December 26, 2024
THE STORY CONTINUES:
The CEO Episode Four
Ebere had switched off her phone and spent the night at the CEO’s place. There was no way for Ugo to reach her. He was deeply troubled. In his mind, he thought the kidnappers must have also ceased his wife and kept her in their den.
“Why is she not back yet? This is not a good sign. Did they kidnap her as well? Did they reject the money? Are they holding her hostage?” Ugo asked himself as he continued to dial his wife’s number hoping he could reach her on phone, but her phone was switched off. He has not eating anything since his son was kidnapped. That morning, he was feeling terribly hungry. Ugo rushed to the kitchen and prepared something for himself. He fried three eggs and some plantains. He came back to the living room and started eating. His heart was not at rest, so the food was almost tasteless. As he was eating, his phone rang. The number was hidden, so he did not know who was calling. He picked the call nonetheless.
“Hello! Who is on the line please?” Ugo asked with fear in his voice. Surprisingly, it was his wife who was on the other end of the phone. Her voice sounded like someone in serious destress.
“Honey! It’s me your wife. I’m speaking to you through the kidnapper’s phone. Please, come and help me. When I got here and gave them the money, they kidnapped me as well. I pleaded with them to let me go, but they refused. The worst part is that they have even k.illed our son. Honey, Junior is dead. They ki.lled him before I got here. I’m so sad and heartbroken. They have said if you don’t bring N15 million, they will k.ill me as well. Please, look for money and help me. I don’t want to die.” Ebere said tearfully over the phone. She hung up as soon as she finished talking. Ugo had no chance to respond or to ask questions.
When the call ended, Ugo’s heart was shattered. His spirit was broken into tiny pieces like shattered glassware. He didn’t know what to do next. The first bad news was that his son was gone and secondly, his wife was ceased by the kidnappers and thirdly, he has to look for money. This is not just small money! He has to look for N15 million! When his brain finished processing the entire information, he felt as if his head was going to shatter. He felt his head growing bigger and bigger like someone who had seen an evil spirit. The eggs and plantain he was eating suddenly became cold like the nose of a dog. He started vomiting. He rushed to the tap and poured cold water on his bead.
“Let me see if I can regain consciousness, because I’m sure I was going to faint. How can the head of one man be carrying so much difficult loads? This people want to finish me. What have I done to my enemies? If I had known, I would not have thought of getting a DNA test for my son. Now, Junior is dead. Chei! What have I done? I used my hand to bring ant-infested firewood into my house and now, the lizards are dancing for me. How am I going to come out of this situation?” Ugo asked himself when he regained some strength and came out from the bathroom.
Meanwhile, his remaining children were talking to him. It was early in the morning and they were expecting to go to school. They did not see their mother, neither have they seen their big brother, Junior. They asked after them and also told their father that they had started their examination and had to be in school. He told them Junior and their mother had gone to the village to visit their grandmother. He knows he lied, but there was nothing else he could tell the inquisitive kids.
“Junior and mummy will be back soon.” Ugo tells his two remaining children as he tried desperately to put himself together and be a strong man. He managed to prepare the children for school. He took them to school and then from there, he started making calls to raise the money he could give to the kidnappers.
Ugo called a lot of his friends, family members and associates and he was able to raise N10 million. He used his bank app to borrow the remaining N5 million from his bank. He had no idea how he was going to pay the money back but all he wanted was to rescue his wife from the kidnappers. He did not want to lose her the way he lost his son Junior.
As usual, he had the money complete in a bag. He wondered which phone number he was going to call to reach the kidnappers. As he was thinking of what to do, his phone rang. It was the hidden number again. He picked the call. He heard a husky male voice.
“Have you gathered the money?” The voice asked. It was the CEO who was talking but Ugo doesn’t know his voice. The CEO claimed he was the gang leader for the kidnappers. It was all lies. He arranged the entire show with Ebere to get some more money from Ugo.
“Yes sir! The money is ready. I’m wondering where to locate you and give it to you sir. Please, don’t harm my wife.” Ugo pleaded tearfully.
“Your wife will be safe so far as you act according to instructions. I will text you a location where you can go and drop the money. Make sure you don’t involve he police. Come alone! Once you do that, your wife will come back today.” The voice said and then ended the call.
Soon, a text message flew into Ugo’s phone. He checked it and saw the address. He rushed outside his house and hailed an Ubber taxi to take him to the location. When he got there, he saw that it was a dumpsite. He was told to drop the money there and run away as fast possible.
Meanwhile, the CEO and Ebere were in a car somewhere a bit far from the dumpsite. They saw as Ugo dropped the money and they saw when he started running away. When he was gone, they quickly drove to the dump site and picked the bag of money.
“I told he will raise any amount you tell him to raise.” The CEO tells Ebere as they were driving home.
“I never knew my husband is so rich. So he had this kind of money and he was not buying me expensive weavons and flashy cars? I’m so happy you brought this idea. I’m now rich while my son is still alive and living in your house.” Ebere shouted as she touched the money in the car.
“I told you! I said you will make money if you follow my instructions. Now is the time for our next action against your husband.” The CEO said.
“I’m fully ready for the next action against him so far as it will bring me money.” Ebere said. That evening, she went back to her husband so that he would feel it is true she was kidnapped and released. When she got home, Ugo hugged her tightly and they wept together.
“Yeye man! When I finish with you, you will never think of DNA test again.” Ebere said.
To be continued……………
