Binary Hearts

89| Boardroom Victory ✌️

That evening, Adaora sat on her couch, eyes flicking from her phone to the door every few minutes. Anxiety tightened her chest as she waited for Chidi. The hours dragged by, and each tick of the clock felt like a beat of disappointment. By midnight, it became clear that Chidi wasn’t coming. The hope she had nurtured all evening slowly dimmed. She finally sighed, resigned, and dragged herself to bed. Her mind was still reeling with thoughts of him, but sleep pulled her under soon enough.

Morning broke, but in Tunde's world, it wasn’t just any day—it was the day. The D-day when he and his stepmother would attempt to reclaim his father’s company, a business with roots sprawling across borders, including Dubai. Standing in front of his mirror, Tunde rehearsed the speech he had been mentally preparing for weeks. His hands rested on the crisp cream-and-black shirt that hugged his frame perfectly, paired with black trousers that gave him a refined, stylish appearance. His low-cut fade accentuated his sharp jawline, making him appear both formidable and irresistibly handsome.

As he descended the stairs, his shoes clicked rhythmically on the polished wood floor. The scent of breakfast wafted toward him from the dining area. Adeola, his stepmother, was setting his meal—scrambled eggs and toast—onto the table. Tunde shot her a grateful smile, but his mind was elsewhere, his nerves stretched thin. He had a flight to catch, a boardroom to face in Abuja, and he couldn’t afford any delays.

"Good morning, dear," Adeola greeted as he took a seat, her warm smile a brief comfort amidst his stress.

"Morning. Thanks for this, but I really need to rush," Tunde muttered, grabbing a fork.

He barely tasted the food as he shoveled it into his mouth, the ticking clock at the back of his mind urging him forward. He left half of it untouched, too jittery to finish. As he stood up to leave, Adeola walked with him to the door, waving goodbye. But just as she opened her mouth to wish him a safe journey, she collapsed—her body hitting the ground with a sickening thud.

"Adeola!" Tunde shouted, his heart leaping into his throat. He crouched beside her, panic flooding him as he shook her gently. "Adeola, wake up!"

Without hesitation, he called for Sam, his driver, and together they rushed her to the hospital. Every second felt like an eternity as he sat beside her, his thoughts torn between the urgency of his meeting and the sight of her unconscious form. Sam stayed behind while Tunde sped off to the airport. He couldn’t wait. He couldn’t miss that meeting, no matter how much guilt gnawed at him.

Back at Adaora’s apartment, the air was filled with the delicious aroma of meat pies baking in the oven. As she moved around the kitchen, she hummed along to Omah Lay’s "Moving," letting the lyrics dance on her lips: “I’m on my way to better days, oh yeah…” The rhythmic beat and carefree vibe of the song lifted her spirits. She rolled out the dough, her fingers quick and practiced, while the kettle on the stove began to whistle. The tea was ready.

After finishing her baking, Adaora didn’t even bother to dish the pies. She simply wiped her hands, threw on a sleek dress, and headed out the door. Her drive to work was smooth, the morning sunlight reflecting off the car windows as she mentally prepared for another day at Paystack.

When she arrived, the building seemed oddly quiet. The parking lot was full, so she knew her colleagues were around, but where? As she entered the office, she heard someone call out behind her, “Late comer! Hurry up and join us!”

Startled, Adaora turned to find Hannah grinning at her. “Come on, we’re at the back!” she urged, her tone playful.

Confused, Adaora followed Hannah to the backyard of the Paystack office, a place she had never ventured before. To her surprise, the area had been transformed into a makeshift track and field. Her colleagues were jogging and stretching, laughing as they completed laps.

"Thanks to Hannah!" the CEO called out from across the field. "She suggested we start working out every morning to improve productivity."

Everyone nodded in agreement as they continued their exercise routines, but Adaora's eyes wandered to Hannah, who was blushing every time she glanced at Chidi. Adaora felt a pang of irritation—was it Hannah’s flirtatious behavior, or the awkward closeness between her and Chidi that was getting under her skin? Either way, it was frustrating.

Despite her annoyance, Adaora joined the group, attempting to push her feelings aside. Suddenly, she felt a poke in her back.

"What the hell!" she exclaimed, spinning around to see Bam Bam grinning sheepishly.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you,” Bam Bam apologized.

"It’s fine. That’s just the Hannah effect," Adaora muttered with a small smile.

Bam Bam smirked. "So, how’s it going with Chidi?”

Adaora sighed. "Nothing at all. I’m fine with it just being me. No Tunde to pressure me, no love life to worry about."

"You single people, sha," Bam Bam teased. "It must be peaceful."

Adaora laughed, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that Bam Bam wasn’t as interested in pushing the Chidi agenda as before. "No longer rooting for me and Chidi?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course I am!" Bam Bam responded quickly. "But with Hannah hanging around him all the time, it might be tough."

Adaora rolled her eyes, confidence bubbling up. "Please, Hannah’s no competition."

Though Bam Bam smiled, Adaora sensed a hint of jealousy lurking beneath the surface, but Bam Bam kept her thoughts to herself.

Meanwhile, Tunde sat on the plane to Abuja, his fingers drumming nervously against his wristwatch. He checked the time again and again, a familiar anxiousness building as the flight carried him closer to the pivotal boardroom meeting. Once there, it didn’t take long for the tension to rise. Most of the board members were already siding with Mr. Bankole, the man with the highest shares, to replace Mrs. Adeyemi.

"Are you sure about that?" a firm voice rang out from the doorway.

The board members turned as Tunde strode in, his entrance commanding attention. Mrs. Adeyemi's eyes brightened with relief as she watched him approach. Tunde introduced himself, laying out his claim as the son of the late founder. His presence shifted the atmosphere in the room.

"The shares tally with Mr. Bankole’s," one member noted, eyes darting between the two men.

But then, Mr. Olatunji, one of the senior members of the board, stood. "I will transfer all of my shares to Tunde Adeyemi," he announced.

With that, Tunde secured the majority shareholding, and in a swift turn of events, he was appointed as the new CEO and president. The tension in the room dissipated, and a wave of satisfaction washed over him as the meeting concluded.

Afterward, Tunde met with his stepmother, her face glowing with pride. She had already reserved a hotel for him in Abuja, where he would stay for the night. As soon as he reached the lobby, he dialed Adeola’s number. To his relief, she answered.

"You shouldn’t worry," Adeola reassured him. "I just didn’t sleep well last night, that’s all."

"Are you sure?" Tunde pressed, concern still etched in his voice.

"Of course. Ask Sam if you don’t believe me," she replied lightly.

Tunde let out a sigh of relief, then shared the good news of his victory. Adeola’s joy mirrored his own, and for the first time that day, he allowed himself to truly celebrate.