35: The Meeting of Minds

Before his meeting with Sarah and Ayo, Ade visited Mr. Michael's office. He arrived at the 3rd floor of the 12-story building and walked up to the front desk. A beautiful young lady, decently dressed in a white turtleneck top and black pants, greeted him with a calm, melodious voice that was pleasing to the ears.

"Good morning, sir. How may I help you?" she asked with a warm smile.

For a few seconds, Ade was mesmerized but quickly came to his senses. "Good morning. I'm Ade, and I have an appointment with Mr. Michael."

"You're welcome, sir. Please follow me," she said, leading Ade to a conference room where four gentlemen and a lady were already seated.

The faces were unfamiliar except for Mr. Michael, whom Ade had met once before. Mr. Michael stood up and greeted him warmly.

"Ade, welcome. Please, have a seat," Mr. Michael said, gesturing to an empty chair.

Ade shook hands with Mr. Michael and took his seat. Mr. Michael then introduced the others around the table. "These are the investors interested in our new venture. Let me introduce you to Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Eze, Mr. Patel, and Mr. Zhang."

Ade nodded to each of them, trying to conceal his nerves. Mr. Michael continued, "We've discussed your potential role in leading this new initiative, Ade. Your experience at the community center is invaluable, and we believe you can bring the same success to this project."

Mr. Johnson, a middle-aged man with a stern expression, leaned forward. "Ade, we're impressed with your background and what you've accomplished. But we need to know that you're fully committed to this venture. It will require dedication and a clear vision."

Ade nodded, feeling the weight of the opportunity. "I'm committed. I believe in the potential of this project, and I'm ready to put in the work to make it succeed."

Mrs. Eze, a graceful woman with an air of authority, smiled. "That's what we wanted to hear. We're prepared to provide the necessary resources and support. What we need from you is leadership and innovation."

Mr. Michael chimed in, "We see this as a chance to create something impactful, just like the community center but on a larger scale. Ade, you'll have the autonomy to shape this initiative, but you'll also have our guidance and backing."

Ade felt a surge of confidence. "Thank you for this opportunity. I'm excited to get started and to work with all of you."

The meeting continued with discussions on logistics, funding, and strategic planning. Ade found himself energized by the possibilities, his mind racing with ideas. He felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination.

---

After the meeting, Ade left Mr. Michael's office, his thoughts still buzzing with the discussions. He received a call from Sarah asking if they could meet to resolve the issues between them. Ade agreed but with the intention of convincing Sarah to join him in his new venture.

That night in his apartment, Ade is seen seated by the window with a bottle of wine and a glass cup in hand as he gaze into the darkness of the night . Replaying the meeting he had with Sarah and Ayo...

"Hi, Ade," Sarah greeted, her voice warm but tinged with concern. "I hope you don't mind, but I thought Ayo should be here too."

Ade's expression hardened. "I thought we were going to talk alone, Sarah."

Ayo stepped forward. "Ade, we're here because we care about you and the work we've done together. This isn't about sides."

Ade took a deep breath, trying to control his frustration. "I've made my decision, Ayo. I can't keep playing second fiddle. Mr. Michael sees my potential and has offered me a chance to lead my own organization. I want you to respect that."

Sarah looked at Ade, her eyes pleading. "Ade, we're not trying to hold you back. But we believe in the work we're doing at the community center. Can't we find a way to work together?"

Ade shook his head. "It's too late for that. I've made up my mind."

Ayo took a deep breath. "Ade, if this is really what you want, we'll respect your decision. But know that our door is always open if you ever want to come back."

Ade's resolve wavered for a moment, but he quickly steeled himself. "Thank you, Ayo. But I need to do this for myself."

The tension in the room was palpable as the three of them sat in silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on them. Finally, Ade stood up. "I have another meeting to get to. I'll see you around."

I guess this is it, Ade thought to himself because at this point there is no going back. The road ahead is going to be a bumpy ride but he hope he can scale through and come out stronger and better