Binary Hearts

61| The Cost of Secrets 💬

Adaora gripped the steering wheel tightly as she drove back home, her mind swirling with unanswered questions. The image of Tunde and Adeola standing together, the way they interacted—something felt off. What exactly was going on between them? She bit her lower lip in frustration. _Adeola, of all people._ She knew of Adeola's reputation, the way she could charm or manipulate a room, but why would Tunde be involved with her like that? Especially after everything between them.

Her thoughts spiraled as the road stretched out in front of her. Was Tunde revenging? She hated to admit it, but doubt gnawed at her. Had he moved on so quickly?

Meanwhile, back at Tunde’s house, he leaned against the kitchen counter, deep in thought. Would Adaora misunderstand what had happened? It wasn’t what it seemed, but seeing her expression before she left bothered him. Maybe tomorrow, he thought, I'll go over to her place and clear things up before it gets out of hand.

Deciding not to leave things unresolved for too long, Tunde made his way to Adeola’s room. He needed to fix the tension between them. He knocked lightly on the door, then entered after hearing her soft voice.

“Adeola, I’m sorry about earlier.” His voice was sincere, carrying the weight of the earlier events. “I didn’t mean to...It’s a misunderstanding on both sides.”

Adeola, sitting on the bed, crossed her arms, her gaze steady on him.“Look, I don’t know what’s between Adaora and your brother, but stop seeing her a bitch that double dates. She is a loyal person” Tunde said.

Adeola paused, her eyes narrowing. “Well, I don't know much but Tunde has been talking about her a lot, and from what I've seen, she's always together with Chidi even in his office.”

Tunde ran a hand over his face in frustration. "This is ridiculous so why do you now think they are dating?”

Adeola shifted slightly, her arms still crossed. “Don't you see for yourself...She’s been spending a lot of time with another man and yet you think she loves you”

Tunde’s heart raced as he processed the information. “but... ” he felt speechless.

Adeola shrugged. “Look, if you want the information about Dr. Lawson, you'll have to make me handle the kitchen from now on. But first, you need to stop treating me like I’m just a random assistant.”

Tunde sighed. "You're not just an assistant, " he admitted, voice softening. "I'm sorry for making it seem that way. But, can we get back to business now?"

Her posture softened slightly, though her expression remained serious. “And? What about your company issues? You can’t keep that from me. I’m supposed to be part of your team now, aren’t I?”

Tunde hesitated, but after a moment, he nodded. "Alright. I’ll be honest. The company isn’t what it used to be. It’s been rough. Things are falling apart faster than I can fix them."

Adeola sighed, looking at him with a mix of sympathy and sternness. “Well, at least you’re still the Chairman. You can do something about it if you’re ready to act.”

Tunde managed a small smile. "You're right. But for now, tell me about Dr. Lawson.”

Adeola leaned back, a glint of curiosity in her eyes. “Dr. Lawson,” she began, “he’s the father of a friend of mine. He’s been in the US for some months now, but he’s coming back home soon—probably this month. He wants to see his children and take one of them back with him.”

Tunde raised a brow. “So he has kids? And he can afford to cause other people pain.”

Adeola’s expression shifted, confusion creeping into her features. “What did he do, exactly?” she asked cautiously.

Tunde hesitated. “It’s nothing... just something personal.”

Adeola rolled her eyes. “You promised to open up more, remember?”

Tunde smirked. “Only company struggles, Adeola. This is personal.”

She huffed but didn’t push further. After a moment, Tunde changed the subject. “So, what about Adaora? Tell me the full story”

Adeola sighed, her face softening slightly. “My brother was crushing hard on her. He even told me she’s been giving him some attention recently, you know? Green lights and all. He was even about to make a move.”

Tunde scoffed, interrupting her. “Green light? She’s my girlfriend. What was he thinking?”

Adeola smirked. “Your girlfriend? So why is she acting single, and now guys like Chidi is claiming her.”

Tunde's face turned serious. “Wait, are you saying she’s actually dating Chidi?”

Adeola shrugged, her tone more serious now. “I don’t know for sure. But he told me bro to back off and stop pestering her. You should ask her yourself.”

Tunde sat back, the gears in his mind turning. "Maybe I should."

Later that evening, as the house quieted down, Tunde continue to open up to Adeola about his company struggles. They sat in his office, the soft glow of the lamp casting shadows across the room.

“It’s been hard,” he admitted, his voice low. “I feel like a visitor. Yes, I’m still the Chairman, but it’s not enough. I’ve lost my influence.”

Adeola leaned forward. “You can make moves. You could even remove the CEO if you wanted, do you know that?”

Tunde smiled faintly. “Maybe. But we’ve lost a lot of customers after the smoke app crash.”

Adeola nodded thoughtfully. “What if you created something new? A new feature, or even a new product. Something that’ll get people talking again.”

Tunde’s eyes lit up as an idea struck him. “I think there's something....,” he said, standing up. “Thanks, Adeola.”

“Anytime,” she replied with a grin. “Now, you’d better be ready for tomorrow.”

Tunde chuckled. “I’ll be ready.”