07- NO TURNING BACK
The weight of the phone in my hand feels heavier than it should. ₦50 million. That's not just money—it's power, influence, and danger wrapped in one tempting package.
Kamal waits on the other end of the line, his silence pressing.
"I'm listening," I repeat, leaning against the reinforced steel door of my newly acquired building.
"There's a financial collapse coming," Kamal says. "Not just in Nigeria, but globally. The markets will shake, and a lot of rich men are about to lose everything. We want to make sure we're not one of them."
I already know what he's talking about. The oil price crash of 2014—the beginning of Nigeria's long economic downturn. Naira free-falling, inflation soaring, businesses crumbling.
And I know exactly how to profit from it.
"You want a hedge," I say. "A way to flip the collapse into an opportunity."
A pause, then a quiet chuckle. "Smart boy. Yes."
I exhale, already forming a plan. "Oil stocks will tank, but foreign exchange reserves will shift. If we act before the crash fully hits, we can move into USD-denominated assets and cash out before panic selling starts."
Kamal is quiet, then he whistles low. "Damn. Chief Solomon wasn't lying about you."
A thrill shoots through me, but I keep my voice even. "What's the offer?"
"If your information nets us a profit, you get 10%—₦5 million upfront, and the rest after the deal closes."
₦5 million just to be right. If I pull this off, I'll have ₦50 million in my pocket and the trust of some of the most powerful underground players in Lagos.
It's a golden opportunity.
And a death sentence if I mess up.
"I'll send you the details in 24 hours," I say, before hanging up.
The moment the call ends, I exhale.
No turning back now.
---
The Plan Comes Together
I don't waste time. The next morning, I immerse myself in research, pulling up Ava's financial analysis tools.
> Ava, show me the exact timeline of the oil market collapse.
> Processing…
A graph appears, showing oil prices plummeting from $100 to $50 per barrel within months. The ripple effect will hit Nigeria hard, causing a severe naira devaluation, stock crashes, and liquidity crises.
If we move fast, we can short the oil market and buy into USD assets before the naira collapses.
I double-check my calculations, refining every move, then send Kamal a detailed breakdown:
Phase 1: Short Nigerian oil companies before their value drops.
Phase 2: Convert large amounts of naira into dollars before the exchange rate shifts.
Phase 3: Buy distressed assets for pennies on the dollar once the economy hits rock bottom.
Less than an hour after sending the report, my phone buzzes.
> ₦5,000,000 has been deposited into your account.
I stare at the screen, my pulse pounding.
It's real. I just got paid ₦5 million for knowledge.
I lean back, a slow smile spreading across my face.
I own the future.
---
Strengthening the Fortress
With money in my account, it's time to scale up.
I open Ava's shop and review my earlier options.
> Current Funds: ₦6,000,000
Recommended Investments:
Underground Storage – ₦2,000,000
Panic Room Installation – ₦3,500,000
High-Security Surveillance System – ₦750,000
Security isn't optional anymore. Not when I'm playing in the deep end.
I purchase the Underground Storage and Surveillance System, leaving enough for emergencies.
> Transaction Confirmed. Installation in Progress…
Over the next few days, workers flood my building. Steel-reinforced doors go up. Cameras with motion sensors are installed at every entry point.
By the time they're done, my "apartment" is no longer just a home—it's a fortress.
---
A New Ally Enters the Game
Two nights later, my phone rings. A new number.
I hesitate, then answer.
"You're the one making moves in Lagos," a woman's voice says. Confident. Controlled. Dangerous.
I frown. "Who's asking?"
A soft chuckle. "I go by Maya. You don't know me yet, but you will. Let's just say… I handle problems for people like you."
An enforcer. Someone who deals with dirty work—blackmail, disappearances, leverage.
"I don't have any problems," I say carefully.
"Not yet," she replies smoothly. "But you will. And when you do, you'll want someone like me on your side."
She pauses. "Meet me at The Vault tomorrow at 10 PM. If you're serious about this game, you'll be there."
The line goes dead.
I stare at my phone, then sigh.
Looks like my world is getting even bigger.
And a whole lot more dangerous.
---
The Vault: Entering the Lion's Den
The Vault isn't just a nightclub. It's where the city's untouchables do business—politicians, crime lords, and elite hustlers.
When I step inside, the air is thick with cigar smoke, whiskey, and the quiet murmur of high-stakes deals.
Maya waits for me in a VIP section, sipping red wine. She's tall, sharp-eyed, and radiates control. Her black dress hugs her figure, but there's something lethal about the way she moves—like a coiled viper.
I sit across from her. "You called me."
She smiles. "You're smart. But intelligence without protection? That's suicide."
I raise a brow. "And you're offering protection?"
"I'm offering options," she corrects. "Right now, you're valuable. But the moment you become a threat, someone will come for you. I make sure that doesn't happen."
I lean back, studying her. "What's your price?"
She smiles, sipping her wine. "A percentage of your deals. And when I need your kind of knowledge, you deliver."
A partnership.
I could walk away. Keep playing alone.
But the deeper I go, the more enemies I'll make.
Having someone like Maya?
That might just keep me alive.
I extend my hand. "Deal."
Her fingers are cold as she shakes mine.
"Welcome to the deep end," she murmurs.
And just like that—
I'm no longer just a player.
I'm a power in Lagos.
---