"You are finding it hard to find Jude. Maybe I should go look for them myself, don't you think so?" Charles asked but at that moment Ken had a different thing in mind. He was not going to allow his boss risk his life by insisting he go in search of Jude and Shanty himself. At that moment Ken shook his head and said, "You don't mean that do you?"
"I meant every word that I have just said to you and there is nothing that can stop me from doing what I have already decided to do. You on the other hand talks about Rose and she finding out about her son's sickeness. Every child gets sick at some points in their lives and her son getting sick is one of those moments in his life when he has to get sick, why, why because he is human. Remember I really do not wish to see you following me about and I mean every word I have just spoken. You must not follow me when I go in search of these two. I need you here in the company, to ensure that things are running smoothly. If there is any problem you call me through the phone and I will answer you and make things right. Remember what I have just said; I don't want you getting yourself in trouble with the other cartels. They don't know our next move and they are not supposed to know..If they have decided to come to Enugu from Abuja we will be waiting for them. As for the cartels outside the country we are also not going to stand in their way to trade with their clients as long as they don't stand in ours. I don't want to keep talking about these things. I simply want to take my eyes and place it on the things that matters the most. You will take care of this place while I go and come back. You must also make sure not to take your eyes off what matters the most here Ken and I'm saying it for the last time. Keep Rose at your right hand, she knows her son is sick and she may try to do something silly. I wouldn't want to come back and have to shut her mouth from the feds. I am done, Incase you have something to say now is the time"
"Boss, I so much understand you and I know what it means to know things that you know. I have so much confidence in you and that is why I am stuck by your side and each time you tell me of what you want to do all I want to do is to keep my eyes off it. I am so sorry for this and this is why I'm so much moved. Please kindly look towards me and also allow me to get my eyes on what matters the most. I want to be carried along as you go about your businesses. I want to go with you to where you wish to go"
"And leave the company at the mercy of greedy fellows that I can never get to trust. I have said these things and I expect you to understand me without having to stress me. You are stressing me and you know it. Now here is the thing; you will have to go as far as you can to the very place you are meant to go to and when you get there ensure that Rose's son is fine then take flowers to him and ensure Rose sees that her son is good. Since you already started dating her I bet it won't be hard for you to keep her still and in her position to avoid bruuhaha in this company. I will be off tomorrow evening and believe me you will be the last person to go with me on this mission. Since Jude thought he has grown enough to counter me I will show him that I have been in this game long before he became a member, long enough to know everything about this business and things he will never get to know" He stood up and walked out of the office. Ken sighed and called Rose's number but she did not pick.
******
In the village Edu stood at the village square and wondered if the two of his friends that had just met him there and had had to tell him about seeing Veronica in her father's compound were lying or telling the truth. He began to suspect that they might be telling him the truth sensing they had no reason to lie to him. He decided to go to her compound and see for himself but all of a sudden he changed his mind and spoke to himself, "What am I going there to do, to disgrace myself for the last time and watch her call to my face a hypocrite and a liar? I won't go. I can't continue to disgrace myself before her. I love her but I won't be able to convince her that I don't love money more than I love her, I won't be able to convince her that I did not take money in order to reject her. She must have known by now that I did what I did. This is the point in my life where I will never get to make things right between us any longer. I have to accept my fate and live with it for the rest of my life. But" he looked up into the sky, "If by any chance she gives me another chance I will not betray her again, I will show her that even though there is love for me in my heart it can never replace the love I have for her as a person. I will always love her and that is why I have to go and face whatever she will present to me in her father's compound" and off he went.