Chapter 48: A Shift in Power and a Hesitant Proposal
1159words
Eki took a deep breath, trying to make herself calm as she moved towards Chief Olumide's study. She understood this would not be a simple job. Ending the Moonlight Lease was a daring choice. It could make her lose ties with the Olumide family, who are the only ones giving money for the cultural centre project.
She knocked on the big, heavy wood door. The noise made loud echoes in the silent hallway. A rough voice answered, "Come in."
Eki opened the door slowly and saw Chief Olumide sitting at his big mahogany desk, an old map of Lagos spread out in front. Chief looked up; his face showed signs he was very tired but also had some look like... maybe acceptance?
"Eki," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "Come in, come in. Have a seat."
Eki sat with care on the soft armchair that was in front of him. "Chief Olumide," she began, her voice being strong even if her hands were shaking slightly. "There's something we need to discuss… the Moonlight Lease."
Chief Olumide let out a big, tired sigh. "I know," he said as he looked down at the map. "Kunle informed me of your… encounter."
Eki's heart skipped a beat. Kunle had told him everything? She waited, bracing herself for a storm of disapproval.
Chief Olumide kept speaking, his voice quiet and gruff. "You understand, Eki, the Lease… it was never truly meant to be yours." It was a big burden my family has carried for many, many years. It is a deal made with... forces we do not know well.
A flicker of surprise crossed Eki's face. Was he being honest? Opening up about the family's dark secret?
"My ancestors," Chief Olumide said, "think they bring good luck to Lagos and give life to the city's creative spirit. But after a long time, the price becomes too high." The inspiration turned to a deep hunger, like darkness that suffocates the soul of this city.
He looked at Eki, his eyes showing both sadness and respect. "Eki, because you are so stubborn... you made everyone see the truth." And maybe... maybe now is the moment for the Olumide family to be freed from this pact, yes?"
Eki sat there, feeling astonishment. Chief Olumide was saying they had made a mistake and now wanted to cancel the Lease. It was more than she could have ever hoped for.
"But what about the project?" she stammered, her mind racing. "The cultural centre… how will I complete it without your support?"
Chief Olumide pursed his lips. "Financial support," he corrected, his voice firm. "The resources... the land… these remain with you. Think of it as a final act of sorrow from the Olumide family."
Eki's heart felt much bigger with the feeling of relief and thankfulness. This was a chance, a new start for him. She can now design the cultural centre using her unique style, showing true creativity and proving how rich the city's artistic history is.
"Thanks very much, Chief Olumide," she said with a lot of feeling in her voice. "You will not regret this."
A flicker of doubt crossed Chief Olumide's face. "Regret?" he murmured. "Perhaps. But there are other forces, Eki. Forces that are not happy with you defying them, with breaking the Lease."
Eki's smile faltered. "What do you mean?"
Chief Olumide stood up from his chair, and since he was very tall, a shadow covered her. He pointed to one spot on the map; it was a small and neglected area at the city's edge. "There," he said, his voice grim. "That's where it all began. The first contract was signed with… something older, something darker. Be careful, Eki. Maybe there are outcomes for escaping, and these results could affect more than just the Olumide family.
Eki felt nervousness in her stomach. Chief Olumide's words gave her shivers down the spine. The fight may not be over. But now, she no longer faces it alone. She received a new strong will, driven by an old memory that awakened inside her.
**Flashback**
Eki was ten years old, and she sat on a tall chair in her grandmother's tiny studio apartment. The room had the scent of oil paints and dreams still waiting to come true. Her grandmother, Mama Ayo, is a lively woman with much strong willpower. She leans over her canvas while the brush moves very energetically.
"Eki," she said, her voice sounding a bit rough but very strong, "art is not just making pictures that look nice. It should also capture the feeling of a place and share stories about its people." It's a weapon against injustice, a voice for the voiceless."
Eki watched with great surprise as Mama Ayo created a lively picture of Lagos. In this painting, street sellers showed their items, musicians played happy music that filled the air, and children played in all the excitement. But among all those bright colours, Eki noticed a tiny touch of sadness—feeling like something very important was missing or had been taken away.
"Mama Ayo, why do you put sadness in your painting?" Eki asked. Her innocent voice broke the silence.
Mama Ayo sighed, her brush slowing down. "There's darkness, Eki," she whispered. "Hunger that takes energy from the city's creativity. But someday, someone will resist." Someone with a brave heart and a fearless spirit."
Eki's hand moved on its own, reaching for the paintbrush she kept in her pocket. Mama Ayo's words were still very clear in her mind, shining like a light of hope when everything seemed uncertain. She decided she would not allow the darkness to win. She felt much determination to build a cultural centre, give respect to her grandmother's heritage and show art freedom in Lagos.
But when Eki left the big house and walked into the busy city, someone came out from dark corners on the other side of the street. It was a woman dressed in all-black clothes with a face hidden by a large hat with a wide brim. She looked at Eki with a small glimmer of fun in her eyes, then she spoke just one word – "Silly girl."
A shiver ran down Eki's spine. Who was this woman? Why does she have so much interest in Eki not having success? When the lady disappeared into the crowd, Eki's new confidence became a bit less strong. The way forward still had many uncertainties, and the struggle for Lagos's essence shifted unexpectedly.
