I was all stretched out in my bride water sofa, relaxing to my Americano coffee when my door automatically parted for Zion to prance in. Having the visitors form handy, I could guess his reason for coming into my office.
I raised my glass of Americano, “Do you mind sharing coffee with me? Winter is huge today,” I said all smiles and wondering what he had come to tell me with the visitors form handy.
“Boss I appreciate, perhaps I would do this with you after I am done with the crowd at the reception,” he sounded, with lopsided smile on his face and anticipation clouding his eyes. I winked, shrugged and settled my gaze on the visitors form.
Zion continued in a more emphatic tone, “Boss with me is the visitors form for the honorable minister,” he advanced forward and stooped to present it to me.
I shot an inspective gaze on it and saw he had obeyed all the protocols . I was awed that he finally did the most outstanding of the protocols. “Did he finally show you if his account balance has up to ten million dollars?”
Zion gave an affirming nod and added, “He came some minutes ago and presented the recent account balance of his bank which has ten million fifty thousand dollars. I guess he is eligible to meet with you boss…”
I chortled irregularly and sat up with contagious smirk pulling down my chin and mockery hanging in my thought, “Oh really. Who knows where he got the money from? This is the same minister that came begging my security to let him in since he had only fifty thousand dollars in his account.”
Zion burst into a radical laugh and echoed, “Isn’t it obvious, boss, that the minister is a broke ass. I don’t want to believe he sold his cars to earn the ten million dollars. Boss what do you suggest we do? Should I let the broke ass into your office?”
I settled my gaze on his form once more and saw the reason for his visit was to finalize the proceedings for the thirty four trillion dollars loan.
“Let him in, Zion it is time for us to acquire the oil well. I think we are not yet contented with the real estate. The national oil well is going to be our big chunk. I tell you the state of Rio Hondo cannot pay back the thirty four trillion dollars if I should give it to them…”
A huge frown shoved across his face, “But boss isn’t the thirty four trillion dollars too much for our group. Mr. President and the minister should seek the help of the World Bank and richer countries. They should let us be. They want to run us bankrupt. I don’t want what happened to us three months ago to repeat itself…” Zion paused, gaping and staring at me as I chuckled.
Gently I rose to my feet , pitched my gaze on my photo which hung on the wall; the one I had when I was Brian Patrick , the poor delivery boy, and sounded, “I understand your plight , Zion. I know you are scared of my losing net worth for the second time. I know you don’t want me to go broke again…”
He interrupted me, “Yes boss. Apologies for interrupting you. This time around we need to be careful of the out flow of cash. We must spend wisely and invest in the most pertinent business with monetary value.”
“Zion,” I called, “Put aside our past and bury your fears.” I pointed at my photo, “You see this is a symbol of my past. It is never going to recur again in my life. I am a made trillionaire, Zion. You will be stunned if you see the riches upon which I stand. You know my father has always told me that we use money to gain money. They need my thirty four trillion dollars, they will pay with twenty percent interest, submit the oil well as collateral and grant me the optimum power to release at least five prisoners every month from Rio prison…”
Zion dragged a surprised brow at me, “Boss your last stance stuns me. Do you also want Mr. President to grant you authority to release five prisoners from Rio Prison every month?”
I gave a firm nod. “Yes Zion, I have cited these terms and conditions in the loan agreement document. They must go by them otherwise no deal.”
Zion snorted as I perceived more questions still hung in his mind, “But boss, why do you need such power? What do you need the prisoners for? The twenty percent interest and the oil well are enough.”
I turned my back at him and stretched my hand to a newspaper which caught my interest a while ago. “This is what is happening to our prison. The host of other countries are mocking Rio Hondo prison for its congestion and dilapidation; I want to have the supreme power to free at least five inmates every month in the window period of his regime. These inmates that shall gain freedom will be employed by me. I will give them a reason to live, so that they can make something meaningful out of their lives.”
Zion brought his large palms upon his chest and added, “Oh boss that is so thoughtful of you. If you can do this, the entire world would never forget your name in the sand of time. None of the Croesus anywhere in the world has ever thought about this idea of yours.”
I stared vaguely in the space and thoughtfully tears wanted to swim through my eyes but I fought it back. I was swallowed in the gloom of my past life in prison, where I spent fifteen years over a crime I I didn’t commit. I shrugged and snapped out of it, “You know, Zion, I have been to the four walls of prison after my former boss falsely accused me of siphoning fifteen billion dollars. Prison is not meant for the living. You have never been there so you won’t understand the pains of being a prisoner.”
He let a smile on his face, “Perhaps I will ask Fanny, Morgan, and Thomas Jackson who must be passing through hell in Rio Hondo prison.”
We burst into an irregular laugh, “Come on forget about those fools. Go straight away and bring in the honorable minister. It is time for business.”
Business and power called on…