Amen to Chance!

A positive Lifestyle.

I can't have you ruin my political ambitions with your nonchalance and reckless behavior." Honorable Akinseloyin spits at his son, Michael in their opulent sitting room. Their sitting room reeks of affluence, from the expertly plastered wallpapers to the other interior designs. The house itself sits on a five-acre land overlooking the beach. It is an understatement to say the Akinseloyin's were rich, they were stinkingly wealthy. Senator Akinseloyin is a reputable senator in the national house of Assembly in Nigeria.

He dabbles in numerous businesses apart from politics which is his official post. He's a renowned merchant and also has his hands in several other pies ranging from owning one of the largest gold mining industries in Nigeria to being a successful real estate businessman. He also has part shares in multiple business organizations, and there's hardly anything that goes on in the business world of Nigeria that he isn't a part of. In short, he's one of the movers and shakers of both the business and political world in his home country, Nigeria. He is a very cool-headed man who calculates every business venture with adequate planning before dabbling into it. He has however lost his cool-headedness as he's raving and ranting at the latest atrocity of his favorite son, Michael.

Michael on his part seems oblivious to his father's rants wondering what the fuss is about. After all, he's not entirely at fault. Michael is one of the two sons of the senator who happens to be the firstborn. Michael is strikingly handsome with pure caramel-like skin and a well-built body. Over six feet tall, he usually towers over everyone in any room he steps into. His abs are well-toned in alignment with his very fit body. With close-cropped hair and smooth facial features adorned with a beautiful pair of black eyes, Michael could have made a successful career out of modeling if he chose to, but alas! He simply doesn't have an interest in anything that pertains to working.

Why would he work after all? He has everything a man could ever ask for. A doting mother, and loving father who hardly finds fault in anything he does except of course it makes its way into the tabloids thereby affecting his father's political career. He's never had to work for a day in his life asides from going to the bank to make endless withdrawals to fund his wayward lifestyle. After sitting through his father's rage for a few more minutes, he has finally had enough especially since the episode might take longer than he thought, thereby making him late for his rendezvous with a new girl he just met.

"What's the problem, Dad? You have been shouting at me since you came into the house. What exactly did I do this time?" He asks his father with all the casualness he could muster. He of course knows what he did, but far be it for him to admit making a mistake.

"How dare you ask me what you did? Your irresponsible lifestyle almost made it to the blogs again! I had to pull strings to get the story squashed. Do you even have an idea of how much I paid that miserable blogger before he agreed to back off? I had to pay him five hundred thousand nairas to shut the fool up." The senator responds in anger.

Michael withdraws a pack of cigarettes from the pocket of his trousers and lights it up before responding to his father. "So, what's the big deal dad? Five hundred thousand is like chump change to you. It wouldn't even create a dent in your account."

The senator sighs in exasperation. "How would it not make a dent in my account if I have to keep paying every dimwit blogger I come across to keep shut about everything that concerns you? You don't seem to appreciate what I am trying to do for you here." He moves closer to sit beside his son on the couch trying to change tactics and approach the matter more diplomatically.

"Look, son. I am not saying you shouldn't have fun. All I am saying is you should clean up after yourself. I have toiled and worked hard to build this family into what it is. People don't mention our family name lightly anymore. Whatever you do out there impacts our family." He swallows and continues. "I don't want my detractors to mock me on account of you."

"I understand you very well Dad. It's just that I didn't do anything this time around. I have been trying hard to clean up my act these days. I don't even know what you are talking about." He shrugs as if he's confused, and continues blowing smoke into the air.

"You and I both know that you are well aware of what you did. I mean how can you sleep with a girl, and leak her nude pictures? When would you come to your senses and realize that women are not objects? This is not the first nor second time you would pull stunts like this. What do you hope to gain by doing that? I have given you everything you have ever asked for. I give you more than enough money to do with as you please even without working. Your younger brother already heads one of my companies and is doing very well for himself. I still don't hold that against you. I attend to everything that concerns you without fail. What more do you want? You are almost in your thirties with no purpose for your life. Isn't it time you get your act together? What is your excuse for leaking that girl's nude pictures on **?"

Michael puts out the light of his cigarette before resting back in his seat. "If you must know Dad, she threatened me. I would not have a girl I only slept with once threaten me. I had to teach her a lesson. Besides, I took the pictures down barely hours after I posted it."

"What did she threaten you with? You took the pictures down or ** did? Why are you lying?"

"She said she was going to tell everyone I slept with her if I don't give her more money. What's the big deal in sleeping with a girl I met at the club?" Seeing his father listening to him attentively, he continues. "She just wouldn't stop. So, I thought I might as well make the announcement myself. I am pretty sure she has learned her lesson. What does it matter if I took the pictures down or it was taken down? It's down, and that's all that matters." He smiles satisfactorily to himself.

"Even at that, you shouldn't have released her nude pictures. No matter what transpired between you, the public would always be on the female's side. I didn't raise you to have a blatant disregard for a woman's anatomy. Women are precious and should be treated as such. I have squashed the news article about you doing what you did anyway. I just need to see positive changes in you."

Michael shrugs non-committally. "What would you have me do Dad? I have been acting well these days. That girl pushed me. If she hadn't pushed me, I wouldn't have released her nudes. You know it's been a long time since I released any girl's nude picture. She just overstepped Dad."

"Overstepping or not, you owe her an apology....."

Michael is about to interrupt when his father raises a hand to shut him up. "If I am still your father, you would find a way to apologize to that girl and make sure she forgives you. No arguments on that."

Michael bites his lower lip in anger. "I can't believe you are taking her side on this Dad. She started the whole saga."

"I don't care who started it. She was wrong to threaten you that's if you are telling the truth, but you were more wrong to release her nudes. A proper gentleman shouldn't do such. Do you understand that you owe her an apology?"

"Okay, Dad. I would find a way to apologize to her. Is that all though? I have to meet the boys at the club tonight. It's Sola's birthday party." He makes as if to stand up, but his father motions to him to hold on.

"There's more actually."

Michael rolls his eyes and groans inwardly. "Let's have it, Dad. We can't sit here all day." He checks his wristwatch for the time.

"First, you have to reduce the rate you club......"

"Dad but......."

"Shut up son, I'm not done."

"Alright, sir. Go on ahead."

"Second, you need to get a job. Preferably in one of my companies. Third, I don't want to hear any scandals associated with your name anymore. I have had enough of it. Once you have done all that, you need to reflect on getting your affairs in order. It's time you think of starting a family. Hopefully, with a family, you would have a sense of responsibility and accountability. That's all I have to say to you. Any questions or objections?"

"I have lots of objections, sir. What has clubbing got to do with any of this? You even talked about me getting a job. How do I go about that? I am not even sure I know where my certificate is anymore. The most hilarious of all you said is that I should start a family. Me? A family? It's not yet time. I would certainly inform you when it's time." He cackles out loud to himself.

"There's absolutely nothing funny about what I just said. If you must go to the club, you need to reduce it. People are watching you. I don't want negative news making rounds on your account anymore. People need to see that my son is a responsible man. The only compromise I am willing to make is on the issue of starting a family, and that's only for a while. I won't pressure you into getting married immediately. Take your time and find a suitable girl to marry. If you want to know how to go about the issue of the job, it's not a problem. Your mother already put your credentials in order, you resume work on Monday."

Michael blinks in shock at his father's pronouncement. "I resume work on Monday? Where? How is that possible? I didn't even apply for any job nor attend an interview. How can I resume for a job I didn't apply for?"

"It's simple. You resume on Monday as the managing director of my real estate company. You are going to be in charge of monitoring all the activities that go on there. After all, you studied business administration at the university, it's high time you put it to good use. The staff has already been informed, and they are ready for you to show you the ropes of how business is conducted. You have always been a smart boy, you would catch on quickly no doubt. I expect total transparency and accountability from you regarding the work affairs."

"You can't be serious Dad. It's Friday already. How can you expect me to resume work on Monday if you are just telling me on Friday? It doesn't work that way at all. I most certainly won't resume work on Monday. I need at least two months or more to prepare."

"You don't have a choice in this matter. I have said it and it's final."

"I am telling you the truth sir, I won't go to work on Monday. I wonder how you plan on forcing me to go to work on Monday especially since you can't drag me."

Senator Akinseloyin laughs mirthlessly.

"Think very well before you decide you won't go to work. There are consequences for your refusal. The first one is putting a hold on your credit cards, cutting your access to all funds, and collecting the car gifts I gave to you. The second one is surely cutting you out of my will for life. I would die and leave you with nothing when I do. I have discussed this with your mother, and we have both agreed you won't be getting a penny from either of us should you refuse to resume work on Monday. If I were you, I wouldn't want to dare me."

Michael springs up from his seat on the couch and fumes in anger. "You can't be serious Dad."

"I assure you, young man, I have never been more serious in my life."

"If getting a share of your property means blackmailing me to work, then I don't want a share. My credit cards are on the table in my room, you can have them. I am out of here Dad, and I am most certainly not resuming work on Monday." He turns around and walks out of the sitting room leaving his father shaking his head after him.

"You forgot the keys to the cars boy." He shouts after Michael.

Senator Akinseloyin smiles to himself as he stands up to go and meet his wife in their bedroom, to give her feedback on the conversation with their son.