Chapter Eight
Kimberly was floating on a cloud. She was happy. She knew she was happy because she the feeling encompassed her in a way that she had never felt before. It was a warm and pleasant feeling that had spread throughout her body and it made her smile more than she had ever done in her life. And she did not want it to end. Every time she spent with Hussein increased her happiness, and she was spending more and more time with him as the days went by.
They had lunch together almost every day and in the evenings, they had dinner in the most special ways she could have ever dreamed of. Once, they had dinner under the open sky. It was wonderful and special in every way imaginable. “I’m never going to forget this night,” she had told him.
“I hope you don’t,” he said. “I want you to remember this forever.”
Kimberly knew that she would never forget because that was when she had realised how happy she was with Hussein. He made her happy just by being himself and she enjoyed every second spent in his company.
Little by little, she was beginning to dread the day she would have to leave for her own home. The Big House had come to feel like home away from home. She wished she did not have to leave. It was selfish of her but she wished it anyway. There was so much she could do in Mapungi, so much she could give and so much more the town had to offer. If only she could have it all.
Negotiations for the land she wanted for her school had already begun. She had found out that the Faroukis were in fact, long-standing enemies of the Mubaraks, and the only thing the two families had in common was the border that separated their lands. Kimberly had not wanted the ill feelings between the two feuding families to influence her transactions with Sadiq Farouki so she had insisted on meeting the man alone, much to the displeasure of Hussein who painted the man black from head to toe.
Sadiq Farouki was nothing like what Kimberly had expected. In her mind, he was an old man considering the fact that he owned so many lands in the town, probably heading towards sixty with a paunch, smoked or drank heavily if not both and was very mean. The man she met was far from the image. He was very young, probably the same age as Hussein if not a little older and she had to admit that he was very attractive. Though he never smiled throughout their meeting, he was extremely polite and direct, not mincing words as he outlined the terms and conditions under which he was willing to sell or lease the land.
Her project had to be one that would essentially benefit the people directly or indirectly. It must not be an establishment that would garner the disapproval of the town and its authorities and most importantly, it must be something that the people could afford.
When she told him that she intended to build a school, he relaxed visibly and she even thought that she saw the ghost of a smile flash on his face.
“You should have mentioned it earlier,” he said. Then, he began to outline plans that had already been put in place to build a school. “We have started with a library. My sister likes reading a lot,” he said fondly. “We were planning to add a school but we do not know exactly how to go about that. It turned out to be a lot complicated than I thought. If you are interested in building a school, then you can take over the school project. It will enable me to focus on the library.”
“I appreciate your suggestion, Mr Farouki, but what I am here for is to discuss how I can acquire land to start my own project. I don’t want a joint project.”
“I understand,” Sadiq said, “And I appreciate your frankness. The land I am proposing for the school is prime location and would be convenient for everyone. I am willing to lease it to you for a period of time till I’m sure it would be used for its intended purpose, after the lease expires, you can buy it out, if that’s alright with you. Otherwise, there are other lands available for you to choose though they may not be as convenient for a school environment.”
“Fair enough, thank you. I would like to take a look at the locations before settling on one.”
“Any time you are ready.”
It took three days to see all the lands and true to Mr Farouki’s word, the first land was the best option. They were yet to sign anything, nonetheless Kimberly had the sense that it was the first time in her life that she was taking on a project she really wanted.
“It is always a pleasure to see you smile, my love.”
Kimberly nearly fell off the bench she was sitting on. She had not heard him drive in in his impossibly silent car so she did not see him when he got out and walked towards her. But the voice was unmistakably Newton’s. All the alarm bells in her head went off at once. What business did he have here in Mapungi or at the Big House? Whatever it was, it could be good.
“Thinking of me?” He asked with a cocksure smile and Kimberly wondered how she had ever accepted to date him.
“What are you doing here?”
“You don’t sound very thrilled to see me, love? I thought you loved my surprises.”
Ah yes, she remembered now why she had accepted to be his girlfriend. He had surprised her by proposing in a very bold and public manner, and she had thought that anybody with such boldness was worth the shot. How wrong she had been. She had soon learnt that bold shows were the only things he cared about. Not the only thing, she corrected herself. Bold shows and her money.
“I don’t and I’m not your love. Do not call me that.”
“You loved it when I called you that too.”
She did not bother to tell him what she was thinking. “I asked you a question. What are you doing here?”
He sauntered past her into the house. Kimberly followed him in. “I heard you all decided to take a trip to the middle of nowhere.” He swept his gaze over the house before dismissing it as quickly. “Is this the best you could do?”
“Not everyone is as pompous as you, Newton, and don’t tell me you have travelled across the country just to see where I am.”
“No, unfortunately not everything is about you, love.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“I’ll call you whatever I want.”
“For your sake, I hope not,” Hussein said calmly from the doorway. Ladipole stood behind him. The shock on his face was almost comical. Hussein walked in, his countenance was all smiley though Kimberly sensed that he was far from that.
“Who are you?” Newton asked.
“I’ll ask you the same question,” Hussein replied, “since you are standing in my house.”
Kimberly watched the two men assessing each other. Hussein, in his trademark faded jeans and Tee was calm, almost nonchalant as he waited for Newton to answer. Kimberly was not fooled by his cool appearance. Newton on the other hand looked like he was facing a real opponent and not a man he had just met. In his stiffly pressed suit, he looked overdressed and completely out of place.
“This is Isaac Newton,” Kimberly said. “He is the CEO of BozCo, where I work.” To Newton she said, “This is Hussein Mubarak. He is Jessica’s cousin.”
“Nice to meet you.” Newton extended his hand.
Hussein took it in his. He knew very well who Isaac Newton was. He remembered seeing him around the field a few times when he had been contracted by BozCo. Isaac Newton had not been CEO then, Hussein remembered. His uncle had held that position.
“Good afternoon, Mr Newton,” Ladipole greeted, having recovered from his initial shock.
Newton merely nodded before turning back to Kimberly. “We need to talk later” he said. “I’ll come and pick you up tomorrow.”
Kimberly was annoyed that he did not even ask her before setting a date, it was so like him, but she was curious to know what he had to say that was so important that he would travel across the country just to say it.
“Fine,” she said, “I’ll see you out.” Instantly, Newton took her hand and she instinctively cringed.
“I’ll take my leave now,” Newton said to Hussein. Kimberly saw the disapproval in the stone-cold set of Hussein’s face and felt her own annoyance begin to surface. What was he thinking? That she was enabling Newton? He had no right to judge her.
“I hope your host is not harbouring any illusions about you, love. I won’t tolerate it,” Newton said when they were outside.
“Don’t forget whom you are talking to, Newton, and the next time you call me love, I won’t hesitate to remind you.”
“You don’t threaten me. For as long as your father is not found, nothing is legally yours. BozCo remains my uncle’s, and I, its CEO.”
“Goodbye, Newton.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He strode to his car and drove off. Kimberly stood outside thinking of what Newton had said. Although she had inherited most of her father’s properties and assets, BozCo was among the few that she could not legally call hers because those had been entrusted to other people.
She had found out from their family lawyer that her father had in fact, owned many companies and factories that were run and administrated by other people. Although her father had been owner of the everything, they had legally belonged to other people to whom he had entrusted those companies to keep till he passed away, in which case they would have been passed on to his daughter and his wife, to whom he had given the choices to either take over, sell or keep the current trustees. BozCo was one of those companies. And because Kimberly and her mum had refused to announce James Greene as legally dead, they could not claim ownership of those companies, BozCo included.
She sighed. Why did you leave us, Dad? Where are you now? She asked quietly. Her only answer was the silence around her and the baking sun. There were times when she imagined that her father had lost his memory somewhere and could not remember his family. That had to be the only reason why they had still not heard from him.
