*🌷🌷🌷🌷COINCIDENCE🌷🌷🌷🌷*
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🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
*CHAPTER 17*
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”What are your final thoughts on this Sir, we
believe this project can be able to channel the
educational sector to the right direction, plus
since you have interests in that, we can use
this for the community” The man seated
across from him tells him.
The meeting had been going on for the past
two hours as they deliberated.
”I second what Mr. Philli-p says, and besides,
you would be doing something great for the
community”. He was wearing a black suit with
a yellow lapel. Jaime noticed he likes to twitch
his nose a he talks, a for-ce of habit maybe.
Jaime ru-bs his jaw as he looks over the files
”this is for the less privilege and the reason
why I am being a pa-rt of this project is
because I believe that everyone should have an
equal chance to education. We have the private
schools for the elite, we have the state school
as well for the middle cl@$$, but we do not
have any for the have-nots. This community
school would do them a lot more good than it
would do for others. My take on this is that we
go ahead with the project, free education for all
and –”
”But how do we pay the teachers and stuff. We
are the one building the schools and making it
a state of art educational centre, giving them a
libr@ry, infact, this school wouldn’t be anything
short of what the state school would be
having. The little they can do is pay fees” the
second man states, the first man who has a
rimmed gl@$$es placed on his nose nods.
”I hear you Mr Egerel, but how do you expect
them to pay when they have little or nothing to
go by when it comes to feeding themselves?.
There is a reason they are called the have-nots
and there is a reason why everyone in that
community lacks basic amenities. We want to
do something to help them, we do something
right. ”
” I un-derstand you Sir Jaime Lockswire but-”
Jaime leans back on his chair, crossing his
legs and clasping his fin-gers together as he
looks at them ”Let me ask you both a
question, if I may..what was your aim in
accepting the proposal for this project?”
”What do you mean Sir?” Egerel frowns.
”I’ll tell you what my own aim is. I visited the
Brookes recently and-”
”You visited the ..Sir, that isn’t safe, if your
father were to-”
”Can I keep talking or you want to run to my
father and tell him of my recent exploits Mr
Egerel?”
”Go ahead Sir, my apologies”
Jaime nods ”Okay, so I visited the Brookes,
it’s a dangerous neighborhood. But why is it
one? There are youths lur-k-ing around in the
dark to take what they don’t own from people
who have the luxury to get them. Yes they may
be wrong and may get burnt from it especially
when they meet the wrong person but then
again…they don’t have that thing which they
seek so they go out there and they take it from
whomever, regardless of the violence involved.
Now see this, if those youths have where to go
to on a daily, be it school or some skills they
are been set up in, or a job, something
reasonable and legal. You think they would be
lur-k-ing in the dark, getting weapons and
causing a bit of havoc?”
”No..but..how is it our fault?” They wanted to
know.
”It is ours when we do not try to reach out to
this people and make things right. It also isn’t
their fault that they were born into a family of
the impoverished. It also isn’t their fault they
are being thrown into a life of the survival of
the fittest and violence and social vices is the
other of the day. Yes it is their fault if they
cause harm to other people in the bid to
satisfy their want. But it is also our fault if we
have a means of lesse-ning their sufferings and
we don’t. ”
”But I don’t see the connection between the
Brooks and the community out of Charcoal
city”
”The connection is their similarity. Worse
things goes on in there and who suffers for it?
The children. You won’t employ anyone without
a sound education right?”
”Yes!”
”And now that they don’t have one because
they can’t afford it that means they cannot be
able to work and feed and survive?”
”Well..” Jones shrugs as he adjusts his
gl@$$es on his nose.
Jaime nods his head ”’Now, if we can help
them out of one state of their suffering haven’t
we done so much for them? Give them that
education, the skills nee-ded. Let them learn,
let them equip themselves and push them into
the market or infuse them into the community
development plan for the community. Look at
it this way, we aren’t helping just a community
but a generation, they would thank us for it in
the future”
”Thank you’ don’t put money in the bank Sir”
”No, but it can make you feel good seeing that
a whole community would be better equipped
because you went an extra mile to help them
and then trust me, once you develop
them…they would be the ones you would nee-d
to help develop others and trust
me…eventually, it would pay off”
They sigh ..”So what are you saying Mr Jaime”
”I am saying I am staking my money on
this..and the proposal states that those with
like minds are what are nee-ded to make this
happened. If we don’t share the same thoughts
and dreams for this..then, I would advise that
we end this meeting. I already have two
companies who are in, One from China and the
other from the Uk..its a community state
school, and we are already getting donations
from people who wants to see this community
elevated from poverty…”
”So ?”
”So you are either in or out. We are already
being delayed, I want this to kick off within the
week,”
”But Sir, I want to find out. You had to buy the
land yourself..i mean, instead of a school we
can build a company there, an oil company
that would be profitable for us, you as the
owner and we buy shares into it. I mean..it’s a
win-win”‘
”My land you said right, my school ..there are
a few hundred places I can go and set up any
company for oil exploration.. I have five
already..scattered in a few places, this is for
the community ”
”So no profits?”
”Not the priority. Eventually it would come
in..that is after they have been well equipped,
then they can train but the profits comes when
we expand to have influx of other things. We
nee-d to make their community to be what it
ought to be. Profits would always come, but
that is to the priority so are we doing this?”
They turn to each other and talk for a few
minutes ”Fine, we would go with our original
denotation ”
Jaime smiles ”Great”
He watches them sign, then three of them
stand up ”Thank you. For what is worth..you
would make a fine Mayor one day Sir Jaime”.
A stiff smile appears on his face ”My father is
doing a fine job and when he nee-ds to step
down, there would be better hands for that.
Thank you, I would forward the necessary
things to you, once this is approved by the
bank. Everything is in place to commerce
work. And let this be between us for now. ”
”Thank you..we would be expecting that. That
is no problem, we un-derstand’ ‘ They shake
hands.
Suddenly his door is swung open and Jimmy
walks in..
”You se-nt your girlfriend to fight your battles
Pretty boy?” he thun-ders.
Jaime’s jaw flexes ”Thank you Gentlemen” He
nods to them. They shake his hands, leaving
him.
He unbu-ttons his suit and then takes a seat,
reaching for the tea mug ”Coffee Jimmy?”
”Fxxk that. You se-nd women to fight your
battles for you?” Jimmy comes to stand infront
of the table; he leans in with both hands
resting on the table and staring into Jaime’s
face.
”I @$$ume you are talking about Christine, and
she isn’t my girlfriend Jimmy, you know that.
Is there anything specific you are breathing
down my ne-ck for?” Jaime takes the mug to
his li-ps, Jimmy hits it away, Jaime gets up
immediately as some contents pour on him, he
grabs a paper towel and quickly dabs at
himself ”Tushei Jimmy Tushie! Woke up from
the wrong side of the bed this morning?”
”Look, just incase I wasn’t clear. Disappear, hit
a trailer, get run down by a truck, I don’t care.
But you better find a way to step down from
the Presidential position. Then ask him to cut
you out, and then..i nee-d you to sign all that
you own to me. Simple”
Jaime looks up at him ”I already told him that
I am not interested, I didn’t nominate myself
and secondly..i already told him that and
thirdly..i also worked my @$$ off to get to
where I am so even if I sign all this to
you..you are just getting the name of the
company but @$$ets, funds, profits..mine.
Because when I got in here..this was nothing
but just a building and two staffs. I made it
what it is, I got on my knees and grew this for
ten years..so you won’t come and just want to
eat where you didn’t sow but for the others
that concern you directly…I already told you. I
don’t nee-d it and he knows that”
”Oh really, like you are high and mighty now
huh?”
”Nope!!! I just like not to be involved in melo-
dramas, I have had them all my life Jimmy…I
am done. All this..material! my peace of mind
is paramount”
”Then get out and get your peace of mind and
allow me the plea-sure of having it all. It is my
right and I do not appreciate the fact that your
girlfriend-”
”She isn’t my girlfriend damnit!!”
”Your girlfriend” Jimmy states ”Comes to spew
trash about she standing by you and making
sure I get put in my place. You know me and
you know what I am capable off. Tell her to
stay away from me, get you out of my face and
allow the Mayor do the nee-dful”
”I already told you, she isn’t my girlfriend and if
you have a problem with the Mayor, speak to
him yourself. Please leave my office if you
have nothing else to threaten me with Jimmy..”
Jimmy laughs ru-b-bing his jaw ”You really think
I won’t go far with this do you? You think I
won’t do what I say?”
”I really don’t care”
”All you have done since you came is to take
all that is mine, the Mayor, the fame, the love,
the attention, the presidential seat..everything
that is mine, you have done nothing but keep
taking shits that belong to me, enough!!!! You
either go away willingly or I will make you. Do
me a favour and hasten this nonse-nse. Let the
Mayor sign you off, and then get off my turf. I
won’t be asking you again” Then with that he
turns and heads to the door ” I hope you won’t
be showing up for that foundation thingie ”
”He didn’t leave me a choice but I rather not be
in the same room with you Jimmy, so yes I
would be there”
Jimmy laughs ”You are pla-ying with fire pretty
boy, you will get burned”
”Jimmy, let’s just get something straight, the
only reason I am choosing to back down and
not get head over head with you is because I
choose to…but…do not push me to the wall. I
already told you I don’t nee-d any of it and it
isn’t my fault the Mayor has my name on his
li-ps more than yours”
Jimmy turns back to him heading for him ”You
know nothing” he grabs his suit, Jaime pulls
his hands away and adjusts it.
”Oh I know plenty. But that is between you and
him, I don’t care, I don’t. But I am sick and
tired of you getting all up in my face…the hell
is wrong with you. I would appreciate that you
do not come to my office unannounced, you
stay clear away from me as I do you..and even
if we must be in the same room…act as
though I am not there and I would do the
same. As much as you want me out, I want out
too, I nee-d the sanctity of peace. Leave me
alone Jimmy, I already told the Mayor to do it.
it is not my fault he doesn’t want to. But…just
leave”
”Make him”
”Get out Jimmy” He stares him straight in the
eyes.
Jimmy turns and walks out ” You may lord
over all things, but it is just for abit. Don’t
make me come here again and oh…that your
new girl Alexander is it? Tell her she should
watch her pretty @$$. That stunt she pulled
would be the first and the last time and she
wouldn’t be liking our second meeting” He
says and disappearing behind the door.
Jaime says nothing, his jaw flexes angrily. He
dips his hand into his pocket for his phone
”Adam, I nee-d you to get to Brookes”
*
TO BE CONTINUED……