THE RETURN OF BILLIONAIRE DON

Chapter 4: The New Way Forward

"Stop, stop!” John shouted from behind. 

"John, what is wrong? Is everything ok?” I was confused wondering why he chased me all the way here. 

"Wow, I can’t believe that Mr Kunle would get fired just like that, I mean could it be because of our bad work service.”

"No, I am pretty sure it’s nothing of that sort, just enjoy your new position as the new supervisor ok, speaking of which I forgot to get my salary.” I patted his back, as we both head back to the restaurant. 

Getting into the restaurant, our supervisor, Mr Kunle, was still beginning his job.

I can’t believe this man could ever look desperate, well look at him now. I chuckled to myself, as it was so satisfying to watch him be at the other receiving end. 

“Mr Dumebi, I am truly sorry for this man ill manners and behaviour towards you, please forgive me for not paying attention to it all these years.” The manager said.

“It’s ok sir, you don’t need to apologise, firing him is enough, I think he must have learnt a lesson today and please call me Tony.” I said smiling looking at Mr Kunle on the ground. 

He felt so ashamed that he stood up and left immediately. 

"So, sir, is it possible for me to get my salary now?” I asked. 

"Of course you can, please just follow me to my office.” He replied. 

As soon as I got my salary I was off but John still followed me. 

"Is that really the end, you are not really going to work here again? “he asked, sounding a bit sad. 

"You know this is really strange though? I mean all that happened just a few minutes ago and how come the manager just responded to you like that, if I hadn’t known you much better I would have said you probably used some charm.” He added as he laughed, I chuckled. 

"I really wish that I could stay longer but I have to be on my way now.” I said. 

"Where are you off to now, your house?” he asked. 

"No John, I can’t go back to a house where I am no longer welcome.” I said frowning. 

“I don’t get you, what do you mean by that statement?” 

“John honestly, I don’t even know If I should say I should have seen it coming or that I was just really being oblivious to the fact that perhaps we weren’t even meant to be. I and Uloma just got divorced and to top it off she took the house too.” I added. 

"Wait, what? You mean to tell me that Uloma and you are divorced, despite all you did and put up for her, damn! Women are really evil but why did you let her take your house?” 

"What could I have done, go to court? Definitely not, not with the way things work in this country especially coupled with the fact that the house was bought under her name.”

"You bought the house under her name but why would you do that?" John appeared to be even more confused as he judged me. 

“I can’t really say, if it was because of love or perhaps it was the pressure from she and her mum." I replied. 

As we were still conversing, a red car was approaching the corner at full speed, the car didn’t even stop for the traffic light. A young boy was about to cross the road as he was chasing after his football. 

“Hey watch out!” I screamed, but the young boy was so caught up trying to catch the boy, that he didn’t hear.

I ran quickly in the blink of an eye to save the boy before the car could hit him. 

The whole commotion caused the car itself to halt. 

"Are you stupid or blind didn’t you see before crossing?” the woman from the car yelled as she whines down the driver’s glass window. 

"If I see that there’s any scratch on my car, you both would be sorry.” She added as she pulled over and got down to check the car. 

She even got angrier when she realised that her car got a little scratch when it hit the branch of a nearby tree. I was shocked when I realised that this woman had a familiar feel.

I got a better look at her and realised that she was my ex sister-in law. A very rude petit and fair lady. She is Uloma’s elder sister and 10x worse. 

"Miss I think you are the blind one who didn’t see the stop traffic light.” I was disappointed at her rude approach. 

"Oh I see, you are even the one, no wonder this happened, you bad luck magnet. You are definitely not worth me wasting my time, I mean how dare you talk to me? “she said with a very distinguishing face.

"Please just apologise to this poor boy for almost running him over and squashing his ball.” I said politely. 

"The guts and audacity you have, the fact that you are even talking to me and I am answering you, you now think we are of the same level and that you can tell me what to do.” She started laughing.

"Look at you this good for nothing who my father helped out of a kind heart, you now think you can talk to me because of that right? If you are not careful I will just… you know what I don’t have time for this.” She said as she tries to enter her car back, but I held the door.

"Please don’t be so difficult, just apologise to the kid, look he is so sad, his ball even got squashed because of your bad driving.” I said as I was already getting angry. 

"Are you mad, how dare you stop me from entering my car, what gives you this…” she struggled to get my grip off the car door, but I still held it firm. 

"Look, if you don’t let me go I will make sure your life becomes more miserable than it already is, don’t get me angry.” She said angrily knowing that she can’t get my grip off. 

I looked at her unchanging face and realised that she wasn’t willing to apologise no matter what. 

I didn’t want to get into a fight with her as it would cause a scene, it was already technically causing a scene regardless so I just decided to let her go. 

"You can go on now kid, take this token and see if you can get yourself a new ball ok.” As I gave some money from my salary to the kid. 

"You are so nice; you literally gave that kid money for the ball.” A voice from behind me said, it was actually John he was still here. 

“I kind of see my son in that kid. That lady was really so mean.” He added. 

"Your son? Lyla had given birth?” I was surprised because I could still remember when he told me got married, although he married way long before I even met him but it wasn’t that far. 

It could only make me think about my marriage to Uloma, thank God we had no kids. 

"Yes Dumebi, I do have a son who is six years old" He replied. 

"Yes, that boy is still one of the reasons why I keep going despite the stress and the amount of pressure Mr. Kunle gives us. He is my motivation and reason for everything I do.” He added.

Seeing the way John talked about his son I couldn’t help but remember how my father didn’t really even care for me back then. I had no good memories of him regardless. 

“You must really love your son. Can I ask you something? Were you ready to raise your child when he came?” I asked curiously. 

“Things like this most times don’t always wait for you to be ready, you can only really just learn while on the job. When I got my boy there was a lot of complications with his pregnancy."

"The moment he was born he had a very rare disease and was being placed on serious medication, although he was still able to scale through that was where I lost most of the money I had saved in the past.” He said looking a little sad

The more he continued to talk we decided to both sit down on a pavement that was somewhere close to the restaurant.

"Like that wasn’t enough after his sixth birthday, he started again, he got back from school one day and started coughing out blood. I didn’t know what to do, we rushed him to the nearest hospital and then he was diagnosed with a very rare blood disease where the bone marrow releases too many red blood, I just...” As he started to shed tears little by little, he cleaned them immediately they came out until none was left.

"But what can I do, I am his father, I am responsible for him. That’s why I don’t know exactly what happened at the restaurant but this promotion was really a miracle for me, because I need all the money I can get now. I have to find more jobs I can do part time because I need the money to continue paying for his treatment.” He continued. 

“You are damn strong John, how could you have been going through all this and not even said a single word to me, aren’t we friends?" I was a little bit pissed at his secrecy. 

"What difference would it have made except bother you? You were already going through a lot with Uloma and your in-laws, what use will it have been to trouble you with my issues.” He replied.

I thought about his statement and realised he wasn’t lying though, that time I would have probably been useless to him and then I remembered something. 

"What about Lyla , how is she holding up?” I wondered if it were to me and Uloma with this circumstance and what she would have done. 

"Dude, she is amazing. I have never seen a woman as insanely strong as this woman."

"She is literally the one who encourages me the most, she makes me believe that my efforts are not wasted. Can you believe this woman juggles the hospital and her shop every day?" He said smiling. Well at least it was good to know she was supporting him. 

I was deep in thought for a while.

"What if?” I paused.

"What if I tell you I can help you pay for your son 's medical bill and you wouldn’t need to stress anymore?" I proceeded to ask. 

John opened his eyes wide, looking shocked about my comment.