Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)… Part 18

She was led from the office door into a waiting car. Aduke knew little about automobiles but saw from the lavish interiors that this was a car for the rich. The journey to the airport was smooth because of the pilot vehicle in front of them and behind them. It was her first time of ever being in a convoy and she was aware that the motorists who had to give way did so with a curse on their lips. It was nonetheless exciting to feel so powerful. Alhaji was on the phone so she looked out of the car window to watch LasGidi pass by and give him some privacy.
She felt eyes on her and knew he had gotten off the phone. He smiled at her and she responded with a shy smile of her own.
‘So, how was your day’ he asked
‘Fine’ she responded
‘Ah very good. Hope you didn’t have other plans for the evening… Sorry if I messed it up’ he said
‘Your apology is coming a little late isn’t it?’ she responded cheekily but with a smile
He shook with mirth, amused that this little girl would answer him in a way that no one dared to these days. Everyone treated him with so much reverence that he had begun to lose a feel for real human interaction. He really liked this girl. He was certain he knew her but could not place how he knew her or where they had met. He knew his brain would come through somehow. Whatever the circumstances were, he could see that she would be good for his head and general well being.
‘Sorry ma’am’ he teased back
‘Apology accepted. So what takes you to the US?’ she asked
‘Ah, a little business concern’ he immediately closed up. She could see that this man was a shrewd business man whose guard was always up when it came to his business. She made a mental note not to discuss business with him and they fell into an awkward silence.
She was determined to get the spark out of him again. He seemed so normal when he laughed.
‘Can I ask you some questions? she asked
‘Depends…’ he brought out his hand and began to count rules off his fingertips. ‘You can ask any questions as long as they are not business, family, political interest, or….’ he stopped when he saw that she was laughing hard.
‘Why are you laughing? he asked, very confused
‘Because you look and sound like a robot, striking off untouchable topics’ the smile was still in her voice.
Alhaji Gabbo was surprised, he wasn’t sure if this was an insult or a joke. Nobody would ever dare to call him a robot but he found that he really liked it
‘Me? Robot?!’ he decided to act annoyed.
‘Yep. Why? are you upset?’ she suddenly was hesitant. She wasn’t sure if she had upset him.
He burst out in laughter, pointing at her ‘I gotcha there!’ as he continued to laugh
Aduke also laughed out of relief, for indeed, she had been worried that she had crossed the line. She made another mental note to be more careful with this man.
As they quietened down, he asked her ‘So… your questions.’ he prompted ‘How many?’
‘I dont know how many … Should I’? she asked, confused
He obviously found it strange that she could not tell him the number of questions she intended to ask. He was used to organised people and this lady obviously had no idea of that.
‘Well, it shows a clarity of your thought processes. Don’t you think? he asked, suddenly authoritative.
‘This isn’t business sir, no need for clarity of thought processes’ she pursed her lips into a thin line, irritated at him.
He couldn’t understand why this young lady whom he had just given valuable advise should be obviously irritated with him. He looked into her face and found that he really liked the way her lips were pursed right now. He felt like reaching out to kiss and tease them back into their normal shape. Perhaps a bite too. He wondered what her reaction would be if he did that right now. He leant over and drew her into his side.
‘Don’t be upset, I am CEO of many companies and so, I’m used to giving orders and telling people what to do. It is a hard habit to break’ He was amazed at himself for this was the closest to an apology he had made in many years. He hated it and liked it at the same time. He told himself that this little chit must not be allowed to get under his skin.
‘Ok, I’m sorry too. I wanted to ask questions so that we could build a conversation. I wasn’t trying to interview you for CNN’ explained Aduke, back to her cheeky self.
Alhaji smiled ‘I think we just had our first fight. Oh, and by the way, please make it a point of duty to always wear your seatbelt. Accidents happen when people don’t do the right thing’ he softened this with a smile and leant towards Addy to buckle her seatbelt.
‘Okaaayyyy’ responded Addy with a roll of her eyes.
‘Shall we start the questions?’ his response was an assenting nod.
‘What do I call you? Alhaji or what?’ she asked
‘Hmmm…this is an unusual question. Most people decide on that themselves but I can see how calling me Alhaji would be queer. It would also make me sound old wouldn’t it? The boys call me Boss, business contacts call me Alhaji Gabbo but you don’t fit into any of those classes or do you?’ he asked
Aduke was amazed that such a simple question would elicit such a deep thought process from this strange man.
‘Call me D.G, short for Danladi Gabbo’ he finally decided on a name
‘Or D.G for Darling Goat’ it had escaped from her mouth before she knew it. She screwed her eyes tightly shut because knew she had really messed up this time. She only opened them when she heard him laughing.
‘Nobody has ever called me a goat before! that was funny’ he said, laughing.
Aduke smiled, relieved that he wasn’t upset.
‘And how do you prefer to be addressed? he asked in return
‘Anything really – Aduke or Addy or more recently Ad’ responded Aduke
‘Hmm, your name is joining the endangered species and would soon go into extinction. We would soon call you begin to call you ‘A’ he laughed at his own joke.
‘Any other questions? he prompted
‘Where are you from?
‘I’m Nigerian’ he responded quickly
She responded with a roll of her eyes ‘ I know. Ok, where in Nigeria are you from?
‘I’m Fulbe’ he responded
‘Fulbe?’ she wasn’t sure she had heard that word before
‘Yes, Fulani. You need to know your country and its People.
‘Do you go on many impromptu trips? she quickly changed the topic before she got another lecture, this time, on education.
‘Yes I do’ he responded
‘How old are you? she asked
‘Aduke, the answers to your questions are readily available on the internet if you were really interested’ he advised, getting short on patience.
‘Well, why search the net when you are here?’ was her quick response
‘Good point’ he conceded
‘So how old are you?’ she asked again
’49’ he responded
‘Wow! you look a lot younger than that! You are such an old man’ she teased as she burst out laughing
D.G smiled, suddenly self conscious. He hoped she didn’t think him too old for her. He suddenly realised that he really liked this young lady and would like to have her around for a long time.
‘And you, how old are you?’
‘I’m 28.’ she said this with the pride of one, whose youth was certain.
‘What?! 28! Your mates are grandmothers in my village. You are positively elderly!’ his face looked very serious
Aduke shrunk into her seat as she suddenly felt old. She had never looked at it that way before.
‘Don’t worry, you have kept yourself well’ he could not hold his laughter by the end of the last word and Aduke joined in, relieved that he had only been teasing her.
‘When did you start your business ?’ she asked again
‘Hmm that is a long story. I started when I w…’ he started off
A discreet cough interrupted them. It was his driver informing him that they had arrived at the Airport.
Aduke looked out the window and was surprised that indeed they had arrived at the airport. She was surprised they had gotten here already. They had driven on to the tarmac at the Presidential Wing of the Airport.
Immediately, G.D’s countenance changed and he once again became Alhaji Gaddo, the Nation’s foremost Industrialist.
As the driver opened the door for him to alight, he issued out orders to her.
‘Don’t forget to get in touch with Davis, get the passport and the visa. I would expect to see you in Florida soon’ he said
‘Yes sir.’ responded Aduke for it was the only way she knew how to respond to the stranger that emerged every time he put on this business air.
He strode away from the car without a goodbye and as she watched him, she knew she really liked this man. He was intelligent as he was s*xy**. she looked at his departing back. Six feet four inches of strong male flesh, one could easily see that this man had been good to his body in his youth for the muscles beneath his shirt were taut and his milky chocolate skin was well cared for. Above all, he carried himself with grace.
Aduke watched him as he left and saw that he suddenly stopped and turned back as though he had forgotten something. He headed back, towards the car.
Once at the car, he came round to her side, opened the door, bent over and kissed her full on the lips. G.D made to go back but bent again for another kiss and this time, bit her in the corner of her mouth, just a slight nick.
‘So that you do not forget that you belong to me. See you soon’. With that, he vanished.