a while I don see you for this area. Your wife don join you for where you dey?" she asked.

"You mean Ada?" Tunde asked, curious.

"Yes, I see am dey pack her load yesterday," Mama Yellow replied.

Realizing Ada had moved, Tunde got back in his car and drove straight to Paystack HQ. The crowd there made it impossible to get through, so he decided to call Ada.

When Ada answered, there was a long silence before either of them spoke.

"Hello, Tunde," Ada finally said.

"Where are you?" Tunde asked, his voice tinged with concern.

"I'm fine," she replied, avoiding the question. "Let's meet in the afternoon at the Yellow Chilli Restaurant and Bar."

"Alright," Tunde agreed, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety.

As Ada ended the call, she felt a glimmer of hope though scared. Maybe things would start to make sense soon. She looked around her new home, taking in the beauty and comfort, but knowing the real challenges awaited her outside these walls.