Melissa’s eyes boiled as coal. Her lower lips trembled and she wouldn’t want to curse him, even though she had done it already in her head. Hurt and ruin shot through her that she could feel the thudding of her heartbeat.With her reddened eyeballs rolling at him she beamed, “Are you still asking me, father? Do you realize the pain ridicule and shame I go through each passing day? The trauma has never seized to recur in my mind. And you know what heavy guilt pangs my soul each time I see my rich ex husband with his wife Clara Roham. Nothing has been so embarrassing and humiliating. I just can’t stop hating myself for making the wrong decision.”“Clara Roham?” Fanny retorted as soon as he dragged a furrowed brow at her, “Is Clara Roham supposed to be among your troubles now? Oh daughter, come off it…”A thick, big belly jailer trudged to the side of Fanny and reminded him, “You got two minutes , Fanny two minutes to round off and return to your block.”Fanny nodded briefly , swallowed
The jailer pranced to the side of Fanny Luis, grabbed his shoulders and pulled him up. His time was up. He protested at the tops of his voice, “Melissa please don’t go away. Tarry a little while. This storm will be over!” his jaw ground and he struggled to pull away from the grip of the jailer.Melissa, who had been cat-walking to the exit, passed and shot her dead looks at him. She tossed her head in pity and replied arrogantly, “You are full of ruin now father. I am worse than ruin. Lisa Bake is dead, we have lost everything. I can’t continue to stay in Rio Hondo . Mike Don is always rubbing it on my face and wouldn’t stop at making life miserable for me.”Fanny couldn’t stop protesting and pleading with her to stay. The jailer struggled to drag him away as he wouldn’t heed to him just to make sure he spoke to his daughter.“Good bye, father!” she bade through clenched teeth, spurned around and took the exit.By the time she was outside, her eyes had welled up with tears. Heavy so
Few months later a timid scraggly-looking man in worn out sleeves and flip-flops tucked behind a car as he peeped at the engineers at the site.For over five days now the site engineers I hired to demolish Hoffers Food had busied themselves with crushing the restaurant to mere sand so as to reconstruct it to a perfect reserved dumping ground for my people, the Rio Hondos.The scraggly-looking man was still star struck at the sight of his restaurant being demolished. The man was none other than Hoffers Greenfield and he was disappointed to see the group of engineers’ turn his restaurant into a waste dumping site for Rio Hondo. His feeble knees trembled under his weight as his face shone with balls of sweat.He was quietly behind the car and swore hugely under his breath. Frustration churned his stomach as he struggled to look away now but couldn’t. Right now he confirmed my words when I promised him I was going to turn his restaurant to a dumping ground.With his gaze raised at the woo
But there was no stopping the minister. He was fighting toothlessly to ensure Mr. President declined taking a loan from me. He was among other numerous people who were mostly envious of my rising and wouldn’t mind limiting certain privileges and honors which I enjoyed as a trillionaire. For countless time s he had wondered how rich I would be if I should end up acquiring the oil wellFor over thirty minutes, behind closed doors the minister proved his audacity and reasons Rio Hondos shouldn’t take a loan from me. The minister had come to believe that I leapt to being five hundred trillion dollar richer because of the oil well and not my father’s wealth.When Mr. President shot his menacing gaze at him and let an insolent stare at his body, the minister could feel his impatience subside to fury and he would have called it a wrap if it were a baseless discussion.But anything targeted at limiting my wealth, even denying me certain privileges wasn’t a baseless discussion. He, the minter
My father had phoned me over for dinner. And in this one year of being the true heir to the Saint Don Group I had come to realize that Saint Don preferred discussing important issue over dinner.Meanwhile carefully placed on my desk was an official memo from the president which signified their interest in paying me a visit in few days to finalize the fifty trillion dollars loan.The dinner wasn’t a bad idea after all. I really looked forward to discussing it with father.With excitement pulling down my cheeks, I couldn’t wait to dine with my true father after such a long time away from home.“Get the convoy ready at six. I will be visiting my father,” my voice cracked into the phone and once Zion okayed it , I hung up and returned my gaze to my work for the day.Thus far in the past weeks I had endured a boring, unhappy day at work. My days at the national oil well had come to an end. Even the barrels of crude oil I managed to store had been exhausted by the avid, demanding clients.S
The briefing from Alafin Oil Empire informed me that in one week I should be expecting my profit share and complete return on investment. But barely three weeks had passed and nothing had come from them.On a bizarre morning at the office I turned up at the office only to get an instant knock on the door.“Boss, Boss!” that was the teary voice of Zion, who just barged into my office, sweating as Christmas goat. He went on his knees, and brought his hands on his hand.Anxiety banged my heart, “What is it, Zion? What happened to you?” I queried, and advanced to him.From the fallen gaze on his face, this young cousin of mine had been all tears. When I stared at his trembling hands, I saw a news paper which was inscribed; ALAFIN CRASH.“Talk to me. What happened, Zion?” I pressurized him.And finally he managed to reply through tears, “Just yesterday, the Alafin ship conveying the barrels of oil of all the investors was invaded by pirates and it crashed and exploded. No staff of Alafin s
Father noticed the tension and fury that decked on my face. “Tell them your boss is not on seat and then hang up,” I mumbled somewhere close to the ears of Zion.But Zion wouldn’t just heed to simple instruction. He squeezed his lips and protested, “But boss it is Forbes we are talking about here. I said they want to know if you are still worth five hundred trillion dollars, because of the news making the round about a decline in your net worth.” He mumbled at a breath, “Perhaps they want to crown Thomas Jackson the world richest man and dumb your ass…”“Stupid!” I fumed, of course, very audibly that father had to pause his meal and stare at us, “Can’t you listen to simple instruction, huh? I say tell them your boss is not on seat. I can’t lose my title to some Thomas Jackson or whatever he is called!”My expression hardened and I felt my vein pop from my neck. Father noticed the fury boiling in me.Already Zion had bowed to me in a more apologetic manner.“Apologies boss, please I am
With anticipation clouding my thought I joined my father as he led the way, gently trudging into the corridor that led upstairs. Soon we had trudged past the penthouse and were still climbing through to the top of the mansion.I wondered what he was up to. Curiosity hung hugely over me as we walked and discussed. He led the discussion and I barely could pay attention because already I was anxious of where he was leading me. What was he about showing me? Because it was obvious father was up to something.“Son your ambition has snatched you away from home. I rarely saw much of you.” he let a contagious chortle when he perceived the worry on my face.I managed a gentle smirk but within me I was still nervous of where father was leading me. I perceived we were on a grand tour of his mansion because I hadn’t visited this part of the mansion before.It seemed quite strange and lonelier; it was obvious that secrecy was the only thing that could make one come to this part of the mansion.Wher
On a crisp winter, I was mid way stretching out the hem of my tuxedo before the spacious mirror while my costumier ran a make-over on me.I could over hear the knocking of stiletto on the floor and I needed not be told that someone was walking through.In few seconds, my automatic door sensed a body and yanked open on its own, and when I swirled around a charming face flashed at me, it was Clara Roham, my wife.I could swear she was walked up this time around; the mountains of frown that decked her face; the blue frame that layered her skin and the cloud of fury that sagged her jaw, was evidence of her cage being rattled by someone.But I guessed I wasn’t responsible for her horrible mood this morning. She stood staring, arms folded, shoulders pressed against the wall, and eyes staring and locking eyes with me.Noticing that the costumiers were done with me, there was no need hesitating to hear from my wife.“Please can I have a moment with my wife,” I mumbled.The party of costumiers
The most beautiful girl beauty pageant had been ongoing for over three months now. And from all over the world and from all walks of life, pretty ladies emerged to represent their countries in order to hit the jackpot and establish their countries in the hall of fame.Before the commencement of the beauty pageant, Zion had served me a memo from the organizers, giving me the opportunity to be the sole sponsor of the event. I was very much elated to sponsor such event.And on behalf of the Saint Don Group and my wife, I wrote them a cheque for fifty million dollars. Not only did this make my name to be in the news, but also it was one way I could give back to the society and support talent.This very maiden edition gathered from all over the world pretty ladies who wished to emerge as winners. But in the long run only one of them would go home with grand prize.The grand finale was slated to hold in New York. It would be recalled that this would be the fifth edition which had mouthwater
Mr. President had been pacing up and down in his spacious office brooding over the news, the accountant general just told him, over the phone. His brow shone with profuse sweat as he wondered what would become of Rio Hondo’s economy if the news were verified to be true.Promptly the door creaked and opened for the minister to prance in.“What is it that I am hearing minister?” the president queried once he caught sight of him, “The accountant general just phoned me about seventy percent decline of our capital market and foreign exchange. Did you hear anything ” he swallowed hard and expected a different news from him.The minister’s jaw sagged and he pressed his lips tightly in contemplation. “Yes, Mr. President, I have only come to confirm if you have heard yet another news. The decline in the capital market is virtually becoming old news now….” His voice died off with a smirk of the lips.The president cocked an eyebrow and squeezed his brow, “What news again? I am yet to verify t
I could see them in the crowd of prisoners; Fanny Luis, Morgan Harris and Thomas Jackson.I continued at a firm remarkable tone, “I was sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment after my boss, Morgan Harris accused me of siphoning fifteen billion dollars from Community Central Bank. At the time I never knew this day would come. But I had often told myself that once I become rich and powerful, I would ensure I free prisoners because no human being is supposed to remain in prison…”Morgan Harris still had his gaze on the ground. Warm tears were already trickling down his cheeks and Fanny had noticed it.Thomas swallowed hard and gazed upon Morgan, “You are all tears. Soon I will join you because this is a lost course. The person you intend to beg for our freedom is already recalling horrible memories. I don’t need to tell you Mike Don is going to cancel Christmas on our ass today.”Morgan sniffed heavily while Fanny swallowed hard and stroked his hair.My trumpeting voice continued to sou
Morgan Harris was heaved with thought; suddenly his eyes became watery and red. He only could wonder how a boy he once hired as his delivery boy became so rich and powerful that Rio Hondo granted me the supreme power to free prisoners. He expected greatness from me but not this kind of power. He couldn’t believe it when the chief warden mentioned and about now he was yet to believe that his once ragged delivery boy had grown so rich and powerful that Mr. President granted me such power.“Mike Don! Jupiter’s brain!” Morgan exclaimed in shock and stared in the space thoughtfully, “How did he become so powerful that Mr. President granted him the supreme power to free prisoners?” he queried through gritted teeth and clicked his fingers furiously before cupping his jaw.Fanny hummed and folded his arms, “I am as confused as you, Morgan. I am hugely pained that this rich boy, this Croesus was once my son-in-law. Who would believe that the world richest man, Mike Don who is celebrated and lo
Fanny Luis, Morgan Harris and Thomas Jackson were among the host of inmates that gathered at the prison yard to have some briefing with the authorities of the prison.Prior to this day, I had sent a memo to the office of the chief warden, informing him about my official visit to Rio Hondo prison and to commence the grand opening of my vision of setting free five prisoners every month. Not only was it a welcomed idea but the chief warden had told me it would cushion the adverse effect of congested prison yard which was a threat to them now.Just like every other inmate Morgan Harris Fanny Luis and Thomas Jackson, were nervous and looked forward to hearing from the authorities of the prison. It was earlier the other day when they were informed to assemble at the prison arena for some vital information.With glistening bright faces and curious eyes that rolled from side to side, the prisoners waited with bated breath for the authorities to give them the briefing; it was very much instinc
With eyes welled up with tears, Mr. Kenny watched the site engineers pull down his five detached duplex and brought it to bricks and sand. He couldn’t stand the sight of his investment being destroyed and when he thought begging me would proffer a solution, I disappointed him by giving him the cold shoulders.Already it was late to reverse my command. Shortly afterwards I had joined the rest of my entourage on the private jet and shut the hatch door on the face of Mr. Kenny, who had been pleading for mercy so earnestly that he didn’t give a damn about onlookers when he lay on the ground to plead.“You just have to put yourself together! Perk up! Everything is going to be fine! Be of good cheer!” those were the words of onlookers and pals who consoled Mr. Kenny.But the fact still remained that he least expected it and never in his life had he contemplated to lose five of his buildings in one day. And the worse of it was getting to meet a boy he wrote off now being the world richest
Mr. Kenny’s brow roughened as the ridges in sand. He stared at me, gaping and studying my face, “What impossibility are you talking about?” he queried and stared me down, “Brian Patrick? You?” he pointed at me with trembling hands.I shot a fire-packed stare at him and molded my lips in fury to inform him of the ruin that will befall him soon.He stood to his feet. “Wait a minute.” he peered at me, doubt decking his eyes and arguments about leaving his lips, “You can’t be Brian Patrick. Everyone knows you as Mike Don. Are you not the true heir to the Saint Don Group anymore?” he queried me, stared around and realized a quite number of onlookers waiting for the outcome of this moment.I snorted, suspected the redness of his eyes was as a result of the shock that shot through his spines. This time I gathered all the voice in my throat and beamed, “Mr. Kenny for the second time, I am Brian Patrick. Yes the same Brian Patrick you cursed and called all sorts of names, including a criminal
I was done addressing the residents of the Suburban Estate. They were excited to have me as their new landlord after the government of Rio Hondo promised to privatize the estate so as to cushion the adverse effect the poor economy was having on the state.About now everyone had shades of smiles on their faces as they noticed none of their houses were marked for demotion. While almost everyone dispersed only one person was left behind; he was seen being restricted by my security that stopped him from getting close to me. All the while Mr. Kenny had been chanting my name at the tops of his voice and trying to catch my attention.“The world richest man! Mike Don!” that was the clamoring voice of Mr. Kenny. He stared around, settling his gaze on the group of bulldozers that were already steaming by the corner and ready to resume work.The moment the bulldozers started drifting towards the houses I just marked for demolition, his panicky voice intensified.“Oh no, please Mike Don! Please I