*** TWO ***

Money poured like torrential rains into the coffers of Chief Dele Rotimi. Chief prospered greatly over the years and became a popular business magnate in the country. He had spent most of his life, since his youth, building a business empire which had come to be known as Delaroti Group. A hard working man and an astute investor, he owned a textile company with factories in five African countries, a transport and logistics company that operated nationwide, a leading micro-finance bank with branches in 18 states, amongst other businesses.

Before he became a father, Chief was unfulfilled as a man, despite his accomplishments, because he had no child of his own. Then finally, he became the father of a bouncing baby boy and that made him feel like he had it all. But he didn't, as it turned out.

At the birth of their son, Abe, the joy of Chief Rotimi and his wife, Ireti, knew no bounds. At last they were proud parents too. To give his first child a grand welcome into the world of the Rotimis, Chief had made sure that he was born in one of the best hospitals in Europe.

When mother and baby arrived in Nigeria one week after, a very elaborate ceremony was thrown by Chief to celebrate the new addition to his household. Most part of the festivities, which lasted for a whole week, was held at the deluxe De Capriccio Hotel. It had cost Chief over one hundred million naira to finance the events. The Rotimis played host to numerous friends, relations, business associates and many creme de la creme of the society. Amongst the prominent personalities who came to celebrate with them on the arrival of their bundle of joy were the governor of Lagos state with his wife, some of the leading business tycoons in the country, two senators and some top Nigerian celebrities. Some foremost music artists were on hand to thrill the guests with superlative performances, for as long as the festivities lasted. Assorted choice food and drinks were in constant supply.

Those were the happiest days of the life of Chief and his wife.

But after nearly two decades of being a father, things had changed completely with Chief Rotimi's fatherhood and he could not help but wonder what really went wrong. All he had done was to try and be the best father a son could ever have. But his son, on the other hand, seemed very keen on being the opposite; the worst son a father could have.

Chief and his wife had watched their son grow from an infant to a toddler, then to a healthy and lively little boy. He was like every other normal child, except that he enjoyed certain privileges due to Chief's enormous wealth. As an only child, Abe was overly pampered and protected, especially by Chief.

Ireti was the only one who had initially tried to instil some discipline in Abe. But Chief rebuked her anytime she scolded or spanked him for doing something bad. When Abe was about three years old, Chief forbad his wife to ever beat or talk to him with a harsh tone of voice, for any reason whatsoever. That, according to Chief, was child abuse. He often said that a child who was scolded or beaten grew up to be timid and gullible.

Then as Abe grew older, reports started reaching Chief and his wife about his bad behaviour, first from the school authorities, then their neighbours, then the police. The reports varied from Abe's acts of mischief to his involvement in criminal activities. Abe had got uncontrollable. He was expelled from school many times; two times in the primary school, three times in the secondary school and two times within two years of university before be decided to drop out of school. It had taken much of Chief's money and influence to keep Abe out of jail. For all his reputation, Abe was just nineteen years old.