Chapter 12: A Deal is Struck (With Reservations)
2334words
"Stay calm," he whispered quickly and quietly. "Do not let them come in, no matter what."
His words sounded very desperate, making my spine feel cold. Even if I wanted to say no, he walked towards the door with a look of strong defiance on his back. I tried very much to listen to voices from beyond, but they remained too quiet for me to know.
The minutes that came after felt like they would never end. Each noise of the door banging against the hammer seemed to strike at my nerves. I walked around the room like a caged animal, my feelings shouting to escape. But then I thought about my safety. Where I would go? How could I leave Dapo alone to face whatever storm was gathering outside the walls?
When my anxiety was at its highest, the banging suddenly stopped. There was a very cold silence for a moment, then I heard the sound of a lock being opened. My heart jumped into my mouth. Dapo was letting them in.
I took a deep breath. Whatever kind of talks were to come, I wasn't just someone who watched from the side. I had to stand firm for myself and also for the project's sake.
The door opened slowly with a creaky noise, and two tall men in black suits appeared. Their faces looked very serious as they scanned the room like hunters searching for prey with their sharp eyes. Among them, there was a man with very short hair who looked tall and had broad shoulders. He came to us, speaking in a way that showed he did not respect us. His voice sounded like he was the one controlling the talk.
"Mr. Olumide," he began, his eyes moving from me to Dapo and back. "We need to talk."
Dapo stared straight into his eyes, jaw clenched. "This place is mine," he said firmly, surprising everyone a little bit. "And this talk is private."
The man in black scoffed. "Private? There's nothing private about jeopardizing the Olumide legacy."
His words felt heavy in the air like they proved my worst fears. This was not just about a neglected project; it was also about the family's built-up image. They saw my questions about past things as a threat, possibly creating a problem in their secret plan.
A burning anger, fierce and filled with a sense of justice, began deep in my soul. The Olumide family had no power to decide how this project was managed. They were not just guarding their inheritance; they were protecting what was true.
"Hey," I interrupted, speaking with newfound confidence. "This discussion is not just about Dapo; it concerns me too. This project belongs to both of us." And I have demands."
The two men stared at me, their faces showing surprise mixed with irritation. But Dapo looked my way with a surprising expression of thankfulness. Now was not the time for arguing among ourselves; we had to show a united front.
"Demand?" the man with a shaven head repeated, his lips forming a sneer. "Who are you to put demand on Olumide family?"
Not minding his proud tone, I looked into his eyes. "I am Eki Bassey, the architect." "And if not for my vision and knowledge, this Moonlight Glow project is just a dream."
Words from my mouth floated around, courage battling with fear. A strange silence followed, broken only by the heavy breaths of men. I believed they would laugh and push me away at that time.
But, a surprise came. The man with the shaved head showed his teeth, not in a friendly way but with a cold expression that made my back shiver.
"Spirit," he thought, his tone lacking any warmth. "I appreciate this. Maybe you indeed can handle it."
He looked at Dapo, a flare of rivalry in his eyes. "Okay, planner. Say what you want." But make it quick. The Board isn't known for its patience."
"Board?" Dapo echoed his voice tight with confusion. "What Board?"
The man in black laughed, but it did not sound like a happy or nice laugh. "It looks like you did not tell everything to your... friend, Mr. Olumide." This project is no longer only about family." The Moonlight Lease has been… acquired."
Dapo's face contorted in disbelief. Acquired? By who? The meanings were serious, a new and surprising obstacle added to the already risky mix. Our hard negotiation, and our slow steps to be open, all look like they crumble in front of us.
A knot formed in my stomach because this situation was not just about discovering family secrets. We got involved with a mysterious group, which is an organization having its secret plans behind the name "The Board." That time, everything felt very tense and fragile, like it was balancing on the tip of a sharp blade.
"Who got it?" I asked, trying to make my voice sound strong even if many emotions were moving inside me. "And what are their plans for the project?"
The man with no hair and a smooth head showed a small, sneaky smile, looking a bit pleased. "Wait calmly, Ms. Bassey," he spoke slowly. "These particulars are included within the...discussion." If, of course, you're still interested."
He pointed at me, with a teasing glint in his eyes. "It seems the conditions have changed." Are you still wanting to work with Olumides, now that they are not the only ones in the game?
I had a fight going on inside me. My determination was being eaten away by worry; this "Board" was something unknown and maybe putting the project's reliability at risk. But now, to step back feels like a betrayal. It is not only betraying myself but also the dream and Dapo too. Even though his family had flaws, he seemed very dedicated to building something valuable.
Dapo, on the other way, was staying without any movement with his face showing many emotions. Shame, anger and a quiet rebellion were visible in his expressions as he understood the new reality.
After taking slow breaths in and out, I looked straight into the man's eyes, trying not to let fear come. "The project is more important than just money or power," I said with a strong voice. "It involves setting up a place for community culture. If that is what you and The Board want to do, then I am still interested in talking about it." But the terms remain the same."
Quiet returned once more, thick and suffocating. The men exchanged glances, silently communicating something unspoken. At last, the man with a shaved head talked in a tone lacking earlier fun.
"We tell your... conditions to The Board," he said, talking fast. "But remember this, Ms. Bassey—they are not used to being told what they must do." Their patience is thinning."
I feel fear inside, but I keep looking at him with strength. The fight for the Moonlight Glow now is not just about who creates it, but also what its real meaning is. This was not only concerning great building design; it also included being faithful to art and having the right to make a legacy based on transparency, community beliefs, and truth.
"Then I think they need to make a change," I said with a stronger voice. "Because no one, not the Olumide family or some company we don't know, will decide how this centre is made or what message it gives."
The air felt very heavy. The men's faces did not show any feelings, like masks covering what they truly think. Dapo, gave me a quiet nod instead of words, with a little bit of admiration showing on his face. For a short time, because of this sudden danger we faced together, a delicate feeling of unity grew between us.
"Very well," the shaved-headed man finally conceded, his voice tight. "We'll be in touch. We can say this is... a pause in our fight for now. But do not think that our conflict is over, Ms. Bassey. The Board will have its say."
With that, the men turned to go out through the door. When they left, a heavy silence stayed behind. Dapo closed the door with strength after them. His face showed how very tired he was feeling.
"The Board," he muttered, sinking onto the couch. "I never… I had no idea."
I stood in front of him, my mind trying hard to understand the sudden change. The Moonlight Glow project, once a sign of hope, now seemed filled with uncertainty. We got stuck in a conflict between secret family truths, big companies' greed for money, and our never-ending quest to showcase our art.
"We'll deal with it," I finally said, my voice carrying a forced confidence. "Together. We won't let them control our vision."
Dapo looked up at me, with a tired smile on his lips. "Together," he said again, the word sounding like a promise in the air.
But after the first shock disappeared, a little worry began to trouble me. Did I just make a deal with something bad, or did we get an unexpected friend in Dapo who will help us against The Board's hidden threat? One thing was clear: the battle for Moonlight Glow had become a very dangerous task, with the future of the cultural centre and maybe secrets from old times in danger.
That night, I did not sleep. Events of the day keep playing again and again in my mind – the holographic view at the cultural centre, how those men come inside with uneasy feelings, and then sudden news from the Board. Dapo's words about the family secrets keep echoing in my mind, always bringing back memories of the past that could overshadow the present.
Feeling frustrated, I moved around in bed. The stillness of the apartment was not like the storm inside me. In the end, I decided to take action. If understanding what happened before was key to knowing what's going on now, then I must gather information. Information that Dapo didn't seem eager to share with me.
I silently left my bed and moved cautiously towards my computer. A quick internet search revealed a name that frequently appeared in conversations with Dapo: Iya Wura. My hands hovered over the keyboard, feeling nervous and strong at the same moment. Was I ready to dive into a past that could change all things?
Taking a deep breath, I put in the name. The search showed some results, mainly old news articles about Iya Wura's herbal remedies and natural healing practices. But then, one article caught my eye. It was a small piece from a neighbourhood blog called "The Unfinished Symphony: A Legacy of Broken Dreams."
The article talked about a visionary architect; her name is Abeni Olumide. She is the grandmother of Dapo and she designed a cultural center in the middle of Lagos city. The project was called very new and different, but suddenly it stopped for reasons nobody knows. The article thought maybe there were money problems and pressure from politics, but the exact details stayed very unclear.
Sending a thrill through me. Maybe this is the place where Moonlight Lease began? Was Iya Wura connected to Abeni Olumide's work? Things were starting to make sense, but the whole thing was still frustratingly blurry.
Suddenly, I notice something move from the side of my vision and it makes me jump. My heart starts to beat very fast as I try hard to see through the darkness. There, in the doorway, was Dapo. He stood with moonlight coming from the window behind him; his face not easy to see clearly.
"Eki?" he spoke softly, his voice laced with surprise. "You're awake."
Relief and a touch of irritation washed over me. "Dapo! You scared the living daylights out of me." I gestured towards the computer screen. "What's going on? This article… is it about your grandmother?"
He walked to the desk, his eyes locked on the article showing on screen. For some time, he stayed silent, many emotions battling each other on his face. Finally, he sighed, a heavyweight seeming to lift from his shoulders.
"Yes," he admitted, his voice low. "That's Abeni Olumide. My grandmother."
"And the project... cultural centre... what happened?" I ask, with much urgency in my voice.
Dapo looked at me, his eyes showing a mix of sadness and strong determination. "That is a story for later," he said with a voice having a small touch of a plea. "Now, we must think about the future. We need to save Moonlight Glow project from The Board."
I knew why he wanted to wait before talking about the past, but I just couldn't stop being curious. Even so, I understood how important things were at that moment. "Alright, for now," I conceded. "But the past isn't going anywhere, Dapo. And neither am I."
He made a little smile, silently agreeing with my words. "I know," he answered in a very gentle voice. "And maybe, just maybe, this is exactly what the project needs. Someone who is not scared to look into the past and learn from errors."
A small hope began in me. Maybe, if we join hands and confront the past and present openly, we can not only build a cultural centre but also mend the fractured history of the Olumide family. The road ahead of us was not clear, filled with many obstacles and hidden plans. But with a fragile partnership formed during tough times, we were ready to fight for the concept of Moonlight Glow—a beam of hope meant to illuminate not just today but also old dreams that had been forgotten long ago.
