One Chance V
ONE CHANCE
Mayowa Ojo
6/10/20265 min read
NK sat in the parking lot for several minutes. Activities were fever pitch since Banjo won the primaries in spite of the many allegations that threatened his political career. Elections were only two weeks away.
"Madam, should I end the trip?" the taxi driver asked.
"Ask me that question one more time and I will rate you so bad, you will be out of a job in a week," NK replied.
Thirty minutes went by with her in the back of the taxi in front of Banjo’s office, her taxi bill rising by the second. Before long, the driver started snoring.
***********
"What would I ever do without you?" Banjo asked as NK handed him the returns from her pawned electronics. Earlier that month she had scammed her parents to raise campaign funds for Banjo’s final year as Student Union President.
"Nothing," she said.
For someone who had been in a couple of relationships and knew her fair share of bad boys, NK prided herself in being able to identify a fake lover from a real one. By all her standards and tests, Banjo was the real deal. That knowing emboldened her to do just about anything for him.
"I’ll take you around the world," he promised her.
"Wait first, take me to the governor’s house or at least the council house or where do local government chairmen stay?" she would say, laughter playing on her lips.
"Be careful what you wish for oh. Council house means a different thing in the UK!"
They would both laugh at how silly they sounded considering he had never even been to the UK at the time and only heard about British council flats from her. They would lie in bed sometimes just day-dreaming about the future and Banjo would tell her he wanted to have only two children – girls. He wanted replicas of their mum, NK. He wanted girls because he felt he would burst with the love he had for her and so it made sense to find vents for his love.
***************
"I’m sorry but things have gotten out of control. The man is a monster. I’m scared he might hurt you if I don’t agree to marry his daughter," Banjo said after working for Chief for 3 years post NYSC.
"That’s rubbish BJ. No one can force you to marry someone else unless he has something on you or you have feelings for her. So tell me, which is it?"
"I swear it’s neither. It’s what I have on him. You know some of these things and he knows I tell you everything. I’m less concerned about my safety but yours."
"Of what use is my safety if you’re not with me?" NK replied.
At this point they were both in tears and in each other’s arms. They loved each other so much but Banjo was neck-deep in Chief’s dirty business and he knew what the man was capable of doing. Together Banjo and NK agreed on a fail-proof plan that would both expose Chief and allow them live happily ever after. Then Banjo travelled on a one-month work trip and when he returned, his engagement to the infamous Jummy, daughter of business mogul Chief Oriyomi and heiress to his fortune, was announced. All of a sudden, seeing or hearing from Banjo became a herculean task… until his wedding night when he snuck back into her arms confessing that marrying Jummy was the greatest mistake of his life. She wanted to push him away but could barely contain her joy on seeing him. Having him in her arms on his wedding night fuelled up hope within her that perhaps the marriage would not last and he would be back for good. By the second year she realized she did not want him anymore even if he did return. NK moved on with her life and would have left him alone until news of his gubernatorial aspirations hit the press.
************
NK looked at her watch. She looked around her and knew the timing was right. She got out and let the slam of the door wake the driver up. She did not care if he ended the trip or not.
She walked into the office and made for Banjo’s secretary’s desk.
"Tell Mr. Banjo that NK is here."
"Do you have an appointment madam?"
"Do you like your job miss?"
In a few minutes NK was ushered into Banjo’s office where Liz, Toun and the rest of the campaign team sat around their strategy documents. The governorship elections were two weeks away and this was the last lap. They could already smell victory.
"Everybody out," Liz ordered when she saw the look on Banjo’s face. She did not blame him. Between the beauty that was NK and the horror of the havoc she was capable of wreaking, his shock was perfectly understandable.
"Not even a hug after all this while?" NK said when it was just Banjo, Liz and Promise left in the room. She walked up to him and hugged him tight until she was sure she had left an impression.
"What do you want?" Liz asked.
"You know, from one campaign manager to the other, you suck at your job. I had to do all the publicity for you else he would never have gotten this far or did you think your stupid campaign strategy was genius? I put him on the map with all those events. I gave him a face faster than you could have pulled it off. I made the people fall in love with hm by tearing him to shreds enough to be pitied and maybe even loved. You stand there and ask me what I want? I want you out of this room."
Liz’s eyes popped open. She knew NK was right about the publicity but she never realized it was deliberate. She looked at Banjo, seeking his opinion on the matter.
"Please leave us," Banjo said in a soft voice.
"You can stay," NK said to Promise when he also made to leave. "I like you." She brushed her hand against his face softly.
"What do you really want?" Banjo asked once Liz was out of the room.
"I want you to drop out of the gubernatorial race and declare your opponent the winner."
Promise coughed, wide-eyed but said nothing.
"Why?"
"So you know what it feels like to have nurtured a dream that you laboured hard to achieve yet watch it get taken from you on the cusp of victory and be helpless to do anything about it."
Banjo was silent. He knew exactly what she meant.
"You know I can have you arrested," Promise said.
"I know a lot of things Promise. I know your CSO is out to lunch and is on his way back this moment. I know you won’t arrest me because your primary concern is your boss’ safety and you don’t know if I’m here alone. I also know Liz is on her way this moment to have me arrested. But I will walk out of here on my own two feet and if I don’t you’ll wish…"
"You’ll wish you never stepped foot into this building," Liz said as she barged in with security men. "Arrest her," she declared.
NK stretched out her wrists for cuffs but Banjo intervened.
"The lady has done no harm, treat her like a lady," Banjo said.
"You have one week. Arresting me won’t make a difference," she smiled.
"Take her away. We’ll see what you can do from behind bars," Liz barked.
Banjo was silent. Fear seized him as he caught a glint in NK’s eyes. He knew her threat was real…just like he knew he could not back down from the race; not after everything he’d been through.
******************
The mole in Banjo’s office sent a text message to a certain phone number.
"NK has been arrested. Expedite plan B."