Father noticed the tension and fury that decked on my face. “Tell them your boss is not on seat and then hang up,” I mumbled somewhere close to the ears of Zion.
But Zion wouldn’t just heed to simple instruction. He squeezed his lips and protested, “But boss it is Forbes we are talking about here. I said they want to know if you are still worth five hundred trillion dollars, because of the news making the round about a decline in your net worth.” He mumbled at a breath, “Perhaps they want to crown Thomas Jackson the world richest man and dumb your ass…”
“Stupid!” I fumed, of course, very audibly that father had to pause his meal and stare at us, “Can’t you listen to simple instruction, huh? I say tell them your boss is not on seat. I can’t lose my title to some Thomas Jackson or whatever he is called!”
My expression hardened and I felt my vein pop from my neck. Father noticed the fury boiling in me.
Already Zion had bowed to me in a more apologetic manner.
“Apologies boss, please I am sorry. I got it all wrong,” he kept rendering apologies even as he advanced to the door.
Soon he disappeared behind the glass door and I let a breath of relief, feeling uneasy to initiate a stare at father. I just couldn’t help to lower my gaze. When I thought I could handle the huge decrease of my net worth, this Thomas Jackson of a kid kept piling ruin in me.
I just couldn’t believe I lost my net worth over night; from five hundred trillion to one hundred thousand dollars.
“What the hell! Where did the entire money go huh?” I mumbled in my head. “The oil well that was snatched from me and the Alafin crash were responsible for it.
And about now, I didn’t think I could afford an oil well.
“Son, why are you unperturbed? What has rattled your cage?” father queried the moment he caught sight of the tears leaking through my eyes.
I sniffed and forced a smile instead, “Nothing, father,” I lied, “You know there is this stream of emotion that flush in you when you return home to share moments with family.” I forced an even chortle which I never intended to do in a life time.
Father’s thick brow was still held on his face. His fore head creased as he watched me swallow hard and wink, “Well it feels good to dine with my hardworking son.” He had a sip before clenching a firm hold on the news paper, “How is business son? What about your ambition to spread your tentacle into other industries?”
I hesitated, wondering how I was going to tell father I had lost such ambition ever since my net worth declined. What was the need venturing into other industries when my oil and gas ambition was steeping down the drain?
His brow thickened and he shot a survey look at me when I gave no reply; of course he had perceived the war going on in my head and refused to talk about it. “Mr. President phoned about his intention to borrow fifty trillion dollars from you. What would you be demanding as collateral?”
I bit my lower lips as though I hadn’t thought about it, “Well, I…um intend to demand for the oil well. I mean that is the only profitable collateral the state could offer.”
Father gave a nod in disapproval, he mentioned the acres of land and real states in the urban region . I perceived you two haven’t talked much about the terms and condition.”
I pressed my lips together nagging about Mr. President being faster than his shadows. “I never discussed the terms and condition, father. He is yet to come. I wonder why he should be phoning you.”
He pulled back in his chair and tossed his head in agreement, “I know of course. I would advise you to stick to the oil well as collateral. The oil well is a money making machine and I can’t wait to see the Saint Don Group being the only owners of oil well all over the world.”
I sucked a deep breath and caught sight of father reading the page of the news paper where Thomas Jackson boasted of his four hundred trillion dollars net worth and his bid to snatch the title from me.
Father’s jaw sagged as I perceived he had read the nasty things Thomas Jackson said about me. “Who is this Thomas Jackson of a kid?” he queried, his brow knitted and tight with his gaze still lowered on the paper.
Fury clustered in my eyes as I settled my gaze on my feeble, sweating fingers, feeling ashamed to talk about my flaws and flop.
“He says he is richer than you now. Is that true?” Father asked promptly and took off the glasses, which stood loosely on his beak nose.
I couldn’t just keep this as secret anymore; not even from my inquisitive father who would stop at nothing until he got to the root of this embarrassment from Thomas Jackson.
I swallowed hard with my lips opening slowly and shutting promptly.
“Answer me son,” he demanded, “Is that true? What happened to your net worth? I just want to believe the news making the round is mere gossip. That is the reason I invited you.”
Tears swam in my voice as I said, “Yes father, it is true. Literally I may not be the world richest man anymore. Ever since I was stopped form exploring the oil well and then losing my fortune in the Alafin crash, my net worth has reduced to one hundred thousand dollars.” I snorted and sounded yet further, “The storm is on me now, father. I am heartbroken. If I lose my place as the world richest man, I would never forgive myself.” Tears rained in my voice.
Father stood up, let a lengthy, toothy smile, gave me his hand and intoned, “Son join me. I have a surprise for you. You are still the world richest man.”
Something was about to happen…