Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)

After driving through the traffic in Apapa, Peter finally found the warehouse. The traffic had been terrible.



Davis had told him The Boss wanted him to count some line pipes and joints they had just acquired from one of the other Oil Companies. The minute he parked his car, a security man in blue approached him. ‘Na you be Oga Peter?’
He nodded in the affirmative. ‘They don dey wait inside warehouse’. Peter thanked him and walked inside the building. He wondered why it was so dark in there and quickly brought out his phone to use as a torch light
‘Hallo! Anybody here? He yelled. Immediately he spoke, a lone light came on in the far end of the warehouse and he walked towards the light.




Out of nowhere, he felt a kick in his back as another one kicked his phone out of his hands.



The next thing was blow, upon blow rained on his face, from head to toe. He felt himself being dragged towards the light and knew that by now, his face must be swollen.



He felt himself being tied to a chair and heard an amplified voice on a speaker. He struggled to hear the voice above the ringing in his head. These guys had really Forked him up. He could not open one eye. He could not believe all of this had happened to him in less than three minutes.
Back in Gabbo’s house, around this same time, Bassey had turned on the television for Aduke to watch. Oga had asked him to do this. She found it strange but kept quiet. The images were initially blurry, but it later cleared. She could see a man tied up on a chair, seated under a lightbulb, everywhere else was dark.
‘Peter’ said the voice ‘This is Gabbo. Do you have something you would like to tell me?’ asked the voice
‘Boss, what have I done to deserve this? His question was answered by a punch from the left side.




Aduke recognised the voice! This was her Peter!!! All battered. Who had done this to him? How could Gabbo do this? She looked around, frantic, she had to tell him to stop! Her eyes went back to the screen, she could not believe this!
‘Good. There are some rules here, boy. You ask me no questions and answer only when directly spoken to. So, we start again’ issued Gabbo
‘Now, let us try again. Do you have something to tell me, Peter? Asked Gabbo
’No sir. Please sir’ responded Peter as another heavy punch came from the right side
‘That was just to jog your memory. Do you know any Aduke Shapade? Asked Gabbo. His voice was cold and without empathy.
‘Yes sir’ said Peter. As he responded, cold water was poured on his head. He sputtered and was amazed at all the little points where the water stung. He suspected he has sustained cuts and bruises.
‘Tell me about her’ ordered Gabbo
‘It wasn’t me sir, it was Eno sir. The former receptionist ‘ another blow landed on his stomach
‘No. Wait. Let me hear him out.’ ordered Gabbo to his thugs ‘What has Eno got to do with this?’ asked Gabbo
‘She was the one that stole the money sir’ he groaned out, the pain in his voice.
‘I’m lost, Peter. What money? asked Gabbo calmly.



Aduke watched in tears, shocked. Gabbo sounded so cold and heartless! Where was he? She decided to walk round the house until she found him.
‘The one I was to deliver to the lady at the white house. I could not because….’
‘So, in spite of setting me up, you also conspired with Eno to steal my money? Boys!!!’ Gabbo’s boys understood the order and immediately, a rapid succession of blows were rained on Peter.
Peter was not certain he would survive this.
‘Sir, please please. I will tell you what happened’ begged Peter
‘No need. You set me up and I have only just begun with you’ said Gabbo. Further angered that this same boy had set him up and failed to deliver a simple errand. His trusted Peter was a thief. How could he have misread a human being so badly?
‘Sir! Please! I can’t take this.’ Two more punches landed on either side of his head. The fists were thick and fast at the same time. Peter had never gone through such torture in his life.
‘Wait, let him talk’ ordered Gabbo.
‘That day, I went to deliver the money in the white house, but I couldn’t because …’
‘Because what, young man?! You were one of my best. I had great plans for you, yet you set me up! Interjected Gabbo, angrily. ‘Peter you set me up! You should know that men greater than you have failed. You are a rat compared to my enemies and I have taken them out.’



Gabbo startled as his office door was flung open. It was Aduke at the door with tears rolling down her eyes. She had obviously been watching. Gabbo looked at her dispassionately, unmoved by her tears.
She sunk to her knees ‘Alhaji, please Peter is innocent, release him.’
‘Ah, Juliet is here to beg for Romeo, how romantic.’ Taunted Gabbo
‘He knows nothing about us or he didn’t plan this, he is innocent’ begged Aduke
‘Really? So, who is guilty?’ asked Gabbo
‘I am’ Aduke said
“Thanks for the entertainment; I am in the middle of business here’ said Gabbo as he turned back to face the monitor. He spoke into the land phone again.
‘Peter. Tell me the whole story’ ordered Gabbo
‘I could not deliver the money because the lady in the white house that day was my long-time girlfriend, Aduke Shapade’ said Peter simply. He was tired.
‘What!!!?’ Gabbo got up, suddenly realising that he had erred. He had punished the wrong person. Aduke should be the one in trouble right now.
‘Release him, release him, and take him to Saint Nicholas Hospital’ he yelled into the phone
He turned to Aduke, who was a crumpled mess on the floor. ‘Young lady, even your noble mother cannot save you. I will make you will pay for this!’ He ran out of his home office, calling for his driver and patrol vehicle. He needed to visit Peter at the hospital and beg for forgiveness.




As they untied Peter from the chair, he fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes, weak in the body, but resolute in his mind. He knew he would never let this go. Gabbo had done the wrong thing. Too many Rich men in LasGidi had shown him. He would get his pound of flesh back.


Gabbo was going to pay. Oh! Aduke was going to pay too. She had ratted on him with his boss and Gabbo had not investigated. They are both guilty in equal measures.

He needed his phone, he needed Tessy right now.


These were his last thoughts before he slipped into the warm embrace of unconsciousness.


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