Just in the same energy that brought them down to my office, Mr. President and the minister went back home in their convoy after the embarrassing drama with Zion.
All through their ride back home only Mr. President’s tepid voice anchored the most as he yelled at the minister, apportioning blames and drinking rum just to quell his temper.
“I knew it was going to get to that. You can imagine how that riffraff trifled us. As though we were some nameless people who came around to beg for money, huh?” Mr. President’s voice rang out.
“But His Excellency,” the minister called and grinned, nagging at the shiver that shot through his heart. Most times he wished he could just keep shut while Mr. President did the talking, “I stand not to blame. Isn’t it obvious that Mike Don purposely gave out such instruction just to dehumanize us, huh? In our first appointment with him we never filled the visitors’ form.”
Mr. President‘s voice cracked in the atmosphere within, “Can you imagine? I have met with big wigs, the lords and movers of this world. I have dined with richer tycoons and moguls. Never was it recorded that I filled the visitors form before I saw them! Who the hell does Mike Don thinks he is, huh?” his voice subsided uproariously, thunderous gaze settling on the minister.
Gently the minister pulled back his face and inwardly cautioned the president that he wasn’t Mike Don. Certainly he knew he was going to take all the blame because from the onset Mr. President had barked at him for getting acquainted with a fraudster like Thomas Jackson.
“But His Excellency I suggest you put a call across to Mike Don and query his guts, so that he can see where he has erred …”
A maddening yell went off, “Do I need to teach him sheer respect and honor? Doesn’t he know that I am the president of Rio Hondo? He knew about our visit and decided to pay us back in our coin…”
The minister sniffed heavily, “But, His Excellency I told you this rich kid called Mike Don is no respecter of person. He has guts that are meant for a million souls. He has pride over his shoulders and treats his subjects without room for reverence and courtesy. If not for Thomas Jackson that let criminality sprout in him, we wouldn’t be seen at the Saint Don Group, let alone be embarrassed …”
“No…No.. His Excellency raised his hands to shut him up, “Don’t just go there, minister. I rather prefer to fill up the visitors’ form and wait for my turn to see Mike Don than have anything to do with Thomas. If I were you, I wouldn’t mention that name again in my presence. Today I have lost my honor among the Arabians because of Thomas. The king of Saudi Arabia cursed me for harboring a criminal all this while. It is so disheartening that the bastard took part in the Suburban Real Estate auction.”
The minister swore under his breath as he lowered his gaze to fondle with his short fingers. When he raised his gaze, he saw on TV how the media was fast to publish the drama that just happened at the Saint Don Group.
The headline was even more maddening; His Excellency and the minister Humbled By Mike Don.
“Can you imagine that?” Mr. President’s voice shrieked thunderously the moment he caught sight of the news on TV. “This is it! This is exactly what you want!” He shot his fire-filled gaze at the minister who may not have the urge to serve as a minister again if more of this toxic moment would occur.
“But …but!” he stuttered coldly as tic flushed through him, “But his Excellency, how am I responsible for the humiliation which was caused by Mike Don? I am not Mike Don…”
”Uh-oh, you can never be Mike Don, but trust me, we wouldn’t be facing this humiliation if you had let me approach Mike Don the way I wanted to. You were giving me more of the gospel according to Thomas Jackson. Yeah!” he pulled a strenuous brow, “Yeah! I am a point,” he sounded more emphatically as they approached the State House. “We have no time anymore. Sixteen trillion dollars is not going to revive this crumpling economy. We need the loan, maestro!” he barked.
A tinge of anxiety crossed the face of the honorable minister. “Apologies, his Excellency, I promise you we will survive this storm. Soon it will become a story of the past.
Mr. President snapped through clenched teeth, “Bring solution. Don’t bring talks. Time is fast spent. My administration has been labeled as the most horrible regime with the worst record of economy melt down.” He tossed his head in disapproval, “This is disheartening, minister.”
The minister snorted and sucked a deep breath, “Mike don will come through for us. Is he not the world richest man anymore? Besides, If he refuses to grant us the loan, we will spread our tentacles elsewhere…” he only intended to make a comment and not to offer any suggestion.
“Elsewhere? Like where? Like your Thomas Jackson that exudes nothing other than fraud, huh?”
Scorn and mockery clouded his voice. He rolled his eyes and looked out through the tinted windscreen.
“Since the world richest man doesn’t want to grant us the loan, I suggest we approach neighboring nations like the Arabians. They are richer than Mike Don, huh…”
The president shook his head in disapproval, “Can you listen to yourself? I am sure you don’t know who Mike Don is. That dude is richer than some countries put together. Didn’t you hear his reply to Forbes when they asked him his net worth? Didn’t you hear him say his net worth is I can-never-be-poor, huh?”
The minister was intimidated by that reply. He snorted and regretted coming against me.
“Listen up. I am not going to show my face at the Saint Don anymore. I have had enough of this embarrassment. I give you seven days to get the loan form Mike Don, else I will impeach you,” another threat sounded from his Excellency before he opened the door of his Rolls Royce and alighted.
Tension ahead….