Adaora, a brilliant yet self-doubting programmer from Ifo, Nigeria, faces the harsh realities of life when her mother falls ill. Armed with exceptional tech skills but struggling with low self-esteem, she ventures to a city in Lagos seeking for job...
The news of Tunde’s victory spread like wildfire across the media, with headlines proclaiming his innocence, and social media erupting with support. The most popular post read, "Justice Served: Tunde Vindicated in High-Profile Case." For the first time in months, the storm in Tunde’s life seemed to have calmed. At her office desk, Adaora caught the news flashing on her phone. Relief washed over her, but it was bittersweet.
Weeks of turmoil had passed, and while Adaora was happy for Tunde, their breakup still lingered heavily in her heart, like an unhealed wound. She wanted to congratulate him, but her hesitation was palpable. Her fingers hovered over her phone, crafting a message with trembling hands:
Tunde, I heard about your victory, and I’m so relieved. You deserve every bit of happiness, and I’m genuinely sorry for the way things ended between us. I appreciate everything you did for me, but after everything, I think we both know we’re not meant to be together. It wasn’t your fault—it’s just how life unfolded. I hope you find someone who loves you the way you deserve. I’m truly, deeply sorry.
She stared at the message for what seemed like an eternity, her thumb hovering over the send button. Finally, with a sinking heart, she pressed send, watching the message get delivered, feeling a weight lift and fall all at once.
At Tunde's apartment, he read Adaora's message aloud to his best friend, Mide, who lounged on the couch, sipping a beer. Tunde’s voice cracked when he reached the part where Adaora said they weren’t meant for each other. Mide looked over, shaking his head sympathetically.
“Bro, I’m not going to lie, this one stings. But you gotta stop letting her live rent-free in your head. You’re Tunde, man. You just won the biggest case of your career. The world is out there cheering for you.”
Tunde leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. “It doesn’t mean anything without her, Mide. I wanted her to see me for who I really am.”
Mide slapped his shoulder lightly. “Come on, man. Let’s hit the town tonight, celebrate your win. You can’t sit here feeling sorry for yourself.”
That night, they hit one of the hottest clubs in Lagos, Quilox, a place known for its high-energy crowds and flashing lights. Tunde felt detached from the noise, the music, the people. Even surrounded by the pulsing energy of the city’s nightlife, his thoughts were on Adaora. Mide tried to pull him into the vibe—offering drinks, dancing with strangers—but Tunde stood at the bar, staring into his drink, thinking of the way Adaora’s smile lit up a room.
Meanwhile, Bam Bam was at home, watching TV when her phone buzzed. The message from Chidi read, “Meet me at my place tonight.” Her heart raced. She knew this was dangerous territory, but part of her longed for the thrill. She knew Adaora was trying to settle things with Chidi, and she had no business being involved. Yet, something about Chidi’s presence drew her in.
A second message came in with an address: not Chidi’s upscale home in Lekki, but a more private place in Ikeja. That only added to her curiosity.
When Bam Bam arrived at Chidi’s place for the first time, she could barely contain herself. She looked around, her eyes darting to every corner of the house, trying to process where she was. The bodyguard led her into a dimly lit living room, and there stood Chidi—his back to her, shirtless, pouring himself a glass of wine.
She couldn’t help but steal glances at him, pretending to look away. Chidi noticed her gaze and smirked. “Isn’t this what you want to see?” he asked, turning to face her.
Caught off guard, Bam Bam stammered, “I—I don’t drink wine.”
Chidi stepped closer, offering the glass with a smirk. “Maybe tonight’s different.”
Bam Bam’s hands shook as she reached for the glass, but Chidi stopped her. His eyes gleamed with mischief. “How about we hit a club instead?”
They soon found themselves outside Club Cubana, another high-end Lagos spot that was famous for its elite clientele and rowdy parties. Bam Bam hesitated as they entered, glancing nervously around, hoping no one she knew—especially Adaora—would spot her. But Chidi seemed at ease, his grip on her arm firm as he guided her through the crowd to a secluded VIP area.
Inside the penthouse section, Chidi’s friends greeted him with loud cheers. One of them whistled, “Chidi, you brought fire tonight!” Another chimed in, eyeing Bam Bam’s figure, “That booty, though.” The men laughed, their attention clearly on Bam Bam.
Bam Bam forced a smile, feeling their eyes on her as they asked for her name. “Bam Bam,” she replied, trying to sound confident.
The men continued their banter, hyping Chidi and teasing him about his good luck with women. The atmosphere was charged, with bass-heavy music pounding through the speakers. When Rema’s "Bounce" came on, the energy in the room spiked. Bam Bam, who had been holding back, felt her body moving involuntarily to the beat.
Someone called out, “Twerk for Chidi!” and the room roared in approval. Bam Bam hesitated at first, but with a wink from Chidi, she let herself go, moving to the rhythm, her hips swaying. She pulled her dress back down every time it rose, but her confidence grew as the crowd cheered. The more she danced, the more she felt the tension rise between her and Chidi.
Chidi’s hand found its way to her waist, lifting her dress slightly as she moved. He spanked her playfully, making her gasp as she twerked harder, letting the music and the energy of the room take over. She knew this was reckless, but in that moment, all she cared about was the heat building between her and Chidi.
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The next morning at Paystack, Bam Bam was unusually quiet, trying to shake off the wild night. Adaora noticed and asked, “Something nice happened?”
Bam Bam quickly shook her head. “It was just a K-drama I watched last night.”
“Really? What’s the title?” Adaora asked.
“Queen Woo.” Bam Bam smiled mischievously. “Not sure if you can handle it.”
Adaora laughed, but there was an underlying tension. She was trying to rebuild her fragile relationship with Chidi. He had agreed to let things go, to move on from the accusations she had thrown his way, but their dynamic was strained.
Later that day, the Paystack team gathered for a meeting. Bam Bam, Adaora, and other officials sat around the table as the CEO Chidi Okoye himself addressed them about Mrs Abosede cautioning them against associating with certain people outside of Paystack, mentioning a new partnership that would soon be finalized. The representative would be arriving in the coming days.
As the meeting ended, Bam Bam found herself glancing at Chidi, remembering the events of the night before. But Chidi didn’t look her way once. The disconnect between their secret escapades and the reality of their professional lives weighed heavily on her.
