Too precious episode 17
TITLE: TOO PRECIOUS
WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI
CHAPTER 17
PY called her husband and they quickly resolved the issues. He opened his phone for her to see the conversation he had with his boss. PY believed him.
Her mother introduced Simon to her brother who was a senator. He helped place Simon in the Economic Reform team as he had always desired. He flew to Lagos to thank his mother-in-law. All their dreams were coming to pass.
PB
“What business did your parents start with the money you gave them from our wedding?”
Biodun was taken aback and had to ask. “Pardon?”
“You heard me. What business did they begin with the money you gave them?”
“Why do you want to know? You collected your money back so why are you interested in what they started?”
“I am asking because your mother and siblings do not seem to be aware of any business. It makes me wonder why you lied to me to collect that money”
“Lie to you? My father is handling the business. You can ask him”
“I won’t ask him. I am asking you. Why can’t you tell me what the business is? I have asked you about your investments and you have refused to tell me”
“Why are you interested in m finances? Why are you interested in my investments?”
“I made some good money and I wanted you to invest it for me but since you refused to tell me about your investment, I will invest my money somewhere else”
“You should have told me. There is this stock that is….”
“How much has your investment yielded? Show me”
“I should show you? You are so arrogant. Why should I show you? Isn’t my word enough for you?”
“It is not enough. Since you can’t prove what you have made from your investment, I will use the money to buy a car instead”
“That’s not an asset but a liability”
“Yes. It will bring me the assets I desire”
“Invest the money with me and watch it grow”
“Thanks, but no thanks”
“I need your help. There is pressure in the office and I need to increase my portfolio. You can help me. Transfer the money to me and I will make the investments for you”
“No o. It will be done in my company name but I have changed my mind. I will buy the vehicle instead. When I make money again, I will consider you”
“So, you want me to lose my job?”
“You need to so you can start your firm. You are not the ambitious go-getter guy I married. I don’t understand you anymore. If I ask you a question you become defensive. Now I have mentioned having money for the investment you are prepared to invest for me when I don’t know how well your own decisions have worked out for you. The car it is then”
Biodun was upset. He tried to use throwing tantrums, complaining and generally ignoring PB to get her to succ-mb but it didn’t work. She didn’t allow his childish behaviour to make her change her mind.
She went to her grandfather to advise her on the vehicle to buy. She wanted a big car that will speak class.
“Buy a BMW X6. It will suit what you want”
“Hmmm. But it is pretty expensive”
“Don’t sell your old car, I’ll get it for you”
“No grandpa. I will buy this vehicle myself.” She told him how she planned to raise the money.
“Don’t sell the car or land or rather sell them to me. I will buy them in exchange for the vehicle”
“I will transfer the title to you. I will sell them to you”
“Yes, you will get the vehicle before the end of the week. What does Biodun say about this?”
“He doesn’t want me to buy the car but to invest the money under his portfolio”
“Why under his portfolio? I thought you had a personal portfolio with him”
“I do. He wants me to transfer the money I have saved to him. I won’t do that grandpa. Biodun isn’t the man I thought I married. I am suspicious about certain things and I don’t know how to go about investigating”
“Tell me about them”
PB told her grandfather about the investment Biodun claimed he had done with his share of the money realized from the wedding and has refused to show evidence. She told him about the business her in-laws were supposed to begin and nobody in the family knows about it. Then his refusal to see a doctor about their infertility. Then his inability to pay bills in time even when reminded daily months ahead.
“I will find out what is going on and let you know. You are not getting any younger and not trying for a child shows there is something Biodun is hiding. I will not dabble into it until I discover what is hidden. From tomorrow, leave your car here”
PB did as she was told. She left her car with her grandfather. By the end of that week, a brand new BMW X6 was delivered to her office. She couldn’t believe her eyes, she loved the vehicle.
She took it home that night. When Biodun saw it, he said to her, “You used the money you could have used to save my job to buy a vehicle. What was wrong with your old vehicle? Because you have money you believe you can behave as you like. I don’t want to see that car here, don’t park it in this compound”
“I pay bills here and therefore I have a say. You sold your vehicle and held on to the SUV. If you are ready to relinquish the title of the SUV to me, I will return the vehicle and hand over my old car to you to use. I need a prestigious vehicle for my marketing and you can’t stop me from getting one while you drive around in a vehicle that belongs to both of us”
“You have no respect or regard for me. Your only interest is in making money. Your father did a number on you for you not to see that there is more to life than making it. I didn’t know you were this ambitious and desperate to be rich. Tell me how much you have made in a year for you to be able to afford the luxury you are exhibiting? I am becoming suspicious you might be having an affair with another man. In my place, when a woman commits adultery, it affects her husband’s work or business. My job has been shaky and you have been unwilling to help me. It makes me believe you have no love for me anymore. Maybe we should go our separate ways”
“You are talking trash and you know it. Anyway, my vehicle is staying and that’s final. If you cannot answer my questions about your parents’ business and your investments, I don’t need to answer your questions about the income my firm is making.”
“You are wicked. I believed you loved me but I doubt that now. I told you I need to add to my portfolio and what did you do? You went to buy a very expensive vehicle. Are you trying to intimidate me? Are you rubbing your supposed success in my face?”
“I won’t argue with you. When you do the things you assured me you were going to do, then I will support you. Have you acquired the additional qualifications you said you needed to start your firm? Where is the investment you made when we first got married? I take care of feeding, electricity, fuel for the generator, water and garbage bills. I provide every toiletry used in this home. You lack nothing here. You are just to pay rent, cable bill, and fuel your car and you complain. How much are these bills? Still, you can’t explain to me what you spend your money on knowing rent is paid once a year and the cable bill is minimal”
“I am not having this conversation with you. My job is at stake and you refused to help me”
“If you join me to the hospital to find out why I am still not pregnant, maybe then I can help you with clients”
“There must always be a condition attached to you helping me. Only one visit and I believe I should be able to get a portfolio of N20m.”
“I don’t have N20m. I will give you a good deposit for investment but it will be done after a successful hospital visit”
“There is nothing wrong with us; when the time is right, you will get pregnant”
“I am tired of waiting. We should make attempts. Your father has asked three times this year and you didn’t say anything. We have to be sure or we can start the process for IVF. It is almost four years now”
“Ok. I will go with you. One visit”
“You will do whatever the doctor says. Once you agree to that then we are good”
“Fine. I need that investment”
‘You will get it as long as you play along”
Tbc