Secret Cults

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“Shola’s school fees would become impossible to pay,” Abe said. His words left as quick as they entered Giwa’s ears. The lanky Managing Director of K-Autos, the biggest and most famous automobile company in the southwest zone of Nigeria, gave no ears to what Abe said. No surprise about that.

“Sir, say something,” Abe begged, setting aside his ego, he needed an explanation for whatever the company was planning. He knew there would be consequences but not something like this. To him, this was too extreme and callous compared to his offense. “Please, say something.”

“Like what!” Giwa yelled, wiping off the sweat forming on his forehead. The sun was too much of a t*****e on its own, he was not ready to add anymore salt to his wounds by arguing with Abe, but he had no option, Abe pestered him too much to ignore and leave. “Tell me Abraham, like what? What do you expect me to say.” His voice became sombre. He held his hands to his waist, standing by his car in the parking lot. Abe needed the CEO and his son to leave before he could walk up to Giwa, so he was not going to leave without getting what he came for.

“An explanation, sir. I demand an explanation.”

Giwa chuckled, and said, “I am surprised at your impeccable confidence. Should I call this pride or foolishness? But trust me whichever it is, it will be the very ruin of you.”

Abe, out of reflex, held his hand as he turned to open his car. Another mistake to the list. Giwa responded with a scolding eye, “I’m sorry sir, very sorry.” Abe released his hands.

“Abraham, what do you want with me?” Giwa’s voice echoed frustration repeatedly. He was done playing hero for Abe, after multiple warnings he issued out to him. This was the limit to how much he can condone Abe’s misbehaviours.

“I just want to know why they did this to me, I thought everything has been settled. Why this?”

Giwa released a loud cackle. “You know the first time I met you, I was sure beneath all those smarts and rad you exhibited that day, there had to be a bit of underlying dumbness somewhere, and you just proved me right today.” He laughed a little more.

“Sir, it’s just that…”

“Keep quiet!” Giwa silenced the towering 6ft scrawny giant before him, with ease. “I am not done talking,” he said, “did you ever think anything is ever settled like that? I brought you to this company because you had some great skill that could be useful to us and you have never disappointed us and that is the same reason Mr Peters is being lenient with you.”

Abe was still not convinced that was all to it. His guts kicked against the words of Giwa, he needed more explanation.

“I know I messed up big time. I know there had to be an aftermath like this,” he said, taking a look at the building’s door front, “what about others? What was their offence? Did they all hit that fool?” His voice was starting to volume up, he quickly recoiled back to his original state, trying to avoid any problem.

“Just consider them to be collateral damages.”

“Collateral damages? How?”

“Things of the high places are not for children, Abraham. Weigh your actions next time before you carry them out and have a wonderful weekend.” Giwa tapped Abe’s shoulder, entered his car and zoomed off.

Abe froze to the spot, unable to imagine such a thing could happen to him, as he watched Giwa’s black benz leave the premises.

All activities came to an end for the day, except the sun’s t*****e and Abe’s nightmares. He declined a lift from Chukwu back home, claiming he had somewhere to be at. He needed time, to think and be by himself, Chukwu understands it perfectly.

Shola would be very mad at me now. How do I explain to her. You fool of a being. He thought to himself. How was he going to survive the coming month with less than half of what used to be barely enough. His sister’s school fees would be due in three weeks. His alone moment yielded zero fruits and repetitive headache.

He left the office after every body had gone. He was not going to let his frustration get the best of him.

“Collateral damage my foot,” he muttered in the taxi. His concern for the others who were affected was a function of his curiousity. The mystery that lies beneath the whole surface of it. Why would there be a general s***h in the salary of the most productive department of a company? Definitely suspicious.

“Is everything fine with you, sir?” the taxi driver asked, peeking through his front mirror. Abe’s gibberish talks was rather disturbing.

“What are they planning? They must be planning something, they must.”

Abe continued muttering to himself unaware of the driver’s presence. He scribbled something on his palm, deducing things beyond his mind. “What are they planning?” He yelled, startling the driver.

“Who are planning what?” the bald albino driver asked, a trace of trembling spiced his voice. He hoped Abe was in his right frame of mind. He would be wrong if he hoped so at that moment, Abe’s mind was clouded with the mysteries he faced today.

“It must be him, yes that man in a strange hat, he did this all of it.”

The driver c****d his head backward, Abe was a mess. “Are you fine, sir?” he asked, again. A pint of fear skittered across Abe’s eyes when he realised his driver was an albino. He had a phobia for albinos, but he didn’t freak out.

“Do I look unwell to you?” Abe hissed, ignoring the words of the blue eyed albino. He knew strange things were happening to him and now a blue eyed albino of all albinos in the world was the one driving him.

After a cold night shower, Abe slumped on his bed just to force himself away from the realities of his nightmares, and transition into a different dimension. He switched on his phone to check his w******p messages, Chukwu’s voice message came in. He had tried to call Abe but his phone was off and the last part of his message was concerning the VIP event at the bar tonight. Abe got a second thought about the invitation he declined earlier in the day. He needed something to take his mind off the stress, so he yielded.