The Bogeyman; the tale of a man and his death list

Chapter 22(Smoke with a Friend)

Hahaha!

“I tell you, that was the most ridiculous moves ever attempted by mankind,” Denver cackled as he tried to stop himself from laughing.

“I think that was slik” Redmond coughed.

“Oh, the great Bogeyman is being sarcastic now.”

“Am just being honest here, though you were a bit off that day. Your khaki pants were something else, who did you say made it again, eh?” Both ventured into another spree of raucous laughter.

“My dear stepmother, I want you to look special, you know, so I made this for you.” Denver mimicked. “Those were her exact words.” He remarked and both choked with laughter.

Is really pleasing seeing you this way, Sir.” Denver confessed as the laughter died down. 

“Which way, pal?” Redmond asked casually, turning his neck towards him before signalling him to pass the cigarette that was in between his index finger and middle finger.

The two gentlemen were having a good time, sitting on the short fence, surrounding Redmond's Bee farm.

“Happy.” He paused and then took a glance at him and continued, “You're really living this life now, unlike me that still find it difficult to adapt.” Denver admitted, his face swinging from glim to grim. He watched as Redmond blew his smoke into a ring.

Redmond chuckled lightly, “That's because I have something that you don't have my friend, the love of a woman. But don't worry pal, one day you will find love.” He hints a smuggish smile and pats him on his back.

“Doesn't love make one weak? I mean look at you, sir. The highly feared General, the greatest night assassin, the Lycan General, the True Lord and The Bogeyman himself, is now a housekeeper, a chef and a bee farmer. Where the hell did you learn all this?”

Redmond's eye glinted in amusement as he oozed another waft of smoke. “You learn and do many things when you're in love. You can never understand until you find it. 

Everyday I wake up, all I think about is her. My days of violence will soon be behind me. All I want is to work like a regular man, smoke with a good friend and love this same woman over and over.” Redmond narrates with a sullen look.

Denver stared at him in awe, “Are you a Shakespeare fan now?” Both laughed, “All this is beautiful, that, I must admit but It will be difficult to forbid violence. This is a part of you that can't be obliterated especially now that she is becoming popular and quite influential.” Both men stared at the sky, their faces full of worries and their hearts watered with peace.

“More enemies, eh?” Redmond asked in a pensive tone.

“Yeah, I heard Logan’s second son, General Livramento, is bloody thirsty for revenge.”

Hmmm

Redmond grunted, his facial muscles tightened up. “I see, I think it is high time we pay him a visit.”

“This is perfect timing. The Wade are hosting a banquet in three days time. They intend to gather reinforcement both financially and politically.”

“Alright then, three nights  from today, we will say hello to him.” He paused and then puffs his smoke to the air and then asked, “Have you been able to keep my wife out of trouble? It is three weeks already and you're yet to give me any feedback.”

Denver inhaled deeply and exhaled gently, “She is everyone's favourite. She really makes my work easier for me. She is doing just fine except for the numerous philanders that keep trying to court her.”

“Hmmm” Redmond grunted, his face devoid of emotions.

“That's normal for a beauty like her. Well, we just have to be mindful of one.”

“Who?” Red asked with keen interest.

“Timothy Chadwick.”

Redmond cupped his chin as he adopted a thoughtful stance while he tried to figure out where he had heard the name.

“Why is the name so familiar?”

“That's because the name “Chadwick” is a household name. The Chadwick family represents more than seventy-five percent of the country’s pharmacy.”

“Why then should I be bothered by…” He feigns forgetting the name “Timothy Chadwick, sir. He is the second and last child of Mr. Chadwick. He came back two months ago after many years abroad. He remains Ruth's only ever male friend and I believe he is back to win her heart after failing to do so before.”

“That's hell of a background story.” He glanced at his wrist watch, “Alright boy, time to go. My love will be on sight any time from now.”

Denver saluted and left while Redmond took his time and watched until he was out of sight.

He stretched and yawned simultaneously before finding his way inside. Life seems to be smooth for the General. 

Three weeks ago, he had dug himself into a perilous situation. He had taken bizarre moves that no one in the Teleimans family would dare take. Causing the old patriarch to crawl out from his den to a place other than Auster Villa. That was a candid definition of “crazy” but it seems it actually paid off.

His dear wife, Ruth has finally received the credit and praises that she deserves. On that day three weeks ago, Grandpa ensured that Ruth was returned to her position as the one spearheading the collaboration, well, not like he had much of a choice.

The icing of the cake was the instant announcement of Ruth as the company chairman. In less than a week, Grandpa's decision yielded massive and instant results. Ruth's relationship with Mr Paulson fanned her popularity and announced her as one of the female  prospects in Denor city's business world and power.

Everyone wants to be related or affiliated to her. All wanted to stand a chance of grabbing fur from the fat sheep. 

Her steep rise has also elevated the influence of the Teleimans family, all thanks to relationship with Mr Paulson and the ebbing Wade family. 

Her steep rise also meant that Arthur fell down the pecking order. He seems to have run out of moves or better off, hibernating, waiting for a bountiful season to sprout.

“Hey, here you're. My Love.” Redmond wrapped his hand round Ruth's waist.

“Easy on me Red, you will suffocate the baby.” she grumbled while she attempts to resist him.