Immediately after the meeting with his team, as Ade was gathering his thoughts, a knock sounded at the door of Apex Entertainment. Before anyone could respond, the door swung open, revealing a striking woman. She had dark, flawless skin, and her figure was reminiscent of a classic coke bottle. She exuded confidence and grace, dressed impeccably in a tailored office suit that highlighted her elegance.
For a moment, Ade was transfixed. The room seemed to fade away as memories from his university days flooded back. The woman standing before him was Funmi, the one person who had been his weakness back then. Her presence was like a time machine, transporting him to a past he thought he had left behind.
His team, who had been in the middle of dispersing, noticed the shift in Ade's demeanor. Ifeoma raised an eyebrow, Zainab glanced curiously between Ade and the visitor, and Aisha leaned over to whisper to Amaka, both of them trying to gauge the situation.
Funmi's eyes locked onto Ade's, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Ade, it's been a long time," she said, her voice carrying the same warmth he remembered.
"Funmi," Ade managed to say, finding his voice. "What brings you here?"
"I've heard a lot about Apex Entertainment and your recent successes," Funmi replied, stepping further into the room. "I thought it was time to see for myself and... catch up."
Zainab, ever the professional, stepped forward. "Welcome to Apex Entertainment, Ms. Funmi. Can we offer you anything? Coffee? Water?"
"Just water, thank you," Funmi said, her eyes still on Ade.
As Zainab moved to get the water, Funmi turned to Ade. "Can we talk somewhere private?"
Ade nodded, leading her to his office. His mind was racing. Funmi had been more than just a college crush; she was someone who had understood him in ways few others had. But they had drifted apart, and seeing her now, especially in such an unexpected context, was both thrilling and unsettling.
Once inside his office, Funmi sat down, crossing her legs elegantly. "You've done well for yourself, Ade. I'm genuinely impressed."
"Thank you," Ade said, sitting across from her. "I have a great team. We've worked hard to get here."
Funmi nodded, her gaze softening. "I can see that. But I didn't come here just to reminisce. I have a proposal for you."
Ade leaned forward, intrigued. "Go on."
"I'm working with Prime Entertainment," she began, and Ade's eyes widened slightly. "I know, it's a bit of a coincidence given your recent meeting with Gloria. But I wanted to approach you personally because I believe in what you're doing here."
"Funmi, Prime Entertainment has a... reputation," Ade said cautiously. "Why are you involved with them?"
She sighed, looking momentarily vulnerable. "Things aren't always black and white, Ade. I joined Prime because I wanted to make a difference, and they offered resources I couldn't find elsewhere. But I haven't forgotten my principles. I believe a partnership between Apex and Prime could be mutually beneficial, and I wanted to discuss it with you directly."
Ade studied her, weighing his next words carefully. "You understand why I'm cautious. Prime's connections and the rumors surrounding them are... troubling."
"I do," Funmi acknowledged. "But that's why I'm here. I want to ensure any collaboration is above board and beneficial for both sides. We can navigate this together, with integrity."
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. It was Zainab with a glass of water. She handed it to Funmi and then gave Ade a questioning look, as if to ask if everything was alright.
"Thank you, Zainab," Ade said, giving her a reassuring nod. "We're fine."
As Zainab left, Funmi took a sip of water, then placed the glass down. "Think about it, Ade. We have a chance to shape the industry, to set a new standard. I know you have reservations, but with the right approach, we can turn this into something positive."
"I'll consider it," Ade said finally. "But I need time to discuss this with my team and to think it through."
"Of course," Funmi said, standing up. "Take all the time you need. I'll be in touch."
As she walked out of the office, Ade felt a mixture of emotions. Seeing Funmi again had stirred up old feelings, but it also presented a new set of challenges. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the stakes were higher than ever.
Returning to the conference room, he found his team waiting expectantly.
"That was Funmi," Ade said, almost to himself, as he sat down. "She's working with Prime Entertainment and proposed a collaboration."
The room buzzed with murmurs as the team processed this new information. Ifeoma was the first to speak. "This changes things. If Funmi is involved, it could mean Prime is serious about a legitimate partnership."
"Or it could be another tactic," Zainab added. "We need to tread carefully."
Ade nodded. "Agreed. Let's gather more information and reconvene tomorrow. We need to approach this with our eyes wide open."
As the team dispersed, Ade sat back, deep in thought. The storm was indeed gathering, and he needed to navigate it with precision and care.