Tyler's days settled into a quiet rhythm, filled with both calm and meaning. While there was nothing particular occurring on the surface, Tyler knew that things were falling into place.
Every night, like clockwork, he received progress update from David. It became part of his nightly routine—right after brushing his teeth and just before shutting down his laptop.
And every night, the reports brought good news.
It had been nearly a week since Tyler had assigned David the Gumua project. In that time, David had already accomplished more than most would manage in a month.
The fintech shell company in Dubai was not only registered but structured legally with a clean slate, an elegant digital identity, and functional business presence. All the documentation was airtight. Tyler had reviewed them himself.
The NGO in Gumua had also come alive. It started as just a name on a file. Now, it had an operational base, a small staff team, and real boots on the ground. David hadn't wasted a second.
He began by identifying clinics that were underfunded, partnering with local suppliers to restock essential drugs. These weren't grand gestures. They weren't headline-worthy.
But they were deliberate and strategic acts.
Tyler understood perfectly. These early acts were about building trust, not attention. Trust was slower, but deeper.
David wasn't just throwing money at problems. He was weaving himself into the community—into the infrastructure of goodwill.
And the best part? David had already mapped out a timeline for the full operation. He laid out when and how the fintech shell company would be introduced to the government, including the steps to ensure it appeared as a solution backed by the trusted NGO.
Tyler couldn't have been more satisfied.
Meanwhile, life at home had shifted into something more grounded, more real. Three days after purchasing the house, Tyler and his family moved in. It was a surreal moment.
Helena had tears in her eyes. Devin? Devin had exploded with joy the moment he saw the house. The towering ceiling, the wide front lawn, the modern kitchen—it was too much for him to process all at once.
But what truly stunned Devin was the cars.
"Are these ours?" he asked with disbelief, wide-eyed and breathless.
Tyler laughed. "Yeah, little man. All ours."
It took days for the kid to adjust. Even then, Tyler often caught Devin walking around the garage like he was exploring a museum, touching the seats, reading the logos, memorizing the buttons.
And in those days, Tyler made a decision to take them all on outings, as he cleared his calendar, giving himself fully to his family.
They spent the next week going out. Not just once or twice. Every day. Parks, cinemas, arcades, museums, even a quiet fishing trip at a lake Helena had once mentioned loving but never had time to revisit.
Devin was on vacation, and they didn't have to worry about school. Tyler made sure they all had a fun and memorable time, as they deserved it.
During one of their outing, he had suggested a vacation outside the country, maybe somewhere tropical or European, but Helena had smiled and declined gently.
"Not yet," she said. "Let's enjoy this for now."
And Tyler had nodded, not pushing. He understood that too many changes at once could be overwhelming. He could wait.
But even as he soaked in the peaceful days, he never lost sight of the bigger picture.
Almost two months had passed.
David's side of the operation had become something else entirely. What began as a simple NGO had morphed into a nationally recognized entity.
David had pulled every string, shaken every hand, and made introductions at the highest levels.
The president of Gumua hadn't met with them yet, but nearly every gatekeeper had been crossed.
David had gained influence within the country's Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Technology, and even the Governor of the Central Bank.
The updates shocked Tyler. He never expected the speed, the scope and the thoroughness.
Yes, he'd expected results, but not this kind. Not this quickly.
Even more shocking was the fact that David had already begun informal discussions with these institutions about financial modernization.
According to his latest report, these individuals were not only open to collaboration—they were eager.
"They want to meet the team from the fintech partner," David wrote. "They see the NGO as credible and believe that the project is a timely solution to one of their country's age long problems."
That was the moment Tyler knew he needed to bring in stand-ins.
The fintech shell company was real on paper. But no real team existed. No board, no executives. It was a just him.
But David had already anticipated that.
"Don't worry," he said during their encrypted call. "I'll handle the appearances. I've already secured professionals who can play the part—legitimate consultants with clean backgrounds. You just have to tell them what to say, how to say it, and most importantly, they know how to keep quiet."
Tyler agreed immediately. He wasn't interested in building a public profile. He wanted function, not fame.
To reward David for his incredible work, Tyler decided to double his salary for the first month.
...
Time flew and the day finally arrived.
The fintech shell company would be officially introduced to Gumua's government.
A full presentation had been prepared by Tyler. David and the stand-in executives were to meet with representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, and select members from the Ministry of Tech.
David kept Tyler updated live, sending messages and emails between each meeting.
"They loved it," one message read. "They think it's exactly what the country needs. Especially with the NGO backing it."
Another came an hour later. "Central Bank Governor wants a private meeting to discuss pilot integration. We're setting it for next week."
The meeting went well and another one was scheduled to take place in a week time. The second meeting will be actual kickoff of Tyler's plan.
That night, as Tyler lay on his bed, he smiled in satisfaction to himself as things were finally starting to fall in place.
It took time, yes. He now had less than 3 months to get started on finding the cure but he won't have to wait to long.
"Two to three weeks at most," he smiled to himself.