THE CEO

 

IV

Bahamas, Carribean Islands

The sun was torrid and the heat was unmanigable, palm trees flooded the warm thick air, standing tall like huge sentinels watching over its creation. Fruit vendors were seen selling all kinds of fruits: apples, bananas and oranges. They would fan themselves due to the immense heat. The air was salty and alkaline and the cool warm breeze sent a slight chill down Simon's spine. He wore a blue beach shirt, with a pair of brown khaki pants and black loafers.

He stepped out of the cab surreptitiously tipping the taxi driver with a one hundred dollar bill. The cab driver was from Jamaica, he blasted reggae music all through the ride entertaining Simon Crawford with stories about his home country and how he came to "Paradise" in search for fulfillment. He narrated the history of the Bahamas eloquently as if he was born there naturally. He smiled gaily as he reached for the american note speaking jibberish in some Jamaican dialect that Simon could not decipher.

Ths street was buzzing with life: cars were at a halt due to nearby traffic, motorcyclists dashed across the backroads like flies, the local traffic policeman waving his hands back and forth to signal the drivers as he stopped one or two buses for bribes, the pavements were fashinably put together with asphalt, smoke could be seen oozing from the black tarmac due to sun's heat. He put on his shades and adjusted his shirt.

He had an appointment with the CEO of Bank of Bahamas, this was not a regular visit. After the stock market crashed due to the war in the middle east he came for closure and safeguarding of his clients "dirty" money. He stepped into the bank and was welcomed with a breeze, the air was perfectly air conditioned, he took of his shades cooly. He quickly skipped the long line by the residents whom were waiting patiently to be served, sneering at him like a hungry dog.

A man wearing a black tuxedo with a black bow tie moved swiftly across the hall towards Simon Crawford.

"Good Afternoon sir, Monsieur Khalid is waiting for you in the master office" he said with a slight bow. 

He was skinny and slender, as tall as a tower and his eyes were sharp and shaped like almonds. He wore a suspicious grin on his face as he motioned him upstairs. Simon was delighted and impressed. He followed him upstairs. The staircase was made of glass and with a modern finish, plants were on every corner. The feng shui was delightable and decadent. Above the ceiling was glass chandelier that was reflecting rays from the sun roof which gave it a dazzling appearance like a refined diamond.

The man in the tuxedo, opened a huge mahogany door that smelt of dried wood with a hint of pine. There was a man facing the transparent window standing while his hands behind his back. He turned elegantly towards the door and smiled gaily. He looked backward glidly like a swan. He wore a pink polo shirt and a pair of brown shorts, around his neck was a golden necklace with a crucifix and also wore a pair of white tennis shoes.

"Simon! Good to see you..." said Khalid embracing him with a huge hug kissing both sides of his as tradition.

"Where is my money, Khalid!" exclaimed Simon

"You mean your crime boss'?" asked Khalid

"It's my money, too.." added Simon

"You know its crucial time Simon, your "friends" are under investigation by the bureau" he said while looking at the massive painting behind his desk.

"What!?' sighed Simon.

"I guess you didnt know..." said Khalid. Simon's face turned red like an apple.

"Dirty money has to be cleaned some how..." added Khalid.

"You see...Simon your just a pawn in this game" said Khalid emphatically.

"An errand boy if I may" said Khalid childly almost bursting into a huge laughter as his face lightened up.

Simon clenched his hands into a fist shaking profuesly as he heard Khalid's naive's insults and mockery. He shrugged his shoulders and walked away from his office. His business trip bore no fruit only more questions and malevolent insights. Only a pawn, an errand boy...those harsh words stuck to him like an annoying nickname given by friends and family. He was shook. What else could his clients be hiding. He would have to find out...