Chapter Forty-Nine

On the other hand, when it was time to pick Wealth from school, Richie who was in a meeting with some music icons, excused himself and headed off to pick his son from school.

Pulling up in front of the school, he saw Children were already streaming out of the building, their excited chatter filling the air as they ran towards waiting cars and buses. Richie leaned against his car, scanning the crowd, and soon enough, he spotted Wealth, his tiny figure bouncing with energy as he made his way out of the school gates.

Wealth's face lit up as soon as he saw his dad. He waved enthusiastically, his backpack bouncing on his small shoulders. 'Daddy!'

Richie grinned and crouched down as Wealth ran into his arms. 'Hey, buddy! How was school today?'

Wealth hugged him tightly, then pulled back, eyes wide with excitement. 'It was amazing, Daddy! We learned about lions, and I drew the biggest one. Miss Oluchi said it was the best lion she's ever seen!'

Richie chuckled, playfully patting his son's head. 'I knew you would draw the best lion. Did you show it to your friends?'

Wealth nodded eagerly as they walked towards the car. 'Yes! And guess what? We had story time, and Miss Oluchi read a book about a lion who became friends with a rabbit! Isn't that funny?'

'A lion and a rabbit, huh? Sounds like an interesting story,' Richie said, opening the back door. He lifted Wealth into his car seat, gently adjusted the straps, and buckled them securely. 'So, what did the lion do with his new friend?'

'They went on adventures together!' Wealth said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. 'They explored the jungle, and the lion saved the rabbit from a big, scary snake. But then the rabbit saved the lion from falling into a river!'

Richie climbed into the driver's seat, smiling as he started the engine. 'Wow, that's some teamwork right there. Sounds like you had a pretty fun day.'

As they drove, Wealth kept talking, his voice filled with excitement. 'And guess what else, Daddy? We played a game in the playground. I was the fastest in the race! I ran so fast, even faster than Izunna! He said I must have eaten extra bananas for breakfast.'

Richie laughed out loud. 'Well, I'll make sure you have plenty of bananas tomorrow, so you stay the fastest.'

Wealth giggled, looking out the window as they passed familiar streets. 'And I got a star sticker for answering all the animal questions! Miss Oluchi said I'm an animal expert now.'

'An animal expert? Wow, you're going to have to teach me all about them,' Richie said, glancing at his son in the rearview mirror, pride swelling in his chest.

Wealth nodded seriously. 'I will, Daddy. I know all about lions, elephants, and even crocodiles. I'll teach you everything!'

As they neared home, Richie asked, 'So, what's your favourite animal now?'

Wealth thought for a moment, his face scrunched up in concentration. 'Hmm... I think lions are still my favourite because they're so strong. But I also like rabbits now, because they're small but really smart.'

Richie smiled. 'That's a good choice. Strong and smart… you're just like both of them.'

Wealth beamed at the compliment, his small chest puffing up with pride. 'Thanks, Daddy!'

'You're welcome, handsome.'

Looking out of the window and noticing a drone delivering a package, Wealth suddenly remembered the robot-versus-human football match his father was organising in December. 'So, how is the robot-versus-human match going? Hope you're preparing earnestly to make history?' he asked, turning to his father.

Richie chuckled, his eyes lighting up with excitement as he kept his hands steady on the wheel. 'Oh, it's going great! We're working hard on the strategy and getting the teams ready. It's going to be a groundbreaking event, and I'm making sure everything is perfect. I can't wait to see the first-ever robot-versus-human football match. We'll definitely make history!' He glanced at Wealth through the rearview mirror, a proud smile spreading across his face. 'And guess what? I've already picked out the best robot players. It's going to be a tough match.'

Wealth's eyes widened with excitement. 'Who's coming to the match, Daddy? Are any of the top players coming?'

Richie smiled, his voice brimming with pride. 'Our company is sending invites to some of the biggest names in football… players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and even some renowned coaches. We've also invited a few presidents and governors, as well as other celebrities who want to be part of this historic event. Big companies are already placing adverts, and the match is attracting global attention.'

Wealth leaned back in his seat, his mind racing with thoughts of all the famous people he'd get to see. 'Wow, Daddy! This is going to be huge!' He paused, his brow furrowing slightly. 'Daddy, I hope there will be room for the poor masses to come as well?'

Richie beamed proudly at his son, his heart swelling with admiration for the boy's thoughtfulness. 'Of course, son. We'll make sure the tickets are affordable for everyone. We want this event to bring people together, regardless of their background. Besides, with sponsors like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg, we might not even need the poor to pay for tickets. These generous sponsors have volunteered to cover most of the expenses. However, we'll still have VIP tickets available for purchase by the wealthy, priced at $500.'

Wealth smiled, feeling proud to be part of something so inclusive. 'That's amazing, Daddy. I'm really proud of you. As long as someone like Ibrahim Musa can attend without paying, I'm happy.'

'That suya seller is now a rich don,' Richie said, chuckling. 'He turned our visit into his golden ticket.'

Wealth laughed. 'That's working smart, Dad. Not everyone knows how to use opportunities like that.'

Richie slowed the car and briefly gestured towards a massive billboard ahead. 'Look at him!'

Above them, a massive billboard showed Ibrahim Musa holding a bottle of orange juice, smiling brightly. He wore a clean white shirt and sunglasses, looking like a real celebrity. The words on the billboard said, 'Refresh Your Day with Ibrahim Musa and Chivita Orange Juice, proudly produced by Chi Limited.'

Wealth leaned closer to the car window, his face lighting up with admiration. 'Wow, Dad! He's really made it big!'

On the bustling sidewalk, passersby paused to admire the billboard. Some took photos while others exchanged knowing glances, clearly recognising the once-humble suya seller who had now risen to stardom.

As the car turned into the driveway, Richie Villa came into view—a masterpiece of modern luxury. The grand façade glimmered under the soft glow of the evening lights, every detail meticulously crafted to exude opulence. It was the kind of home where even wealth itself might pause in awe.

A uniformed servant appeared promptly at the door, bowing respectfully. 'Welcome back, sir,' he greeted, stepping aside to open the grand entrance.

Wealth, still bubbling with energy from his day at school, bounded out of the car and raced towards the house. His laughter rang out, bouncing off the high ceilings as he dashed inside. Richie handed his car keys to the servant with a nod of thanks and followed his son into the house.

Inside, the warmth of the home enveloped them. Wealth had already kicked off his shoes, tossing them haphazardly by the door, and sprawled on the plush couch in the living room. His face was a picture of excitement as he prepared to share more stories from his day at school.

Night was waiting inside, her warm smile greeting them both. 'How was school, Wealth?'

Wealth rushed over to her, arms wide for a hug. 'Mummy! It was the best day ever! I learned so much, and I got a star sticker for knowing all the animal facts!'

Night knelt down to hug him, laughing softly. 'I'm so proud of you! You're becoming so smart, just like your Daddy.'

Wealth grinned, the joy of his school day still radiating from him as he launched into another retelling, complete with gestures and sound effects. As Richie and Night exchanged a smile over their son's excitement, they both knew these were the moments that made everything worth it—the love, the laughter, and the simple joys of watching Wealth grow into his own little person.