FRED
The night stretched wide across the city—calm, cold, and glittering like it had secrets of its own. A slow breeze drifted through the open glass doors of my penthouse, teasing the surface of the pool and rustling the palm leaves by the garden. The faint hum of traffic from below blended with soft highlife spilling from the outdoor speakers. It was a perfect evening—if only my heart wasn't a battlefield.
I sat on a sleek Italian chair, legs crossed, holding a glass of Hennessy that glowed amber under the soft lights. I swirled it lazily, watching the penthouse lights flicker on the pool's surface. My eyes were heavy, face drawn. The cold breeze didn't soothe me—it only reminded me of the emptiness that had made a hole inside me.
I sighed deeply, muttering to myself.
"Years... all those years," I said quietly. "And for what? For her to end up in someone else's arms?"
I took another long sip. The burn felt good. At least it was honest—unlike feelings.
The elevator chimed in the distance. Tolu had arrived.
I didn't move. I only turned my head slightly as my bouncer led Tolu through the glass doors.
"Ah-ah, Fred, my gee!" Tolu said, laughing as he approached. "You didn't tell me I was coming to meet the ghost of my own guy. Look at you, half drunk before I even arrived!"
I smirked faintly. "It's called pregame therapy," I said, voice slurred but heavy. "Sit down, man. Drink's waiting."
Tolu sat, eyes scanning the scene—the half-empty bottle, the scattered ice cubes, my rumpled shirt. He poured himself a drink, shaking his head.
"Bro, you're drinking like someone just collected your company shares."
"Worse," I said, eyes fixed on the pool. "Someone collected my heart."
Tolu paused mid-sip, raising an eyebrow. "Ah. So it's a woman matter. I knew it. Only a woman can humble a billionaire."
I chuckled, a dry, broken sound. "You remember that girl I told you about back in uni? The one I used to watch from my window?"
"The mysterious balcony girl? The one you said had a beautiful smile?"
I nodded. "Her name's Tracy."
Tolu blinked. "Tracy? Wait—Tracy, Tracy? The same one who—"
"The same," I interrupted, taking another sip. "I found her, Tolu. After all these years. I saw her... last week at your club Quilox. I couldn't believe it."
Tolu whistled low. "Damn. That's some full-circle fate right there."
"Yeah," I muttered. "Except fate's got a cruel sense of humor. You saw she wasn't alone. She was in another man's arms when she shook my hand, and introduced herself — Like the universe was mocking me."
The mood thickened. The air felt heavier than the night breeze.
Tolu leaned back, rubbing his beard. "Hmm. So that's why you called me."
I nodded slowly. "You're my link. You know people. You know Kelvin. You can help me reach her."
Tolu laughed awkwardly. "Ah, this kind of reach might be electric shock o. You sure you're ready for that?"
My eyes burned into his. "I've been ready for years."
Tolu hesitated, then sighed. "Okay. Let me tell you something you might not want to hear."
I leaned forward, glass still in hand. "Say it."
"You know Kelvin, yeah? The guy I introduced you to at the club, I've known him for years. We're partners in crime.
I nodded impatiently.
"Well, Kelvin knows Tracy... but I don't think he knows her guy Eli. Sonia, his girlfriend, is close to Tracy. In fact, they live together in the same apartment in Lekki. So yes, technically, I can connect you."
My expression softened slightly. "Good. Then—"
"But," Tolu cut in, eyes flicking away. "There's... a catch."
My grip tightened around my glass. "What catch?"
Tolu hesitated. "I heard from Kelvin yesterday. Tracy's not even in the country right now."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"She's in Maldives," Tolu said quietly. "With Eli."
I froze. "Eli?"
"Yeah," Tolu continued, voice careful. "You know, the flashy tech guy with too much money and no sense of humanity. I know him very well, he comes to my club often — big spender, party boy, changes women like boxers. Kelvin said they flew there last weekend. Word is... they're celebrating."
"Celebrating what?" I asked, my voice dangerously calm.
Tolu hesitated again. He didn't want to say it, but my stare forced it out.
"Apparently... it was her first time traveling with him. And, well... word on the street is that Eli—uh—took her there to deflower her."
Silence. Pure, unbroken silence.
The city noises faded. The breeze stopped. Even the pool seemed to still.
My jaw clenched. My heart felt like it had been yanked out and stomped on. My knuckles turned white around the glass. I didn't blink for several seconds.
Then I laughed—softly, bitterly. "Deflower," I said, the word rolling off my tongue like poison. "Nice. The perfect gentleman's term for robbery."
Tolu sighed, sipping his drink. "Fred, bro, don't do this to yourself. You can't blame her. She didn't even know you existed like that."
My laughter turned hollow. "Didn't know I existed? I built dreams around her, Tolu. I watched her smile every morning from my window and it gave me reason to study harder, work harder. Every deal I made, every win I got—I imagined her there. Waiting."
Tolu shook his head. "And now she's in Maldives, waiting for Eli to order another cocktail."
My eyes shot him a glare. "Don't joke."
Tolu raised both hands. "Sorry, sorry. Bad timing. But bro, think. You're letting this woman live rent-free in your head while she's living rent-free in paradise."
I slumped back in my chair, exhaling deeply. "You ever loved someone so much you hated yourself for it?"
"Every Lagos boy has, bro," Tolu said with a chuckle. "Difference is, we move on. You? You're still stuck in that university window."
I didn't answer. The Hennessy was almost gone. I poured another.
After a moment, Tolu added, "You know, maybe you should meet her still. Not to beg or anything. Just to close the chapter. End the ghost story."
My lips curled faintly. "End it? No, Tolu. I'm just getting started."
Tolu eyed me cautiously. "You're scaring me now."
I looked out at the city again, the reflection of lights flickering across my cold, unreadable face.
"I don't want to hurt her," I said softly. "I just want her to see what she walked away from."
The breeze picked up again, colder this time. Somewhere in the distance, thunder grumbled over the lagoon.
Tolu drained his glass, shaking his head. "Fred, my guy... whatever you're planning, make sure it's not the Hennessy talking."
I smiled thinly. "Maybe it's the Hennessy. Maybe it's the heartbreak. Maybe they're the same thing."
And for a long, tense moment, we sat there—silent, listening to the wind and the city breathing around us.
Tolu exhaled and decided the moment needed some levity. He reached for the Hennessy bottle, refilled his glass, and gave me a sly grin.
"Abeg, let's pause this heartbreak movie small," He said, chuckling. "Tell me something, my guy—what about Amaka? The one I arranged for you that night at Quilox. You left the club together, abi? How did that night end?"
I gave a dry laugh, shaking my head. "You won't believe it, Tolu."
"I'm listening," Tolu leaned in with mischief. "Don't tell me all that fine effort went to waste."
I swirled my drink, smiling faintly but with tired eyes. "How was I supposed to get down sweetly with Amaka when I discovered Tracy that same night? My head was no longer in the game. I only did the least."
Tolu burst out laughing. "The least? What does that even mean? You gave her half energy? You went there like generator on low fuel?"
I chuckled quietly, taking a sip. "Something like that. Bro, even she sensed something was off. I could tell. The next morning, she looked at me like she knew I was somewhere else in my head. But she didn't ask too much questions."
Tolu grinned. "She's smart. That's why I like Amaka—no stress, no drama. So what did you do?"
I shrugged. "I compensated her."
"How much?"
"Seven hundred."
Tolu almost choked on his drink. "Seven hundred what?"
"Dollars," I said simply.
"Ah!" Tolu laughed, slapping his thigh. "No wonder she didn't ask too much questions! She probably left your place humming praise songs. 'Father Lord, bless Fred's broken heart!'"
Even I couldn't help but laugh a little, though my eyes still carried that same shadow.
Tolu looked at me seriously for a moment. "But, bro, real talk—why punish yourself like this? You've got everything a man could ask for. Money, women, peace. You could have ten Amaka's and still have your change. Yet here you are dying over one Tracy that probably doesn't even think about you."
My face hardened again. "You don't get it, Tolu. It's not about having women. It's about having her only to myself."
Tolu sighed. "I get it, I get it. But sometimes we have to know when to let the dream go."
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. My voice dropped lower, heavier.
"Normally, after hearing what I heard tonight—about her and Eli—I should move on. I should let her live her life, enjoy her paradise. But..." I paused, my voice trembling slightly. "My heart still beats for her, Tolu. Even now. Even after everything."
Tolu studied me quietly. I wasn't just drunk—I was wounded.
I continued, "I can't shake her off. Every time I close my eyes, I see her. Every time I try to focus on work, I hear her laugh from that night. It's driving me mad."
Tolu rubbed the back of his neck. "Hmm. So what do you want to do?"
Then I looked up, my eyes glassy with a mix of drink and emotion. "I want to see her. Just once. Talk to her. Maybe not to win her back... but to finally get closure. You said Kelvin knows her, right?"
"Yeah," Tolu said slowly. "Kelvin and Sonia—they know both Tracy and Eli."
I nodded firmly. "Then talk to them. Tell Kelvin or Sonia to talk to Tracy. Tell her I just want to meet. Just one meeting. Nothing more."
Tolu hesitated, tapping his glass thoughtfully. "You sure this is a good idea, Fred? Because from what I'm seeing, one meeting might just reopen wounds you're trying to heal."
I leaned back, looking out at the city again. "Maybe. But at least I'll bleed for the truth, not the silence."
Tolu exhaled heavily. "You and these poetic heartbreak lines. If you weren't a businessman, you'd have been a songwriter for heartbreak playlist on Spotify."
I smiled faintly. "Just promise me you'll talk to Kelvin."
Tolu nodded. "Alright. I'll reach out to Kelvin tomorrow. Or Sonia. One of them should be able to reach Tracy."
I sighed in relief. "Thank you, bro."
Tolu raised his glass. "For what? For being the middleman in a romantic disaster?"
"For being a real one," I replied quietly.
We clinked glasses.
"You know, my mom came back from Paris some weeks ago. Shes inside. Come let me introduce you to her." I said, sluggishly standing up as Tolu grabbed my hand to steady my pose.
"And you're mentioning it now, Fred!" Tolu snapped, narrowing his eyes.
"Forgive my manners, my man. It skipped my mind. Plenty things Dey man head, no vex abeg."
We walked inside through the elevator and into the living room.