91
CHAPTER Ninety One
It was Sunday and there was a mass gathering in St Williams church. Every member was particularly surprised seeing the amount of media personnel present at the service. After the hymn had been recited, everyone braces themselves for the message as the bishop stepped up to the pulpit.
“Gentlemen and ladies, today is the day that the lord has made that we may rejoice in and be glad in it” Everyone cheered.
“Now, I know you all have a question to ask about the presence of the media. This because in few minutes time, the presidential candidate known as Mr. Buddy would be here in anytime soon” The amount of mumbling and murmuring of words increased as the Bishop made the announcement.
Even the elders at the table were particularly shocked about the fact that the Bishop was suddenly turning back on his promise not to be political.
“I know you all have questions to ask. Everyone is wondering why has the bishop gone against his words, I need you to know that even our lord Christ, was once political in his dealings with the apostles” One of the elders couldn’t bare it again, and wrote out a note and placed it infront of the pulpit.
The bishop sighed, upon seeing the note. He wondered where Buddy was, he was fed up of having to stand on the alter and spill out rubbish.
“While we wait for the presidential candidate to arrive, can the choir please give us a ministering song in worship” The bishop instructed and dropped the mic, left the pulpit into his inner chambers, with the elders right behind him.
“Bishop Williams, I must say that I am one of the few persons that are shocked by the fact that you are endorsing a candidate for this election” Zica, one of the elders stated.
“Elder Zica, God works in a mysterious way and his ways are not understandable to men” The bishop knew that he wouldn’t be able to answer their questions directly and so, decided to use a subtle approach of speaking in proverb
“Clearly, something is wrong somewhere, I have known you and I know you to be a very disciplined man. What you have just told the congregation out there, would store some controversy” Another elder spoke.Copyright by Nôv/elDrama.Org.
He was about replying to them, when he had his cell phone ring up. He checked to see it was Buddy.
“Elders, do you trust me?” They all looked at themselves for a moment and nodded accordingly.
“Very well then, I want you all to understand that nothing bad would happen, I need you to trust the process. It is only when you do this that we can stand as a body” The bishop finished up before leaving the men in shock, as he head towards the pulpit yet again.
Once he had ordered the choir members to stop, he collected the microphone and searched through the crowds to see Buddy seating with a smile on his face.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, may we all rise, as we acknowledge the presence of the future president of this country, none other than Mr. Buddy as he stepped towards the alter” while some of the congregation clapped their hands as they celebrate the man, others had a disapproving look on their face as Buddy stepped into the altar.
“May we all stretched forth our hands and pray for this young man” The bishop instructed as he also whispered to Buddy to go down on his knees and be prayed for. After a few minutes of prayer, the bishop ordered him to get up to his feet, while he told the congregation to have their seat.
“It is with great pleasure that I hereby announce Mr. Buddy as the leader which the lors has chosen for his people” Buddy was full of smile as the bishop raised his hands. One thing was certain, he has finally secured most, if not all the votes of the members of the congregation.
*****
Later that evening, after the commotion at the service, the bishop was settled in his office, trying to observe a quiet time, when he had a knock on the door.
“Go away! Come back never!” He shouted but the knock persisted, causing him to get up to his feet to go get the door.
He was surprised to see Tina standing by the door, as she stared down at him with a look he had already known was coming.
“Bishop why?” She asked. The bishop stepped aside for her to enter and he locked the door immediately.
“While I hate myself doing such a thing right before the church, I need you to understand that i was under duress to do it” The Bishop revealed.
“Duress? How?” Tina asked confused
“That man Buddy has a way of getting people to do his bidding without even forcing them”
“By what you have just said, it means he blackmailed you?” TIna asked
“He did blackmail me and I hate the fact that someone could have the audacity to go to my back and dig out the previous events that had happened from my past life” Tina related with what the bishop had said, and felt sad for him.
“I have truly failed God in my assignment, and i am pretty sure he would be angry with mw for all the artricious act I committed on that altar” The Bishop commented. Tina felt bad for the bishop and had the urge to console him, by holding up his hand.
“I may not be as old as you are bishop, but I am emphatic and i need you to understand that this would be over soon, I know that for sure”
Suddenly, they both saw flashes and they turned to see from a far distance through the window, someone that had taken pictures of them holding hands.
This made the bishop worried as he stood up and began to oace about, making dramatic gestures.
“Its okay Bishop, probably one these paparazzi who wants to feed themselves by having to dig into celebrity lives”
“But I am not a celebrity, I am a bishop” The bishop indicated
“You are a celebrity the day you had announced Buddy as president. They would keep coming for you now” Tina explained to the bishop
********
Jeffery wore a hood as he stepped into his manager’s apartment. For the last days, he had been hiding for fear of having to loose his life. The revealation by his boss right before the press still haunted him till the very minute and it caused him so much pain to think that he was trying to be on everyone’s good book. He waited for his boss to step down from the car, before confronting him.
“Oh! Jeffery its you, what do you want” He asked casually, this infruiated Jeffery as he was too calm for someone that had defamed his name to the public.
“How could you? How could you sit right there and spill lies to the public about me?” His manager kept calm and didn’t say a single thing.
“I havs sacrificed enough for your company and when I try to find a way to hit a big story and make this company stable from it’s bankruptcy, the best you could do was to spill out rubbish to the public?”
“Sacrifice? Did you just make mention of sacrifice? Let me tell you something real quick young man, there is no one that has sacrificed alot for this company than me. I know you have tried your best but then, you screwed all your hard work by chasing a stupid story I warned you about” His manager replied.
“I chased something that could have been of great benefit to the entire public. Do you know how it could have impacted people knowing that, they had to be warry of Tina?” Jeffery asked.
“The truth is Jeffery, you and I know that you are only pained that I mentioned your name alongside Buddy. I may have said some lies about you, but some of the things I said that day, were the truth. I need you to let me know something real quick; how can a professional journalist like you, an unbiased empire be seen with a presidential candidate?” Jeffery was mute as his manager talked. He tried to allow every word he was saying, sink into his system.
“Tina came to me, offering me a whooping sum of thirty million dollars, the miney that would soon reshape the entire structure of feathers TV. She instructed me to say those things I said” Jeffery couldn’t believe what his manager was saying.
“You know what, I need you to understand that you are nothing but a traitor, a betrayal, a snitch to your country” His manager chuckled dramatically
“My country? My country? Where was my country, when I needed financial help? Where was my country, when the employees I hired were crying out for their money? I took that money because I believed it would eventually serve a long term” Jeffery could not handle anymore of his talk amd simply walked out but not without saying these words
“I need you to understand something boss, Karma is real and I pray it doesn’t catch you so fast that you will loose everything you have gathered” He hissed and finally left.
********
Jeffery was wandering around the street. He had forced himself to become homeless, as he was scared they might come for him.
While he walked along the lonely path of the streets, he received a call from his wife and he didn’t hesitate before answering.
“Hey babe” His husky, tiring voice spoke into the phone.
“Jesus! Jeffery, I have been trying to reach you!!! Where are you darling? Please come back hom” His wife’s tone was that filled with worries as she spoke. It hurt him to know that there were possibility that he might not even see her again
“I am fine babe, how is my son doing?”
“He has been asking after his father, he needs you at the moment Jeffery” Her voice felt like one that was about to cry.
“I am okay. Babe, listen to me real quick; I don’t know how long I may be gone, but I need you to make sure that our son is safe”
“What are you talking about?” His wife asked, showing concern
“I need to stay on a low profile at the moment, till the election has come and gone, I cannot continue to show my face in the public as they would see me as nothing but a traitor” He explained to his wife.
“So what do you intend to do right now?”
“Just forget about it, make sure you take care of our son okay? Bye, I love you” Before she could say anything further, he hanged up.
Jeffery knew that with the escalated situation, he needed to get himself back as he was fully demoralized. Thinking about what he did, Jeffery wondered if there was any justification to all that he had done. Aside the fact that the Elijah news, would have been the biggest news in America, Jeffery had learned the hard way; never mess with the big men.
Buddy was home relaxing himself, with a couple of chicks by his side as he watched Netflix. He was free for today; no meetings, no interview, just a time to reflect and also have fun. His mind thought towards Amore and how he had treated him.
He knew Amore deserved nothing of those verbal words he had given to him, but he needed to be sure of the fact that those rumours that were being told, were not just fabricated but true and from all indication, they still remained false.
While he was smooching around with the girls, he received a phone call from one of his intels in Canada.
“Boss we have a situation; your shipments at the ware house, has caught fire at the moment” The Intel revealed.