Fallout

Thobani hung up the phone, a wave of cold dread washing over him. He knew Corbin was right—this was an opportunity he couldn't afford to miss, not only for himself, but for his family as well. And yet, his father's words rang in his ears, stubborn and unbending.

"No," he thought. "I can't let this slip away. Not like this."

Without hesitation, he gathered his things and left the office, determined to make his own path. Several days later, Thobani found himself back in Corbin's office, his nerves thrumming with anticipation.

"Corbin," he said, his voice calm and resolved. "I've been thinking about our conversation, about the partnership."

Corbin looked at him coolly, his expression inscrutable. "Thobani," he said, his tone distant. "I've already made arrangements with another contractor. The deal has been finalized."

Thobani swallowed his disappointment, steadying himself. "I know, Corbin," Thobani said, undeterred. "But I'm not here to beg for the contract. I'm here to tell you that I've decided to start my own company."

Corbin's brow furrowed, surprise written across his face. "Your own company?" he echoed, his curiosity piqued. "What changed your mind?"

Thobani met his gaze, his eyes full of determination. "You did," he replied. Corbin was silent for a moment, studying Thobani's face. Then, a slow smile spread across his lips.

"Thobani," he said, his voice warm with admiration. "I have to say, I'm impressed. I didn't expect this from you."

"Well, you underestimate me," Thobani replied, a hint of humor in his tone. "I've seen what you're capable of, and I want to be a part of it." Corbin smiled, the gleam of a shrewd businessman in his eyes. "I appreciate your confidence, Thobani," he said, his voice measured and calm. "And I'm willing to give you a chance. The contract for the Tempest Holdings project has already been signed with a new company, Tempest Construction. But I'm willing to sell you a 40% stake in Tempest Construction, including exclusive access to our proprietary construction technology, for a price of $100 million."

Thobani's heart raced at the prospect. "$100 million?!"

"Yes, Thobani," Corbin replied, his gaze unwavering. "This isn't a decision to be made lightly. But with our technology, I believe you could build an empire in the construction industry. And the returns could be astronomical."

Thobani's mind raced, calculating the possibilities. "The technology…is it as revolutionary as you say?" he asked, his voice betraying his skepticism.

Corbin nodded, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "The technology," Corbin said, a trace of pride in his voice, "is unlike anything you've ever seen before. Imagine building a skyscraper in weeks, not months. Imagine reducing waste by 90%. Imagine building entire cities in the desert, in the ocean, even on the moon."

Thobani's eyes widened, his imagination ignited by Corbin's words. "If what you say is true, then this technology…it's the future of construction," he murmured, almost to himself. Corbin leaned forward, his intensity palpable. "And you, Thobani, could be the one to lead that future." He paused, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Imagine the power, the prestige, the wealth you could amass. You could become the richest man in all of South Africa, maybe even the world."

Thobani's heart thundered in his chest. "But $100 million," he said, his voice thick with doubt. "That's a lot of money." "You're right," Thobani said, his voice ringing with conviction. "The potential is too great to pass up. I'll take the deal."

Corbin nodded, a satisfied smile on his face. "I knew you'd see the opportunity for what it is." He extended his hand across the table, and Thobani took it, sealing their agreement with a firm handshake. "Now," Corbin continued, his tone shifting to one of practicality, "I imagine you don't have $100 million just lying around. But don't worry, I'm willing to give you some time to liquidate your assets."

Thobani nodded, relief washing over him. "Thank you," he said, his voice thick with gratitude. "I'll start the process immediately. And once I've got the funds, I'll transfer them to your account." "Excellent," Corbin said, rising from his seat. "In the meantime, I'll get my team to draw up the necessary paperwork. We'll want to make this official as soon as possible."

Thobani stood as well, his mind already racing with the possibilities. "I'll need to get in touch with my lawyer," he said. "And I'll want to see a demonstration of the technology."

"Of course," Corbin said, his eyes glinting with anticipation.

As Thobani exited Corbin's office, his mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Excitement, apprehension, determination—all swirling together in a maelstrom of possibility. He knew that this deal could change his life, and he was determined to do everything in his power to make it a success.

But as he walked to his car, a nagging doubt crept into his mind. Was he really ready for this? Was he willing to risk everything, his reputation, his family's legacy, on this new venture? "You're doing this for them," Thobani reminded himself, steeling his resolve as he settled into the driver's seat. "For your family. For your future." He took a deep breath, his hands steady on the steering wheel as he pulled out of the parking lot. As he drove, his thoughts drifted to his father's words. "We've worked hard to build this company, and I won't let some flashy new upstart put us in jeopardy." Thobani wondered how his father would react when he learned of the deal, how he would respond to Thobani's bold move.

"I'm not doing this to spite him," he thought, his jaw set with determination. "I'm doing this for all of us." The next few weeks were a blur of activity for Thobani. He met with his lawyer to finalize the details of the deal, he sold off his stocks and liquidated his other assets, and he even began looking at office space for his new company.

Through it all, he barely spoke to his father, avoiding any confrontation until the deal was fully secured. But as the day of the final transfer drew near, his anxiety began to grow.

Back in his office, Zikala was busy reviewing some paperwork when his assistant knocked on the door.

"Mr. Zikala," the assistant said, her tone hesitant. "I have some news about Thobani."

Zikala frowned, his brow furrowed in concern. "What is it?"

The assistant swallowed, steeling herself. "I just received word from the bank. Thobani has liquidated a substantial amount of his assets. Over $100 million, sir." Zikala's face turned pale, his eyes narrowing in anger. "What?" he demanded, his voice cold as ice. "Why would he do such a thing? What in the world is he planning to do with that much money?"

The assistant trembled slightly, taken aback by Zikala's fury. "I…I don't know, sir. But I think you should call him, find out what's going on." Zikala wasted no time, snatching up his phone and punching in his son's number. The call rang once, twice, three times before Thobani's voice filled the line.

"Father," he said, sounding slightly out of breath. "Is everything alright?"

Zikala bit back his anger, struggling to maintain his composure. "I need to know what you've done with the money you've liquidated, Thobani."

Thobani hesitated for a moment. "Father, I…I've made an investment. A significant one," Thobani replied, his words careful and measured. "I believe it will pay off in the long run."

Zikala's anger bubbled to the surface, spilling out in a torrent of words. "What have you done, Thobani? Do you realize how foolish this is? Do you understand the risks you're taking with our family's future?" "Father, please, listen to me!" Thobani pleaded, his voice rising in pitch. "I know this seems like a reckless decision, but it's not. I've invested in a company that's going to revolutionize the construction industry. And not just in South Africa, but globally."

Zikala's face darkened, his features twisted with fury. "And how can you be so sure about that?" he demanded."I've seen the technology, Father," Thobani insisted, his voice trembling with urgency. "They can build entire cities in a fraction of the time, with a fraction of the resources. Imagine what that would mean for us! For Zikala Construction!"

But Zikala wasn't convinced. "You've been blinded by ambition, Thobani," he spat, his words venomous. "You've thrown away everything we've built, everything we've worked for, on some wild gamble. "Father, you're not listening to me!" Thobani shouted, his patience fraying. "I'm not throwing anything away. I'm expanding our reach, diversifying our portfolio. This is the future, Father, whether you believe it or not."

Zikala's face contorted with rage. "The future?" he roared, his voice cracking. "You've thrown away our legacy for a pipe dream, Thobani. And for that, you are no longer welcome in this family." "And who, pray tell, is the partner in this lunacy?" Zikala demanded, his words dripping with disdain.

Thobani hesitated, his throat constricting with dread. "It's…it's Corbin," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

At the mention of the name, Zikala exploded. "Corbin?!" he bellowed, his face turning a deep shade of red. "The very man I warned you against? You fool, Thobani! You have brought shame upon our family name!" "Thobani Zikala, you are hereby disowned from this family," Zikala said, his voice shaking with rage. "I want nothing to do with you or your reckless schemes."

There was a long, terrible silence on the line. And then, in a voice that was barely a whisper, Thobani spoke.

"I'm sorry, Father," he said, his words thick with emotion. "But I had to do this. I had to follow my own path." Zikala didn't reply, his anger simmering beneath his silence. After a moment, the line went dead, the connection severed.

Thobani lowered the phone from his ear, his heart hammering in his chest. He was disowned. His own father had disowned him.

But even in the face of his father's rejection, Thobani stood firm. He would see this through, no matter the cost. In the days that followed, Thobani threw himself into his work, using every last ounce of energy to get his new company, now called Zikala-Tempest Construction, off the ground.

It wasn't easy. There were setbacks, delays, moments when Thobani was sure he'd made a terrible mistake. But he refused to back down, to give up on his dream.

And then, one day, he got the news he'd been waiting for.

The email came in the middle of the night, the ping of a notification stirring Thobani from his fitful sleep.

"Project Tempest Greenlit," read the subject line.

Thobani blinked, his mind struggling to comprehend the words. He opened the email, his heart racing as he read through the details.

The project was a go. Zikala-Tempest Construction had been granted the contract for the Tempest Holdings development. The truth is that there was never a Tempest Holdings, it was a test to get Thobani on his side. Corbin wanted to share the pie of some less important technologies with his friends. He didn't have a family, but he atleast had to keep his friends closer. He knew which technologies he could sell to them and which he would not. For instance, A.I technology..but of course he'd be willing to share the pie for construction tech and jewelry.

Thobani was breathless with excitement, his body tingling with the thrill of victory. In the weeks that followed, Thobani poured every ounce of himself into the project. He oversaw the development of the new construction technology, which was nothing short of revolutionary.

And then, on the day of the groundbreaking ceremony, Thobani stood tall, his heart swelling with pride as he addressed the crowd of dignitaries, investors, and media.

"We stand on the threshold of a new era," he proclaimed, his voice ringing with conviction. "An era where anything is possible, where the impossible is simply a challenge waiting to be conquered."