Daniel took a break from school for a bit. It was a national holiday and he decided to go relax in Abuja.
Arriving at the Wuse II bungalow always felt like stepping back into a slightly different version of reality. Here, he was primarily his mother's son, and his sister's brother.
The pressures of MH and RF felt momentarily distant, replaced by the comfortable routines of family life.
Sarah was overjoyed to see him. PeDan Mart was thriving under her management, and she proudly showed him the latest sales figures. At this point, she was already making millions in profit every month, sometimes even bleeding into tens of millions. She'd become quite business-savvy, discussing inventory management and staffing with a healthy degree of enthusiasm.
Elizabeth, now in SS3 and preparing for her mock WAEC exams, was more focused. He'd returned her iPhone 16 Pro, as she was finally proved able to balance her study time with online activity.
Daniel spent an afternoon helping her with her Physics revision, explaining complex concepts in simple terms. It felt good to help out in more ways than just finances.
That Saturday, he used the G-Wagon for the first time since purchasing it. Sliding behind the wheel of the massive black SUV felt entirely different from driving the BMW.
The G-Wagon commanded presence, and its high driving position offering a panoramic view of Abuja's streets. It was powerful, imposing, a statement of wealth and status. He drove it for a few minutes, still getting used to its size and handling, taking his mother out for a drive, then later, picking up Elizabeth from a friend's house.
It turned quite a few heads, though not too many. A G-Wagon was a luxury car, but this was still a high-end neigbourhood.
Sarah, sitting in the plush passenger seat, looked around the opulent interior with a mixture of awe and maternal concern.
"Daniel, this car... it is very... big. Are you sure it's necessary?"
"Just something for when I'm in Abuja, Mummy," he replied vaguely. "Good for these Abuja roads. And safe."
Elizabeth, however, was thrilled, immediately taking selfies in the backseat and posting them to her Snapchat. "Big bro, this car is a beast! I need one too!"
Daniel promptly knocked her on the head.
"Just turn me to an ATM at this point."
On another note, the G-Wagon wasn't ready for FUTA yet. He was still bent on keeping the full scale of his wealth slightly concealed over there, at least for now. It was more of a status symbol in work and personal life.
During the weekend, he also had Jude arrange a meeting with Mrs. Chukwuma and the two junior PeDan analysts at an upscale cafe. It was the first time he was meeting the analysts in person, He still maintained a degree of professional distance though.
Jude acted as the primary liaison.
Jude had chosen a quiet corner table at 'The Hive', a modern cafe in Maitama known for its calm ambiance. Daniel arrived a few minutes after Jude had settled Mrs. Chukwuma and the two analysts, Tunde and Aisha. He wore simple, dark chinos and a well-fitted polo shirt, a dressing that was very lowkey. He nodded a polite greeting as Jude stood briefly.
"Good afternoon, everyone," Daniel said. Jude gestured for him to take the seat at the head of the small table.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Adekunle," Mrs. Chukwuma replied. Tunde and Aisha echoed her.
Coffee orders were taken. Jude opened the discussion.
"As per Mr. Adekunle's directive, we're reviewing Q2 performance and discussing Q3 acquisition targets."
Tunde began, "FarmGrid's government partnership has significantly boosted its profile, sir. The Series A interest is strong. Multiple VCs are looking to lead. Our initial stake could see a substantial return quickly."
Daniel nodded slowly. "Jude, ensure our legal team is on top of those Series A term sheet negotiations. We need to protect our equity and secure favorable exit options, even if we hold long-term."
Aisha followed with the Lagos rental properties. "Occupancy at 95%, sir. Q2 rental income slightly above projection. We're projecting a stable 8.2% net yield for the year."
"Good," Daniel said. "Begin exploring staggered, minor rent increases over the next 18 months – market rate, but prioritize tenant retention. I also want a quarterly updated valuation report for those properties."
He then looked at Jude. "The EdTech and FinTech shortlists?"
Jude indicated the analysts. "We have three EdTech platforms and two FinTechs focusing on SME payment solutions ready for deeper review, sir. Initial due diligence reports are on the secure server. Our internal analytics show high growth potential for two of them."
Daniel processed this. "I'll review those reports by Monday. For the next stage, focus on the quality of the founders and the scalability of their business models. Mrs. Chukwuma, keep our corporate compliance tight, especially with new acquisitions planned. No loose ends."
"Understood, Mr. Adekunle," she confirmed.
"Tunde, Aisha," Daniel continued, "for the companies that pass my initial review, I want detailed competitive landscape analyses and stress-test scenarios for their financial projections. How do they hold up under adverse market conditions?"
"We can prepare those within a week of receiving your feedback, sir," Tunde replied promptly.
"Excellent." Daniel took a sip of his coffee.
"Jude, also look into expanding our nominee account network. We need more diversification for fund movements. Discretion remains paramount."
"Already in progress, sir," Jude confirmed. "I have three new options being vetted."
"Good. Let's aim to finalize PeDan's Q3 investment strategy within the next two weeks."
They reviewed FarmGrid's soaring performance, the steady rental income from the Lagos property portfolio, and the progress on the Lekki JV development (still in the bureaucratic permit phase). They also discussed potential new investment targets the analysts had researched based on his earlier briefs.
Daniel listened more than he spoke, mainly listening to suggestions and progress reports.
So he was mostly asking the questions, and they were answering. It was his first real experience acting as the 'Principal Investor' in a face-to-face setting, even if indirectly. He felt the weight of responsibility, but also a growing confidence in his ability to lead and make strategic decisions. Things were starting to work out.
The meeting lasted for close to an hour, before they finally rounded up. The four staff waved at Daniel as he drove away in the G-Wagon, and as he looked at them through the sideglass, his heart became a bit overwhelmed.
He seemed to have seen the foundations of PeDan's future
***
A/N
Sigh.
Still working out the contract but I can't bear to just leave this book hanging in the meantime.
Will be updating, slowly at first, but it'll pick up soon.
Much love!