Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written by Damilola Babs
From the stable of Reflection Book Hub
Emem walked briskly and got hold of the remote to the AC. She increased it and made him a cup of black coffee. She couldn’t doubt that she loved the man, but for his father, who had completely silenced all their feelings and buried it in a commentary.
“Dolapo Pedro, I see that you have acquired an additional fifteen percent to your shares bringing your shares to a total of 40%. Mrs. Grace Attah here still owns 5% and Chris Abel still owns 5% it only tells me that Ajayi Akinola sold out his shares to you. Mr. Ajayi Akinola, why are you selling your shares?”
“Hmmm…to diversify risk.”
“What risk Mr. Ajayi?” Chris Abel asked him.
“SUMAL products are not moving in the market and the market predictions right now are not riding on the positive line.”
“Mr. Ajay, you sold your shares based on a false market prediction?”
“It is not false, read the handwriting on the wall. The competition is too high. DEBAR soaps, sugar, cement, and the rest are doing better. How do you intend to beat that?”
“Rebranding or penetration pricing could do that job.” Attah Grace pointed out.
“Not when all the market competition is zooming in on us. Can’t you see? DEBAR products are doing too well, their market strategies have never been seen and…”
“Why are we arguing this? Ajayi has sold is shares to me, leaving him with 10% equity of his shares.”
“10% what? That is not a good deal.” Mark told the man.
“It doesn’t matter. My investments are not safe and so I needed to do something fast. Selling my shares while still maintaining a reasonable percentage of equity is just perfect.”
“Well, you owe SUMAL a debt, so you have to pay up, Dolapo Pedro.”
“I was given an ultimatum to pay up. It is signed on paper Mark.”
Who else supports Dolapo Pedro owning 40% shares of SUMAL & SONs?” Mark asked but nobody responded except Ajayi. He sighed and turned to his beautiful PA.
“Back date the date on Dolapo’s debt file. Change his payment options, cash or his 75% of his shares.”
“What?” Dolapo Pedro mused.
“You brought this upon yourself Dolapo, it is the Machiavelli business principle. Let’s do this. It is war time.” He told him and then stood up straight.
“In the absence of no further discussion, I would move the motion that this meeting be adjourned.”
They dismissed and once alone with Emem he hugged her and kept sighing in relief.
“You did well.”
“Thought I was going to pass out.”
Emem laughed. He loved hearing her laugh, it was infectious.
“Thank God you didn’t.” She told him and laughed again.
“Emem,” he called her name looking at her intensely. The woman waddled away from him. She was a petit but smart woman. His was way bigger than her in size, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was the fact that, after a rough childhood, only one woman had been able to show him so much, love. She did it so effortlessly. It was something about her quiet but not dumb personality. He liked her faith. She reminded him of his best friend turn half-brother.
“Emem, listen, we don’t have to do this on my father’s terms. We can go away from everybody else, it will be just us, on an island, somewhere away from my father and…”
“And get married without his consent? Look, I can’t do that. I can’t possibly do that. I can’t live the rest of my life knowing that our father didn’t approve of me marrying you.”
“But we will have each other Emem. I know you love me as much as I love you and this would be the greatest opportunity to spend forever together.” He told her waddling after her and standing behind her.
“Sometimes love is not enough.” She told him and walked out calmly.
The next face he saw was that of the man that raised him. He loathed his father for many reasons. The man had taken advantage of him when he was young, he remembered every time. It haunted him even in his sleep, yet, he had lived all his life for him. Studied in the schools he chose and studied the course he wanted. It was a good thing Andrew left early. The man respected him and treated him better.
Copyright Damilola Babs, 2022
No part of this book shall be plagiarized except if authorized by the author.
