Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written by Damilola Babs
From the stable of Reflection Book Hub
“Please, I need my job more badly than a man whose father doesn’t like me.” She told him and dropped the call.
“Man, I didn’t know it was the same Emem. How can your ex still be your PA? You are joking with fire.”
“She is not my ex yet man,”
“But she is done with you Mark and she’s made that clear too many times.”
Mark fell to the chair in frustration. He raised his leg to pull his Tory Burch designer shoes. He had gotten them on his last trip to the US.
“Man, I love that woman, and nothing has changed.”
“You know our father. A reason why I alienated myself from yourself and him.”
“And I still wonder what my offense was? Being his son?”
“I don’t know. We have been friends since High School, way back in Florida. My parents died and you know dad came around and then there was the long adoption process…” he hissed and continued what he was doing.
“These memories haunt you, don’t they?”
“Ugh, kind of. You know. The abuse…”
“Don’t talk about it if you don’t want to.”
“It’s okay Mark, we are brothers.”
“Yeah, secretly. Nobody knows us as brothers.”
“But it changes nothing bro.”
“Yeah.” Mark responded getting up and stretching his body.”
“When Buckner abused me in that classroom back in Florida. Everything changed, every single thing.”
“Is that why you’ve never had sex with any woman?”
“Part of it. But you know, meeting Jesus changes a lot of things.”
“Including meeting snakes like that damn Mary.”
“Stop it, man. I still love her madly.”
“I know. I see the way get lost in the pictures on your phone. That stupid smile on your face that won’t go away.”
“Man, leave my life alone. Talk about dad controlling the living daylight out of you!” he yelled playfully, tilting his head and facing up.
“Shut up!” he hit his stepbrother on the shoulder, laughing. “But you know it is funny how our lives just keep taking the same trajectory. I was raped by my own biological father, you have no parents, I have parents who don’t care.”
“Shhh man…shhh man. You know what? Bring out those drinks, let’s chill tonight!” He shouted happily and Mark took over the excitement from him.
The next day SUMAL & SONS was filled to the brim. Before 4 PM shareholders and executive committee members were already arriving. Mary wondered at everybody at work. Why was she the only one left out, everyone seemed to be let in on what was happening.
“Biola, what’s up? What is going on? Why do we have so many guests?”
“They are not guests, they are co-owners.”
“I don’t get.”
“Shareholders Mary. Shareholders.”
“Are we in any know of trouble?”
“I don’t know.”
“Sir, Dolapo Pedro just arrived and here sir, I printed this out.” Emem handed her boss pieces of printed paper. She had come in very early to make sure that was done before the normal day’s job started.
“What is this?” Mark asked her burying his head into the piece of paper…
“The shareholders and their current stock.” She responded and adjusted her glasses.
“What?! It’s true.”
“How? When? Why was there no meeting called to that effect? Who signed what? When?”
“We don’t know anything for now, but I smell politics.”
“Politics?”
“Emem, who are they?”
“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all for agreeing to this emergency call. It was due to the urgency of the matters arising.” Mark started. Adjusting his suit. Emem knew he was going to have a panic attack if she didn’t help him out, this was not his life. He loved to just be the guy on his lane, playing music, writing, and singing amazing songs, but for his father, he was here, stuck in a suit and a room with piercing vulture eyes of rich corrupt men.
Copyright Damilola Babs, 2022
No part of this book shall be plagiarized except if authorized by the author.
