CHAPTER 58

The week that followed this exhilarating encounter was anything but uneventful for Mathew. His days were consumed by a flurry of arrangements and decisive actions, all centered around one critical deal. Each moment felt charged with an intensity that fueled both his excitement and apprehension.

Amidst the relentless bustle, Mathew found himself dialing a familiar number, waiting with bated breath for the other end to pick up. The voice that greeted him crackled with authority, demanding a concise update.

"Boss, they've sent the contract," Mathew reported, carefully masking his inner exhilaration with professional composure.

"Very well, seal the deal, and send me a copy of the contract. Make sure there are no loose ends," the voice commanded, injecting a subtle hint of threat into the last statement.

The weight behind those words didn't escape Mathew. "Yes, sir, everything is in place. There won't be any trace back or loose ends, sir. You can trust me on that," he replied, attempting to reassure with unwavering confidence.

"Good. I trust you," the voice affirmed, leaving no room for error. The man at the other end could easily solve any problem that arose, but he preferred seamless deals that didn't attract unwanted attention.

With the call concluded, Mathew felt a mix of apprehension and relief. He knew the significance of this deal, the ramifications of any misstep. Swiftly, he ensured that everything was dotted and everything crossed. With meticulous care, he secured the contract and dispatched a pristine copy to the man, signed and sealed to perfection.

Then came the crucial moment—forwarding the contract to Todd, Bruno Mars' agent. Every keystroke felt deliberate, each email meticulously crafted to convey both the significance and urgency of the document. The success of this venture hinged on these digital lines traversing the vast expanse of cyberspace.

For Todd, receiving that email was akin to unlocking a treasure trove. The signed contract lay before him on the screen, a testament to relentless effort and unwavering determination. He wasted no time in confirming the receipt, relaying the exhilarating news to everyone involved.

After receiving the message, Mathew smirked and replied, 'Okay, I'll pass on the message. I'm sure he'd be excited to hear it.' He knew he could easily fabricate an excuse later to brush off Todd's expectations. For Mathew, responding wasn't a priority; he was simply biding his time until the funds were paid. Once that was settled, he planned to ignore the message or conjure up a flimsy excuse."

.....

A month passed, and exam season arrived for Hamza. He delved into his W.A.E.C (West African Examination Council) preparations, fully aware that the results would significantly impact his future university prospects. Hamza immersed himself in his studies, setting aside anything related to music for the time being. Although he reduced his interactions with Sophia, they still kept in touch sporadically, much like his friends. As the exams drew closer, everyone was engrossed in their studies, making the most of their time.

The month of exams flew by, leaving Hamza feeling confident in his performance. He believed he had aced the tests and now eagerly awaited the results, hoping they would reflect his efforts positively.

During a conversation with his friends, Hamza learned about a tradition where graduating students organized a party themselves. This event was not school-sanctioned but a joint effort among students, and it will be hosted at Abayomi's house. When invited, Hamza gladly accepted and was even asked to promise that he would sing a song at the event. He chuckled and agreed, realizing that not only had it been a while since he performed, but it could also add to his Performance Points and a means to confess his love to Sofia. With the party plans settled, he headed home with Zara and shared the news with Hafsah, who smiled and agreed, bringing joy to Hamza.

.....

A visible frown etched Todd's face as weeks passed. He had been grappling with frustration since he informed Mathew about his artist, Hamza, coming to L.A. Yet, Mathew had given him a flimsy excuse, claiming that the artist wouldn't be available. Todd was confused and seething with anger. He couldn't fathom why an up-and-coming artist like Hamza would behave in such a manner towards Bruno Mars. Although he didn't outwardly display his displeasure, Todd was discontent. Despite successfully recording the song and fixing the launch for the following week, there was still no response from Mathew. Frustrated and feeling humiliated, Todd decided to abandon the issue. However, his grudge against both the artist and Mathew lingered. He vowed to make them pay for the insult they caused him and Bruno Mars.

Meanwhile, Mathew chuckled to himself, amused by Todd's attempts to convince him to call Hamza over. He had received the funds and swiftly delivered them to another party, receiving a quarter of the money—five thousand U.S. Dollars. Unconcerned about Todd, his mind fixated on Hamza and how he would react upon learning that his song had been sold without his knowledge. Although scared, Mathew brushed off his fears, confident that someone behind him would shield him from any trouble. He gleefully imagined Hamza's reaction, laughing out loud on the road, unaware of the odd looks directed his way. Despite his overt joy, Mathew relished having put Hamza in his place.

Meanwhile, upon reaching home, Hamza carried out his usual routine, yet it felt different today as he had completed his exams and was now free. After taking a bath, Hafsah quietly entered his room and left something on his bed before discreetly leaving. As Hamza finished his bath and tidied up his room, he noticed an unexpected item on his bed. Picking it up, he was taken aback—it was a brand-new iPhone. Overjoyed, Hamza dashed outside and found Hafsah in the sitting room, embracing her gratefully, "Thank you, Ma. I really appreciate it."

Hafsah chuckled and explained, "You deserve it. We held off on giving it to you to ensure you'd finish your exams without distractions."

Hamza, understanding the intent, expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Ma. I appreciate it." He also thanked Adekunle upon his return, acknowledging the immense help the thoughtful gesture had been during his exam preparation.

With that, Hamza bolted back to his room to check his notes where he placed his friend's phone number, and he first called David and said with a deep voice, trying to change his voice so as for him not to recognize it, 'Hello, good afternoon, am I speaking with Mr. David?' Hamza was trying to hold back his laughter.

David, on the other line, was confused as to the number that called him asking his identity. He just followed through and replied, 'Yes, I am. Might I know who I am speaking with?'

Hamza put the call on mute then laughed out because of the way David sounded. Then he heard from the phone, 'Are you still there?' He then chuckled before unmuting and answered politely, not knowing who was speaking, 'Yes, Mr. David, I wanted to inform you that you have won a sum of twenty million naira and a trip to Dubai.'

Hearing this, David knew this was just one of those scammers, and he started raining curses towards the person. Then he heard a familiar laughter from the phone, and he figured out who it was. He just laughed and said, 'Hamza, nice prank you have going there.'

Hamza, knowing he was already exposed, laughed before saying, 'Hehe, I wish you could hear your voice. You sounded so polite that it made me wonder who you thought it was, eh,' teasing David.

David just laughed at Hamza's teasing before saying, 'You finally have a phone, eh?'

'Yeah, they just gave it to me. It's an iPhone,' Hamza said with a bit of pride in his voice, which David detected and asked, 'Which iPhone series is that?'

'Oh, that I don't know, but let me describe it for you...,' Hamza went on describing how the phone looked physically to David.

Hearing the physical description, David couldn't help but gasp in awe as to how Hamza's parents spoiled him. Although it was not the latest iPhone, it was an iPhone 12. David then said, 'Well, bro, it's worth you being proud, hehe.' Hamza knew this was David trying to tease him back and chuckled. They talked for a while, and David said that he would tell Ken to add him to the group platform before ending the call.

Hamza then looked around and found Sofia's number. After which, he dialed it, and it rang, but she didn't pick up. He wanted to dial again but went against it, as it would make him look desperate. He went to have his dinner, after which his phone started ringing. Looking at the screen and seeing who was calling, he smiled on his face, and he picked up the call and said, 'Hello, Sofia.' The other line was silent before a soft voice answered, 'Hamza?'

Hearing this made Hamza smile that she recognized his voice before answering, 'Yes, I am the one.'

Sofia, hearing this, chuckled and said, 'You got a phone?'

'Yeah, my parents got it for me today, and I said I should contact you first,' Hamza said, lying through his teeth, knowing that he called David first.

Sofia, hearing in her mind, just smirked at Hamza's naive mentality but smiled and acted cute, saying, 'Awww, I am blushing. Thanks, Hamza.'

Hamza, oblivious that his feeling was been toyed with, just played along. They talked for a few minutes before Hamza asked her the question he really wanted to ask, 'So, Sofia, are you coming to the party at Abayomi's house?'

'Yeah, sure, I am coming.' She obviously knew why he was asking, as Ken already told her that he planned to sing a song for her. She couldn't help but feel Hamza was just so Naive.

Hamza just smiled and said, 'Okay, we will meet there then.' He bid goodbye to her and cut the phone. Then he went to practice the song he wanted to sing for Sofia."