Binary Hearts

30| Power Struggles 💀

The morning brought a new wave of excitement for Spark Technologies LLC as they officially announced their groundbreaking payment system, SMOKE. The announcement quickly went viral, igniting discussions across social media platforms. On Spark Technologies' Twitter account, undergraduate students were particularly vocal, hailing SMOKE as a game-changer that would benefit "Sapa Gang," a term used humorously by young Nigerians to describe being broke.

"Finally! A payment system that understands our struggle. SMOKE is the real deal!" one student commented. Another tweet read, "This go really help us wey no get data most times. Thank you, Spark Technologies!" The enthusiasm was palpable, with comments flooding in: "SMOKE for the win! No data, no problem! Paystack should better watch out."

As Spark Technologies began trending again on the internet, conversations took a darker turn. People began revisiting the recent NITA awards, questioning whether Spark Technologies deserved to win over Paystack. Speculations and rumors started spreading, with many alleging that Paystack used underhanded methods to secure their win. "Only God knows what really happened at the NITA awards," someone tweeted. Another user added, "Let's see who wins the Best Entrepreneur of the Year. Will it be Chidi Okoye, who fainted on the street some months ago? Lol."

The growing buzz didn't go unnoticed by Mr. Okoye, The founder and Chairman of Paystack, also the father to Chidi Okoye the CEO. Upon coming across the news, his anger simmered to the surface. He couldn't stand the thought of another company rivaling Paystack's dominance. In a fit of rage, he summoned his son, Chidi Okoye, to his office.

"You useless boy!" Mr. Okoye's voice boomed, filled with fury. "You can't even manage a company properly. Is something distracting you, fool?"

Chidi stood there, silent, his heart sinking under the weight of his father's harsh words. But before he could respond, Mr. Okoye made a drastic decision. He would remove Chidi as CEO and replace him with Mrs. Abosede, a seasoned but stern executive known for her ruthless management style.

The news of Chidi's demotion to CTO spread like wildfire, both within Paystack and across the internet. Employees were shocked but dared not speak out. Mrs. Abosede wasted no time asserting her authority, particularly targeting Adaora with her strict demeanor.

Meanwhile, Chidi felt the sting of his father's decision deeply. His once-prominent status was now reduced, and he was determined to regain it. That morning, as Adaora greeted him in the office, he responded coldly, his voice laced with bitterness.

"I can't believe you can do this," he said abruptly, walking away from Adaora without any further explanation.

Adaora stood there, puzzled and hurt by his words. What had she done? The guilt gnawed at her, though she had no idea what she was being accused of. Determined to clear her name, she trailed Chidi to a nearby coffee shop, where she finally cornered him.

"What did I do wrong?" Adaora demanded, her voice trembling with confusion and anger.

Chidi glared at her, his eyes filled with accusation. "I told you a secret I wasn't happy about, and you exposed it to the world. You're so wicked!" His voice broke with emotion as he stormed out of the coffee shop, leaving Adaora standing there, stunned and heartbroken.

As she watched Chidi drive off in his new Porsche 918 Spyder, Adaora's mind raced. She realized she hadn't told Tunde about the secret Chidi had shared, and now she was being blamed for something she didn't do. Desperate to clear her name, she sought out Chidi's personal assistant, Joshua.

"Joshua, please," Adaora pleaded, her voice thick with desperation. "I need to know where Chidi is going this evening. I need to talk to him."

Joshua hesitated, but the sincerity in Adaora's eyes broke through his resolve. "He'll be going to Secret Palace this evening," Joshua finally confessed. "That's where he goes to relax when he's angry."

Relieved but anxious, Adaora thanked Joshua and made a note of the location. As she prepared to leave the office, she couldn't help but notice the trending news about Spark Technologies and the swirling rumors of Paystack's corruption. The weight of it all pressed down on her, filling her with sadness for Chidi. But she knew she had to focus on clearing her name.

Tunde, on the other hand, had been waiting all day for Adaora to congratulate him on the success of SMOKE and the positive news. But as the hours passed, he grew increasingly disappointed. No call, no message—nothing. The silence was deafening.

As evening fell, Adaora got into her car around 6 PM and drove to Secret Palace. It was her first time there, and she couldn't help but feel out of place. The parking lot was filled with luxury cars—Lamborghinis, Bugattis, Rolls Royces, and Porsches. Her car was the lowest of them all, and she felt a pang of embarrassment.

The security guards eyed her suspiciously, questioning her presence. But before they could turn her away, a group of wealthy men approached, offering to "take care" of her. They clearly saw her as someone who could be easily manipulated.

Adaora played along, pretending to be interested just to get inside. Once in, she discreetly began searching for Chidi. To her astonishment, she stumbled upon a performance by Burna Boy on stage. The sight left her momentarily stunned—this was a world far removed from her own, yet here she was, caught up in its whirlwind.

Amid the music and the opulence, Adaora knew she had to stay focused. She had to find Chidi and set things right, no matter the cost.