Chapter 8

I couldn't procrastinate any further, I kept my composure and picked up the phone call. Although I quickly had to chew up the remaining food in my mouth, I didn't want to sound like a mannerless boy.

With any further ado, I picked up the phone call.

The conversation then had commenced.

" Good afternoon, How are you doing?" asked Alexander.

" Good afternoon boss, I'm fine, I'm fine, what about you?"I responded.

" I'm good, anyways, as you are probably aware,  I wasn't able to attend today's briefing because of a meeting."

" Thankfully, the meeting went according to my expectations, so I'm satisfied with it."

" That's fabulous!" I politely responded.

Andrew was casually looking at me whilst giggling disturbingly.

" What are you doing man? "I gently whispered whilst laughing.

" Excuse me?"Alexander responded.

" Oh no no, boss I wasn't saying that to you." I instantly responded.

" Ohh okay, are you sure, I'm not disturbing you?" He asked.

" No, no, not at all boss, please proceed with what you were telling me beforehand."

I politely requested.

" Well, I reckoned today was the right moment for you to show and prove what you got under your tank without any briefings or demonstration."

" Hence, I told my assistant to inform Andrew that you are going to be the chief of this mission."

" Although we had assured to have a backup team, they were the ones supposed to instruct and guide both you and your teammates for this mission."

" Indeed, I was constantly updated with what was going on and all."

" Don't worry, I'm not trying to scare you or anything." He said whilst cackling sarcastically.

" I was briefly told that the first plan didn't go according to the scheduled plan".

" Luckily, you came out handy and had a brilliant idea in mind."

" What you did was absolutely fantastic you showed leadership and an adequate mentality to help out your team."

" So, well, I'm proud of you for this one, young man." He complimented.

" Oh, that's fine, Thank you very much, I had to help out the team, it was a must for me." I politely thanked him.

" So, I presume you guys have already reached your final destination, have y'all?" He further asked.

" Yes, we have indeed reached the locality," I responded.

" Tell me how is it, how does it feel being here?"He curiously asked me.

" Well, haha, it's different from where I came from, I can't deny that." I heartily responded to his question.

" I know, but you will get used to all of these quicker than you think you will."

" I'm certain that you are a man who can easily adapt to any situation."

By that moment, Andrew had finished eating, I still had my food remaining, I didn't want my food to cool down. So I instantly gave the phone to Andrew, meanwhile, I could finish off my meal.

He firstly hesitated to take the call, however, after a few convincing hand gestures, he agreed and took the phone.

" Boss, I'm here with Andrew."

" As we had assured that our mission was completed and executed, we decided to come to eat here," I told Alexander.

" It's not far away from the office and the food here doesn't take much time to be served either." I further added.

" Oh don't worry it's absolutely fine for me, just do make sure that everyone else from your teammates has been informed of it."

" It's fine, You ain't the first one who goes to eat there from my workers.'

"You know what can you hand him the phone?"

"I wanna have a quick little conversation with him meanwhile go and order up something to eat or." He said.

" Okay, sure, no worries," I responded.

At first, Andrew started hesitating and stammering, eventually, he started talking properly. I wondered what was wrong with him, he is such an old employee although he is way more afraid of the boss than me.

I proceeded to eat my fries and the main dish itself, whilst chugging on a good milkshake which was optional. 

It was rather good, probably not the best milkshake I have ever had, although it was decent enough to drink. A few good and solid minutes later, I had completed my meal. Oh dear me, It felt good eating a hefty meal. I was literally stuffed and had all the required energy for the day. The waiter eventually came to clear up the table and I generously tipped him.

By then, Andrew had already completed his conversation with Alexander. Although as we walked out of the restaurant, Alexander called me again. This time it was really an unexpected call, this time around I was panicking. It is so uncommon as I just had talked with him a few minutes ago. Without any further delay, I picked up the call.

First and foremost, he wasn't panicking or sounding distressed whatsoever. That was a positive sign!

" Don't panic, just can you please move to a corner, so that I can talk to you personally."

" I don't want Andrew to peek into our conversations." He requested me.

I instantly understood what meant by that, I acted as if I couldn't get enough network.

" Allo, Allo, I can't hear you, sorry!" I fibbed and eventually proceeded by moving away from Andrew.

Laughs!

-

-

-

" That's more like it, isn't it?" He reacted.

" Yes, I can confirm that Andrew is not next to me and he is on his way back to the storeroom," I responded.

" Yeah, Great!" he affirmed.

" You probably wonder, what made me call you back again within a short time frame."

" Well, how can I tell you that?" He hesitated with his response.

" Please go ahead, it's absolutely fine, I won't get offended by anything," I assured him.

" You know, I got informed from one of my close staff members that there is an individual among your group that wants to go against me."

" Probably someone gave him sufficient money for him to go against his boss and colleagues."

" In such businesses don't ever make this mistake of trusting people."

"For several years, I'm used to all of these, so that's some advice for you, as my employee and a young friend too."

" Well, I've just thought of something, I think I should this idea with you."

" I want to hear your opinions and thoughts concerning that."

" Sure, that's more than fine to me," I responded.

"I best believe it would be much better if stayed away from most of the boys working here, especially Andrew." He advised me.

" It appears as if Andrew is the one who has lately been snitching most of my upcoming plans and projects."

" Because apart from Nancy and Andrew no one gets to know about anything upcoming projects."

" You may wonder that there high chances that Nancy is doing that as well."

" Well, I'm aware you didn't say anything, however, I am indeed keeping an eye on Nancy."

" Although it doesn't seem like she is the one behind all of these leaks happening in my business." He further continued.

" I think it will be better to stay as far as possible from him"

" Because there are high chances that someone gave him a hefty paycheck to reveal out my whole plans."

" Most of the time, Nancy is with me."

" I suspect Andrew to be the one behind all of these, he is the one who is frequently absent and remains out all the time." He angrily reacted.

I had my fair share of time responding to his comments on Andrew. I couldn't defend Andrew either, I just knew him recently. Moreover, I can not go against my boss' words and comments on other employees. In the end, he is the boss and his thoughts matter more than my opinions.

" Sure, I will be more wise and careful when approaching him," I responded

Although I reckoned it would be better for him to watch out on Nancy too. I was no one to tell him such things, I just had to accept whatever he ordered and uttered. He eventually hung up the call. I proceeded by tiptoeing my way up to the storeroom without getting noticed by anyone.

I wasn't much familiar with that neighbourhood, I reckoned that I wouldn't be easily detected or suspected by someone. I was just a few handful minutes away from reaching there, however, it seemed like near to the first exit and an old man on a bicycle had issues with his rear tyre.

I took the risk to go there and help him out with his tyre, it can be a trap that I'm presumably going to fall for it. I approached the old man. It seemed like he just came out from a local grocery store and was heading towards his home or something.

" Hello, Youngman can you please help to fix up my bicycle's wheel?" The old man reasonably asked me with a squeaky voice.

I didn't want to sound mean, although the old man's voice was unheard. I think I'm being way too harsh concerning his aforementioned voice.

" Yes, sure please step aside I'm gonna lay the bicycle down."

" Let's have a look, so it's the rear wheel as used isn't it?" I asked with a soft-spoken voice.

I wondered whether I was the only one who did such things. Like talking to an elderly or a child with a rather soft-spoken voice.

" Yes, indeed, my son." He replied whilst nodding his head.

I wasn't an expert when it came to repairing things. It appeared like the rear wheel's valve had an issue which caused him to have an eventual flat wheel. There weren't any tyre repairing shops nearby either, I couldn't leave the old man stranded by himself in the middle of nowhere.

I had to think about something that will at least last till his upcoming destination without much difficulty.

" Uhm, How far is your house from here?" I further asked him.

" It's, It's just down a few streets." He responded.

Where his response didn't even help me out much either.

There was a small convenience store close by. I reckoned if I should go there and have a look at things that may come in handy in this situation. So I carefully picked up the bicycle and kept it in a rather safe place, where no cars will run it over. I told the old man not to move a single inch as I'd be right back there in a few minutes.

He nodded his head whilst grinning. That was an unexpected wholesome moment, which also made me feel that I'm being helpful to others. It is an unexplainable sentiment we often have in common.

So without any further delays, I jogged my way up to the nearby convenience store. I reached there, it was getting slightly darker by then, it was indeed a long day today.

I quickly went to the tool aisle. I saw a pump, apart from that there wasn't much that could help me to fix that rear wheel issue. I didn't hesitate any further as it was already getting shady outside and I didn't particularly like the fact of being in that area especially not with a stranger.

Luckily, I had sufficient cash left in my pocket for the pump. It was slightly expensive, well, it was definitely more costly than I initially had thought. I wouldn't my time for a cheaper pump. So I hastily picked up the pump and proceeded by going to the cashier and paid for it.

I wouldn't ask the old man for a reimbursement, cause, well that's kind of messed up if someone asks a distressed elder for a few bucks. The payment was done.

" Oh! Actually, please give me a few seconds let me grab a few snacks real quickly?" I told the cashier with regret.

" Okay, sure!" She replied.

I remembered that I may have to spend the night there in the storeroom. So maybe these snacks and drinks will keep me up for the night. I didn't want to walk alone all by myself at night just to buy a few snacks for the night. I got the goods and walked my way out of the shop. I reckoned I still had a solid one hour-ish or more before the sun had fully set down. I galloped my way back to the old man's whereabouts. I was out of breath when I reached there.

" Okay, long story short, that's the only thing I found that may help you out a lot," I explained to the old man. 

" Sure!" He responded whilst nodding his head once again.

I quickly pumped both the rear and front wheel, I presume it would last a bit not much though. I reckon he will easily reach his home without any issues although tomorrow, during full daylight he will have to take it for some reparations.

The wheels were fully pumped, at that moment I thought that my task was done for today.

However, it appeared as if the old man wanted me to accompany him to his house. Well, that was certainly not possible whatsoever. Although he began insisting I chaperone him to his home. I got that, it was getting dark, he is old well. Everything seemed to be with his sides.

I couldn't be harsh with him, so I calmly agreed. I was only uncertain about one thing. I wished that it wouldn't be a trap by the antagonists. Although I thought twice concerning that matter.

"Why would an old man, who appears to be in distress be the one who set a trap for me to fall in?" I murmured.

I didn't procrastinate any further, so we both commenced walking, we didn't exchange much throughout the most of walk to his home. I held with one hand a few of his shopping bags which contained some groceries, with the other hand I gently kept on pushing the bicycle.

I had a bad feeling that something will happen to me. It was the least of things I wanted to happen to me, especially not for being helpful to an old man and in return getting harmed or falling into his trap. This world is full of insecurities, we literally can't trust anyone whether it's our close ones or not, we can't.

-

-

-

You may also support me in my Patreon account:

(https://www.patreon.com/Tinutinu)