Binary Hearts

44| The Turning Tide 🌊

As the golden light of the early morning filtered through the hotel windows, Adaora packed her suitcase with mixed emotions. Her time in Singapore had been a whirlwind of emotions, meetings, and unexpected revelations. Chidi stood in the doorway, watching her with an intensity that made her uneasy.

“Ready to go?” Chidi asked, his voice calm but carrying an underlying tension.

Adaora nodded, closing her suitcase with a final snap. “Yes, I’m ready.”

The drive to the airport was quiet, both of them lost in their thoughts. Chidi was contemplating his next move, knowing that returning to Lagos meant he would need to solidify his plans to win Adaora over. Meanwhile, Adaora’s mind was still on Tunde. She hadn’t seen him since their conversation about Spark Technologies, and a part of her worried about him.

The flight was uneventful, but Adaora couldn’t shake the feeling that something significant was happening behind the scenes.

Tunde arrived at the luxurious Marina Bay Sands, where his stepmother had suggested they meet. The sprawling hotel and casino complex towered above the city, a symbol of wealth and power. As he entered the opulent restaurant on the 57th floor, Tunde couldn’t help but feel a pang of anxiety. The place was bathed in soft, ambient lighting, with panoramic views of the Singapore skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows. The tables were adorned with fine china and crystal glasses, reflecting the glow of the city lights outside.

His stepmother, Mrs. Adeyemi, was already seated at a secluded table near the window, dressed impeccably in a tailored navy blue suit. Next to her was Tunde’s little stepsister, Zara, who was coloring quietly in a book. Tunde hadn’t seen them in years, and the sight of Zara, who was now a young girl of about ten, filled him with an unexpected warmth.

“Hello, Tunde,” Mrs. Adeyemi greeted him with a cool smile as he approached. Zara looked up and gave him a shy wave, which Tunde returned with a small smile.

“Hello, Mrs Adeyemi,” Tunde replied, his tone formal as he took a seat. He turned to Zara, “You’ve grown so much, Zara. How are you?”

Zara beamed, “I’m good, Tunde! I’m drawing a picture of the hotel.”

“That’s lovely,” Tunde responded, his voice softening as he glanced at her drawing. But his attention quickly returned to his stepmother, who was studying him with a calculating gaze.

The conversation began awkwardly, with polite inquiries about family and health, but it quickly turned to business.

“I’ve heard about Spark Technologies,” Mrs. Adeyemi began, her tone businesslike. “You’re facing some challenges I guess”

Tunde nodded, feeling the familiar weight of stress on his shoulders. “Yes, we are. That’s why I’m here. I wanted to discuss a potential partnership.”

Mrs. Adeyemi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Go on.”

Tunde took a deep breath and laid out his proposal. He proposed a partnership that would involve an $850 million investment into Spark Technologies in exchange for a significant equity stake.

For the first time during their meeting, Mrs. Adeyemi’s expression softened. “$850 million is a substantial sum, Tunde. But I’m willing to consider it, under certain conditions.”

Tunde felt a flicker of hope. “What are those conditions?”

“You must agree to my terms regarding how the company is managed. I want a say in the key decisions, especially concerning the direction of the company.”

Tunde hesitated, knowing that agreeing to this would mean relinquishing some control. But he also knew that without this partnership, Spark Technologies might not survive. “I’m willing to agree to that,” he said finally.

A rare smile spread across Mrs. Adeyemi’s face. “Good. Then we have a deal.”

Zara looked up from her drawing and grinned. “Does that mean you’ll be spending more time with us, Tunde?”

Tunde’s heart ached a little at the innocent question but he didn't reply to it.

As the meeting drew to a close, Tunde couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief and accomplishment. The partnership with ZenithPay was a lifeline for Spark Technologies, and it would give him the resources he needed to steer the company back on track.

But just as they were about to leave, Mrs. Adeyemi paused and turned to Tunde. “There’s something else I need to discuss with you.”

Tunde frowned, sensing the seriousness in her tone. “What is it?”

“It’s about your father’s company,” she began, her voice quieter now. “His family has been trying to take my shares, to push me out. They don’t think I have a right to be there, and they’re using every tactic to make me sell.”

Tunde was surprised. “You never mentioned this before. Why are you telling me now?”

“I didn’t want to burden you with more problems,” she admitted. “But now, I think we can help each other. I’m willing to sell my shares to you, and some of the other shareholders as well, but it has to be done quietly. If you can take control of the company, it will benefit both of us.”

Tunde was silent for a moment, processing what she had just said. The idea of taking control of his father’s company was both daunting and exciting. It would be a huge responsibility, but it could also be his chance to get back his total control of Spark Technologies. “I’ll do it but you'll follow my terms,” he said decisively.

Tunde returned to Lagos with a renewed sense of purpose. As soon as he landed, he called Mide to share the good news.

“Mide, we’ve got a partnership,” Tunde said, his voice filled with excitement. “ZenithPay is investing $850 million into Spark Technologies.”

Mide let out a whoop of joy on the other end of the line. “That’s amazing, Tunde! I knew you’d pull through. This is exactly what we needed.”

Tunde smiled, feeling a sense of pride and relief. “Thanks, Mide. I couldn’t have done it without your support.”

But as soon as they ended the call, Mide’s expression darkened. He quickly dialed another number—Mr. Okoye.

“It seems Tunde has found a way out,” Mide said quietly when Mr. Okoye answered. “He’s secured a partnership through his stepmom. We might need to rethink our strategy.”

Mr. Okoye’s voice was cold and calculating. “I see. We’ll have to take more drastic measures then. Keep me informed, and don’t let Tunde know that we’re onto him.”

As the call ended, Mide couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. But his loyalty to the Okoye family was strong, and he knew that betraying Tunde was part of the plan.