Triumph of evil

HIDDEN AGENDA

Kayode was in his office fiddling with the keys of his computer. He was ruminating over the events of the past few months. The thought of his friend’s incarceration had occupied his subconscious mind since then.

'Steve, in jail? I still can't believe it. An intelligent individual as Steve will fail in a very simple task of taking that stuff out. What could have gone wrong? I hope I'm not the one that pushed him to jail. God!' Kayode thought within himself. 'Steve! Steve! My God! How can I exonerate myself from this case?' Kayode’s in a very deep thought that he did not know when Angela, one of the office assistants entered his office.

'Ah! Oga! I hope there is no problem?' Angela asked with concern.

'Oh! Angela how is everything?'

'Fine. The way you are looking is somehow. You are not looking cheerful. Any problem?'

'It's not something serious. I only have a slight headache. I hope there is nothing.'

'Chief said you should see him in his office.'

'Now?'

'Yes he said right now'.

'Anything?'

'I don't know'.

'Okay. I'll be right there'.

Angela left the office reminding Kayode to take care of himself. Within two minutes, he's in Chief Okonkwo's office. Chief Okonkwo is in a spacious room he uses as office, well furnished. He sits on a single seat chair at a corner with his tobacco in his hands and his staff on the other. The light at the corner is not bright.

'Kayode', he calls in his baritone voice. 'How is everything?'

'Fine, sir.' Kayode replied off-handedly.

'You are looking dull and morose. What's the problem?'

'I only have a slight headache'

'Oh! Sorry about that. Have your seat. Have you taken medication?'. Okonkwo said coolly gesturing towards a seat for Kayode to sit.

Thank you sir'

'I actually called you on an important issue concerning the growth of this business'.

'I'm with you, sir?'

'You see, since Steve messed up on his trip to U.S.A, we've not had anybody to send abroad again. All these local business do not bring reasonable cash, you know'. Kayode nods in affirmation. 'So I'll like us to get another smart even smarter guy that will execute the task'.

'How do you want us to go about it?'

'You know how we do it, don't you? Look for somebody that is capable. Who will not muddle things up like 'Steve did'.

'But I think Steve tried his best only that things did not go as planned'.

Kayode said just to conceal his irritation.

'I don't think so Kayode. If he did, he wouldn't have been caught. He didn't do his homework properly. Let's not go back to that dead issue.' He raised his voice a bit.

'But he kept to his oath of office in his refuser to disclose our identity despite all pressure'.

'He dare not try it. You know the consequences'.

Chief', Kayode smiled wryly 'You and I know that there is no consequences anywhere. All what we did then was just ruse'.

'But you know the rules of the game. Secrecy. Isn't it? He must not spill any bean. Our rivals may capitalize on our mistakes if he had revealed our identity. You know how dangerous that is especially to my political ambition'.

'Your political ambition?' Kayode asked, puzzled.

'Oh, yes. I'm nursing a political ambition'.

'But you never told me you have any political ambition'.

'Well, now you know. I just thought over it recently that I should give politics a shot'.

'Chief, chief! Which of the post are we going for?'

'I wish to be a senator soon'.

'Ah! Chief!' Kayode gushed. 'It means I'm going to be your personal assistant'.

'Oh! Sure! That's for sure. But before then, let's do what's needed done. We need money to run. Look for somebody that you think will be able to carry out our task without any loophole. Remember, we need all the money in this world for the next elections'.

'Chief, don't worry about that. I'll do it more than your expectations. But, one more thing, chief'.

Yes, name it?' Okonkwo asked with interest.

'Don't you think Steve might try to expose us?'

'Even while in the prison?'

'Yes, Chief. Even while in the prison.' Kayode responded emphatically.

'Kayode, forget about that. Forget about Steve. Somebody that did not expose us while on trial. Is it now that he is in prison that he will now try to expose us while in his mind?'

'We have succeeded in planting fear in his mind.'

'I thought as much, chief. But one can't predict'.

'We can predict this one. He can't do that. Don't forget, we are under an oath'. Okonkwo said smiling mischievously.

'Oath indeed'. Kayode replied with a broad grin as he stood up to take his leave. 'I'm going to my office to start work in earnest on what you asked me to do'.

'That's good. Do that fast and give me feedback'.

'Alright, Chief'. He replied as he found his way to the door.

In his office, he thought over what Okonkwo told him about his political ambition.

'Gosh! Chief wants to be a senator! That's good news. This is my time to make cool money. Yes! Cool cash! Right from the period of campaign, money will be rolling in right, left, back and centre. When he now wins, Ah! That’s the big deal! No problem. But before then, back to work'.

He picked his intercom and called someone.

'Hello, Chuks! See me in my office now. He said gently.

Within a few minutes, an average height fair-skinned young man entered.

'I'm here sir.' Chukwuka announced his entrance.

'Fine Chuks, I want you to place an advertisement in the dailies that there is a vacancy for the post of marketing manager in our company. Do that first thing tomorrow morning.'

'Yes, sir'

'I hope you know the requirements for the position?'

'Oh yes sir. First degree and NYSC discharge certificate with the curriculum vitae.'

'Oh! Yes! Good! You know it. You can go back to your office. Find out the cost and tell the cashier to give you the cheque.'

'All right. Thank you sir.' Chukwuka greeted as he went out.

'Make sure the advert is on the first page'

'Sure. I will.'

'Now, that is done, we should be expecting applications soonest. This time around, we need to be on the lookout for competent people to take up this task.' He put his head on his table. 'But Steve! My God! I hope and pray that'he gets out of this.' He soliloquizes. 'But if he gets out of this, where will I hide my face? Someone that really helped me with everything he has when we were in the school. How on earth is it hearable that I'm now the architect of his misfortune?' He begins to talk quietly to himself. 'I must be extremely careful with this Chief Okonkwo of a man. What a selfish human being! He has forgotten about Steve. That means if any negative thing should happen to me, that's how he would just disown me without batting an eye lid. With all what Steve did for this ingrate, he still has the guts to tell me that Steve muddled things up.' He looks at the direction of his office and turns back. 'Chief Okonkwo! All that he is after is his own personal ambition. Now, he wants to be a senator by using other people as ladder to achieve his own inordinate ambition. Let's see how it will work out for him. He always knows his way. I know. Useless, i***t! I'll make sure I get my own share of his money before I call it quit with him. After that, I'll go as far as Australia where he would not even hear anything about me.' Kayode continue to soliloquize.

---