Why? 3 || Shackled to the Heart 39

EPISODE 39

An ordinary eyes

INT. ANN’S PENTHOUSE- EVENING

A freshened up Ann dressed in a flowing gown opens the door of her closet and enters her bedroom. She jumps frantically when she sees Bankole just standing next to a wall

ANN

Damn it, Bankole

BANKOLE

I am sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you

Holding her hands to her chest, she closes the door of her closet room behind her

ANN

What are you doing here?

BANKOLE

You asked me to see you

ANN

Not in my bedroom, I thought you didn’t want anyone seeing us together anymore

BANKOLE

No one is here

ANN

So, you can frolic with me in my bedroom but outside. I didn’t know you were a hypocrite

BANKOLE

I needed to… (Huffs loudly) I need to talk to you, I just don’t think it is appropriate to have that talk in front of your kids

ANN

Let go and eat

She turns towards the door

BANKOLE

I said I want to talk to you

ANN

I am famished, whatever you want to talk about can wait till after dinner

She opens the door

BANKOLE

(Blurts out) Is Brother Wemimo involve in money laundering?

She closes the door and turns to him with a surprise look

ANN

Excuse me?

BANKOLE

To an ordinary eye, it is perfect but with the training I have, it was easy to detect, that book was doctored to its teeth and that is only when there is something hide, something like money, hence money laundering

ANN

(With a poker face) And what does that have to do with Wemimo?

BANKOLE

Onome handles that account, that is all the evidence I need

ANN

Onome has her own accounting firm too now you know, she has other clients

BANKOLE

On the surface yes but deep down, I know Brother Wemimo is her only client. So back to my question and please don’t lie to me, is brother Wemimo into money laundering

ANN

You are off that case

She opens the door

BANKOLE

(Burst out in anger) Damn it, Ann, answer the fucking question, is Brother Wemimo into money laundering? Yes or no, it is not that hard

Ann bangs the door hard and screams at the top of her voice at him

ANN

If you are that interested in knowing, why don’t you ask him yourself? Let me guess, you can’t

BANKOLE

Oh I can, I am just saving him the embarrassment of calling him a criminal

ANN

He is not a criminal

BANKOLE

The last time I checked, money laundering is a crime

ANN

He is not involve in some dirty dealing if that is what you are worried about

BANKOLE

Then, what the fuck is he involve in?

ANN

Government contracts

BANKOLE

(Confused) Government contracts?

ANN

He handles almost government contract and when I say almost, I mean all

BANKOLE

(In surprise) All?

ANN

All, military, construction, think of any contract the government might give out

BANKOLE

You are shitting me right, his name is not on those project

ANN

That is the point, on the surface he is not involve but when you look deeper, he is in charge. Those names you see on the project, he employed them. They execute the project and when it is time to split the profit, he gets the larger cut, cuts he wants no one knowing he collects

BANKOLE

Hence, the money laundering

ANN

You are catching up

BANKOLE

Wait, I don’t understand something, getting a government contract is not a crime, why does he have to hide it?

ANN

You think the government will be happy with one man swallowing all of its contracts

BANKOLE

And they have the right not to be happy, one man taking all of its resources, don’t you think that is…

ANN

(Grins) Selfish, don’t worry, he gives back to the people who actually needs it

He studies Ann’s face then his eyebrow widens like he realized something

BANKOLE

Holy mother fucker, WAK Foundation

ANN

Bingo

BANKOLE

I thought that place runs on money from KINGS and other voluntary donation

ANN

Are you kidding me? WAK Foundation is a multibillion dollar organization on its own, you think the tweeny meeny from KINGS and other donation is responsible for that? Those donations are tiny ant compared to what Wemimo brings into that place

BANKOLE

You mean his dirty money

ANN

Call it whatever you want to call it but that place is doing a lot of good, thanks to Wemimo and you know that

BANKOLE

I get that he is helping people with the money but is it necessary? I mean my sister is a billionaire, does that not mean KINGS is doing good without the other ventures? Maybe even better than good

ANN

If he wants to keep choosing presidents, governor, senators, then he can’t depend on KINGS

BANKOLE

Does he really need them in his pocket? I mean, he is richer than most of them

ANN

Money without power is nothing because power moves money and those fucking politician owes it but when he owe those politician then he owes their power. Moreover, let it go, he is not hurting anyone

BANKOLE

Maybe not anyone but what about my faith in him, my respect, my trust in him

ANN

So is your trust in him broken now that you are finally seeing the real him

BANKOLE

No but…

ANN

Exactly no, as long as that man does not kill anyone, he will always have your trust, your respect and faith (Scoff) now that I think about it, I think I see the reason why he didn’t want you taking his cases

BANKOLE

Really?

ANN

Yes, he practically commanded me to put you as far away as possible from his cases

BANKOLE

Why?

ANN

Because you are his son and no father wants to lose the trust, faith and the respect his son has for him

BANKOLE

You don’t know what you talking about

He walks towards the door

ANN

You know he never forgave me for leaving you for my husband

BANKOLE

What? But I forgave you

ANN

But he did not, Jowa and Tawa might be his blood kids and you might be a grown badass lawyer now but you will always be his first baby. Which is why I will respect the man’s wishes and take you off the case

BANKOLE

You were serious about that

ANN

Yes, I am

BANKOLE

Come on, Ann

ANN

Bankole…

BANKOLE

I know I took the issue out of proportion

ANN

No, you did not, you followed your gut like I taught you

BANKOLE

A gut I only followed because you taught me what to look for in an account. Onome is a damn good accountant, anyone who look at that account won’t find any problem with, so I will go with that

ANN

But Banko…

BANKOLE

And again, a merger of that magnitude will be good for my profile

ANN

Then, you need his permission

BANKOLE

Do I need to, I mean you didn’t even know that it was his company, he might not even know that he owns the company

ANN

Have you not learnt anything living with that man for years, does he look like someone who will forget he owns a company. He is probably not saying anything because he knows I will handle it well but when he finds that you are in charge, he is going to go berserk

BANKOLE

If everything goes according to plan, he might not find out

ANN

I don’t want to test Wemimo, when it comes to his family, especially with you, Imade and his kids, I don’t want to test him. I learnt that the hard way. Also, only when you get his approval, can I recommend you for his next business

BANKOLE

His next business?

ANN

The acquisition of the tech company

BANKOLE

I thought you will be chairing that

ANN

Yes, I was and I planned on bringing you in as my assistant but now that you know everything, I want you to take the lead on it. It will be good on your profile and the experience will be good too. So, get his permission and show him how good you are with this case

BANKOLE

Show how good I am, he knows I am a good lawyer

ANN

Yes, for other people’s case but are you good enough to handle the acquisition. Right now, that is the only thing that matters to him, he can even divorce your sister for the new business

BANKOLE

That is an exaggeration

ANN

My point is if he is going to let you run point on it, he needs to know you have what it takes to be in charge. Moreover, I am the only one handling his account, it will be nice to share the workload with you

BANKOLE

Fine, I will get his permission

ANN

Thank you

She turns to leave

BANKOLE

Ann, wait

ANN

I am hungry, Bankole

BANKOLE

I can’t believe I am asking this but how rich is Brother Wemimo?

Ann burst into laughter