Binary Hearts

25| Torn ❤️‍🔥

Adaora's office at Paystack had a new sense of prestige to it, marked by her recent promotion. The walls felt taller, and the view from her window seemed a little wider. But despite the elevation in her professional life, something was off. The vibrant energy she once felt when walking through the corridors was dimming, as if a shadow had fallen over the company. She noticed that Chidi Okoye, the enigmatic CEO, was nowhere to be seen. In his place, Ezra Olubi, the co-founder, had taken the reins. This sudden shift unsettled her, and though she tried to brush it off, the nagging feeling wouldn't leave her.

At home, Tunde noticed the change in her demeanor. Adaora was quieter, more contemplative. She often found herself lost in thought, her eyes clouded with concern. Whenever Tunde asked what was bothering her, she would force a smile and dismiss it with a simple, "I'm fine." But he knew better. He could sense the unease lingering around her like a storm waiting to break.

With Adaora's thoughts preoccupied by the absence of Chidi, Tunde was busy with his own endeavors. He had returned to the mainland to focus on expanding Spark Technologies, eager to push the boundaries of what his company could achieve. The distance gave Adaora some space to delve deeper into her thoughts about Chidi's sudden disappearance, but it also made the growing worry in her heart more acute.

One evening, Adaora's colleague Bam Bam visited her at her house. As she stepped into Adaora's mansion, her eyes widened with astonishment. "Wow, Ada, I didn't know you were this rich!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine surprise.

Adaora quickly dismissed the notion. "It's not really mine," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "It's all thanks to Chidi Okoye, the CEO."

Bam Bam's eyes narrowed playfully. "I knew it!" she declared, her tone teasing. "You two must be dating."

Adaora laughed, shaking her head. "No, we're not dating," she replied, her tone serious, as she leaned back on the couch.

The conversation shifted to more serious matters. "I haven't seen the CEO lately," Adaora began, her voice tinged with the worry she had been trying to hide. "And the last time I saw him, he didn't look happy at all."

Bam Bam nodded in agreement and moved closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You're right to be concerned. There's a rumor going around... that the NITA award we won wasn't ours. It was supposed to go to Tunde Adeyemi, the CEO of Spark Technologies."

Adaora's eyes widened in shock. "What? How do you know this?"

Bam Bam smirked. "Thompson, our number one gossip source. He's always got the inside scoop," she said, rolling her eyes with a knowing smile.

Adaora couldn't believe her ears. "But how do you know the information is real?"

Bam Bam shrugged. "It's true. Thompson is actually related to Chidi Okoye in some way... I don't know the details, but he's got connections."

The conversation lingered in Adaora's mind long after Bam Bam left, the thought of Tunde's hard work being stolen haunting her. She walked Bam Bam to the gate, where Bam Bam couldn't resist one last tease. "Tell Chidi to get a mansion for me too!" she called out with a laugh as she left.

Back in her living room, Adaora couldn't shake the guilt gnawing at her. Tunde had worked tirelessly for that award, and now it seemed like it had been stolen from him. She decided she needed to do something to make it up to him, to show him how much she appreciated his hard work. Determined, she went to the bathroom to freshen up, dressing in a way she knew would catch Tunde's eye-sexy, confident.

She headed to the kitchen to prepare a special meal for Tunde. The aroma of the food filled the house as she carefully cooked his favorite dishes, dishing the meal into a flask for the surprise visit she had planned. Evening had settled in, and the weather was calm, the sky a deepening shade of blue as Adaora drove towards Tunde's place.

As she drove, her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a man stumbling dangerously close to her car. She honked, shouting out of the window, "Watch where you're going!" But when she got a closer look, her heart skipped a beat. It was Chidi Okoye.

"Oh my God," Adaora whispered to herself as she pulled over. She rushed out of the car and managed to help Chidi into the passenger seat, her mind racing with concern.

"I can't go home," Chidi muttered, his voice slurred from alcohol.

Adaora's worry deepened. She made a quick decision and turned the car around, heading back to her house. With the help of her gateman, she got Chidi inside, ignoring his curious question, "Madam, you no go island again?"

In the living room, Adaora prepared a honey drink to help sober Chidi up. "Here, drink this," she said, handing him the cup.

Chidi took a sip, his hand trembling slightly. "I'm getting addicted to this, aren't I?" he said, trying to force a smile.

Adaora sat down beside him, her voice soft with concern. "I'm more concerned about when you started drinking and what's causing it."

Chidi's eyes filled with sadness as he looked down at the cup in his hands. "It's my father," he confessed, his voice heavy with despair. "He's the one who made sure we won the NITA award... even though it wasn't ours to win."

Adaora's heart sank. "Chidi, no one knows about that. You just need to keep it a secret and move on," she said, trying to console him.

But Chidi's pain ran deeper than she had realized. "I miss my mom," he whispered, his voice breaking.

Adaora felt a lump in her throat as memories of her own mother flooded back. "I know how you feel," she said quietly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Chidi's voice was barely above a whisper. "Since she died, my dad has treated me like an unwanted son. He gives me everything I need, but there's no peace. I feel like a stranger in my own life, like an empty barrel."

Adaora's heart ached for him. "You're not empty, Chidi. I understand... but you're not alone."

Before she could say more, Chidi leaned in and kissed her, the action so sudden and intense that it took Adaora by surprise. His lips were warm and desperate against hers, and for a moment, she found herself kissing him back. But as his hands moved to squeeze her breast, reality crashed back in, and she pulled away, her breath shaky.

"Chidi, we can't," she whispered, but the words felt hollow as she looked into his tear-filled eyes, understanding the depth of his loneliness and pain.