C5 Step on it

Dr. Richard's Ford focus Sped up toward the State Clinic around 10:30am like an Ambulance van on an emergency mission.

Then he was driving the car quite absent-minded. He was very angry with Francis for failing to keep to his promise of calling him to say whether or not he had directed his assistant to meet him that the State Department of Health.

All that Francis succeeded in doing, as it appeared, was being the cause of Dr. Richard's wasting more time in the State Department than he wished for.

Above all, Dr. Richard's hope of making quick money and joining the league of the Rich soonest was beginning to wear a forlorn hope.

What else would remain of his business with Engineer Kennedy without Francis keeping to his word? Dr. Richard started to think how he would face Engineer Kennedy on his arrival at the airport.

Certainly, Engineer Kennedy would never forgive him in the event of Dr. Richard disappointing him.

He had not forgotten how Engineer Kennedy had stressed the important and implication of his coming to Baltimore and ending up receiving nothing but bad news telling him something like that the product was out of stock.

lt would be pure bad news for Engineer Kennedy to hear or learn that the product that had made him to forsake his original plan without the knowledge of his employer that sent him and fly to Baltimore was no longer available.

How he would feel about it and his regard for Dr. Richard was anyone's guess.

Perhaps Dr. Richard would think about it very well and the appropriate solution to it when he got to his office.

He might decide to call Engineer Kennedy and ask him cancel his trip to Baltimore.

He could come up with a reason as to why he's to cancel is coming to Baltimore.

This idea sounded good enough to Dr. Richard, for he knew that businessmen could change their business decisions to suit their whims and Caprices like chameleon.

Indeed, that was his final decision and he would soon pick his phone to call Engineer Kennedy without any remorse to show for it.

Damn it, After all Francis did the same thing to him and he still remained stolid as ever and not complaining to any soul.

So why must Engineer Kennedy not be man enough to bear with him.

While still heisting around this office table, looking at his book shelves, his phone started ringing, Dr. Richard's mind went straight to Francis again, as he thought that, perhaps, it was then that he found it convenient to tell him that his assistant was coming to meet him.

Surprisingly, he found out that it was not Francis; the caller was Engineer Shaw.

"Hello, Shaw," Dr. Richard said quietly and in a tired voice.

"How is the going, sir? You didn't call again to tell me how you discussed the business with Engineer Kennedy."

"lt was not quite long since I called him and both of us agreed on a price. He said he would not pay more than two hundred and five thousand dollars per packet in spite of all my pressure on him to add more," Dr. Richard lied to take advantage of Engineer Shaw.

"Damn it, fuck!! foolish man, he wants to make cheap gain for himself," Engineer Shaw chipped in, with a very angry tune, berating Engineer Kennedy.

"Anyway, it doesn't matter so much. We shall still make gain for ourselves even at the price that he has accepted to pay."

"Yes, you are right."

"Then what next?" Engineer Shaw asked

" Engineer Kennedy confided in me that he would call when he gets to New York and tell me when his flight is really to take off and his arrival at Baltimore. We agreed to meet at the airport but he is insisting on my bringing some packets of the product for inspection."

"Have you got them?"

"No, the Shell store officer, Francis, said I'd pay sixty thousand dollars for my registration and fifty-five thousand dollars for tally."

"Do you have the money to get registered?"

"lt's a lot of money, but I think I'll try."

"Good, you deserve a big mugs of beer. i own you one." Engineer Shaw said with a smiley voice.

"For what it's worth,"

"lt worth a lot sir,"

"Till then." Dr. Richard replied, and quickly continued. " Francis promised to said his assistant to collect the money from me. I'm still yet to hear from him saying when to expect his assistant."

"Look, Doc, you don't have to enter into registration now. Engineer Kennedy had already left for New York and I'm sure that very soon he will call you. lt won't be possible to finish all the rigorous processes of registration and get some packets of the product before he arrives in Baltimore. Remember that it takes only one hour for a flight from New York to arrive Baltimore and registration could take up two hours, thirty minutes or more."

"But Francis is insisting on my begin registered first. What do I do?"

There was a hesitation on the line, as Engineer Shaw seemed to delay in saying something.

"Hello.. Can you hear me?" Dr. Richard asked.

"Of course I do," Engineer Shaw said. "I'm afraid that your registration might delay and Engineer Kennedy will not like coming to Baltimore and going back with nothing. Think of how you will feel if you should find yourself in his shoes. Anyway, just hold on and I will call Francis and get back to you later."

"That will be fine, I suppose."

A moment later Engineer Shaw called Dr. Richard again and asked him to call Francis, assuring him that Francis will find an easier way of rendering him help. He also said that he had spoken to Francis and was sure that Francis would never disappoint them.

"just beg him to find a way of bringing out a packet for you so that on conclusion of your transaction with Engineer Kennedy, you will have only the remaining two hundred and ninety-nine packets to collect. Francis is reasonable dude, he will listen to you if you ask him as a favour."

" Did he agree to release a packet for me?"

"He seemed to be reasoning in that direction but I didn't drag him too far on that lest he changes his mind. Call him and find out his mind now."

Dr. Richard laughed and promised Engineer Shaw that he would try his best.

Dr. Richard walked to his office coffee machine, and made a little mug of coffee to relax his mind, before calling Francis.

After drinking his coffee, he decided to call Francis straight up. "Hello, Francis,"

"Hi, Dr. Richard, Good afternoon." Francis responsed. "I'm sorry, Dr. Richard. Your friend called that is, the guy from Pittsburgh, Engineer...eh..eh.. l mean the person who introduced you to me."

"That's right."

"He was saying if I could release a packet of the product for you as sample for your customer's inspection."

"Yes, that's right."

"Well, if you want it like that, it means you have to pay for the sample. You have to pay one hundred and seventy five thousand dollars. That's the much l can do for you.

"Okay...No problem. I have no option than to pay as that is the only way I can grab a packet of the product for my client's inspection."

"Okay, get ready with the money and call me so that I can arrange with my assistant to meet you and collect it in exchange for the packet."

"Thanks. I'll call back."

"All right, please do."

When all was said and done, Dr. Richard seemed a bit confused. He tried to think how he would get the money back if Engineer Kennedy should fail to show up. But just as he was about to get deeper into that to thought, Engineer Shaw called.

"Hello Doc, did Francis say that you'd pay for the packet?"

"So he said, else he would not give it to me."

"lf that is the case, try and pay if you can afford the money. This is an opportunity of a lifetime that we're about to miss. I'm in Pittsburgh and there is no way I can help. The damn time is too short and the distance between us is long. Close your eyes and get the deal with Francis done. Ensure that he gives you the packet of the product before making a transfer to him."

"I know so."

"You know what Doc?"

"What's that?"

"Has Engineer Kennedy called you from New York?"

"No, he yet to call."

"There is no problem. He will call but don't pay for the packet of the product until he calls to be sure that he is still coming."

"Your idea is a good one; but are you by any means suggesting that he might change his mind and fail to come?"

"No, Engineer Kennedy does not joke with appointments. He must surely come or tell you point blank that he is not coming if he changes his mind. He is a very principled man."

"Okay, let me run around and see if I can raise the money."

"Try your best, please. I cannot forget what you're passing through. I'm very proud of you and my prayer is that God will reward your effort many folds."

"Nevermind," Dr. Richard said and rang off.