WHAT BILLIONAIRES TASTE LIKE

…The table drifted and the flute and mug followed through. The tinkle of glass breaking on the floor made her flinch from Ferguson.

“I…I’m a numb heart, “She stuttered, smacking her lips.

He was panting at her face.

“I’m a numb heart,” she wanted to rush the rest of the words but tried to control her nerves. I would be spending most of my time here after work at factory.” She was struggling to catch his green eyes, as though she was pleading with them.

“It’s ok. You can always get the key from the receptionist,” he replied and thoughtfully left his mouth open.

“Can I begin now? I want some rest,” she requested icily.

Ferguson parted and watched her climb into the bed, under the duvet.”The cleaner, please.” He phoned and thought briefly. “And a plate of runny chicken for two.”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Opula was awed at the ease with which he called an English meal that took her months to master. “Sorry about that.”

He hung up and gazed upon her. “Would that do for lunch?” He asked warmly.

She nodded. And inwardly she kept nodding at his smartness; how easily he got used to things, things like loving a stranger, things like Opula. Her feet had already thawed. Azuaka Jnr. had never performed such miracle.

“The Monkeys have new plan for the software.” He lit a Roi Tan. “Hope you don’t mind if I smoke.”

She was silent, hoping to get as much as she could. In as much as she could not deny her love for Ferguson she needed the money as every one of them. My breakthrough has come, she said in her thought.

“There is this Chinese billionaire that is offering us hundred million dollars to have the software.”

She sat up. Angels show! “And what are you guys waiting for?” Her eyeballs roved around Ferguson’s face.

“Your boyfriend.” He puffed a cloud of smoke. “He wants us to explore the software forever. I am yet to see a man that dislikes quick money as him.”

“What is his problem? Crime is no one’s inheritance. You hit and go.”

He puffed again. “Your man has no such brain. Everyone is waiting now. We are just waiting for nothing. Time waits for nothing.”

She fancied the way he invited words at her advantage. We, we, we, so I’m now in we, she thought.

“I envied you people’s smartness and expertise.” She rolled her eyes and stared invitingly at him. “What stands now?”

He didn’t hesitate to say, “Selling the software stands. With or without him we are selling it. Everyone will get a share and back off.”

She stared at the window and crawled out of the bed to the window. She saw a few men and women at the bank of the beach, and she saw a lady on a brown horse. The horse was hasting across the bank and she wondered when her finance would hasten like that, considering her nameless family background.

Ferguson seized the time to tell her, “You got to know that your boyfriend killed his father before doing away with his gratuity. Agu revealed it to Nku. Azuaka hid it for so long until Agu met him crying one day and he claimed his father hung from a noose upon discovering his gratuity has been stolen by him.”

She sensed Ferguson’s hairy chest tickle her back as his hands went round her waist

He shook his head. Their eyes met.

“I am not surprised. That son of a gun is capable of pulling down White House.”

She had not expected it when he said, “You are a monkey now. You have a share in the software. If it is sold I will have a share of five million dollars.”

Opula turned her paused, cold face to him. Her eyes bulged, almost swallowing him. God bless God! She said in her head.

“That money is not mine alone. It is yours also.”

She hugged him and he enjoyed her bust pushing into his chest.”Thanks for making me a monkey. She murmured, “I will die for you and the money.”

Ferguson felt tears dropping on his shoulder, and he wondered if she was for real.

“I have been waiting all day for you, son of man,” Azuaka said to Nku as he walked to his side in the restaurant. He lit a cigar. Puffed a cloud of smoke, smacked his lips and took another draw from his cigar.

Nku sat down and waved on the bartender. “Bring his orders,” he said to the bartender and took from Azuaka’s pack of cigar.

“Pizza,” Azuaka said and puffed.

“A bottle of beer, please.”

It was as though their silence was for the arrival of their orders; they never spoke a word. Nku wanted a peace talk. He had long waited for this day. If he would reach a dialogue with him then anything in this world could be reached. He had been bothered ever since Azuaka told him over the phone about two reasons they shouldn’t sell the software. Those two reasons he would know today or never be disturbed by Azuaka Jnr. Azuaka had said if the two reasons were not good by him, they would go ahead and sell it. Before then Azuaka had consulted an Igbo ally and modern technology guru of his that did business in China to steal some facts about the CEO of Ziu Tech. He wasn’t scared anymore to confront Nku. The madness about selling the software would end tonight.

Nku had been staring at the piles of papers Azuaka came with.

“Thank you,” they said to the bartender respectively as he placed their orders.

“Life is too short to sit and eat pizza and drink beer,” Nku said and sipped the beer.

“How would you feel if you realize that every human being has a spare life?”

“I would write God a love letter,” Nku replied.

“The time to do that has come. This is our spare life.” He lifted the papers, and placed one before him. “Read through, son of man.”