Hoffers stared agape, his frown as much caustic as real. He swallowed hard and queried the desk officer as though she just spoke in unknown tongues. He almost looked behind to see if she was referring to someone behind him.“I am talking to you, sir!” the desk officer remarked and raised the card, “Actually there is seven hundred thousand dollars on this card. But it has been permanently disposed to fifty years fixed deposit, which can only be terminated by the account bearer…” she enunciated briefly.Hoffers gasped. His heartbeat ended with a thud as sudden heaviness stole into this heart. “What do you mean, huh?” his stuttering was full of ruin. And he wondered if his speech would remain thus after this trouble.“Please I don’t understand you.” Tears swam in his voice, . Already his roughened face clamored for help. “Can you explain yet further, please? He demanded coldly.The desk officer leaned forward and pointed into a document, “Look up here, sir, it is fixed for fifty years,
Hours dragged by and the taxi driver was yet to see Hoffers . Times on end, he had shot an expectant gaze at the exit of the bank, hoping that the next customer to alight from the elevator would be Hoffers.With jaw clenched and brow clustered with balls of sweat, the young driver slammed the door on his cab and decided to go after Hoffers.When he arrived at the banking hall, he met a bizarre scene of a few number of customers consoling Hoffers, who was sitting on the floor, all tears and writhing in pain.“Hey, mister!” the taxi driver called the moment he got to the side of Hoffers, “I have been waiting for you almost all day. What’s up with you? I need my money!” he peered down to Hoffers whose teary face flashed at him.Through sniffing, Hoffers muttered, “Please you may have to bear with me. There is a problem with the bank account. These bankers just informed me that I can’t withdraw my money until fifty years.”He had barely said when the driver exclaimed, “Jupiter’s brain!” B
A dilated smile decked my face which was before a newspaper. For weeks the trending story and caption was: HOFFERS HEARTBROKEN OVER LOSS OF RESTAURANT. Another like it was; HOFFERS IS OUT OF BUSiNESS.The media succeeded in capturing disgraceful images of when he wailed on the floor while at the bank. And they didn’t forget to place it on the front pages of news papers.“Hmmm boss,” Zion called, “What would become of Hoffers Food now since you have bought it?” he queried through a mouthful of barbecue and shot an expectant gaze at meMy gaze was still settled on the news paper as I replied him “In the coming days I would demolish the entire building and make it a setting ground for dumping of waste.” I glanced behind, virtually all my entourage were asleep safe Zion.Indeed it had been a nice , busy time flying to all the continents in three months and in most cases , my sole purpose was to meet with the president of each country about my intention to lunch an oil distribution plant
I thought I had escaped my avid fans but by some sheer tactics I felt two strange palms grip my legs as I was about hopping into my Porsche.Who could that be? I swore under my breathShocked, I struggled not to flinch since I believed in the security I got. With my gaze lowered, I caught sight of Hoffers wailing hugely as he gripped my ankles.Now my security felt they had flopped in their duty and breached security protocols by not being alert to see Hoffers get to my side. Promptly they pounced on him like furious cats and about to bundle him away.“The world richest man! Please don’t do this to me! Brian Patrick! Please!” he wailed at the tops of his lungs and clamored for me with his hands gesturing at me.I held a huge grin, “Let him be!” I commanded my security and stretched the hem of my tuxedo while Zion wiped off the dirt on my trousers caused by Hoffers , “Why have you chosen to bring nightmare upon me, Hoffers Greenfield?” I queried and advanced gently to his side , “If
I raised my hand, signaling at my security and he brought out my complimentary card and handed over to me. I tossed it at the feet of Hoffers.“Why not work for me, huh? I grunted and managed a striking chuckle.Hoffers’ brow knitted. His jaw sagged and eyes winked nervously at me. He averted his gaze and snorted deeply in one moment of thought. His thunderous stare questioned my guts a million times.“Yes,” I affirmed, “Are you not fortunate to work for the world richest man and the world leading oil and gas firm, huh? Above all, consider how valuable you would be if you work with the world richest man.”He smacked his lips in disapproval with repeated shaking of the head, “No no. please. I don’t need your offer…”I knew Hoffers was not going to subscribe to it. For it was more than sin for him to be employed by a poverty- stricken boy who once received orders from him as a delivery boy.He dragged a teary, pitiable face and molded his arms in apology, “Mike Don I appreciate you for
Later that same day Hoffers Greenfield trudged his frustrated soul to a nightclub nearby town. The walls of his dignity and pride had fallen. Before he got down to the night club he drove past his restaurant and he saw the seal and restriction placed at the entrance.He tilted his face and wailed like a kid. There was nothing more to live for and about now, he would have to drink himself to stupor. He had never been an alcoholic and he wouldn’t mind leading such life now.Nevertheless he couldn’t fight back; it was baseless doing such. Shortly after our drama at the airport he got hold of the documents of transaction for the purchase of his restaurant. He read the terms and conditions and he boiled in wrath and hated himself for being such a dope. He wondered what blindfolded him when he signed to those terms without reading through carefully.He couldn’t believe he blindly agreed to the money on the credit card being accessible in fifty years.Absurd.“Fifty years?” he mumbled within
Rio Hondo prison was known for its compulsory free visitation every Friday, which usually lasted all through the day. Melissa had decided to pay a heartfelt visit to her father after such a long while.As Melissa sat at the visitors looking out for the father, she never thought some day she would pull up at the prison to pay a visit to a pal let alone her father.With bated breath, she couldn’t wait to see her father and vent all the hurt that had piled in her heart . At the time of her life she was jaded and abandoned to abject poverty and guilt ever since I revealed my true identity to them.A few nights ago she had zeroed her mind to take drastic decision which had lingered in her heart over the past few sleepless nights.When Fanny Luis was let out of his cubicle to meet with his daughter, the smile on his face came a bit mild and since he was smiling at her, he expected her to return the compliment. But right on the reddened face of his daughter were fury and thunder which inform
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
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