Chapter 2 : Accidental Reunion.

Thompson ran after the moving vehicle, shrieking like a lunatic. He didn't know what just hit him. It took him a few minutes to acknowledge he had just been ripped off. Wrapping his hands around his waist, he nodded his head in contempt and sat next to a gigantic fence outside. He couldn't report to the cops or inform anyone what happened.

"Where do I go from here? I don't even have a dime on me right now. What do I tell my daughter? How will she respond to the devastating information?” Facing the sky, Thompson besought silently in a faint tone. He got so engrossed in his thinking and napped outside, unbothered by the scorching sun melting his skin.

"What are you doing here?” A passerby woke him.

"I'm good,” replied Thompson. He yawned and stood up.

"I need to call my daughter immediately. She must be concerned about me,” ransacking his pocket for his phone, he screamed. He immediately went cold after he realized his phone was gone.

"Can I please use your phone?” Extending his hand, he pleaded with the stranger.

“Sure,” the stranger responded and carefully observed Thompson until he was done talking to Sophia. She tried reaching out to her father countless times, but he wasn't reachable.

Knowing how hurt she would get, Thompson lied about a different event and she believed him.

He returned the phone and appreciated the stranger. He stood up, on the verge of departing, when he spotted a poster for a Job Vacancy. His face was beamed with joy after reading the job notice. He landed a soft knock on the gate and was attended by the gatekeeper.

“Hi, there. I saw a job Vacancy posted on the wall. Can I please come in for the interview?” Happily, he requested.

"And you're?” After the cross-examination, the gatekeeper asked.

“I'm Thompson. Can I please come inside for the interview?”

"Where are your qualifications? This is a reputable organization. We don't employ everything that breathes,” he rudely answered. Thompson wasn't bothered. He knew without his qualifications, a situation like this was bound to happen.

"I was robbed of my valuables while coming. Please—let me in. I need this job to stay alive. I can't even go back home.” he pleaded, still, the gatekeeper shunned his tears and asked him to vacate the premises.

Aware it was his only shot at life, Thompson refused and tried to force his way inside the company. Despite being twice as old as the gatekeeper, he found his way inside and created a scene.

“I'm not leaving this place without getting a job. Y'all don't have the slightest idea what I went through today. You will need the intervention of the cops to get me out here,” he sat on the floor and caused a commotion. His voice got so loud and got the attention of the CEO, who invited him to the office.  Like a thief, Thompson was dragged to the CEO's office.

"I heard about your heroics in my company.  You don't even look fit to work. You're so unkept,” the CEO taunted Thompson's appearance and completely condemned him. He swallowed the insult and didn't fight back. He was determined to get the job. The abusive words meant nothing to him. After realizing that Thompson had come for a peace talk, the CEO marveled and ceased shouting.

"Quite impressive for someone who was humiliated. I bet a few people would have smashed my head with a bottle. But you are different. What kind of human are you? What's your name?” Flabbergasted by Thompson's patience, the CEO was compelled to ask.

"Thompson Smith.  from Living Faith Arena, Mississippi. I got robbed of my valuables while I was coming. I lost everything. I need this job badly,” he narrated with confidence.

"Did you just say cornerstone? This is Unbelievable! Thompson, it's me. Don't you recognize me anymore?” The CEO's eyes widened as he stood up and moved closer to Thompson.

"I can't seem to recall your face. Sorry, have we met before?”

“Don't be so ridiculous. It's me, Duncan. Your best friend, in the hood.  We mutually agreed to allow our kids to get married to each other in the future. Have you forgotten?” Duncan reminded Thompson and refreshed his memories. They were best friends and often considered twins by everyone. Not even their parents could separate them from each other. While they were kids, they both made a pledge that would allow their children to get married to each other in the future. Unfortunately, they lost contact and parted ways after graduation. Unlike Thompson, Duncan has become wealthy and owns Supreme Group, one of the largest beverage companies in the state.

"Good to see you again. I could barely recognize you. You look good! A lot has changed about you. Can't say the same for me. Please help me with this job. My daughter needs it,” Shamed at himself, Thompson faced the ground. He still can't fathom how Duncan acquired such massive wealth. Back in school, Duncan was the dumbest.

"Come off it. What happened to you? You were the most brilliant champ in school. You even help solve my math. We've got a lot to talk about.  I see you now have a daughter. Great! I've got a son, too. Two handsome sons. Our vow still stands, right? I'll tell my son about it, while you go back home and notify your daughter. Don't worry about your stolen phone and cash, I'll replace them.” Dipping his hands inside his drawer, Duncan brought out his checkbook and wrote a check for $500k.

"Take this. I guess it'll be sufficient to solve whatever issues you have,” he slipped the check to Thompson,  Pam.

"Is this a joke? Please stop it. I hate being pranked,” he withdrew his hand and rejected the check. Everything is happening so fast.

"Of course, not. Go on, take it,” Duncan insisted and forced the check on Thompson's palm again. Astonished by his benevolence, Thompson went on both knees and displayed his heartfelt gratitude to Duncan. He'd never seen such an outrageous amount in all his life.

"How can I repay you for this act of generosity?”

"You don't have to. Just go home and rest. I can imagine what you've been through.” Duncan responded as they both had a lengthy conversation and laughed at each other's jokes. They also reminisced about the good old days. After an hour of mind-blowing conversation, a thought smashed Thompson's mind.

“I am a bit worried about my daughter. I doubt if she'll accept our demand. Nonetheless, I've got a solution,”

“Really? Let's hear it!” Duncan consented.

“I'll go show this $500k to my daughter at home and lied you lent me the loan with the condition that she must marry your son until I'm done repaying it. What do you think?” Thompson suggested.

“That's a brilliant idea. But I doubt if $500k is enough to convince her. Hold on a sec!” Duncan halted and wrote another check of $1 million.

“I think this should be enough to arrest her conviction,” Duncan smiled after handling the check to Thompson.

“Wow!” Thompson smiled. It all feels like a dream to him. He took the check. They spoke a bit as Thompson was accompanied by Duncan himself as he exited the office.  

**********

Sophia screamed from her room to let Johnson make love to her. She covers her mouth to prevent the scream from alerting the neighbors.

.

Just when Sophia thought she was having her best moment, her father walked inside the house and called her out.

“My father is back. What do we do now? If he finds you here, he'll kill the both of us,” Sophia tossed off the bed and shivered like a hen drenched by the rain, Johnson leaned forward, yearning for more.

"Are you dumb? Can't you see my father is back? Do you want to get me into more trouble?” she slapped and pushed him away.

“Ouch, you don't have to do that. So what do we do now?” Caressing his chin, he bemoaned.