Chapter 6: New Beginnings, Old Shadows

My new colleagues for CoreBridge Tech welcome me well. I enter as director, so I think say dem go dey wary. But dem genuinely happy. For meeting, dem dey joke with me, no fear to talk their mind.

"Finally, our R&D director don land. I fit rest now. I no dey management wahala at all," talk Uche, the acting department head, looking truly relieved. Uche tall, dark, I hear say him from Enugu side.

Other colleagues join:

"Every meeting, Oga Uche dey shake for boss front. Oga Kunle, you too calm—even if sky dey fall, you no dey shake. We dey your hand now!"

"Oga Kunle was headhunted with big money. He be tech oga for Mainspring. With Oga Kunle here, CoreBridge go blow!" Their pidgin sweet for ear, laughter full the office. Uche dey sip Nescafé, biscuit crumbs for shirt, gist dey fly about NEPA wahala.

CoreBridge Tech and Morayo’s Mainspring Tech dey the same industry. But unlike Mainspring wahala, CoreBridge get strong backing and rise fast. Even their tea for office dey sweet pass.

As I hear my new colleagues hail me, I no fit help but feel good. The team vibe here nothing like Mainspring. My shoulders relax small.

I used to be co-founder and CTO at Mainspring. The title sound big, but most of the shares belong to Morayo—she be the real boss. My table big, but I dey walk egg shell.

Truth be say, from the start, Morayo and I no dey see things the same. I wan build product, dey take am step by step. Morayo, under her papa pressure, wan quick results, dey chase every hot trend. E tire me sometimes.

We dey clash over am. But the real wahala start for one project meeting two years ago. AC cold, but tension hot.

Morayo see say smart home market dey boom, wan move company go there. But Mainspring strength na smart warehousing and logistics. To change direction mean to scatter everything wey we build.

As tech head, I object first. But Halima and HR, admin, finance all side Morayo. Meeting end for stalemate. My voice no pass wall.

After that, we start dey fight for private. At worst, quarrel even enter company. My boys for dev team dey look me with pity.

She once bang table, shout at me for front of everybody, no send my dignity, point door and yell:

"Kunle! No think say because you dey control tech staff, you fit challenge me. I be the one with money—I be CEO. If I want, I fit hire better CTOs. You dey here because you be my man. Otherwise, with your level, you no deserve CTO!"

Some people cough, others pretend dey busy with laptop. I just stand, swallow my pride.