Chapter 3: The Heated Debate Under the Moon
1522words
Dapo told me to come to this place after work finishes so we can discuss how tapestry and my design link together. My mind was crowded with many questions – What did he want? Does his family have a connection to Oshun's past, or is it all just a clever deception? The main question remains: Should I trust him, or is he simply trying to take advantage of me for his gain?
The wind made lots of noise, and with it, I could barely hear Dapo's voice from the other side of the terrace. When I went around the corner, what my eyes saw surprised me a lot.
Dapo, dressed in a very nice Armani suit, stood directly before Yemi, his best colleague at work. Yemi is known for her intense eyes and big ambitions to achieve high targets. She stood in a pose much like Dapo's, with her neatly kept fingernails softly touching the smooth leather briefcase on the table.
Their conversation, punctuated by taut gestures and scathing pronouncements, had reached a fever pitch.
"This is lunacy, Dapo!" Yemi hissed, her voice laced with barely contained fury. Would you consider letting a new architect manage the Moonlight Glow project with her different ideas?
"We know her very much," Dapo spoke in a strong, deep tone. "Eki Bassey has talent and her ideas...her ideas match what people in Lagos want."
Yemi's face showed sudden surprise, but very fast it changed to a smile that seemed like she was laughing at what happened. "Oh, please," she said without much respect. When did you begin to see what people desire? You know Chief Olumide does not permit this kind of behaviour. He wants a monument to his wealth, not some glorified market stall."
Dapo's mouth became narrow, and his eyes looked smaller. "Yemi, this is not only about Chief Olumide now." There's a bigger picture here, a connection to this city, its history, its spirit."
He pointed at the metal suitcase in his hands, his knuckles looking very white because he was holding it so tightly. I felt a cold worry go down my back. Could this be the same briefcase that held the tapestry?
Yemi's eyes followed his movements, and soon a trace of fear showed on her face. But then she straightened up, showing more determination.
"Please not think so simply, Dapo," she said softly. "Do you believe Chief Olumide will back a project that is very connected to old stories?" This could tarnish the Olumide name, and jeopardize your inheritance."
Dapo's face showed both anger and frustration as he moved quickly, speaking in a voice that was so low it was almost impossible to hear.
"My inheritance? That's all you care about?" He struck his hand strongly against the railing, creating a loud sound. "Olumide name means more than only wealth and power, Yemi." We have a responsibility to this city, a legacy that goes beyond gaudy monuments."
His voice had true feelings which amazed me very much. The Dapo I knew at first, who looked like he was full of pride and confidence, now seemed to be breaking down due to hidden things from before and his struggle with staying loyal.
Yemi stayed calm. She looked around the rooftop quickly, a small doubt in her eyes. Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper.
When talking about the things we leave behind... her voice became more gentle, and she looked into my eyes for a quick moment. I felt surprised – could it be that she noticed me? Before I could react, she continued her voice barely above a murmur.
"Remember the terms of the 'Moonlight Lease,' Dapo. One year. Not a moment longer."
A wave of nausea washed over me. Moonlight Lease? They discussed a secret agreement; I stopped breathing when pieces of the puzzle started to make sense. Maybe Dapo is interested in my ideas because of Moonlight Lease, and he uses it to maintain control over the project sometimes.
Before I could think more about this worrying news, their conversation shifted direction again. Yemi's voice turned softer, revealing a slight vulnerability beneath her tough appearance.
She spoke the name "Dapo" very softly, almost like a whisper. We still have a chance to save this project and keep our control.
The sound from Dapo's belt radio was very loud, stopping her from talking. A strong voice on the device gave him instructions, and his face turned red as he took it out of its holder. The voice talked with a lot of urgency, giving me a cold feeling. It said, "Security is compromised." Chase them. Now, my heart beat fast inside my chest as I stood there, caught between wanting to listen and the true risk of being discovered by someone. I felt strong fear holding my neck, making it difficult to take deep breaths. The words were left incomplete, hanging in the air around us; there was no time to think or understand the hidden agreement within the Moonlight Lease.
Dapo turned around and looked everywhere on the roof of the building. When he looked at me, our eyes met, and in that silent moment, we understood each other just by looking. His face showed many feelings - he looked surprised and worried, and for a little while, it seemed like he was scared.
Yemi turned her head to look where he pointed, and when she saw me, her eyes opened very wide in surprise. The peaceful expression on her face vanished, showing a fear that was the same as what I felt.
"Eh?" Dapo stopped talking, his tone showing surprise and also another feeling that I couldn't fully grasp.
Before I could answer, two strong security men appeared suddenly. They seemed quite stern and resolute.
Ah, we finally found you, one of them spoke in a rough voice while his hand was gripping firmly on a big iron stick. It looks like we have someone here who is not supposed to be.
I thought fast, searching for a way out. Next to me stood a fence, and beneath it was a big fall down to the busy streets of Lagos. The guards moved closer, their steps booming on the rough concrete ground.
Without giving it much thought, I approached the suitcase that Dapo was gripping tightly. He also acted on instinct and rapidly stepped back while emitting a sound of astonishment. The suitcase slipped from his grip, its metal surface glimmering in the moonlight.
I yelled loudly as I gave one last strong push towards the handrail. It wobbled on the brink for a long time before it tipped over and fell into the deep dark beneath.
The sound of surprise spread, making everyone stop breathing. The security guards stayed still and looked more surprised than threatening. Yemi's expression turned to horror, clutching her nails into the leather briefcase as if looking for something to hold onto. Dapo saw the position of the briefcase, his face showing a mix of feelings.
He shouted, "What did you do?" His voice was full of anger but also a little bit relieved.
I looked away from him and took the chance to crawl backwards until my back touched the railing. Underneath, city lights blinked in a way that seemed threatening, showing there was a risk of falling if I didn't keep my balance.
"Don't move!" one of the guards barked, his voice shaking slightly.
The top of the building, once a place for intense discussions, was now surrounded by quietness. The sound of the wind blowing and my heart beating fast were the only sounds there. I turned into just a small piece of this complicated play that puzzled me, trapped between the secret issues of an influential family and my strong wish to achieve success in the Moonlight Glow project.
Sounds of steps broke the quiet, making more security people quickly come to the top of the building because of the noise. When they arrived, it felt calming but also scary because there was no chance to run away anymore.
The guards made their circle smaller around me, like a threatening wave. I looked quickly at Dapo. It was hard to know what he was thinking; it seemed like many feelings were fighting inside him while he looked seriously. Does he feel sorry for dragging me into this issue, or might it be a piece of a bigger scheme intended to guide the story?
Hidden by the night in Lagos, finding the solution was hard. But it was clear that the Moonlight Glow project expanded more than just its design parts. The situation turned into a complex network of secret details and items inherited from relatives, all linked to a private agreement called the Moonlight Lease.
