The announcement of the El-Duah Consortium securing one of the contracts of Scholar Groups’ massive development project made headlines across the Ashanti Region. The sheer size of the contract, coupled with the enormous deposit made by Scholar Groups, sent shockwaves through the business community. For Mariam and Queenstar, the news was nothing short of a miracle. The El-Duah family, especially the once-doubtful executives, were elated. They decided to celebrate this monumental achievement with a grand banquet at the family mansion that evening.
Excited to express their gratitude, Mariam and Queenstar invited Yaw out for lunch that afternoon. They chose one of the most prestigious restaurants in Kumasi—El-Salvador. Yaw, always humble despite his newfound wealth, dressed in his usual simple shirt and trousers. Arriving early, he decided to spend some time across the street at the Kumasi Mall, where the glittering storefronts and luxurious items offered a glimpse into a world he had only recently become a part of.
As he strolled through the mall, Yaw’s attention was caught by the sleek, futuristic design of a BMW i8 displayed in the showroom. He had never been one for flashy cars, but something about the vehicle’s elegance and power drew him in. He approached the car, admiring its smooth lines and innovative features, imagining what it would be like to own such a masterpiece.
But his daydream was quickly shattered by the sharp voice of a saleswoman who had noticed his plain attire. “Hey, don’t touch that!” she snapped. “If you scratch it, your entire family wouldn’t be able to pay for the damages.”
Yaw’s face flushed with embarrassment. He had simply wanted to get a closer look, but now he felt out of place, like a child caught doing something wrong. The saleswoman, looking him up and down, sneered and turned to the manager who had just walked in. “Maybe we should give him some coins and send him on his way,” she said sarcastically. “He looks like he could use it.”
The manager, a portly man with a pinched face, didn’t even glance at Yaw as he nodded in agreement. “Go on, give him a few coins and get him out of here,” he ordered. “We don’t need beggars loitering around.”
As the saleswoman pulled out a few cedis to hand to Yaw, a well-dressed businessman entered the showroom, immediately drawing the staff’s attention away. The man, exuding confidence and wealth, approached the BMW with an air of entitlement. The saleswoman, now all smiles, rushed over to assist him, leaving Yaw standing there, forgotten.
Yaw watched as the businessman, whom the saleswoman addressed as Mr. Oliver, inspected the car. After a few moments, Mr. Oliver asked for the price, and when he heard the figure—$200,000—he suddenly coughed, looking pale. “I… I have a stomach ache,” he stammered, quickly excusing himself and rushing out of the showroom, leaving the staff bemused.
Feeling dejected, Yaw was about to leave when a voice called out to him. “Hey, aren’t you the errand boy for Mr. Akrobeto? I saw you in the news recently.”
Yaw turned to see a young woman, Fiona, who was a National Service personnel working at the BMW showroom. She recognized him and approached with curiosity. “Are you really here to buy a car?”
Yaw hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, I’m interested in the BMW i8. I heard the price, and I’d like to purchase it.”
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Fiona’s eyes widened in surprise, but she remained professional. “Are you sure? That’s quite an expensive car…”
Yaw pulled out a gold card from his pocket, handing it to Fiona. The card was unique, shimmering in the light, with an intricate design that hinted at its exclusivity.
The manager, who was about to enter his office, caught sight of the card out of the corner of his eye. He stopped in his tracks, his heart nearly skipping a beat. The card was one of only six in the world—five held by the presidents of superpower nations, and the sixth rumored to belong to a mysterious young billionaire. But the manager, distrustful and arrogant, quickly dismissed the thought. “It must be a fake,” he muttered to himself.
His suspicion turned to disdain as he marched over, snatched the card from Fiona, and sneered at Yaw. “You think you can fool us with this? Do you know what this card is? It’s not for someone like you. I’m calling the police.”
Yaw calmly replied, “The card is genuine. Just swipe it, and you’ll see.”
The manager scoffed, waving off Fiona, who was visibly nervous. “Don’t waste your time. This is clearly a scam. But fine, if you insist on making a fool of yourself…”
He handed the card to Fiona, who hesitated but did as she was told. She swiped the card and entered the $200,000 amount, glancing nervously at Yaw as she handed him the keypad to enter his password.
Yaw typed in his code, and within seconds, the payment was approved. The green light blinked, and the transaction went through successfully.
The showroom fell into a stunned silence.
The manager’s face drained of color as he realized the enormity of his mistake. Before he could react, the police, who had been called earlier, arrived at the scene. The manager, still reeling from shock, accused Yaw of fraud and insisted he be arrested. Fiona, trying to defend Yaw, was met with a harsh slap from the manager and was also accused of aiding and abetting.
However, Yaw, unperturbed by the chaos, calmly made a call to Mr. Akrobeto. Within minutes, the situation escalated as the regional minister was informed, who in turn alerted the regional police commander. The weight of Yaw’s connections soon became apparent as military and police vehicles swarmed the mall, and high-ranking officials entered the BMW showroom with a sense of urgency.
The officers, recognizing Yaw immediately, greeted him with utmost respect. They swiftly reprimanded the manager and the police officer who had handcuffed Yaw and Fiona. The offending officer was taken away, and the remaining staff could only watch in stunned silence as the situation was completely turned on its head.
Yaw, visibly furious, demanded to see the owner of the entire mall. When the owner arrived, clearly having been briefed about Yaw’s powerful connections, he approached the young man with a mix of respect and trepidation.
Yaw, still seething, gave the owner an ultimatum. “Name your price for this entire mall, or remove the BMW dealership immediately.”
The owner, understanding the gravity of the situation, was quick to respond. “Please, Mr. Boakye, there’s no need for that. The BMW manager is my cousin, but I assure you, he meant no harm. It was all a misunderstanding. I beg you, please forgive him.”
Yaw took a deep breath, his anger subsiding slightly as he saw the sincerity in the owner’s plea. “Fine,” he said after a moment, “I’ll let it go this time. But make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
The owner nodded vigorously, grateful for Yaw’s leniency. Yaw then turned to Fiona, who was still shaken by the events. “Please, complete the transaction and finalize the documents for the car,” he instructed her, his tone gentle now.
After the paperwork was done, Yaw handed Fiona the address of Mr. Akrobeto's apartment and asked for the car to be delivered there. He then quietly left the mall, walking across the street to El-Salvador restaurant to wait for Mariam and Queenstar. The onlookers couldn’t help but whisper among themselves. Some sneered, believing Yaw was merely flaunting Mr. Akrobeto’s wealth, while others marveled at the young man’s poise and the incredible power he wielded.