My Friendly Enemy Chp XII

Chapter Twelve: Brothers in Business Four years passed like the wind. The bond between our families grew stronger than either Andrew or I could have imagined.What had started as a childhood friendship had blossomed into a relationship between two families who genuinely cared for one another. There wasn't a month that passed without us seeing each other. If Andrew wasn't in Abuja with his family, then Bukunmi, the girls and I were in Lagos visiting them.Our wives had become close friends.Bukunmi and Chinelo spoke almost every day, exchanging recipes, parenting tips, and even planning family vacations together.Our children were no different.Tolulope and Toluwani adored Ethan, while Ethan treated the twins like his own little sisters. Whenever they met, the house became alive with laughter, games, and endless chatter.Watching them always reminded me of Andrew and me when we were children.Life had truly come full circle. One Saturday evening, after our families had enjoyed dinner together, Andrew and I stepped onto the balcony overlooking my garden. The children were playing outside while our wives chatted in the living room.Andrew leaned against the railing and took a deep breath."CEO...""Hmm?""I've been working on something for almost two years."I smiled."Knowing you, it must involve land,and how to spend money."He laughed."You know me too well."Reaching into his leather briefcase, he brought out a thick file and handed it to me."I want you to look through this."Curious, I opened it.Inside were professionally prepared business proposals, architectural designs, market analyses, financial forecasts, and legal frameworks.The proposal was for a premium real estate development company that would specialize in luxury estates, commercial complexes, smart cities, and industrial parks across Nigeria.The more I read, the more impressed I became, I looked up."You prepared all this?"Andrew nodded proudly."I've spent the last two years researching the market, meeting investors, studying government policies, and identifying strategic locations."I continued flipping through the pages.Everything was detailed, every projection, risk assessment, legal requirement.Finally, I closed the file."This is brilliant."A smile spread across Andrew's face."I knew you'd understand it.""What exactly do you want from me?"He became serious."I don't want outside investors."I raised an eyebrow."I want us to build it together."I smiled."You and me?"He nodded."Like we promised when we were children."For a brief moment, memories of the old mango tree flashed through my mind."I'll find you.""We'll always be brothers."Those words echoed in my heart."What would my role be?" I asked.Andrew answered confidently."You'll finance the company.""And you?""I'll manage the legal structure, oversee land acquisitions, negotiate with government agencies, handle regulatory compliance, and supervise the company's operations."I leaned back in my chair."It sounds like you've already planned everything.""I have."There was a brief silence.Then I smiled."I trust you, Andrew."He looked at me."You do?"I laughed softly."You're asking me that after everything we've been through?"He lowered his head with a grateful smile."Thank you.""I don't need to think twice.""You don't?""No."I stretched out my hand."Let's build something our children will be proud of."Andrew shook my hand firmly."I won't let you down."Within a month, our lawyers and financial advisers met in Abuja to prepare all the necessary documents.Because I was providing virtually all the capital required for the company, the ownership structure was straightforward.The agreement stated:Olaoshebikan Clement Enitan — 90% Equity Share.Barrister Andrew Ikebukwu — 10% Equity Share.Although Andrew's financial stake was smaller, he was appointed Executive Managing Partner, giving him the responsibility of overseeing the company's daily operations while I focused on expanding my other businesses.The contracts were signed.Photographs were taken.Champagne glasses were raised."To our success," Andrew said with a smile."To our success," I replied.The company exceeded every expectation.Within three years, our projects had spread across several states in Nigeria. Luxury estates, shopping complexes, office towers, and industrial developments carried our company's name.Profits soared into billions of naira.The media celebrated our partnership as one of the most successful collaborations between a businessman and a lawyer.Whenever interviewers asked why I trusted Andrew with such an important position despite owning ninety percent of the company, my answer never changed."Money comes and goes," I would say."But trust is priceless. Andrew isn't just my business partner, he's my brother."The audience would always applaud.Andrew would always smile.And I smiled back, believing we were living the dream we had once imagined beneath a mango tree.I never noticed that every time people praised me as the owner of the company........ Andrew's smile lingered on his lips.But his eyes...Began to ask a dangerous question.Why does he own ninety percent... when I built the dream?

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