Chapter 8: The Intriguing "Moonlight Lease"
2465words
"Dapo," he said slowly and not with a lot of respect, "you recall the conditions we talked about. For this project to advance, it requires permission; yet your manner isn't helping in attaining that."
Dapo's jaw clenched, yet I took one step nearer before he could respond in speech. "Mr. Lawson," my voice grew higher and it was astonishingly unwavering, "perhaps you have not observed the most recent proposals."
He gazed, his countenance showing a slight astonishment and then turning into what seemed like mockery. "You should not get involved in this matter, Ms. Bassey," he stated with a condescending effect.
I could not understand his way of talking, maybe he was not treating me seriously. So, I just put the folder holding Dapo's different suggestions on the table. "It is possible," I replied, feeling a small wave of rebellion beginning to grow in me.
Mr. Lawson stopped, looking towards the folder and then at Dapo's face showing more frustration. He let out a big breath and started to open the document slowly.
Then a time of quietness came. Mr. Lawson closed the folder with force, showing on his face that he was not happy.
"This is… ambitious," he conceded begrudgingly. "Securing independent funding, community outreach…"
I stepped forward and suggested that we concentrate on the authentic requirements of our project, as opposed to solely attempting to make more money without considering what people in the community need.
Mr. Lawson's eyes became narrow. "We must answer to our investors, Ms. Bassey. Sentiment does not pay for everything."
The air was thick with tension, but it wasn't clear what the future would be for the Moonlight Glow initiative. It was in the middle stage where some were trying to earn more while our goal was making an active centre for cultural happenings. Now, as I get ready to give my contrasting opinion, there's a sound at the door that stops silence:
"Come in," Dapo called out, his voice laced with a hint of resignation.
The door moved open and a person with sharp eyes entered. It was Chief Olumide; his big body occupied the whole room, seeming strong and slightly scary. He was striding in like he owned the place.
"Dapo," he said, "we must have a conversation." It was a soft and friendly voice. He changed his eyes to Mr Lawson, looking not happy. Then, he turned around and asked me: "Who is this person?"
Dapo's shoulders dropped. "Papa, this is Eki Bassey, the architect whom I have mentioned."
Chief Olumide gazed at me intensely, as if he was closely examining each feature on my face. It gave me a sense of discomfort and restlessness because his eyes looked peaceful but they were also assessing, giving me goosebumps.
The designer spoke softly, yet you could sense a hint of sarcasm as he said, "She thinks she is a hero to everyone."
His speech pained me, yet I went on. "The community requires a project to respect its past, not one that exploits it," even as my heart trembled.
Chief Olumide smiled, though it did not show real happiness. "It is good to have big dreams, Ms. Bassey," he said with a tone which appeared like 'I am not convinced,' "but often reality forces us to adjust our plans and be more...practical."
He faced Dapo, his way of speaking and commanding. "Young man, come along with me." We have to speak for many hours. He directed towards the door, showing Dapo by hand movement that leaving time had arrived. He knew everything had already been said.
Dapo stopped, gave me a quick look and then turned his gaze towards his father. They looked at each other without speaking, sharing emotions that were beyond my comprehension.
Shortly after, Dapo replied with uncertainty in his voice, "I will come to your place." Chief Olumide's expression became stern and he acknowledged his defeat with reluctance. He exited the office glancing my way for an extended moment before finally departing.
After shutting the door, silence spread all over. Mr Lawson appeared to be uneasy and coughed to make his throat feel better.
"Alright, Ms. Bassey," he said with caution, "It seems that problems connected to the family are growing in importance at this time." Maybe we can talk more about it later."
He too left without a sound, and now it's only me and Dapo here following the awkward situation. He exhaled deeply, running his hand over his head as though he felt nervous.
He apologized and appeared sincere, yet his voice carried a hint of excitement. "Father... at times he applies too much pressure."
While I was talking with Chief Olumide, I moved my head from side to side to indicate no since his excitement for your project idea did not seem clear to me.
Dapo mentioned he views the Moonlight Glow as a chance for business. He thinks it's a method to fix previous mistakes and improve his family's reputation. However, perhaps this isn't so beneficial for the people who live there."
His unexpected sayings helped me to grasp the complex relationship Dapo holds with his father, which appears as a central issue for our project.
"But you… you believe in a different approach?" I asked, curiosity piqued.
Dapo's eyes narrowed, his jaw set in determination. "Yes, Eki. This work isn't only about constructing something. It's about building people." It is to create a place that respects Lagos's lively spirit, where individuals meet to share stories and preserve their traditions.
He paused in his speech, and after a brief moment, he resumed, speaking quietly yet with significance. "However, my father possesses great strength. Persuading the group of consortiums to see things from our perspective will not be simple.
I understand. The collection of companies, because they want to increase their profits, will not readily alter the choice to construct conventionally since it is connected with business operations.
"Then your counter-proposal is…?" I began, eager to understand his strategy.
His hand slid over the table, placing a small box with intricate patterns in front of me and spoke with a voice that shook a little: "This might be what is needed to ensure our liberty."
When I opened the box, inside was a piece of paper. On that paper, there was The Moonlight Lease with an intricate stamp. When I noticed the name, my breathing stopped. Dapo mentioned that his ancestors had made this paper long ago as a special present.
He whispered to me, "When the full moon was there and the light was bright, that is when someone asked for marriage."
I was confused. "Proposal of marriage? How does it connect to the project?"
Dapo mentioned, "It's an ancient tradition which states that when a woman turns into the bride at Moonlight Lease, she is obliged to perform a significant task for one whole year." At present, she takes care of the Cultural Center in Moonlight Glow. This place has very big importance to all of us here in our community."
I felt many feelings inside me. The thought of getting married, and in a way that is not common, was too much for my mind to handle. However, the chance to make my dream come true by building a place that truly reflected the essence of Lagos was very appealing.
"But… Why me?" I stammered my voice barely a whisper.
Dapo looked at me, his eyes showing both hope and fear. "You have faith in our project, Eki," he said. Since you have the skill, the foresight, and above all, the bravery to stand up for what is just.
His words pressed on me with their importance. The Moonlight Lease gave a way to move ahead, an opportunity to get around the control of the consortium. It also signified the start of a marriage based on common enthusiasm and an eager wish for transformation – a union that might become either a pillar of support or a blueprint for misfortune.
Looking at the paper with beautiful writing on it, I felt my fate mix with worry inside me. The project called Moonlight Glow, which was just an idea before, now stood as a big true task. It could change the way people live together and everything depended on one very important choice.
I took a deep breath and looked into Dapo's eyes. "Please, could you explain more about the full moon," I asked with my voice steadier than expected. "When is the next one?"
Surprise showed on Dapo's face for a moment, then he started to smile slowly. He moved back in his chair with a playful look in his eyes. "As a matter of fact," he declared, "it's tonight."
The decision's heaviness bore down on me, similar to the thick air of Lagos. Is it possible for me to put my trust in Dapo, who is trapped by his dominant father and a group driven by their desire for more money? Was I ready to sacrifice a marriage that lasted only one year to make my dream real?
When I saw the colourful sunset over Lagos, it was clear a big storm would come soon. My decision in the light of the moon was tough – leave this project and its chance to make a difference, or take on this challenge and work hard for what I want, even though getting married might not be sure.
With my heart beating fast and many questions spinning in my head, I faced Dapo, who was the designer of the Moonlight Glow project and maybe also of all that could happen to me next.
The heaviness of the Moonlight Lease in my hand felt like a real sign of the big decision I had to make. The decreasing light of day made long shadows inside Dapo's office, which looked similar to the doubts filling my thoughts.
"This evening?" I said again softly, with the city's night music of car horns and faraway laughter behind me.
Dapo nodded with a face showing both hope and anxious waiting. "This tradition has deep roots in the past," he said to explain. Meeting by chance, when the full moon is watching, might start a path to something very special.
His speech had a poetic touch, and there was romance in it that made me shiver. Yet under the romantic feel, there was a clear truth: this wasn't like a love tale happening under a moon shining brightly. It was a strategic risk, a union based on mutual benefit driven by the same goal and an urgent desire to maintain the essence of our cultural heart.
What about your dad, though? I said, asking the silent question that was weighing down the atmosphere. "Wouldn't he oppose this? Surely he wouldn't want an outsider controlling this project."
Dapo let out a heavy breath, his face showing a trace of irritation. "He will not be pleased," he confessed. The Moonlight Lease is a strong agreement, one that even he cannot ignore without effort. It gives us the greatest opportunity to hold off the consortium.
His speech sounded a bit desperate, reflecting the chaos I felt inside. The idea of getting married to Dapo, someone I hardly knew, seemed overwhelming. The idea that the Moonlight Glow project might become just a clean, money-making scheme was even harder to accept.
A million questions swirled in my head. What would our married life be like? Is it just for show, to make people happy with old customs, or might it grow into something bigger? This doubt was eating at me all the time, making me remember the risk I was going to take.
I took a deep breath, looking into Dapo's eyes. I could see he had both hopes and worries in them, just like the feelings inside me. "Can we talk more about the project details?" I asked because I need something more than just enthusiasm to make my decision.
Dapo's face showed he was relieved. "Absolutely," he said, his voice now full of excitement again. "We need to finalize the design plans, secure community support, and…"
He stopped for a little bit, his eyes showing a spark of fun. "Maybe we need to talk about the... practical parts of getting married too since things are not usual."
A shy smile appeared on my face. Even with the seriousness of our circumstances, a hint of something more cheerful passed between us. Possibly, in the middle of this chaos with so much uncertainty, there could be room for a little bit of knowing each other and maybe making a connection.
While we were getting deeper into the project details, the sunset changed the Lagos skyline to a mix of bright orange and purple colours. The city paused, its rhythm matching my racing heart.
Many hours passed, and we finished changing the design plans with a plan for talking to the community that was not yet fixed. By this time, the moon was up in the sky giving silver light over the busy city. The choice I had to make was very important and would change my life's path a lot.
Dapo was standing next to me, looking at the moon that gave Lagos a kind of magical light. "You are prepared?" he asked, his voice barely a murmur.
I gazed into his eyes, looking for responses. The architect, previously my colleague, was now in front of me as a possible ally in this risky venture. Can I have trust in him, not only for my project's vision but also for my feelings, even if it is just for one year?
I took a deep breath to find my words. "Let us discover what secrets the full moon holds for us," I said, with a little challenge in my tone mixed with some doubt.
Holding hands together and with our hearts beating fast from both excitement and a little fear, we left the office building to experience the lively confusion of Lagos at night. After taking a taxi, we found ourselves on Bar Beach where the waves were coming in steadily under the bright light of the full moon.
A band of musicians from the area performed a melody that was both eerie and lovely, contrasting strongly with the never-ending noise of the city. While the moon looked on, Dapo took out a little bag from his pocket. Inside, a simple silver ring glinted in the moonlight.
He said with a deep, emotional voice, "This represents trust and our commitment to work hard on the project as one team."
