Friday was the last day of the conference, and it ended on a really good note.

As Sebastian completed all his presentations and explained the final aspects of keeping the farm running and all, he ended with official introductions.

First, the ‘grassroots’ workers, if I can put it that way. The men who will be doing the main work of feeding the fish and tending to the surroundings and all.

Then the management team, which consists of us holding executive positions and exercising oversight over the workers on the field.

So I didn’t mention this earlier, but I gotta say it now: I dunno what it is about Spanish folks pronouncing the word ‘g’ as ‘h’, but it sure tickles me. So when Sebastian introduced me and said, “This is Mr. Richard Acquah, he will be our General Manager,” I really had to hold it in.

Of course, I got to laugh about it with Ellie when I called her later that night. You know married couples and gossiping about stuff. Haha.

So the next week, we move to the farm. In the meantime, we could get ourselves some needed rest.

So Saturday morning arrived, and I spent some time relaxing in my room. A pretty lazy morning, to be honest. I even got my breakfast to be sent to my room, just so I could lay in my bed and just enjoy the feeling of doing nothing.

It was around 11 am that the laziness seeped away and I decided to go out a bit. I mean, being sprawled out on the bed doing nothing… it’s fun for a while. But when you’re doing it alone? Yeah, the loneliness hits after a while. If Ellie had been around, we’d probably be lazing about till midnight the next day.

So I decided to head out to one of the restaurants around town. I had overheard one of the farm guys talking about some place called Aracely’s Steakhouse. Why not check out the place?

At least Ellie and I would have a place to check out together the next time we came to Takoradi.

***

“Yeah, chale. The food here is pretty cool. And the ambiance is chill,” I commented as I picked one potato chip and popped it into my mouth at my table in the restaurant. I liked the place; it had this cabana-type of feel to it. The music was great, and people were chilling. Sweet place to just relax and spend time with people you love.

Over the phone, Ellie snorted. “The ambiance part I won’t argue, but you know I don’t trust you when you say food is cool.”

I shook my head. She’s always said she doesn’t trust my taste buds, coz according to her, men will eat anything once it satisfies our bellies.

Yeah, it’s ridiculous. I dunno the basis of that ideology and the research she did to arrive at that conclusion (yeah, we know she ain’t do no research around it), but she holds tightly to it as we Christians hold tightly to the concept of the Holy Trinity. So you know it’s deep.

And annoying.

“Baaaaabe, I’m eating chips and pork ribs! Surely I can’t go wrong with that!” I protested.

“Ah, it’s chips and pork ribs he’s eating too as if it’s some otherworldly edziban bi. I said it. You men and your stomachs, eh! Everything goes!”

I rolled my eyes. “Ugh, here we go again. You know you’re saying this to a guy who doesn’t like pineapples, right?”

“For that one, you’re just a damn weirdo, so it’s not part.”

I had to stifle my laughter.

Love, eh. That’s what allows this 5’3 girl to relentlessly bully a 5’7 guy like me. It’s just love.

***

So after enjoying Aracely’s Steakhouse and dealing with Ellie bullying me and my gender for no good reason, I decided to go straight to the hotel. I’d wanted to go around town, but the thought of spending so much money on transport didn’t sound so wise. So I put it aside for another time and made my way back to Alliance.

Back in the hotel, I decided to make my way to the bar. I had seen the list of mocktails and cocktails on their menu, and I thought it would be a good time to try out one of them.

I got there and on one of the seats sat a young lady dressed in a cute off-shoulder floral dress, sipping at a glass in front of her.

Is that the Marilyn girl next door? I wondered as I approached the bar. I hadn’t seen her the whole of Friday, and I didn’t see her that morning, either.

The lady turned around as I got to a seat. Yep, it was her.

And she was very pleased to see me.

“Heyyyyyy! Mr. Richmond, right?”

“Uh, it’s Richie, actually. Richie Acquah,” I corrected her, a smile on my face.

“Oh right, right. Richie. How are you?”

“Oh, I’m good. Just thought I’d try out one of the cocktails on the menu for tonight, just like you are. That’s a mojito, right?”

She nodded as she took a sip out of the glass in front of her.

“Yeah. I think I’ll try out the passion fruit cocktail. Big man!” I called out to the bartender. “Gimme one passion fruit.”

As he nodded and turned to get to work on my order, I noticed her staring at my left hand. She nodded at it. “You’re married?”

I looked at it. My gold ring on display, just the way I like it.

I nodded proudly. “Yep. Married to the most beautiful woman in the universe. Mrs. Eleanor Acquah…”

I trailed off as I heard the rapid-fire speech of my boss. I turned to see him walking with one gentleman. I waved to him. “Mr. Ahmed!”

“Ahh, Mr. Acquah!” He stopped to greet me. “Relaxing for the weekend, yes?”

“Yep. Just trying out some cocktails for the night.”

“Good, good. Just enjoy yourself and get some rest, very important. Anyways, this is another business partner, Mr. Benson. Mr. Benson, this is Mr. Richie Acquah, my General Manager for the farm.”

I had to hold in my laughter as I shook hands with the other man. His pronunciation of ‘manager’ never fails to make me laugh.

“Alright, we meet later, okay? Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

“You too, Mr. Ahmed.”

He continued his walk and talk with Mr. Benson as they departed from us.

“So you work with him?” Marilyn asked as he walked on.

“Oh yeah, he’s my boss,” I replied. “He’s the one organizing the conference.”

“Ohhh, okay okay. Ei, so do you people hear him when he speaks?”

“Hehe, yeah, we do.”

“Wow! Then you people have sharp ears ooo. Because the way I had to strain to hear him. The words were running through my eyes.”

I laughed. “You get used to it after a while, actually. Your ears just adjust to the way he speaks, and you manage it like that… thanks, thanks.”

I nodded in gratitude as the bartender served me my cocktail.

“Mmmm, I see. I heard something about a farm. What type of farm is it?”

“Oh, it’s a fish farm. It’s actually now in its final stage of completion. We’re looking to rear different types of fish. Catfish, tilapia, salmon, tuna… we’re looking to become the biggest fish farm in West Africa.”

“Wow, that’s some serious ambition right there! Nice. I’d definitely buy from your farm once it’s up and running, coz I’ve developed a serious liking for catfish recently.”

“Oh really? Do tell.”

***

“Well, that was an interesting time, wasn’t it?” I remarked as we stood in front of her room. We had quite an absorbing convo. From our mutual love for catfish to our most hated foods from our childhood to the need for Ghana to get serious about agriculture. It was pretty good.

She nodded. “Yes, yes, it was. Really good stuff. I knew I wasn’t alone in my hatred for pineapples!”

“Oh no, you’re not alone at all. You have a friend in me. At least when my wife disses me for it, I know I have a fellow hater who will stand with me!”

Yeah, you’ve probably already noted that. How my sweet little missus bullied me for not liking pineapples.

She laughed. “Absolutely. Hey, speaking of which, lemme have your number.”

“Alright.” I took her phone, put in my digits, and saved them before handing it back to her. “There you go.”

“Sweet. Okay, we’ll talk later, then. Have a good night.”

“Good night.”

I walked to my door as hers shut. I nodded to myself as I opened the door. “Not a bad way to end the day. At least I’ve got us a potential customer and a contact. Always good to have those things, you know.”

Better be careful, Richie. You never know what might come up. Let’s just hope he’s got boundaries in place.

Also, who else agrees with Eleanor on the pineapple bit?