It was the buzz of the media world, trending on every platform from Forbes to Bloomberg— Chidi Okoye had officially joined the ranks of billionaires, with a staggering net worth of $1.8 billion. The collaboration with Bybit had propelled Paystack into new heights, bringing massive profits and making headlines everywhere. The world was watching, and Chidi was soaring.
At Paystack, Adaora arrived in her usual fashion—her sleek black sedan rolling into the office parking lot. She stepped out, dressed in a soft blue blouse and fitted black pants, with her laptop in one hand. As she locked the car, she took a deep breath, ready for the day ahead. The office was abuzz, but as soon as she entered, the hum of activity shifted toward her.
"Happy Birthday, Adaora!" echoed in unison as she walked in, taking her by surprise.
She smiled, slightly taken aback by the warmth. Bam Bam, one of her closest colleagues, was the first to approach, handing her a sleek black box. “Here, I got you something special.”
Adaora opened the box to reveal an elegant fountain pen. “Oh wow, Bam Bam, this is beautiful!”
“It’s a pen that writes your destiny,” she teased with a grin. "Thought it’d be a good match for you."
Before she could respond, Paul, her senior colleague, stepped forward with a shy smile and handed her a gift-wrapped package. “I got you this. Hope you like it.”
Adaora unwrapped it to find a wireless mouse. “Paul, this is so thoughtful, thank you!”
Paul nodded. “Anything for you, Adaora.”
Bam Bam leaned in, whispering excitedly, “By the way, I heard you’re getting a private office. The CTO made sure it was set up for you. No more shared spaces!”
Adaora raised her eyebrows. “Wait, what? A private office?”
“Yeah! They say the Chidi personally asked for it. When will you guys started dating?”
Adaora was still trying to process the news when her phone buzzed. It was a missed call from Chidi Okoye. Her heart skipped a beat—he wasn’t at the office today, which was unusual given the whirlwind of activity at Paystack.
Excusing herself, she quickly dialed Chidi’s number, and within seconds, he picked up.
“Chidi, I just saw your call. I wanted to thank you for everything. The birthday surprise, the opportunities…”
“Adaora, you deserve every bit of it,” Chidi responded warmly. “You’re an asset to the company. I’ll stop by your place later this evening to personally wish you a happy birthday.”
Adaora smiled, though she could feel a certain weight in Chidi’s words. “That’s very kind of you.”
Her day at the office was filled with warmth and attention. Colleagues who had barely spoken to her before now came over with compliments and birthday wishes. There was a certain buzz around her, a sense of admiration, not just for her work but also for the way she carried herself. Adaora felt the eyes of the office on her, but she brushed it off with her usual modesty.
Later in the afternoon, Paul approached her again, this time with a more serious expression. Adaora noticed and immediately stood up as a sign of respect.
“Sir, is everything alright?”
He hesitated for a moment, then smiled. “Yes, everything’s fine. I just wanted to ask if we could... meet after work.”
Adaora tilted her head. “Sure, where?”
“There’s a nice restaurant not far from here. How about 4:30? I have something I’d like to talk about.”
Adaora raised an eyebrow playfully. “Is this... a date?”
Paul summoned his courage and replied, “Yes, it is.”
Caught off guard, Adaora could only smile. Paul had always been kind to her, a quiet presence in the office, but she hadn’t expected this. She couldn’t bring herself to reject him.
“Alright, Sir. I’ll meet you there.”
As Paul left her office, Adaora couldn’t help but reflect on the day. From the surprise birthday wishes to Chidi’s message and now Paul’s invitation, it felt like a whirlwind of emotions. But for now, she would focus on the present.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Mrs. Abosede, the current CEO, was quietly observing everything. She had noticed the growing interest Mr. Okoye was showing in his son. It didn’t take much to figure out that Chidi might soon be reinstated as CEO, which left her position in jeopardy. She had dirty tricks up her sleeve—tricks that would ensure her grip on the company stayed firm, no matter what.
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Binary Hearts
RomanceAdaora, a brilliant yet self-doubting programmer from Ifo, Nigeria, faces the harsh realities of life when her mother falls ill. Armed with exceptional tech skills but struggling with low self-esteem, she ventures to a city in Lagos seeking for job...
