Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written by Damilola Babs
From the stable of Reflection Book Hub
“You what?” Emem mused at the man in front of her. She knew the last thing he needed now was any form of advise. So she wasn’t going to go further.
“I resign.” He repeated himself without remorse.
“And what will you be doing?” She asked folding her hand across his chest and starring at the man who wasn’t looking at her.
“Other businesses. My forex trade is doing fine. I have some millions in my Binance account. I will do better staying away from that man.”
Emem didn’t know what to say, she just offered him her hand in comfort.
“Sorry, I let this happen. I should have just resigned.”
“Nothing is your fault Emem, nothing. I was going to leave any way. And all of this hasn’t changed how I feel about you. Emem, come back to me, marry me. I love you, you give me peace like no other person has ever given me. Who am I supposed to spend forever with if not you?”
“I know you want to spend forever with me, but going in and out of faith will also not help you. You need to be rooted.”
“I know Emem, I just had too many demons from the past warring against me. Too many bad memories haunt me and then I see myself diving back to the bottles.”
“Have you tried reading the Bible or praying?”
“Yes. And those times, I won’t lie, they were peaceful. My dad is just the… never mind. I am fine and my faith will be grounded, not just because I want you Emem, but because more than ever I need that peace.” He told her and held her hand. “But again Emem, for the umpteenth time, marry me.”
There was a knock on the door. Emem collected her hands gently and went for it. It was Andrew. He greeted the young woman and came in calmly staring at his brother. There was a brief silence and then they hugged each other.
“I am proud of you brother.” Andrew told him, hugging him. Mark sighed and then laughed. Emem returned holding two glasses of wine for the men.
“Here, this should soothe you both.” She told them and left them there. The men sat facing each other in a mini lounge in Emem’s compound. Emem had rich parents, she just wanted to work to gather the experience she needed for her family business. Yet, not even that had made chief Anthony think about her differently. The men knew they had so much to talk about so they made for the cool area in the compound.
“Now, he is going to turn to me.” Andrew started.
“Yeah, but you, you can match him. The man fears you…”
“Hmmm hmmm, I won’t call it fear. I will call it respect.”
“Whatever it is man. He respects you. You can run that company on your own shots. No externals, just you and your business brain that you moved from Florida to Nigeria. God! You are such a fighter! What?!”
“Guy, abeg. Don’t do that now. I am not running that company for any reason. I was done before you, remember?” He told his brother and sipped the wine.
“Look, I know we both don’t have the perfect relationship with Chief Anthony…”
“Why call him that?” Andrew asked his brother laughing in between the lines.”
“Abeg, we share nothing in common, abeg. Like I was saying. We do not have the best relationship but you see, that business needs a fighter. You are smarter, you are better at this thing. See your shop now, that place is beginning to look like an industry. Only you can help daddy out this time.” He told him.
“I know right. The truth is…” he pause and played with his glass of wine. “ermm…since Mary left I have needed a distraction. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying I am still madly in love with her.
“Of course you are.” Mark teased. “God! I have never seen you so in love with anything, she beat the place of fashion in your life you know.” Mark laughed out loud.
“Yeah, right? But stuff happens. I love her, I love her crazy, but then she wanted out and I had to give her that.”
“You are strong man bro.”
“I don’t trust my own strength you know.” His phone rang out loud from his pocket. He adjusted and brought out the device. It was his father calling. Chief Anthony.
“It’s dad.”
“I told him to let you do it. I am done.”
Andrew shook his head and picked the call and put it on speaker.
“Hi, dad.”
“Hi, son. How have you been?”
“Fine. We haven’t spoken in six months. My bad, I apologize.”
“It’s nothing. The company needs you son, your brother backed out.”
“I know dad, we spoke.”
“What? Are you both backing out on me?”
“Not really, dad. I guess it’s my turn to make this table spin.”
“Does that mean you helping out with SUMAL?”
“Of course, dad. I am.” He told the man. Mark got up and paced in front of him gesticulating happily.
“Thank you son,”
“Did you just say thank you?”
“Can’t I say that to my son?”
“I didn’t know you could think like that. You have always been so high up that we barely reach you.”
“Show up in my hotel room on Thursday night. Let’s sort this out.
“Okay dad,” he told him and dropped the call.
“Did he just gaslight that topic?” Mark asked in shock.
Andrew nodded laughing. Mark joined as they both laughed. They were too close. Andrew had taught the man pidgin English, he fell. in love with the language the first time he heard Nigerians speak it. Andrew had taunted him that his Nigerian blood was thick and that it haunted him. The men chilled out until late at night, and then they announced that they were leaving. Mark was going to drop his friend and brother off before heading to his house on Ikoyi.
then they announced that they were leaving. Mark was going to drop his friend and brother off before heading to his house on Ikoyi.
The men chilled out until late at night, and then they announced that they were leaving. Mark was going to drop his friend and brother off before heading to his house on Ikoyi.
Copyright Damilola Babs, 2022
No part of this book shall be plagiarized except if authorized by the author.
