Summoned

"Sire, you know your father won't be happy if you don't come home with me." 

The owner of those words was bald like the shell of an egg, and his voice was the thin voice of a clown, the very silly ones that show up in big circuses and small stages to pull their silly stunts and make poor people laugh, while the rich watch and make the money on their heads.

He was tugging at Ray's shirt, not minding Nancy was in the room, and she had done the pretty work of getting Ray to stay and wait for Mariama to finish with her meeting with Franco.

"Come on, Tony, learn to be reasonable." Came Ray in disgust. "I never had the chance to tour the city with the greatest of us all."

Tony took a deep breath. No sane person would say it isn't a thrilling experience to hang out with the big boss, but Ray's father already cited the risk of hanging out with big birds, the bullet for the big bird might hit the small birds hanging around it.

"I understand your point, sire, but we really have to go home." Tony continued, this time, his hand was rubbing his bald scalp. "Look, I get your point, but you know you can do that later, not now."

Nancy wanted to step in, but who knows how close the man and the young man had been. He could be Ray's closest buddy, and he might have been with the kid since childhood. That alone could be the only reason why Osbourne would ask him to go persuade his son to come home with him.

Nancy swallowed and held her peace. Mariama assured he she would be with them as soon as she is done with Franco, and that's what she was waiting on.

"Look, Tony, it would be best you come along, you will enjoy the ride and the tour with Lady Light." Ray said, his smile a warm piece one would see on the face of a lad whose dream was gradually drawing to fulfillment.

Tony took a deep breath and turned to Nancy. She was the only one sitting in the room, but sitting isn't his problem. His problem was the fact that she got to speak to Ray before him, and she did it in such convincing manner that Ray would rather urge him to come with them.

He rubbed his palm on his shirt and turned once again to Ray who was waiting for him to tell him he would come along with them. he raised one finger, an indication that something just flew into his mind.

"Your girlfriend." A warm smile crusted on his face. "She will come along today. Remember you both have a date in the garden."

"I will call her and inform her that the date is cancelled." That was too simple for Ray to say. "We can always do it, but being with Lady Light is a one time, lifetime blessing."

Tony turned once more to Nancy and met her brows raised, and her lips curved. She was clearly mocking his failure to convince a boy he had been with half his damn life. He slipped his hands in his pockets and made for the door. he would leave shamefully if that's what will keep his peace.

"Tony, I asked you to come with us." Ray stopped him with those words. "You don't have to keep proving stubborn all the times."

"Sire." Tonny said without turning. "I'm following orders."

The door was pushed open with a bit of force, leaving Tony no other choice but to take a few steps back. Mariama emerged, looking far different from the little recklessness she just exhibited. On a normal day, a sane person wouldn't push the door in that manner without earning himself a query.

"Guess I heard a couple of your stuffs from outside, and I thought you have ended up convincing my younger cousin brother against being my guest the whole day, and tomorrow." Mariama made for Ray and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do you want to come with that man?"

Ray nodded his head without spitting out a word. That was enough consent and charge without the need for words. Mariama smiled. It was time to leverage on what the young lad wants. Whatever it is must be part of the convoy for her little journey back to her mansion.

"And I heard it when he invited you to join us." Mariama turned to Tony.

She wouldn't plead, Tony knew that better than anyone can do. She is Lady Light; she would grab a chunk of him and toss into the convoy if Ray asked for it. she narrowed her eyes to remind him of whom she is dealing with, a lady his boss hates to see, because he knew he can never contend with her in anything.

"What do you say to that invitation?" Mariama asked.

Tony waited a while before he dropped his answers. "I should go home to attend to his father."

Mariama smiled and scurried towards him, her eyes still narrowed like she would grab his balls and squeeze them till spit out the kind of word she would like to hear at the moment.

"Osborne," Mariama started. "I know him better than you do. The only business you have with him is Ray, and you want to leave him behind. Then you wish to be the next thing to be buried alongside a wayward dog at the backyard."

Tony took a deep breath, and like a conquered general in battle who knew he has no hope but to accept failure and surrender, he raised his hand above his head and made silly face. He wouldn't be the one on the way when the force that would grab his master's son is way bigger than he can handle.

"I accept the invitation, but I'll be in the same car with him." Tony said.

Mariama smiled and shot Nancy a glance. Nancy smiled. She knew the game was won already, but the big problem is they wouldn't fix Tony in the same car with them, when they have a slut for Ray already.

"Tony, my convoy this morning numbered twenty." Mariama said. "Trust me, we have a space for you in one of the vehicles, but my car is for me, Nancy and Ray."

"But…"

"But me no buts, Tony." Mariama didn't let him speak. "You can go home and concede to defeat, accept Osborne's whip, and be sent back to me like a pile of dung."

Ray walked over to Tony and held his hand. Mariama was harsh, but she wasn't being unintentional, she knew she was sounding that way, and that's what she wanted the most at the moment.

"She wants to snatch you away." Tony whispered at Ray.

"You are making a mad scene here." Ray squeezed Tony's hand in his. "I want a moment with my great cousin. Don't ruin my chances."

Tony nodded his head to his young master in solidarity to his words.

"Good." Ray ran his hand on Tony's bald scalp. "Always do better."