Mr. President’s birthday trended for more than a month prior to the D-day. At the time I was away in Saudi Arabia where I had a briefing with my Arab clients who wanted one million barrels of crude oil.
This very business was leaping me to the prime of my wealth and I was elated about it because of the massive cash out that awaited me.
Almost at the closure of my business in Saudi Arabia, I got a call from the minister of petroleum about his intention to include me in the committee of notable men that would plan his 80th birthday.
I was elated yet I didn’t fancy the fact that I was needed urgently in Rio Hondo. I had already made up my mind to disappoint the minister this time around because some group of clients in Norway contracted me for supply and after that I would make it to Madrid for another bogus supply
My kind personality and net worth had announced me to the world so much that every money bag wanted to do business with me now.
“I am sorry minister. I don’t think I would make it to Rio Hondo. I have been booked massively. I have got a schedule in Saudi Arabia, Norway and, Madrid.” I counted on my fingers as I spoke into the phone. “Perhaps you may make Mr. President understand reason for my absence,” I explained over the phone and got a cold reply from the minister.
Although I felt the anger in his tone over my absence at the meeting with Mr. President, yet I couldn’t just help with the fact that business must come before pleasure and as the world richest man I needed to increase my net worth and remain at the top.
“Boss,” Zion called my attention as he pointed my attention on to the screen of his laptop, “We have another booking from clients in Malaysia. They need one million tons of crude oil. I want to seal up the deal, but I don’t know if we have up to that in the oil well now,” he sounded.
Exactly what I was talking about; another deal just came up!
“Seal up the deal, Zion. We have more than that, even if we don’t have up to that you must give our clients the impression that we can. Nothing is impossible. While they wait we will drill more,” I responded at a breath, stroked my hair confusedly and dared to chin up over the fact that I was disappointing Mr. President for the first time.
His reason for the meeting could be as a result of the food poisoning in Rio Hondo and to an extent, I was honored to be recognized by Mr. President. Indeed my supremacy and wealth had attracted notable powerful men to me in that they would need my opinion before any concrete decision could be taken.
Once I and my entourage finished with the clients in Madrid, Norway and Malaysia, we flew back to Rio Hondo and I phoned Mr. President about my arrival.
At a later time when they minister informed the president they could do without me, the president told him, “You may have to reschedule the meeting with world richest man. He is back from his business trip,” Mr. President told the minister as they ascended in the elevator.
When he got the cold shoulders from the minister, he resounded, “Do you understand me? You must reschedule the meeting.”
The minister’s jaw sagged as he squeezed his lips in jealousy, “But Mr. President, I thought we just had the meeting with other stake holders and we reached a concrete consensus for your birthday, why do we have to reschedule again because of one person?” he queried and kept a scowled face.
Mr. President, who had a long face replied, “Mike Don is not just one person. He is an ocean of moneybags put together. That meeting is incomplete without the world richest man. Not only is his opinion hugely needed, you know how beneficial he is to us financially in this country. And if you ask me I would suggest you just do as I said and stop querying my authority.”
The minister apologized, “Apologies Mr. President. I would invite the world richest man immediately.” He rolled his eyes and grinned briefly.
The elevator beeped and Mr. President walked out leaving the minister wondering and reflecting on my supremacy.
“How can one ordinary man be so powerful that Mr. President rescheduled a meeting because of him? This is indeed bizarre and unthinkable. Could it be that it is because of his unlimited wealth?” he contemplated, sighed before walking away.
At the briefing with Mr. President, I couldn’t make it to the venue on time; but upon my arrival with my entourage, Mr. President who had gone far with the briefing had to start afresh after I was welcomed with a standing ovation.
“Mike Don!” called the minister, “We were discussing and brooding over the birthday of Mr. President which would take place in few nights from now. It is his 80th birthday and at such the entire house has mandated that it would be a grand-breaking celebration.” He reached to a paper and handed over to me. “You can peruse through the schedule and viable we would need for the birth day.”
I raised a brow the moment I glanced through the enlisted items and saw that they had awarded the contracts of refreshment to the Hoffers Foods.
“No! It can’t be possible!” I sounded in my head.
“Um, Mr. President, I would love to know how much your birthday would cost. It is essential so that we could see the area we could contribute,” I demanded as my face flushed with wrath at the thought of Hoffers Greenfield.
The minister gestured at the accountant general, who pulled out another document and pronounced, “We have budgeted one point five million dollars for the birthday,” he replied staring at me.
I gave a firm nod, “Okay, I will donate one million dollars for the birthday and two million for refreshment and take full responsibility of the birthday. No one must spend a dime on this occasion. It belongs to me.”
Promptly they stood up and gave a clapping ovation with huge smiles parading their faces.
“Now do you see the reason told you to reschedule the meeting? When you see the word richest man, your problems bow before him. We need this mogul often especially in the fifty trillion dollars loan we would need in settling our debts in Beijing, few months from now.” Mr. President mumbled to the hearing of the minister and continued clapping for me…
I simpered while I boiled inwardly at the thought of Hoffers Greenfield.
***
I awarded the three million dollars banquet party contract to Charity Campbell and Hoffers writhed in pain.
Few months later, while driving in my convoy, I saw Hoffers Hawking on the street; our gaze met and he lowered his gaze shamefully.
The fact was that Hoffers became too poor that he couldn’t fend for himself.
I kept on conquering the world and amassing wealth.
I was an underrated son-in-law but today I was the world richest man.
THE END