"Hahaha.. " the Minister laughed
David couldn't tell what was funny but he let the man laugh. Even without Nous's help he was very confident in being able to put someone on that seat with the type of wealth he had now and all without going through the various under the table methods that most would follow.
"You are really an interesting fellow, " the man said before taking a deep breath
"I shall consider your offer but what do you stand to gain from this, if it's the mountain, that much was yours since the government is looking for funding from wherever they can get it so what do you gain?"
"Sir, all of us want to leave behind a legacy, the People's Alliance shall be our legacy and besides I own a company, if you become president just give my company more of a chance at public projects." David replied
However, following the plans he had for the party, it would be more than just a legacy.
"I see, if I was even a few years younger, those words would have brought me to my knees quicker but you do realize that campaigns require funding, you may be rich but I doubt, you can just give up such amount with ease"
"You don't have to worry much about me, if that was an issue, I wouldn't have proposed it, the next presidential election is in 2023 and then I can promise you a campaign budget of over $100 million" David replied with a smile
He may not have that money now but the People's Alliance had a 99.8% chance of success in its endeavors so he would definitely have it then
In fact he didn't need to have it, the party itself would be sponsoring itself, however due to the way the party was structured, he wasn't sure if the man would actually even be the party's candidate for the presidential elections.
"I see then we shall meet then" The minister said before taking his stamp to approve of the purchase.
Seeing this, a smile appeared on David's face as he calmly collected it before the two began to joke and laugh as though they had been friends for years.
After about thirty minutes of meaningless banter. David was finally released from the man's office but he escorted him out.
"...General plans on running then, but we can start laying the groundwork for it now" David suggested as they stepped out of the office building.
The man had volunteered to escort him to the car, David could understand the man's perceptive after all to the minister, he might as well be a giant golden cow to catch now hence the clingy behaviour.
"Prof Musa!!" a voice suddenly called out as the minister stopped.
Turning to the source of the call, they both saw a man walking them. The man looked to be in his late forties or probably older, David couldn't tell exactly but he was fit.
The man was dressed in full kaftan and looked dignified enough that David could tell that he held some high position in society. Behind him was a young woman who looked familiar for some reason but was dressed in some business casual clothing but her face remained glued to her phone.
"General, na you be that!" The Minister, Musa called out in reply as the two immediately burst out into loud laughter.
(A/N: translates to "General is that you?")
It was clear that they went way back considering the fact that the Minister had even reverted to pidgin just to address him.
"Ha it has been long oo, but how are you doing? See how fit you're looking if someone didn't know they would think you were a young man" Minister Musa said
"Good morning, sir"David greeted as he bowed slightly
Yes, he wasn't involved in their discussion but he still needed to greet and at least remind them that he was here if not the minister would forget that he had escorted someone outside.
"Ehn, is this your son? You know it has been long since I last saw him" the general asked as he pointed towards David.
Looking at him closer now, David found the man familiar but just couldn't remember where he had seen him from. It was the same thing for the girl by his side.
"Ah, no, oh sorry, let me introduce him, David this is General Aminu Suleiman Danmusa, he's the current Comptroller-general of the Nigerian Customs Service" The minister said as he pointed to the man and immediately the memory clicked.
"Ah, sir, I didn't even know it was you, it's me, David, Assistant Comptroller Chidinma's younger brother, we met briefly during the schools matric" David said with a smile as he grabbed the man's hand firmly in a handshake but with both hands to show respect.
"Eh? David, wait that small boy, Kai close your eyes small and children nowadays will outgrow you" the man joked
[Sir, I don't think he remembers who you are but the feeling is there] Nous spoke telepathically but David merely ignored it
That much was obvious, the man was merely giving rote replies pretending to remember him, probably because he saw him with the Minister and didn't want to spoil things for himself or even the Minister.
However that didn't concern him, looking beside the man, a certain someone had finally looked up and removed the airpods in her ear.
"Wait, that means you must know my granddaughter then. Fadila?" the man called out
Hearing her name, the young woman immediately stepped up, David wasn't wrong, he did know her as a smile bloomed on his face but his heart was beating even more rapidly than it normally would.
"Good morning sir… David" She said as she bowed to the minister but only called his name as though it was to acknowledge his presence.
"Haa, this solves it then, if i had known that you were friends with my dear niece, i would have approved your request since" Minister Musa said loudly
Hearing this, David felt as though he had been added to a situation without his permission. The man just announced his bias just like that without any fear of the repercussions.
"So what did you come here for? I hope this man didn't trouble you" the general asked as they both laughed
"Ah, no sir, I just came to get an approval for my project" David replied
"Uh… I see, then I'll leave you two to it, while we handle our business" her grandfather said before turning to his friend as they went back into the ministry.
Seeing them leave while leaving Fadila behind, David was at a loss for words. The two men just walked out laughing as though they hadn't done anything.
"Arent they too shameless in their acting?" Fadila suddenly spoke up
"No wonder they said it always runs in the blood" David replied
"Eh? See this bastard, where have you been?" Fadila suddenly shouted as she kicked him in the shin.
"Fu*k. What was that for?" David asked as he hugged his leg
Seeing this, Ibrahim immediately stepped up but David stopped him.
"So now you even have a bodyguard," Fadila said as slamming her bag into his chest
"Okay, calm down. Take a deep breath" He said while keeping a good distance
"Do you know how worried I was? I came to your house four times and you weren't there, even your neighbours didn't know where you went" She said before trying to hit him again but David simply dodged
"Huh? I thought.. "
[Don't sir, you would only infuriate her more and you actually didn't notify anyone of your change of address] Nous suddenly interrupted
'Ah I really need to stop doing things with that sort of mindset' David thought before turning to the girl in front of him.
Fadila was someone that he could proudly call a friend… Well admittedly he did like her but like a boy in his situation. He had been friend zoned to the highest order.
Or at least that was how he had perceived it, she never once dated anyone but she also never agreed whenever he even slightly mentioned it.
"You know you're surprisingly way cuter when you're angry" David said and almost instantly a kick found its way to him but he dodged right on time.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, I thought I notified you when I moved but I guess I didn't" David said as he quickly tried to deescalate the situation
"Your only luck is that we are in a public place, so how have you been?" she said as she finally stopped
"I see but why didn't you just call me?" David asked
He may no longer have his phone because of Nous but he has yet to miss any call yet and he hadn't seen a missed call from her at all
"I don't have your number, my phone was stolen"
"Huh? When?... Well it's a miracle it has lasted this long but still when?"
"Is that what you should be saying, my phone got lost and you're telling me it has lasted long, this boy… Just wait" She said as she quickly pulled off the slipper she was wearing and looked around before chasing him around
Seeing this. David immediately took off. Such was their relationship, they had met when he first joined the university.
Both were freshmen but still Nigeria worked on the basis of 'Who do you know?' their paths ended up meeting and now he had to deal with this animal as a friend.
His sister worked for the Nigerian Customs Service as well and of course, the guardians would do the standard "Take care of each other" nonsense.
Fadila didn't need someone to take care of her, the girl was pristine and lady-like in the presence of people but outside that, she needed to be out in a cage.
"You know your father may be watching right?!" David shouted as he dodged a flying slipper
"Wait oo, that's true" She said as they both laughed