by Kiru Taye
She smiled back coyly before sashaying down the corridor, her hips swaying. He followed her as his body kicked to life and he suppressed his libido. He'd been celibate for too long.
The office building that had used to be busy and full of employees now seemed deserted, the work spaces abandoned, and the amount of accumulating dust showed that no one had used the desks for weeks.
At a panel with the peeling plaque that read Managing Director, she knocked once and then turned the handle.
The door opened up into an office that seemed covered in dark wood. It was dated and reminded him of an old movie set. Chief Rawlins sat behind a huge mahogany desk.
He strode towards the man.
“Chief, it’s good to see you,” he said in a light tone as he extended his hand.
“Henry, thank you for coming to see me,” Chief said as he took his hand in a firm shake.
“Well, when the boss invites an ordinary barrow boy like me up to his office, I have no choice but to answer the request,” Henry said with humour.
Chief gave a laugh. “We both know that you’re not a barrow boy anymore, and I’m not your boss. Sit down.” He waved at the chair.
Henry lowered his body into the seat. “Well, no matter. It’s always important to give respect where respect is due.”
“And I appreciate it, which is why I wanted us to have this chat as a one-on-one without anyone else’s involvement for now.” Chief paused. “Can I get you a drink?”
“No. I don’t drink when business is involved. But I’m happy to have one once we’ve concluded our discussion.”
“That’s a good idea.” His gaze darted around the room and his hands fluttered before he leaned his elbows on the desk. “I need your help.”
Henry knew what was coming, but he wouldn’t save the old man the trouble. He’d been monitoring Rawlins Constructions for years. A business that had once been synonymous with construction at its height had started declining due to mismanagement, embezzlement, and corruption. Six months ago, one of its tower blocks had collapsed, killing residents and destroying homes and properties.
The building had been constructed on marsh land with poor foundation, substandard materials, and in wrong quantities. Apparently, city planning officials had been bribed to obtain the appropriate license and certificates, an investigation had found out after the accident. The insurance would’ve normally paid but due to the irregularities, the cover had been voided.
Now, the end was near for the business Chief Rawlins had set up, and the only reason he would call Henry to his office would be to ask for his help in rescuing the company. Chief and the company were facing both criminal and civil law suits. The shares had dropped so much that the whole thing was worth nothing to any investor.
Henry leaned forward, mirroring Chief’s pose.
“Tell me how I can help,” he said, pretending he had no clue what the man wanted.
“I presume you know the situation already with the collapse of Greco Mansions. Because of the legal action in place, all my assets have been frozen as well as the company assets. The business is running with shell staff. I’ve had to send people home until further notice. My lawyers assure me that we’ll win the lawsuit, but in the meantime, investors are getting rid of their stock, which has made the value plummet.”
He pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed his sweaty forehead. “I have to think about the families of the men and women who have worked here for years. I have to think about my own family.”
“How would you like me to help?” Henry asked in a grave voice.
“You’ve worked for Rawlins. You know this is a good company. Unfortunately, there were a few managers who have been embezzling funds. I found out who they are and dealt with them. I don’t want this company to go down the drain. This is where you come in. I need you to buy Rawlins Construction.”
Henry puffed out heavy sigh. He pulled his brows together and tapped the table with his finger tips.
“This is a bad time to think about selling the business, Chief. Your stocks are worth nothing in the open market,” he said quietly.
The corners of Chief’s mouth tightened. “I know that, which is why I’m talking to you privately. You know that this company is worth a lot more than what anyone else would value it. Our reputation and contacts alone are worth a lot.”
“I’m sorry to say, Chief, but the reputation of Rawlins collapsed along with Greco Mansions. And your contacts won’t want to be linked with a business being sued for fraud as well as criminal negligence and corporate manslaughter.” He deliberately kept his tone matter of fact but his words were the nails in the coffin.
Chief’s eyes narrowed before he forced a smile. “Fine. Perhaps our worth is down the drain, but I was hoping to appeal to your sense of loyalty. I picked you up from the gutter and gave you a job. You wouldn’t be the man you are today if I didn’t give you the chance.”
Henry’s hands clenched around the arms of the chair. He sucked in a shallow breath and released it. He held himself back for saying that he would’ve made it even if the man in front of him hadn’t offered him a labourer’s job many years ago.
But he didn’t want to rile the man. He still had an ace up his sleeve that he would play when he was ready.
“Yes, sir. I appreciate the opportunities you offered me. I learned the tools of the construction business from Rawlins.”
He’d worked damn hard and gone from labourer to foreman in a short space of time. It had taken his sweat and determination and sometimes his blood, considering some of the injuries he’d incurred.
After his degree program, he’d worked even harder setting up his own firm. He’d found suppliers who were happy to give him the materials without the inflated prices. He’d found dedicated workers, young men like him who were struggling to survive in Nigeria hit by the aftermath of successive unstable governments and a rough economy. Gradually, he’d built up a thriving business and workforce, undercutting Rawlins Constructions for the contracts and winning more and more bids.
And the key to their success was that they actually delivered, which made the clients recommend them again and again.
“So, will you help me?” Chief asked, his desperation now evident in his feverish eyes and twitchy fingers.
Closing his eyes for a moment, Henry sighed. Such a shame to seem a man of Chief's calibre brought to his knees. For sure, he would insure himself from making the same mistakes the old man had made.
Still, it didn't stop his heart from pounding with anticipation at the opportunity presented to him. One of the things that drove his successes constituted his ability to capitalise on openings like this one.
“I’m happy to help your business. I will take on your creditors and pay off your debt. The business itself, I will buy for a token sum, and absorb your operations into mine.”
Chief slumped into his chair and closed his eyes. For a moment, Henry worried he had fallen ill until he saw the steady rise and fall of his chest. A slow smile appeared on the old man’s face as he opened his eyes.
“Thank you,” Chief said.
Henry held himself steady but he didn’t smile in return. “Don’t thank me yet. I want something in return for helping you.”
The old man shrugged. “Sure. I realise nothing goes for nothing. So if it’s something I can give you, then sure, you can have it.”
It was Henry’s turn to smile. “It’s definitely something you can give me. The question is if she’ll come to me willingly.”
“She?” Chief scratched his cheek before rubbing his chin. “I don’t understand.”
Henry sat back in the chair, ready to show his ace card. He’d waited years for this. He placed his elbows on the arms of the chair and brought the tips of his fingers together to form a steeple. He held the man’s gaze, making sure he wouldn’t mistake his words.
“I want your daughter, Gloria, in return for me helping you.”
The man still appeared confused.
&nb
sp; “Gloria?” Then a smile returned to his face. “Oh, I get it. You want to marry my daughter.”
He shrugged. Marriage wasn’t exactly the thing he had in mind. Revenge was top of his list. Especially since the woman in question had once told him she wasn’t good enough for him.
“No, Chief. I don’t want to marry your daughter. A happily ever after will never work between the two of us as you daughter seems to dislike me so very much. She once said to me that she wouldn’t marry me if I was the last man on Earth. And you didn’t exactly approve of her being in a relationship with me, either.”
The man’s head reared back as if Henry had struck him. His mouth opened and closed like a fish but he said nothing.
“So you see, marriage is kind of out of the question,” Henry continued. “And considering her track record, it’s not a good idea, anyway. How long did her last marriage last? Three months? Six?”
Chief seemed to go white and he dropped his gaze. He tugged the collar of his lace buba and more sweat beaded his forehead.
“Yes, my daughter has had disastrous relationships recently. But what has that got to do with any of this? What exactly do you want from her?”
“As I said already, I want her. Whatever amount I use in paying off your creditors will constitute the amount of the bride price for Gloria. She will live with me and to all intents and purposes, she will be my wife. But any day she decides to leave me, which she is free to do any time, I will be obliged to call back the amount I paid your creditors. Everything you own will belong to me. There will be no legal documents listing her as my wife, but there will be documents outlining the exact amount you owe me.”
“What? You’re buying my daughter?” Chief Rawlins looked like he was about to have a heart attack.
Henry stood up and walked around the desk as he reached out. The man pushed him away and glared at him.
“I asked you a question.” He banged on his desk with his fist. “Are you offering to buy my daughter in exchange for helping my business?”
“Yes.” He didn’t return to his chair. Instead, he shoved his hands in his pockets in a relaxed pose. “I’ll give you time to think it over and convince your daughter it’s the right thing. But we both know your creditors won’t wait for long. Have a nice day, Chief.”
He knew exactly how long some of those creditors would last, because they were businesses linked to him.
Henry turned around and walked out of the old man’s office. He’d made his move. The next move was Gloria’s. And he couldn’t wait.
***
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