CHAPTER TWO

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At the heart of Victoria Island, stood a magnificent 20-storied building called "Bade Tower." Its exterior was in luxuriant baroque, its distinct architectural design second only to none. The tall and glistening form of the Bade Tower stood overlooking the Lagos Atlantic Ocean with formidable hauteur. It was no wonder that Business digest called it the "Leonardo da Vinci" of modern architecture.

However grandiose the persona of the Bade Tower, its center was on the verge of a quake.

Accommodated in a plush and luxurious office, on the twentieth floor of the tower, were three people whose demeanor bore none of the spectacular opulence that surrounds them. They all sat brooding, each lost in his private musings.

The first of the three occupants was, Folorunsho Ajibade, Director and CEO of Bade Inc. At thirty-five, he stood at 6'5, with a muscular, athletic body indicative of a disciplined and healthy lifestyle.

Folorunsho, mostly referred to as Folu, stood looking out the window. His brooding eyes trained on the rising tide of the beach seeping through the pier. His hands buried deep in his pocket, and his thoughts, clacking to put together the final piece of his mental puzzle.

Seated anxiously on a large office chair, was Ayomide Agbaje, CFO of Bade Inc., and best friend to Folu. He twitched on his seat, his round, full-bearded face drawn in an impatient frown, his tie askew, and his stance, edgy.

Ayo swiveled in his chair and rapped his fingers on the desk with a rhythmic trrrp, trrrp sound; his gaze trained on Folu, willing him to begin the inquest.

The third amongst them was a tall, striking female of about twenty-eight. She wore a beige three-piece suit, her long toffee-colored legs, crossed. She cast furtive glances at the men positioned across from her while making notes on her note pad. Her name was Linda Ndukwe, PA, to Folorunsho Ajibade.

On the shoulders of these three, laid the fate of Bade Inc., A Hedge Funds and Money Managers Company, domiciled in Bade tower.

Restless, Ayo raised a wrist wrapped in Rolex and frowned at the diamond-encrusted numbers. He was literarily sitting on a ticking bomb, he mused. At this rate, their case file was most likely on the desk of some office assistant at the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC.

"Come on, Folu," Ayo muttered under his breath.

Just then, as if responding to Ayo's urging, Folu spun round, his smooth-shaved handsome face firm with resolve.

"Linda," he said in a deep baritone voice that reflected none of the impending doom they all feared was imminent.

"Call Folarin."

Linda immediately punched the command into her device.

"Please meet us at the board room, sir." She said into her cellphone.

Ayo flexed his shoulders, rubbed his neck, and exhaled loudly. He was both tensed and worried. But more importantly, he was fuming.

A few minutes later, the result of Linda's call swaggered in with his hands shoved deep in his pocket. He was Folarin Ajibade, COO of Bade Inc., and Folu's identical twin. He took everyone seated in one sweeping glance, flashed a coquettish smile at Linda, and gave his twin a proud look.

"Did someone die?" He questioned in a cynical frown.

"Hello, Fola," Folu retorted, ignoring his quip.

"Linda mentioned a meeting?" Fola siad quizzically, "By the way, what's with the long face, and why is Ayo frothy?"

Ayo gritted his teeth and threw an angry gaze at Folu. Folu mouthed a "calm down" at him and returned his attention to Fola.

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