Chapter 7

‘This is not the time for family discussion, guys! But an action takes time.’ Sam said.

‘We are sorry, Sir. Please give us some minutes to do something.’ Wood faced the rest of the family members. ‘It is no more a dream that the family is on the brink of shame. Please what can we do to save our legacy from being annihilated? Drake, talk to your father. What is his plan?’

‘My father, what do we do?’ Drake queried.

‘I should ask you that question before you do. What is the outcome of your investment? Because the money…’

‘It’s okay, Dad. You don't need to ask me about anything now. We all have the responsibility to stop this disgrace.’

Jones felt ashamed for what some members of the family had caused, but he maintained decorum in the hands of the guys then still held him as if he was the one who spent the tax fees.

‘Enough raucous! I think you will make use of the honor conferred on your family. Since you have no good decision to make, I hereby say “bye-bye to the glorious mansions of Mackins”.’ Sam laughed at them with a jest.

‘Press men! Interview them, maybe they have something to say. And to make it clear to the people, who may read it in the papers that their multi-million mansions are demolished, that it is not the State which put them to shame, but they are responsible for that.’ Sam signaled to the pressmen, and they moved forward to interview Bruno on the issue.

‘Stop!’ Jones commanded the pressmen. “Was he mad” that was how it seemed.

‘I will pay the debt!’ He said. Everybody burst into laughter.

Drake cracked some jokes mockingly, ‘This is not a pauper’s matter, brother. Neither a rejected son’s scenario nor an offender’s, but a hundred billion dollars is so. It will be better if you talk about the food you want to eat so that we can just get you some leftovers from Bravy. Silly!’ He laughed, and others joined him.

‘Sir, can you give me a few minutes?’ He asked Sam.

‘No problems. I will give the room to you to perform your miracle for five minutes before you will be dealt with.’ Everybody laughed again, but Jones maintained calmness.

Everybody’s attention was got by the screamy sound of tires against the asphalt at the gate. A Rolls-Royce phantom led the way, followed by a Mercedes Benz. Both parked shoulder to shoulder close to Jones, and the guys who held him. 6 armed security men swiftly dropped the Rolls-Royce Phantom, and four bouncers from the Mercedes Benz followed the suit.

‘Maintain your position and drop your weapons!’ One of the security officers, who had, in a row, aimed at everybody, yelled. And the Tax agents dropped their weapons because the security men were more sophisticated than them. The bouncers quickly knocked down the two guys holding Jones to the floor, he balanced himself. Both the Mackins and the agents were confused about what was going on. The bouncer with the fiercest faced Jones, ‘My Lord, we are so sorry for our lateness. Please forgive us!’ He bowed.

‘All of you will be sacked if you do that again!’ He said bossily.

‘Sorry, Sir!’ All of them, his security men and bouncers, shouted as if they were in the parade ground.

‘Bring my cheque.’ Jones said softly. Everybody was agape, seeing I was drafting something on the check. Is he going to pay the money truly? His family were querying themselves silently. Even saliva almost drifted off Bruno and Drake's mouths when he stretched out the cheque to Sam.

‘Sign here!’ He pointed to the signature space on the cheque. He took it, signed and returned it to him. Jones returned the cheque to Sam, who couldn’t believe seeing 100 billion dollars on the cheque, and said to his security men, ‘Let them go.’

The security leader sent a sign to Sam and his guys to go, paving the way for them.

‘We are sorry for how we treated you, Sir. With your family's impressions, I don't believe you can get that money. So sorry, Sir.’

‘Don’t feel sorry at all. You have already lost your job. I will call the state to dismiss you for poking your nose into what you are unconcerned about.’ Sam was weakened by what he heard; he left with his guys.

‘Thanks so much, Jones! You are honorably welcome back to our midst!’ Mackins shouted gratefully except Bruno and James who hesitated. Both of them couldn't figure out how Jones got such an amount of money.

‘We are grateful for saving the glory of this family. Without you, some will have soiled it.’ He moved closer to Jones. Drake didn't know what to say, his father tried to play along. ‘We really appreciate you, Jones. On behalf of the entire family, we say sorry for all that has happened. We graciously welcome you back.’

‘Please let's go inside and organize a party of honor for him.’ Wood announced.

‘I'm also glad to be welcomed back as the heir of the family.’ He said it loudly and boldly for everybody to see.

‘What! Heir of what, Jones?’ Bruno was bewildered and turned to him

‘Heir of the family!’

‘That can't work here! Though you have done something gracious, the heir is not meant for you.’ Said Drake furiously.

‘If there is anybody else here apart from me who has the ultimate right of being the heir, let him show his face.’He challenged them. Drake and his father couldn't say anything to tackle him because he was the right person after Bruno's brother who succeeded Jones’ father, but he had died.

‘No, that can't be! You can't be the heir when I'm still alive, Jones. Nobody knows what you are up to. You don't…’ He babbled and broke down to the floor. Everybody rushed to him including Drake.

Drake hollered at Jones, ‘What did you do to my father?’ He went mad at Jones.

‘Ask yourself, do you see me doing anything to him?’ He said frankly.

Sam shouted, ‘Let's take him to the hospital! This is the wrong time for arguments.’ They quickly got him into the car and took him to a nearby hospital by Drake along with a couple. His security men and bouncers stood around him gallantly. When they were going inside to settle down and wait for the cause of Bruno’s collapse, a car with a siren zoomed in. It was followed by Drake’s car. They were looking at each other, thinking of why Drake would call the police. Three police officers, two men and a woman, alighted ruggedly. They were not moved by Jones’ security men and bouncers.

‘Good day.’ their leader said.

‘Good day.’ They answered them. ‘Please what can we do for you?’

‘Nothing! We are sorry for any inconvenience we may cause you. We got a call from Mr Bruno to come here. Where is he? Hope there is no problem?’ Everybody heaved a sigh of relief, but Jones and his guys were not moved.

‘No problems. Everything is in order.’ Jones answered.

‘Okay.’ He said softly, and they left. Drake was not happy seeing Jones entering this mansion at last.

Drake's phone rang, and he picked it up. It was a lady with his father at the hospital.

‘Hello, Drake!’ She said curiously from the receiver.

‘Hello, what happened?’ Drake queried.

‘Your father has been diagnosed with a stroke.’

‘What! Stroke? How?’ He shouted.

‘I don't know.’

‘Shit!’ He hung up the call.

Going inside madly to meet others, he shouted without paying attention to the security men standing at the entrance, ‘Jones has ruined my life! The rise of Mackins Jones will be nothing but chaotic. I will never accept defeat. I will avenge my father!’

‘What do you mean? Do you want to be gunned down?’ The security aimed their gun at Drake.