When the president got into my office, I was seated to a tray of white Russian and White Sour.
“Greetings, Mike Don, the world richest man,” he greeted, his voice husky, his face hardened as rock and his head not bowing as expected.
It was obvious His Excellency wondered how he was going to bow to a young rich kid like me. But I was ready to put it to him to bow to me else I would deny him the loan.
I pulled a thunderous grin across my face and settled my gaze on him, “I thought you would bow to me, His Excellency. Don’t I deserve it? Do you think it is easy to give thirty four trillion dollars to a country that is supposed to give to me, huh?”
The president shut his eyes briefly in exhaustion. He snorted and heaved a deep breath, “Greetings the world richest man,” he bowed this time and when the innumerable flashes of camera light fell on us, he swirled around to see a handful of journalist taking photos of us and capturing the moment.
“Have a seat,” I pointed him to a sizeable arm chair by the corner, “You must understand who I am in this world and it shouldn’t sound strange to you that the media and paparazzi monitor my life on a daily. They are here because of me and not you.”
He replied at a breath, “It is because you allowed it. I really wouldn’t want this moment to get to the public. These people are talkers and tomorrow the trendy news would be His Excellency takes loan from Mike Don…”
“Intriguing news if I may say,” I interrupted him. “What do you expect of the public? Do I need to remind you that they have waited patiently for this day to come, a day you would seek the help of Mike Don to solve the economy crisis. “I pulled out a newspaper and showed him a tragic story, “See this.” I pointed at the headline and read, “Family of four die of starvation.”
He raised a brow as though the news was strange to him. “Is that the kind of economy you want, huh? It would be shameful for my country to be ranked the poorest country in the world.” I stretched out to some documents in the shelf and slapped on the desk, “That is why I want to give you this loan on a platter of gold.”
He interjected, “On a platter of gold, huh? You call this platter of gold? If you really want to help your poor people as you said why not grant me the loan without collateral, only then would your people love you, and adore you…”
“Oh spare me that, His Excellency,” I almost fumed and stood up to sip my Whisky Sour, “Did I hear you say my people.” I shook my head in pity, “Where were they when I wandered away on the street s of Rio Hondo? Where were they when I wallowed in abject poverty, when my father-in-law and my ex wife divorced me because of my poverty? Where were they when no boss wanted to employ me because I was an ex convict? Where were they when my landlord sent us packing on the street because because I couldn’t pay rent?”
“Oh, Mike Don is that the reason you demanded for the national oil well as collateral, huh?” he forced a frown which depicted he had gone hard in the head already. “It is not all about me anymore. It is all about us.”
“Uh- really, us? Now you know it is all about us because today I am Mike Don. Two years ago when you were still the president did you know me? Did you even know if I exist? Would you have believed if you were told some day you would borrow money from this poor delivery boy, huh?”
He lowered his gaze in shame and smacked his lips in one thoughtful moment.
“Listen up, Mr. President; please let’s commence the document review and signing of the loan document. I have plenty of work up my sleeves. If you don’t mind, I would want you to peruse through the documents.” I brought out my credit card, and placed on the table. “If you are okay with the terms I would issue you the credit card after signing.”
“I thought you would increase the repayment tenure to three years. Two years is too short to repay thirty four trillion dollars, Mike Don.” He nagged after reading ….
I snarled and breathed uneasily, “Do you realize what I am about to give you is fifty percent of my annual profit. I am very much at risk than you. Despite the fact that I have unlimited wealth, yet I wouldn’t want to be wasteful, so I would advise you to invest wisely and pay up in due time.”
He snorted, settled his gaze on the terms once more and mumbled as if he were in deep thought, “Please as you go to Rio Hondo prison to free inmates do it wisely. Don’t free those that would cause more nuisance to the society, I beg of you.”
I beamed, “Sign the document if you need my money, His Excellency. Bring money, not talks.” I quoted and pulled back in my seat as I watched him clutch the pen and about to sign on the documents.
He raised his gaze after he paused, “Oh god, please help me to repay this loan. We can’t lose this oil well to Mike Don if we should fail to pay back” He prayed inwardly as he signed the documents.
I took the documents, perused through them and I okayed it with my signature and stamp.
“Congratulations, His Excellency.” I picked up my credit card and handed over to him. “On this credit card is thirty four trillion dollars only. You can spend all of it. Nice doing business with you,” I pulled out my hand for a warm handshake.
“Good bye, Mike Don,” he ignored me and turned around to leave.
I shrugged and burst into a victorious laugh. I picked up the documents and pitched my gaze on the terms bordering on the oil well and my power to free at least five prisoners every month.
Soon journalists flooded into my office with their recorders for interview.
“Same underrated son-law-giving out loan? What a day of my life,” I thought.
Something was about to happen…