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 breath
Shocked, 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 could remember I settled you and paid you two million dollars for your poisonous mushroom restaurant and we…”
Hoffers interposed me at a breath and bowed before muttering, “That is the problem I am faced with, Mike Don. Perhaps you mistakenly gave me a wrong credit card.” His sweating trembling hands held out the credit card. The bank says I can’t withdraw money from the account, since it is on fixed deposit for fifty years…”
“So what about it, huh?” I snapped and peered down to him, “All my accounts are on fixed deposit. I Can’t remember the last time I touched cash, Hoffers. I am an unlimited trillioniare. I run on cashless policy…”
Hoffers pulled on his knees and molded his arms apologetically, “Please the world richest man! I am not as rich as you. I run on cash policy. Please give me a credit card that can let me withdraw my money or you give me cash. That money is all I have after losing my restaurant.” Frustration decked his face which seemed nothing less than crimson.
“Oh really?” I intoned, smiling, “I thought I just explained myself to you.” My voice conveyed impatience now, “I have paid you the seven hundred thousand dollars. You may have to wait till fifty years.”
“Fifty years? His face was flushed with misery and those red cheeks bulged, “No! No! Please I will be ruined . You can’t subject me to this perpetual poverty and expect me to remain alive. “ Warm tears couldn’t stop surging down his cheeks. “Please you have done more than worse to me. I want to manage my life with the money. That money is my breath now. You telling me to wait till fifty years is like asking me to stop a moving train…”
“Uh-oh, Hoffers Greenfield, don’t you know you have dared to stop the moving train severally huh? Do you want me to remind you that I am a moving train and you have dared to stop me, huh?
He shook his head in doubt, “No! No! Please Brian Patrick , or better put Mike Don.” he corrected and lowered his gaze in awareness of the guilt that thudded his heart.
I managed a brief smile and gnashed my teeth, “Uh, come on go head and call me Brian Patrick . I love that name because it will always bring a memory on your mind,” I beamed and subsided my smile to a frown, “What memory does it bring to you, Hoffers?”
I stared at him for an endless moment and swore beneath my breath.
Hoffers had been sobbing at the time but all of a sudden he wailed nosily and gasped for breath. He couldn’t raise his gaze anymore. It was obvious, memories of all he did to me churned his stomach with disdain.
“I am sorry Brian Patrick!” he shook his head pitiably and sniffed back tears, “I shouldn’t have treated you like a piece of shit in the past. Perhaps I should have been helpful to you.” With effort he dared to quench his sob but there was no stopping him. “I never knew this…” he stuttered stole a glance at me and broke down in yet other terrifying tears. “…I never knew this day would come.”
I shut my eyes, sniffed and raised my gaze at the wooly grey sky above, “Same here, Hoffers Greenfield. I never knew this day would come, yeah, a day when my boss who refused me and my foster father his garage to pass the night would be wailing before me; a day when a boss who denied my mother life just because he wouldn’t grant me a salary advance would be at my mercy.”
My gaze settled on him and burrowed into his teary face.
He was sobbing uneasily now and fondling with his trembling fingers, “Please I want a favor of you. I want to get access to my money on this credit card. I promise you I will disappear out of sight. You will never see me again. I know sight of me irritates you…”
I spun around to hop into my Porsche and he beckoned on me.
“Please Brian Patrick, don’t do this to me. If you had told me that your account was restricted I wouldn’t have sold my restaurant to you.”
I simpered, “Oh spare me that, Hoffers. You are acting so dumb now. Didn’t you sign on some documents? All the information, terms and condition are on those documents and you agreed to abide by them the moment you signed them…”
I hopped into my car and my security slammed the door…
Hoffers protested, “Hold on Brian Patrick! Please!”
I shot my frown at him, impatience hanging in my eyes
“What would become of me now? How do I survive? You have taken all from me…”