FRED
The soft murmur of rain taps against the window, a gentle, steady sound that blends perfectly with the warmth of the heavy duvet wrapped around me.
The golden light of a cloudy morning filters through the curtains, casting the room in a muted, comforting glow.
I stretched lazily, feeling the softness of the flannel sheets and the smell of fresh raindrops filling the room.
It's been an amazing experience so far in a short while. Most importantly, I can sleep well every night without tapping Tolu to change his sleeping position. God damn it that man snores like a pig and he feels so comfortable and nonchalant about it.
Sometimes a change of environment and a new home is all we need to feel rejuvenated and congenial.
It was a tough one to take this step but I'm glad I did especially at this stage of my life.
It's a new chapter, a new journey and a new beginning. It's a great feeling but sometimes I'm skeptical of what tomorrow brings.
I know it's okay to be scared and it also feels good when you talk yourself out of it, letting your spirit know that everything is fine and things happen for certain reasons.
Being surrounded by the four walls of the university for four long years—with barely any friends, parties, or female company—had drained the excitement out of my life.
Don't get me wrong… I didn't enjoy the isolation. I simply had no choice. I had to stay focused because I understood what was waiting for me the moment I graduated.
Being an only child didn't help matters either. I grew up alone, buried in books, determined to make my parents proud. Somewhere along the line, I lost parts of myself in the process.
My father, God rest his soul, was always very clear about the kind of man he wanted me to become.
He would say, again and again, that I must strive to be a better version of him.
"Stand tall, son. Take care of your responsibilities. Build something that will outlive you."
To him, a real man was resilient. Focused. Deeply driven. A man of integrity and sharp intellect. Success, he believed, wasn't just personal—it was a duty to family, to community, even to the country.
Social gatherings? Secondary.
Leisure? Optional.
Rest? That comes after results.
In his world, relationships might suffer, phones might ring unanswered, and people might misunderstand—but sacrifice was simply the temporary price of long-term greatness.
He often told me men like that were rarely understood. People would call them distant… overly serious… even cold.
"But those who truly know him," my father would say, "understand he is building something bigger than himself."
His voice still echoes in my mind.
A name may not be loud today, he used to say, but the bricks being laid will echo for generations.
That was the man he was.
The embodiment of the Nigerian spirit—industrious, unshaken, and determined to rise no matter the odds.
I carried those words with me throughout university. I admired him deeply, and I wanted—no, needed—to surpass what he had built.
And I did.
Now, standing at this new chapter of my life, I've decided something important:
It's time to breathe.
It might sound funny, but at this point, I want to live a little. I want to socialize. Meet new people. Take beautiful women out on proper dates. Explore the city. Visit clubs. Enjoy good drinks.
Maybe even fall into trouble once or twice.
Knowing I'm the new named CEO of my father's telecommunications company fills me with a quiet pride. I didn't just inherit this position—I earned it.
The company didn't hold back either.
A fully furnished luxury penthouse in Victoria Island.
A brand-new 2025 Mercedes-Maybach S680.
Four bodyguards.
And bank accounts so funded they might as well be bottomless.
Not bad for a focused university boy.
This… this is the reward for discipline.
In life, put first things first—and the last things will fall perfectly into place.
I rolled across my soft bed, my thoughts drifting back to the most beautiful girl I had ever seen… the mysterious woman from the window.
The one I left behind without a proper goodbye.
Do you know I stood at that window for two full hours on my last day?
Two hours.
Waiting.
Hoping she would appear so I could at least wave one final time… maybe signal somehow… maybe find a way to finally tell her how much she had begun to occupy my thoughts.
But she never came.
And damn… that hurt more than I expected.
For the first time in my life, I found myself emotionally invested in someone whose name I didn't even know.
Still, I believe nature has its own strange way of arranging meetings.
If it's meant to happen, our paths will cross again.
Until then… faith.
With a quiet sigh, I slid out of bed and slipped my feet into my soft, fluffy slippers before heading toward the kitchen.
What's a beautiful morning without a proper breakfast?
Honestly—it would be a complete waste.
"Yeah… it definitely would," I murmured to myself, still feeling oddly cheerful.
I paused midway and glanced around my new, fully furnished penthouse.
Peace washed over me.
A slow, satisfied smile spread across my face as I nodded to myself.
Not bad, Fred. Not bad at all.
Still, something was missing.
After a moment's thought, I reached for my phone and dialed Tolu's number.
At first, I hesitated.
Part of me wasn't sure I wanted him invading my new space just yet.
But on second thought… I needed someone like Tolu around to inject some chaos into this polished new life of mine.
We had lived together for three years before he dropped out of school.
If anyone could qualify as a brother in my life, it was him.
He wasn't exactly the academic type—but loyalty? Madness? Street sense?
Top tier.
And truth be told… I missed his troublesome energy.
I shook my head with a soft laugh as the phone rang.
Then his rough voice came through.
"Hello… who's this?"
I pulled the phone away slightly and stared at the screen in disbelief.
Then I smirked.
"Man, I'm very sure you know who's calling," I said smoothly. "Because I'm not about to introduce myself."
There was a brief pause.
Then—
"It is too early for games this morning," Tolu grumbled. "Better say who you are before I hang up this useless phone."
I chuckled.
"Easy, tiger. No need to be hostile. I'm just surprised you deleted my number to make space for one of your many girlfriends."
Silence.
I could practically hear the gears in his head turning.
Then suddenly—
"FREDDDD!" he roared.
I burst out laughing.
"Yeah, my guy. Alive, healthy… and extremely wealthy."
Tolu exploded into loud, uncontrollable laughter.
"Omo! I like the sound of that!" he said. "You always talked about becoming a responsible big man, and see you now—you actually pulled it off. Congratulations, my brother. I'm genuinely proud of you."
I leaned casually against the kitchen counter, but something in his tone made me narrow my eyes slightly.
"How exactly did you even know about my accomplishments?" I asked slowly.
He clicked his tongue.
"Fred… Fred… the world has ears. You tried to stay low-key, but news travels fast. And you know me—I pay attention to anything that smells like money."
I smirked faintly.
"And how exactly do I interest you, Tolu?"
He laughed softly, clearly grinning.
"Abeg, who no go like to claim billionaire friend? Or wait… have you disowned me already, Mr. CEO?"
I scoffed.
"A friend who doesn't even have my number saved? Honestly, this call was clearly a mistake. Let me just—"
"Ah! Oya, oya, don't hang up!" he rushed quickly.
I let the silence stretch just a little, enjoying his panic.
"Why shouldn't I, Tolu?" I said coolly. "You didn't call. You didn't text. Now I find out my number vanished from your phone like national electricity. Very impressive behavior, my brother."
He groaned dramatically.
"Okay, okay, I deserve that. But listen to me, Fred. From our university days, I've always been your guy—even when I had zero clue you were moving like an undercover billionaire."
He paused, his voice turning more sincere.
"I still care about you, bro. And I'll prove my loyalty. I honestly don't know how your number disappeared, but give me your address… just your address… and I promise your opinion of me will change immediately."
I paced slowly around the kitchen, scratching my forehead while a reluctant smile tugged at my lips.
Typical Tolu.
I exhaled loudly.
"You are my brother," I said finally. "Even though you have stressed my life in multiple dimensions. I keep forgiving you because—let's be honest—you don't have sense."
For a moment there was silence.
Then Tolu burst into wild laughter.
"I see what you did there, you big fool!" he fired back. "Even if you become president tomorrow, I will still call you a fool. But for real… I've missed you, guy. I'm glad you called."
My smile softened.
"Yeah… me too. We've got plenty to catch up on. I'll text you my address right after this. Come through soon."
"Say no more, my billionaire brother," he replied excitedly. "I'm already preparing my shoes. I'm coming sharp-sharp."
I chuckled.
"Alright, Tolu. Drive safe."
"Always. Later, big man."
The line clicked off.
And just like that…
Things were about to get interesting.