Martin's pov
As i ended the call with Aurora, i turned towards Amir and nodded
"Let's go"
"okay sir" he said as he grabbed my bag and helped me settle onto my wheelchair
Those purple bastards got my leg and the doctor said I'd have to wait for one week till I can walk again. Amir got back behind the wheelchair and wheeled me out of the room and finally outside where he helped me into the back seat of the car. He dropped the wheelchair into the trunk and then got into the front seat.
"Where are we heading to first sir?" He said as he started the car
"The press conference" i said without looking at him
"Alright. I've already coordinated with our staff and your new security team, everything for the conference should be ready by now" he said
I nodded. I've always admired the way Amir did every task i gave to him, not only is he strong, he is also very smart and organized. Now I understand why Amanda recommended him to me...
"Hmmm may her soul rest in peace" i whispered
The car started moving out of the hospital premises and headed towards the arena for the conference.
"Amir"
"Sir"
"Hope you've sent the one million compensation to the bomb victim's families, from the office?"
"Yes although some of the families didn't want to take the money, they only want justice"
I sighed "Justice in a state that is being raided by hooligans? They're not serious. They should even be happy that I bothered to send them money"
Amir just kept quiet
"Foolish people" i cursed angrily "what about Amanda's family?"
"I couldn't find her family, i think she lives alone"
"Well that's one less problem for us to handle" i smiled
*****
Eko hotel was the centre of attention and a place where many elites in Lagos met. It was where politicians, Lagos stars and starlets gathered and it was the arena where I choose to have the conference.
"We're here sir" Amir said as he parked the car and got down to open the door for me
"Hmmm" i sighed
He brought out the wheelchair and helped me onto it
"Before we go inside, i want you to please keep an eye for any suspicious looking person. I've already lost a leg, i don't want to loose more" i warned
"No problem sir" Amir nodded
"Good i trust you"
*****
The conference was been held in one of the large halls in Eko hotel, the hall was held by two white pillars and had golden painted walls. At a corner, there was a black raised platform with a long table and seats arranged in a straight line, where the ministers, commissioner of police and the representative of the president (who couldn't make it) were sitted. Microphones bearing many well known news logo (like The Nation, NTA, etc) had already been set up and placed in front of the table, ready to broadcast the event. At the other corner, in a roll of seats, many journalists with their cameramen were also sitted waiting to pepper me with their aggressive questions. I could also see some civilians who were either bomb victims who survived or families to the bomb victims who died. Everyone was waiting for me, the atmosphere in the hall became tensed as soon as Amir wheeled me in. The crowd turned towards me with either angry or sad faces. I just ignored them and directed Amir to help me onto the platform. When i was finally on the platform, facing the press and civilians, Amir brought the mic closer to my face and I began my speech.
"People of Lagos and the press, i feel your pain and I know exactly how afraid we all are. But as your governor, I want you to know that I'm doing everything I can to make sure we capture this terrorists that's been causing mayhem to Lagos city..."
"Mr. Governor, if I may ask. What exactly are your plans to handle this situation? Because honestly we're not seeing results" one ugly lanky journalist interrupted me
"Hmmm" i took a deep breath, glared at her and continued "The infamous purple Lagoon as we know, is no ordinary cult group. They're not only dangerous but smart, we can't just expect to capture them easily. It's going to take some time but I...."
"You know instead of praising them, you should actually be putting all the state's fund to capture them" the ugly lady interrupted me again
What exactly is wrong with journalists?! Are they born with this agenda to frustrate and get under the skin of every politician?!
"If you think capturing them is so easy, then you must be very stupid and crazy" i fired back in anger
Everyone in the hall gasped and started murmuring
"Order!" My men shouted trying to calm everyone down
"Um what the governor is trying to say is that, we'll do everything posssible in our power to make sure the purple Lagoon is brought to justice" the minster for defence intervened
The journalists nodded and took some notes. I was getting frustrated with these press people so i whispered to my assistant PA and told him to conclude the conference
"Okay sir" he whispered to me and then faced the crowd "um that'll be all for now, no more questions"
"But sir.."
They started murmuring and tried to ask more useless questions. I just waved them off and made a sign to Amir to take me out of this hellhole. He nodded and started wheeling me out of the hall while the press ran after me with their camera trying to get more answers from me.
"Please stay back" my security team shouted pushing them back
"Sir what about the victims? What happens to them"
"Sir this is NTA network, what about those missing? When will you send a search party to look for..."
More questions kept coming but I ignored them. My mind was in a maze
"Amir please go faster before a riot begins here" i whispered
Amir nodded and pushed the wheelchair faster, we were almost out of the hall when a fat lady just fell at my feet crying 😂 😭
"Ahhh oluwa" i almost had a heart attack
"Sir please i need to find my grandmother, she was captured by those monsters" the fat lady yelled, her face was swollen as a result of crying
"Amir get me out of here!" I yelled watching the woman as she started rolling on the ground
Amir on the other hand stood helpless looking at the poor woman, contemplating whether to roll the wheelchair over her and just pass or help her
"Amir you fool, what are you waiting for" i yelled again, turning around to see that the press and civilians had started an angry protest 🪧, they had even started attacking the other government officials. These people will trample on me if I don't get out of here
"Amir!" I glared at him "get me out of here or get ready to loose your job"
He quickly got the memo and just pushed the crying fat lady out of the way and wheeled me to the car. With nothing but the fear of an angry crowd fueling me, i jumped out of the wheelchair and into the car without Amir's help. Amir quickly abandoned the wheelchair and hurried to the front seat to start the car.
"Hurry!" I panicked as I looked out of the tinted window and saw the angry mob rushing towards my car with stones and planks
"Oluwa eh!!!" I shouted "Amir hit the pedal!"
Amir started the engine just in time before the crowd could get to me and drove off.
******
10pm
As the car kept speeding away from the choas at Eko hotel, i just relaxed into my seat and held my head in frustration. Lagos city has become a mad house and it was all my fault, i thought i cleaned my mess. The purple Lagoon wasn't supposed to exist, i had made sure of that, so who the hell started the project again?! I need to see the others at the "oracle". Seems like a monster we killed in the past has come back to haunt us and everyone we love, including innocent people who have nothing to do with it.
"Amir you remember we're going right?" I asked, my breathing a bit shaky
"Yes sir" he nodded and changed the car's direction towards Banana Island 🏝️
"Good. Time to get to the bottom of this" i whispered