CHAPTER FOUR
906 Words
The tension was thick in the air as Grace and Maddie stood frozen just a few steps away from their door. The tall figure leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, a calm smile on his face.
“There’ll be no need for that, ladies,” he’d said—his voice smooth, not threatening, just… confident.
"Who are you?" Grace asked, trying to hide the tremor in her voice.
"I'm your dream come true," he said again, flashing a slight grin that somehow managed to be both charming and mysterious.
That line would’ve made them roll their eyes under normal circumstances, but hunger and curiosity kept them planted in place. He introduced himself simply as Mr. Charles, a name that sounded too clean for someone who appeared so unpredictable.
Eventually, he stepped aside, giving them space to unlock the door. “I promise I’m not a bad guy,” he added, laughing lightly. “I just want to talk.”
Just as Grace pushed open the door, the power went out.
"Great," Maddie muttered under her breath.
The room was already stuffy from the day’s heat, and now the darkness made it feel even smaller. Grace was about to suggest lighting their phone flashlights when Mr. Charles spoke again.
“This won’t do. What I have to say is better said over good food and decent lighting,” he said. “Let me take you both somewhere—neutral ground. No pressure. Just vibes.”
The girls exchanged a glance. The last thing they wanted was to be in a room alone with a strange man in total darkness. Grace nodded slowly. “Give us a few minutes to freshen up.”
“Of course,” he replied politely and waited outside.
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The restaurant wasn’t anything fancy, but compared to the usual student haunts, it felt like luxury. Air-conditioned, softly lit, with the low hum of background jazz, it was the kind of place that made you sit up straighter.
They ordered cautiously—rice and chicken for both girls—and watched as Mr. Charles nursed a bottle of water.
He got to the point soon after.
“I saw you dance,” he said, eyes on Grace.
She blinked. “At the party?”
He nodded. “You were brilliant. The way the crowd responded… I could tell you weren’t just dancing. You were commanding attention. You have presence. And I think with the right guidance, that presence can go beyond campus parties.”
Maddie looked from Grace to Charles, skeptical. “What exactly are you saying?”
“I’m saying there’s an entire industry built on people who know how to engage others. Content creation, influencing, lifestyle branding—it’s all out there, and people are making real money from it. I’ve worked with a few names, helped them find their footing. You,” he pointed at Grace, “you’ve got the spark.”
Grace's stomach flipped. Compliments were nice, but she didn’t trust easily. And then there was the most important factor—“I’m not doing anything without Maddie.”
Mr. Charles tilted his head thoughtfully.
“I figured you’d say that,” he said. “And I respect it. Truth be told, that’s partly why I approached you both. I saw how she protected you at that party, how she picked the money with pride like it was hers. That’s loyalty. If you’re going to grow in this world, you need someone like that around.”
Maddie looked at Grace, touched by the words. Grace just nodded. “We come as a pair.”
Charles smiled again. “Alright. Then here’s what I propose.”
He outlined a plan, speaking clearly but without pressure:
They’d need to build a brand—choose a niche, something that reflected who they were.
They’d start small: consistent videos, real moments, skits, fashion, dance—whatever they were comfortable with.
He would offer guidance and connect them to people in the space who could help with editing and promotion.
And most importantly, they wouldn’t need to pay anything upfront. He wasn’t here to make money off them—yet. He believed in investing first.
“This isn’t a contract,” he said, raising both hands. “Just a conversation. But if you’re ready to work, I’m ready to support.”
Grace and Maddie sat in silence for a few seconds. Then Maddie whispered, “Is this real?”
Grace laughed softly. “It feels like a setup.”
Charles chuckled. “No setups. Just a door. You can walk through or not. Your call.”
He reached into his pocket and slid a small card toward them. “Think about it. Sleep on it. And if you’re in, we start this weekend.”
They walked back to campus with full bellies and full hearts. The garri waiting in their room suddenly didn’t feel so depressing anymore.
“Do you think this could actually work?” Maddie asked, eyes glimmering with hope.
Grace slipped the card into her back pocket, her lips curved into a soft smile. “I don’t know… but for the first time in a long time, I feel like maybe… just maybe, we’re about to catch a break.”
They didn’t know what tomorrow held, but for now, they had each other, a plan, and the tiniest flicker of a dream beginning to burn.
And that was more than enough.
- Writer
