Ade sat in his office, nursing a light headache after the day's series of events. Prime Entertainment's proposal had been a lot to process, and Funmi's visit had stirred emotions and memories he thought he'd left behind. Just as he was beginning to unwind, he decided to step out for some fresh air.
As he walked through the building's lobby, lost in thought, he almost didn't notice the woman he was about to bump into. She was stunning, with a commanding presence that turned heads. When their eyes met, Ade's breath caught in his throat.
"Monalisa?" he asked, barely able to mask his surprise.
"Ade!" Monalisa Kofi exclaimed, her voice a blend of shock and delight. She looked just as he remembered—if not more glamorous. "I can't believe it's you."
Ade's mind raced. Monalisa had been his ex-girlfriend in university, the one who had left him for his wealthy friend. Seeing her now, after all these years, was disconcerting, to say the least. "It's been a long time," he said, keeping his tone neutral.
"Too long," she replied, her smile warm but her eyes flickering with something he couldn't quite place. "I've heard so much about you and Apex Entertainment. You're really making waves."
"Thank you," Ade replied, still trying to process her sudden appearance. "What brings you here?"
"Oh, I'm just in town for a few days and thought I'd drop by," she said casually, but Ade sensed an underlying tension. "I heard you were working here and wanted to catch up."
Ade felt a prick of suspicion. The timing of her visit, right after his meeting with Funmi, seemed too convenient. But he decided to play along for now. "It's a pleasant surprise. How about we grab a coffee and catch up?"
"That sounds perfect," Monalisa agreed, her smile broadening.
---
They found a quiet café nearby and settled into a corner booth. Monalisa regaled him with tales of her life since university, painting a picture of success and adventure. But Ade couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her visit than she was letting on.
"What about you, Ade?" Monalisa asked, her eyes intent on his. "Tell me everything about Apex Entertainment. I've been following your rise, and it's truly impressive."
Ade gave her a brief overview, keeping the details vague. He didn't want to reveal too much, especially given his suspicions. "It's been a challenging journey, but we've managed to build something significant."
"I'm so proud of you," she said, reaching across the table to touch his hand. "I always knew you had it in you."
Her touch was a jolt from the past, stirring up old feelings and memories. But Ade reminded himself of who Monalisa was and what had happened between them. He couldn't afford to be swayed by nostalgia.
Just then, his phone buzzed with a message from Zainab: "Be careful with Monalisa. I've been digging, and something doesn't add up."
Ade glanced at the message and quickly put his phone away. "So, what brings you back to Lagos?" he asked, steering the conversation back to her.
"Business, mostly," Monalisa replied smoothly. "I'm working on a few projects that might align with what you're doing here. Maybe we could collaborate?"
Ade raised an eyebrow. "Collaborate? In what way?"
"Well," Monalisa began, leaning in conspiratorially, "I have access to some exclusive events and connections that could be beneficial for Apex. We could help each other."
Ade smiled politely, but inside, alarms were ringing. Monalisa's sudden reappearance and her eagerness to collaborate seemed too convenient. He decided it was time to end the conversation.
"That's an interesting proposition," Ade said, standing up. "But I have a lot on my plate right now. We should definitely keep in touch, though."
Monalisa's smile faltered for a brief moment before she recovered. "Of course, Ade. Let's not be strangers."
As they exited the café, Ade couldn't shake the feeling that Monalisa's visit was no coincidence. He watched her walk away, her confident stride only adding to his unease.
---
Back at Apex Entertainment, Ade gathered his team. "I just had a surprise encounter with Monalisa Kofi," he announced, and the team exchanged wary glances.
"The same Monalisa who—" Aisha began, but Ade cut her off with a nod.
"Yes, that Monalisa. And she's suddenly interested in collaborating with us."
Zainab's expression darkened. "I had a feeling something was off. I did some digging, and it seems SilverStar Entertainment has been in contact with her recently."
"That's what I feared," Ade said, his jaw tightening. "They're trying to infiltrate us, using Monalisa to gather information."
"If that's the case, we need to be very careful," Ifeoma said. "She could be feeding everything back to SilverStar."
Ade nodded. "We'll play along for now, but we need to stay one step ahead. Monitor any contact with her and make sure she doesn't get access to anything sensitive."
As the team dispersed, Ade felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him. The storm was indeed gathering, and the games were becoming more dangerous. But he was determined to protect what they had built, no matter the cost.