It's Monday morning at Salem Construction, the city's finest construction hub. The building is a sight to behold: sky high building with state of the art architectural designs and world class marble well placed on the walls spelling money on every angle, together with the cozy air that serenades one's nostrils as you set foot into the building. They had won the company of the year award back to back, all thanks to Harry.
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Monday morning wasn't highly anticipated by Harry like the previous weeks. It hit differently this time. Today, it was a dreaded Monday. The thoughts of heading towards his office made his stomach cringe with pain. Almost suddenly, he made hurried steps along the walk wat as if he were being chased by someone or something. He couldn't wait to get in there and confirm what je just saw pop on his phone screen. “#12,000" That was the balance on his First mobile app. He stared at the phone screen with teary eyes. Over and again, he refreshed just to be sure what he saw wasn't a mistake. Nothing changed. The balance remained “12,000." He could smell trouble from a distance.
Harry was Salem's General Manager. He was a fine gentleman with a fierce eye and attention grappling look. He didn't just wow people with his looks, his business acumen and strong network of investors, laced with a cordial relationship with men whose pockets were heavy and ever ready to make purchases which gave the company the standing it enjoyed was commendable. Repeatedly, he was voted by the board to man the affairs of Salem.
Beyond his position as General Manager, he was the key signatory of the company's account and controlled daily inflow of money. He had received several millions of naira the previous week for the purchase of truck loads of asphalt to be supplied to a foreign investor. Somehow, realised that he had run out of funds to purchase the material. As he drowned in his thought battling to decide what to do next, his phone rang.
“ Hello, Sir” He responded with a very polished accent which was very typical of him whenever a client called.
“I'm not impressed about the delayed delivery of my materials. I'll be forced to ask for a refund.” the client said, sounding disappointed. Harry quickly deployed his sweet tongue to calm the client, Mr Saree, assuring him that the delivery would be made, soonest. As he dropped the call, hot sweat trickled from his head down. How was he supposed to get out of this one?
“Oga, I hope say this one no go cut o, na my last money.” Harry had begged the Bet Naija operator, a gambling spot in the outskirts of Mena town where all the money he ever laid hands on went to waste. He had started this casually, unknown to anyone around him, but he had become stuck and couldn't save himself. He was certain that if he put the ten million that was to be used to supply asphalt, he would get an additional 10 million, at least, he thought. Too bad,luck didn't smile on him that day. The money went down the drain.
He had returned to gamble the #12,000 he had in his account to see if he could get money to settle the children's fee and even return the client's money. Okoro, the Bet Naija attendant was there as usual, convincing him to stake another #12,000. As if he had been hypnotized by Okoro, he suddenly forgot his previous loss and staked the money. In his mind, he had the assurance that this very game would click.
“Okoro, how far na? He asked desperately
“Oga, e don cut o” ( The money has been lost) Okoro said walking away.
Harry nearly had a panic attack as he walked back home. Where was he supposed to get money to do all he had to do? As frustrated as he was, he couldn't ask anyone for money. He was supposed to have money. That's what everyone around him believed, so what would he say he had done with his money?
His wife was waiting on the balcony of their duplex which stood out amongst all the houses in Amen Estate. She wore a look of pain as she saw Harry walk down. He had barely stepped out of the car when she asked
“ What happened to the money for the children's fees in our joint account?”
“Oh! I had to invest in a business. Don't worry, I'll be getting the returns by tomorrow. Don't worry yourself” He said assuringly.
Somehow his wife believed him and they both went inside.
After dinner that evening, he tossed on his bed continuously, but sleep had deserted him. After several failed attempts to sleep, he was finally able to. Few minutes into his sleep, he saw himself being chased by a man driving in a truck. He tried so hard to escape but the man kept chasing him till he fell to his knees and surrendered. Once he did, he woke up shaking terribly. He could tell trouble was imminent.
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He didn't wait for breakfast like he usually did before leaving the house. He wanted to get to the office before any of the junior staff. Unfortunately, Mr Saree, the client, was already waiting for him with police officers. “Arrest him!” was the order by Mr Saree. “Oga, it hasn't got to this” He tried to defend. It was too late for that. He was whisked away by the police before the full glare of the staff of Salem.
“Baby, please understand me,” Harry tried to explain to his wife who was really not paying attention to all he was saying. Her look screamed anger, disgust and disappointment. How could a man as highly placed as her husband allow gambling cause his ruin? She could have sworn on her life that her husband was a dignified man, and gambling would be the last thing on his mind. To crown their misery, the money from their joint account he claimed an investor would make refunds was also gone. At this point, they had nothing. Every word from Harry's mouth irked her so much that she quietly walked away drom the room. She couldn't bear this shame. It was just too much for her.
She walked away that afternoon without any intention of bailing the man she called her husband from police detention. Since he could cause them the level of ruin he did, he deserved to dance to the music he played.
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Harry's wife should have heard out her husband.