Timo shouted. "STOP! TIME IS UP!"

The architect threw his hands in the air.

People screamed and clapped.

Dayo walked forward slowly, staring at the stack.

"This is witchcraft," he said.

Everyone burst into laughter.

The architect grinned. "I didn't want anything too big. I just didn't want the structure falling."

Dayo shook his head. "Nah, you finished me."

They scanned everything.

Another big bill.

But when he saw the smile on the face of the face of the archiect

Dayo paid it quietly, like it was nothing. After all he was a hidden billionaire.

Before the guy left, Dayo handed him a pack of JAD Treats.

"For you. Thanks for playing."

The architect smiled. "I'll frame this wrapper."

Dayo laughed. "Please don't do that. Just eat it."

The guy bowed and walked away with his things.

Dayo and Timo smiled

"Another successful content made." Timo said.

"Yeah-." Dayo phone interrupted

Coach Richard.

He stepped aside and picked up.

"Coach, what's up?"

There was a short pause on the line.

"Dayo… how are you doing?"

"I'm good, coach. What's happening?" Dayo could hwre the tense from Richard voice

Coach Richard's voice carried a kind of pressure behind it.

"It's time. Nationals are around the corner. The Olympic qualifiers are coming fast. We need to prepare. We need to enter the national team selection. If we want to compete internationally… this is the moment."

Dayo nodded even though the coach couldn't see him.

"Of course. That's one of my biggest dreams. Just tell me what you need."

The coach tried to sound normal, but Dayo could hear the stress.

"Good. I'll send you the schedule later. Rest well today."

"Sure, coach."

"Oh and nice content I enjoy your content."

"Hehe sure coach."

The call ended, but Dayo kept looking at the phone for a second. Something felt off, but he pushed it aside.

***

A few days passed quickly.

Dayo divided his time between heavy training and shooting content. Every video he posted blew up. His follower and subscribes count kept climbing every single day. Brands were reaching out. Fans were reacting like crazy.

His subscribers on YouTube reached 65 million although the hype reduced a bit it was still put there.

But even with all the noise around him, every morning he still hit the pool before sunrise.

Coach Richard pushed him harder now.

More laps.

More drills.

More timing checks.

Dayo didn't complain. He wanted it badly.

He kept his mind blank while training avoid any distraction there were speculation on him online but he shun everything and focus on what was in his front.

***

Meanwhile, in a quiet sports complex downtown, a different kind of meeting was taking place.

Four top coaches sat around a table, files stacked everywhere. These were the coaches responsible for selecting swimmers for the national Olympic team.

Jason, the Head of Swimming, sat at the top.

Coach Martin — the assistant — sat beside him.

Two other senior coaches were on the sides.

They had been arguing for over twenty minutes.

One coach tapped a file. "We have to talk about Dayo. His numbers are insane."

Another coach nodded. "He beat Alex. Clean. Everyone saw it."

Martin rolled his eyes. "That day was a fluke."

"It wasn't a fluke," the first coach snapped. "Look at his timing. It's already inside Olympic range and constantly at that. Why are we pretending not to see it?"

Martin leaned forward. "We already have Alex. He's consistent. He's been under the program longer."

"That doesn't mean anything," the other coach fired back. "If Dayo is faster, then he's faster. Simple."

The argument grew hotter until suddenly—

Knock knock.

Jason knocked his hand on the table.

"Enough."

Everyone went silent.

Jason looked around the room slowly.

"I didn't call you all here to waste time arguing like children. The Nationals will decide everything. Not us. Not our opinions."

He pointed at the files.

"No more fighting. The pool will pick the best swimmers. That's final."

"The winner would be the face of our national team."

Everyone nodded reluctantly.

Meeting over.

---

As they left the room, Martin pulled Alex aside into a small empty corridor.

Alex frowned. "Coach? You called me?"

Martin lowered his voice. "Listen carefully… everything is on the line. You must win. You can't let Dayo take your spot."

Alex sighed. "I know, coach. I'll try my—"

"Trying is not enough," Matthew interrupted.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a small container. Not a steroid — but something that could give a temporary boost. Illegal. But not easy to detect.

Alex stared at it.

"Coach… are you sure about this?"

Matthew stepped closer. "Do you trust me?"

Alex didn't answer.

Matthew continued.

"This formula is better than what others are using. It won't show up. Use it before the heats. Don't tell anyone."

Alex held the container, shaking slightly.

"Okay… coach."

Matthew patted his shoulder.

"Good. Now go home. Train hard."

Alex walked away quietly, staring at the thing in his hand he knew this could either make him or break.

But when he remembered how bad he felt when he lost to Dayo he didn't want to feel like that.

He muttered staring at this. "Go hard or go home. I am winning this."

---

A few weeks later, the day finally arrived.

Nationals.

The stadium was filled. Cameras were everywhere. Officials stood with clipboards. Fans carried banners. The atmosphere was loud, energetic, and full of pressure.

The swimmers were called in for warm-ups.

Dayo stepped into the stadium wearing a black tracksuit, headphones on, eyes focused. People whispered as he walked past.

"That's him."

"That's JD."

"Is he really that fast?"

"I saw his numbers online."

"He's dangerous."

"Yup and a superstar at that."

"I can't wait for the race."

"JD for life."

"JD for the win."

Fans held banners screaming and ahouting other contestants names also.

Dayo ignored all of it.

Coach Daniel met him by the pool.

"You ready?"

Dayo nodded. "I've been ready."

The first heats were starting soon.

The path to the Olympics began here.

Everything was about to change.

A huge change.

A/N: Dear readers please 🙏 spoil this shameless author with Golden ticket and gift.

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