Chapter 3 Bet of Hearts

"Tick tick." He was startled awake by the sound of his alarm clock on a Monday morning.

"I'm so tired," he thought to himself.

He stood up from his bed and did his daily exercise routine of 150 sit-ups and 100 press-ups.

"Exclusive Technology Industry," he said to the driver as he reached the bus stop. The driver nodded his head to show he knew the place.

"How much?"

**************************

"Good morning," he greeted the receptionist as he walked in.

Clad in a meticulously tailored navy blue ensemble, he exuded an air of sophistication and style. The choice of his formal clothing, from the crisp button-down top to the immaculately pressed trousers, spoke volumes about his attention to detail and the significance he placed on presenting himself with utmost professionalism.

The navy blue top, with its rich hue, accentuated his features, adding a touch of refinement to his overall appearance. It hugged his frame perfectly, highlighting his well-toned physique without being overly ostentatious. The subtle sheen of the fabric caught the light, further enhancing the allure of his attire.

Complementing the elegance of his top were his meticulously polished pair of shoes. Crafted from fine leather, they exuded a timeless charm that effortlessly elevated his ensemble. Every step he took resonated with confidence and poise, the shoes providing a foundation of sophistication and refinement.

"Good morning, sir."

"How was your weekend?"

"It was fine, sir. Thank you."

"You are welcome."

*******************

"Good morn..........." he tried greeting her as he picked up her call, but she cut him off.

"Check your email. I sent you a document; work on it before I come."

"OK, ma."

"Review this document to make it more captivating," the email entailed.

Initially, he felt a lack of enthusiasm with the task. It didn't immediately capture his interest or ignite his passion. However, as he pondered the opportunity before him, a realization slowly dawned upon him. It was a chance to demonstrate his worthiness not only of her attention but also of the position he held.

He recognized that this was more than just another task. It was an occasion to showcase his talents and leave an indelible mark on her perception of him. It was an invitation to prove his competence, dedication, and potential for growth.

With this newfound perspective, a fire ignited within him. The initial lack of intrigue transformed into a burning desire to excel. He understood that seizing this opportunity could reshape his trajectory.

"Bro, are you in the office?" he asked Amir through a phone call.

"Yes, I am," he continued, "is there any problem?"

"No problem, I am coming right away."

**************

"Knock, knock."

"Come in, the door is open."

"Good morning, bro," he said, taking the files on the chair away to make space for him to sit down.

"Morning, bro. How are you?"

"I'm fine, and you?"

"I'm fine too," he continued. "What's the problem? You sound urgent."

"Our boss sent me an email that I should review before she comes."

"Oh, I thought she had sacked you," they both laughed.

"God forbid."

"So what's the problem?"

"The document she sent to me is not detailed, so I thought you could help me."

"Okay, what's the document about?"

"It's about the Ibn Isah Foundation's application software design."

"Oh, it was a nice project," he continued. "We gave it our all."

"Interesting," he continued. "I'm all ears."

"Ibn Isah Foundation is a foundation that publishes books, provides education, and supports writing."

"Wow."

"So they needed an application software to make their work easier and gain recognition," he continued after checking his phone as it beeped.

"Hope there's no problem?"

"No, it's just an MTN message," he continued. "So we created an application for them to make reading and learning easy for their students and simplify the writing process for authors."

"So the software has two goals?"

"Yes, it does."

"Okay, what were the challenges faced during the project?"

"Having our boss supervise the project was a challenge in itself."

They both laughed, and Amir continued, "The main challenge we faced was User Experience (UX) Design. Creating an application that provides a seamless and intuitive user experience is a significant challenge."

"Yes, I know," he continued. "It requires understanding user behavior and ensuring the application is easy to navigate, visually appealing, and responsive across different devices."

"Our boss kept canceling and changing our designs."

"I understand her motive; she just wants it to be flawless," he continued. "What about scalability?"

"It wasn't stressful for us," he continued. "The other challenge we faced was performance optimization. We had to make sure the application performs well, with minimal response times and resource usage."

"Yes, coding, database queries, and network communication are things we can't avoid for good performance optimization," he continued. "I noticed that compatibility and cross-platform support are weak."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, I am," he continued. "You're surprised, right? That's what makes me the best."

Amir couldn't help but react to his colleague's playful wink, feeling a surge of mischievous energy building up inside him. With a playful grin, he swiftly grabbed a nearby piece of paper from his desk and playfully tossed it towards his colleague, aiming for a lighthearted retaliation. Laughter filled the air as the paper sailed through the space between them, adding a touch of camaraderie and friendly banter to their work environment.

"You and winking, self," he continued. "I don't know how to wink."

"I was once like you until I was taught by the best."

"Who's the best?"

"Never mind," he continued. "It's not obvious to everyone, except for designers like us."

"You're starting to act all high and mighty, huh?"

"No, no," he continued. "You guys did a great job."

"It wasn't easy, though."

"I understand," he continued. "Thanks so much. This will surely help."

"You're welcome, dude."

Returning to his office, he meticulously reviewed the information once again, ensuring he had a comprehensive understanding. Fueled by determination, he embarked on the task, eager to showcase his talent and enhance his skills to impress his boss. With unwavering focus and dedication, he immersed himself in the work, diligently pushing forward for several hours. Finally, staying true to the timeline, he successfully completed the assignment, achieving his goal with a sense of accomplishment.

*********************

"Good afternoon, ma."

As she entered the building, the receptionist was immediately captivated by her majestic presence and undeniable beauty. Her entrance commanded attention, captivating everyone in the vicinity.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine, ma."

"Tell Mr. Nur to come to my office right away," she continued. "And get me a cup of coffee."

"Okay, ma."

"Good day, sir."

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. The director wants to see you right away."

"Alright. Thanks."

"Good afternoon, ma."

"Afternoon, how are you?"

"I'm fine, ma."

"I hope you're done with the work."

"Yes, ma."

"Send it to my email and have a seat."

"Okay, ma," he continued. "I have."

Engrossed in her task, she meticulously reviewed the work, every page filled with intricate details and profound ideas. Her eyes scanned the document with unwavering focus, absorbing each word and analyzing its impact.

Beside her, a steaming cup of coffee rested on the desk, its aroma wafting through the air. The receptionist had graciously presented it to her, a gesture of hospitality amidst the demanding nature of her role. With every sip, the rich and robust flavor tantalized her taste buds, offering a brief respite from the intensity of her work.

As she carefully examined the content, her mind raced with thoughts and insights. The coffee served as a comforting companion, rejuvenating her senses and heightening her focus. With each sip, the caffeine coursed through her veins, awakening her mind and sharpening her analytical prowess. With the last sip, she set the cup aside.

"What is your observation about the project?"

"The project was nice, and you guys did a great job."

"That does not answer my question," she continued. "What would you have done better if you were to handle the project?"

"I would have improved the security."

"Is the application not secure enough?"

"To me, it is not enough."

"What would you have done?"

"I would have implemented robust security measures," he continued. "The compatibility and cross-platform support are weak, and the integration with the external system as well."

"Are you saying that our software is not good enough?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying."

"Then make yourself clear."

"The application is very nice, but these are just my observations."

"Okay, you can take your leave."

************************

"Hey, man!" Amir said.

Engrossed in his own contemplations, he found himself drifting away from the present moment, unaware of the world around him. It was only when a familiar voice pierced through the air, calling out his name from across the bustling street, that he snapped back to reality. Startled, he turned his head and locked eyes with his friend, who stood there patiently, waiting for his attention. A warm smile formed on his face as he realized the serendipitous encounter and eagerly made his way towards his friend, ready to reconnect and engage in a meaningful conversation.

"Hey!"

"How's it going?"

"Actually, I'm doing very well."

"How was work?"

"It was fine."

"Hope she didn't complain about anything?"

"No, she didn't," he continued. "She asked for my observation."

"What did she ask?"

"She asked what I would have done if I were to handle the project."

"I gave her the points where I feel they should have done better."

Amir's face lit up with joy, radiating an infectious energy as he extended his hand, offering a high-five to his companion. His beaming smile conveyed a genuine enthusiasm and camaraderie, as if he couldn't contain his excitement. With a sense of shared delight, they met in a satisfying clap, their palms connecting in a moment of celebration and friendship. The gesture solidified their bond, embodying the positive vibes and mutual appreciation that flowed between them.

"Man, that's fantastic! I'm delighted for you."

As they chatted in the car, they took the opportunity to catch up on each other's lives. However, Nur couldn't shake off the feelings of humiliation and embarrassment caused by their boss's actions. The unpleasant incident kept replaying in Nur's mind, vividly bringing back the image of their boss's face.

"Tell me more about our boss."

"What do you want to know about her again?" he continued. "Dude, forget about whatever is going through your head about her and focus on your work because it will only bring more harm than good."

"Guy, I just want to know her to know how to relate to her, nothing more."

Amir's expression soured as he gazed at him, revealing his recognition that the words spoken were merely falsehoods, concealing an ulterior motive.

"You can lie to every other person, but not me."

"Why do you think I'm lying?"

"I know it has not been long since we knew each other, but I will appreciate it if you can be truthful to me and not the other way around."

A hushed stillness filled the car as Nur fixed his gaze upon him, the intensity of his stare conveying a depth of contemplation and unspoken thoughts.

"She is going to fall in love with me," he continued. "I will use and dump her."

Amir erupted into boisterous laughter, his amusement so contagious that it startled the occupants of the car, causing them to cast alarmed glances in his direction.

"Hahahaha," he said to the occupants and turned to Nur. "You are a joker, dude. Almighty Zulfa will fall in love with you!! You are not serious."

"Do you want to bet on it?"

"Are you serious here?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

"I don't bet, but I am going to do this."

"That is good," he continued. "I am going to make her fall in love with me in six months. If I fail, I will give you one million naira, and vice versa."

"Two million naira?"

"Yes, two million."

"You are going to fail, man."

"Let's watch and see." He continued. "I will win her over and then leave her."

"Six months, man, and your time starts now." Amir said as he stepped out of the car.