Jamaica

Chapter 20

"Please have a seat." As uncomfortable as he was by the visit of the strange individual, Gbenga tried to make the man's visit a pleasant one. But for all his efforts, the man just stood staring at him. "Please sir, I have work to do..."

"And so what?" The man interrupted, "do I look like I am not doing my job?"

"No, sir."
"Good. Now listen very carefully." Just then they heard a knock. Gbenga got up and went to open the door. As he opened the door, three muscular men wearing dark suits, barged in. When they came in two of the men positioned themselves on each side of his desk.  The third man closed the door and stood with his back against the door. "Go back and sit down." The man ordered.

 Gbenga obeyed and went to sit down without uttering a word. He knew one wrong move could fetch him some broken ribs. And so he decided to remain calm.

"Now like I said earlier, I am here to help a friend who thinks you are shifting too much attention into areas that don't concern you."

"Sir, with all due respect, this company does a legitimate job of hiring out security personnel. I mean, it is an officially registered company."  He tried to argue, but the man laughed.

"Then it means I am lying, abi?" Gbenga blinked as one of the men, the one standing by his right took a deep breath and moved a bit closer to him. He weighed the possibility of being attacked and decided  to cooperate.

"Sir, what do you want?" The man nodded his head slowly and looked at him.

"So, finally you are coming to your senses?" He said.

"Look, just tell me what it is you want and I will give it to you."
"Then give me the file." Gbenga frowned and looked at the man intensely.

"What file?" He asked, surprised.

"The file with the photo of the man." Gbenga knew it was the file from which he had shown Miriam the photo of Festus. He felt weak to his bones that Miriam could do this to him. Without hesitation, he brought out the file and placed it in front of the man. The man quickly opened the file and the first thing he saw was the photo of Festus. He closed the file and then took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Is the file with you?"

"Yes madam." 

"Nice work, you may go now."
"Okay madam."
Miriam cut the call and told her driver to take her home. The man picked up the file and together with the three men, left Gbenga's office. Gbenga sat down terribly disturbed and quickly sent Miriam a message. 

I would have given you the file if you had personally asked for it. There was no need for all this bullying.

He sent the message and  dropped the phone feeling humiliated. He thought that he was trying to help his best friend, but realized that Miriam took it the wrong way. His opinion of her in that instant changed and he decided to break all contacts with her.

A few weeks later however, while he was on his way driving home, he saw Miriam coming out of a supermarket. He quickly stopped his car, came down and walked towards her. When their eyes met he gently clapped his hands. Miriam frowned when she saw him and tried to avoid his stare. But he kept clapping his hand.

"Gbenga, don't you have better things to do with you time?" She asked.

"I'm congratulating you for a job well done." Miriam wondered what he meant by that.
"Are you alright, Gbenga?"
"Oh, yes I'm fine. At least I was spared by the thugs you sent to my office." Miriam stared at him like he was out of his mind.
"Gbenga, were you not going somewhere before you stopped by?"