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...
Tunde walked down the street, his mind a mix of thoughts as he returned from Mide's place. He had spent some time there to clear his head, but now, back on his house doorstep, he was hit with a wave of longing. He wished Adaora was waiting for him inside, cooking and smiling like she used to. But instead, as he opened the door, it was Adeola and Sam sitting comfortably on the couch, deeply engrossed in a PS4 game of PES, laughter spilling from their lips as they shared jokes.
"Ah, Tunde! Welcome back!" Adeola called out with a smile, her eyes briefly meeting his.
"Seems like you’ve finally mastered this PES thing," Tunde teased as he leaned against the wall, watching the screen with a smirk. "But Sam go dey give you woto woto, no be small."
Adeola laughed, but her competitive spirit came alive instantly. "Nikini! I’m the one winning oo. Sam, you better talk!" she said, narrowing her focus, her fingers tapping on the controller furiously.
Tunde, feeling unusually comfortable, slid onto the couch beside Adeola. He was close enough that she could feel the heat from his arm as he watched their game. Sam was dribbling down the field, completely in the zone, getting closer and closer to the goalpost. But just as he was about to make his shot, Tunde, in a burst of mischief, reached over and grabbed Adeola’s hands.
"L1 + ∆," he whispered quickly, guiding her fingers on the controller. The keeper dived just in time to block the shot, and Sam let out a playful groan of frustration.
Adeola froze, her breath caught in her throat. Her hands tingled where Tunde had touched her, and when her eyes met his, a silence filled the room. For a moment, it was as though the game, the noise, and the laughter all faded into the background. An awkwardness hung between them, and Tunde quickly withdrew his hand, clearing his throat, pretending to focus on the game again.
Without saying anything more, Adeola stood up. "Let me go and dish your food, Tunde," she said, her voice soft but rushed. She made her way into the kitchen, feeling her heart race. She had to shake the tension from her body, but it clung to her like a second skin. The dish she prepared was simple but delicious—roasted mackerel, boli, and stew. The aroma filled the air as she set it in front of him.
Tunde devoured the food hungrily, the flavors rich and spicy. The roasted mackerel was perfectly seasoned, and the boli had a slight char that made each bite satisfying. It was one of those meals that reminded him of home, of simpler times, and it did wonders to distract him from the strange tension between him and Adeola.
The next morning at Paystack was a different kind of intensity. The entire office buzzed with energy and anxiety. Adaora, usually sharp, couldn’t help but notice the unusual activity.
"What's going on here?" she asked as she passed by the front desk, watching her colleagues in a frenzy of cleaning and organizing.
One of them shrugged. "Chidi Okoye is expecting someone important today. Everyone's on edge."
"Like the environmental agency is coming to inspect the place?" Adaora joked, but no one laughed. They were too focused, too serious. Even Chidi seemed more restless than usual, pacing by the entrance, his eyes darting to the glass doors every few seconds.
A few minutes later, a black Rolls-Royce Ghost pulled up in front of Paystack, flanked by SUV convoys. Adaora stood by the window, her curiosity piqued. Who could be important enough to cause such a stir?
As the car door swung open, a light skinned woman stepped out. She was stunning, exuding confidence and power. Her blonde wig framed her face perfectly, and she wore oversized fashion glasses that covered half her face but still left her looking like a movie star. Her outfit was sharp—a designer shirt and short trousers, both expensive and perfectly tailored.
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The woman’s voice cut through the tense air as she called out, "Chidi... my love!" Her arms spread wide, and she moved toward Chidi like she owned the place.
Chidi, the usually composed CEO, looked... shy? He hesitated for a moment before accepting her hug, clearly flustered. Adaora’s mind raced. Who is this woman? There was something off about the way Chidi reacted to her. His normally cold and distant demeanor had melted away in the presence of this woman.
She must have been his high school crush or something, Adaora thought. It was the only explanation that made sense. But still, something about her screamed trouble. Big trouble.
"Hello, everyone!" the woman’s voice interrupted Adaora’s thoughts. She turned to the Paystack staff, a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes plastered across her face. "I hope you're all doing your jobs well. I’m Hannah, and I’ll be here for a few months. I’m the representative of GIZ and the ongoing 3MTT program in Africa. Also, I’m the founder of She Code Africa."
There was a collective groan, though silent, as the staff chorused back, "She Code Africa." It was clear they weren’t fond of her already.
Hannah, without missing a beat, turned back to Chidi. "Let’s go to your office," she said, her tone softer, more intimate.
As they walked away together, the tension in the office thickened. Whispers and gossip spread like wildfire.
"Òko ìya gbògbò yín re," one of the workers muttered with a shake of their head, eyeing the retreating couple.
Adaora’s suspicions deepened. This Hannah was going to be a problem, and she knew it. She didn’t trust her, not one bit. She wasn’t just another colleague—this was someone with history, someone who had the power to mess things up.
Later that afternoon, Tunde received a call from his stepmother, Mrs. Adeyemi.
“Tunde,” she began, her voice calm but direct. “You remember the hidden shares deal of your father’s company, yes?”
“Yes, I do,” Tunde replied, his brows furrowing as he leaned back in his chair.
“Well, prepare yourself. Tomorrow, everything will go down as planned. Meet me this evening so we can finalize the details,” she said with a hint of urgency.
Tunde sighed deeply. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
