Chief Samuel stood before the mirror adjusting his million-dollar black striped suit and red tie. He’d bought the suit a month ago when he’d accompanied his wife to Paris for a shopping trip. He smiled at himself as he admired his six-foot height, his dark skin, and his bald head. He was fifty years old but looked fifteen years younger. Since he’d become Mayor three years ago, he’d only worn foreign suits. He was adjusting his tie when his wife, Cynthia came behind him and started adjusting the collar of his sky-blue shirt.
Cynthia was about forty years old, fair and beautiful. She was wearing the diamond earrings and necklace that she’d bought for two million dollars a week ago when she’d travelled to Dubai. The bangles and rings on her hands and fingers were worth over a hundred karats in gold.
She’d run a popular restaurant known as ‘Mama Put’ before her husband became Mayor. Once she became the Mayor’s wife, she’d stopped her business and focused on charitable activities and galvanising women to become politically active.
“Darling, have you seen today’s newspaper?” Cynthia asked.
Chief Samuel turned, kissed his wife and replied, “No, honey. What are those hungry press men writing about me?”
“Don’t mind them. They’re writing how you’ve haven’t been paying workers, fixing roads, or building schools and hospitals. They’re crazy,” Cynthia said as she picked up Samuel’s briefcase and headed for their car.
“Don’t mind those hungry fools,” Samuel said as he followed her.
Samuel squinted as the rays of the morning sun hit his eyes. ‘A sunny day is always good’, he told himself as he put on his sunglasses. He waved at a squad of heavily armed policemen, who were there to escort him to his office. Samuel and Cynthia entered their white BMW jeep and the orderly, who was holding the door, shut it.
Outside the gate, Samuel noticed his security having a confrontation with a young man who seemed determined to see him. Samuel ordered the driver to, “Stop and wind down the glass.” Samuel then recognised the giant size of Ike, who was his most influential thug, and who’d helped rigged the election that brought him to power.
“What are you doing here?” Samuel asked harshly.
“Chief, I have a problem. My…”
“Is there any time you don’t have a problem?” Samuel cut in angrily. “What is the problem?”
Ike went down on his knees and raised his palms towards Chief Samuel. “My father is hypertensive, and his drugs are finished. There is no money to buy the drugs. He might die if I don’t get him the drugs this morning.”
“So, how is that my business?”
“Chief, you’ve not fulfilled any of your promises to me and my friends. Please, I need money…”
“Go to hell,” Samuel said and shouted at the driver, “Move this car.”
As the car zoomed off, Ike fell down and burst into tears.
By Delight Caesar
Email address: [email protected]
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