At the airport, Max handed Ray a pair of sleek sunglasses, a casual peak cap and a facemask that shielded his identity from the prying eyes of onlookers before they stepped out of the car into the departures area.
Gerard, trailing behind the duo, made a quick call to arrange for the vehicle's pickup, ensuring that there were no loose ends left.
The three men advanced with the utmost stealth, blending seamlessly into the bustling airport crowd as they vanished from sight.
A mob of Rayalty were not buzzing the airport because he made sure to keep the trip quiet.
They made sure no one recognized Ray as the powerful big boss, they followed the due process by standing in line for the usual security check to produce their passport and boarding passes for inspection.
Maxwell was mumbling his concerns about why they didn't use the private jet that belonged to Ray Kee Entertainment instead.
"Oh! What a line. We would have been there already, I wonder why we're here when we could have flown in your private jet," he said in a mutter into Ray's ear.
"Stop being a drama queen, Max, I just wanted to experience this again," Ray whispered back.
As the trio patiently waited their turn, a well-dressed man strolled confidently past them, bypassing the queue entirely. He exuded an air of authority and importance as he made his way to the check-in attendant, who greeted him warmly, seemingly starstruck by his presence.
"Welcome, sir." She collected his boarding pass.
Raphael Kings was a very famous actor, he had been in several hit movies and also owned a movie company himself. The CEO of Kings Filming House.
"What the hell just happened here, who does that guy think he is?" Gerard said, riled up by Raphael's disregard for protocol, and stepped out of the line. "Hey miss, tell him to join the line." He asked, politely.
The check-in attendant ignored him and continued clearing Raphael Kings. Raphael didn't did not even dignify Gerard with a glance, let alone an apology.
With his identity concealed by the mask, she didn't recognize who Gerard was.
Gerard was known and respected by many as Ray's lead bodyguard and assistant.
Just like Mr. Lee was for the global sensation Beyond The Scene.
As Gerard's gaze met Ray's, an agreement was reached in a single moment; Ray's subtle nod gave him the go-ahead to do whatever he wanted.
Maxwell didn't even bother, he knew a spat with a pompous actor hardly warranted his involvement. Raphael Kings was too small a case for him to handle.
Gerard pulled out his cell phone and placed a discreet call to only God knows who.
After a couple of minutes, he hung up with a sly smile of satisfaction written all over his face, he slipped his phone back into his pocket and turned to face Ray. "All done, boss." He declared.
Ray acknowledged him with a slight nod, his expression unreadable.
About immediately, a man in a black suit and neatly polished shoes was seen striding purposefully toward the check-in counter with a grave expression.
When the check-in attendant saw him approaching, she stood up in confusion, taken aback by his presence. What made the CEO of Domingo Airlines come out of his meeting?
At the time, he was having a meeting with the board when Gerard's call came in, he had to adjourn the meeting with immediate effect. He knew fully well the consequences, if Ray got more mad than he already was, he would be in big trouble.
"CEO Marshall, may I help you with something?" The check-in attendant asked, in a formal, respectful tone.
He ignored her and stared at the man standing out of the queue, "Mr., move aside and wait there." He said to the check-in attendant. "Give him back his ticket and passport."
"I... a... already stamped on it, sir." The check-in attendant stammered.
"Hand it over to him and attend to the others," Marshall ordered.
She did as she was told without hesitation.
Marshall might be the CEO, but he had superiors that had granted him considerable power within the Domingo Airlines organization in Nigeria; he operated within a hierarchy where greater forces existed and the Artiste, Manager and Assistant trio were associated with the very same forces, he reported to.
"What's the meaning of this?" Raphael asked arrogantly.
"It means that you can't board the plane yet even though your ticket has been stamped. You'll have to wait for those who came before you to board first."
CEO Marshall's measured response to Raphael Kings's insolent behaviour was a clear warning that his star power held no sway here.
"Are you insane or something? Don't you know who I am?" Raphael fired back, his temper flaring.
Raphael's check-in drama had taken so long that Gerard, Ray, and Maxwell were now first in line, ready to board. Maxwell coolly handed his boarding pass to Gerard, turning to address Raphael's question with scathing precision.
"A C-grade actor who thinks he's already at the pinnacles because he owns a piece of a crumpy movie company."
Raphael stared furiously at him. "You're a nobody to talk to me in that manner."
Yet again. The mask giving people nerves.
Maxwell scoffed. "A nobody? I bet you're ignorant of whom you're talking to, I'll show you." He pulled Raphael's plane ticket from his passport and tore it with a single, swift motion.
A stir arose among the people who were at the scene.
"Did he just tear Raphael's plane ticket!"
"Serves him right to think he owns this place."
Meanwhile, the check-in attendant finished clearing Max's and Gerard's tickets and collected Ray's.
Her face reddened in shock and fear when she saw the name and face on the passport in her hand. She blinked multiple times to confirm if she was seeing things.
No, she wasn't.
It was really Raymond Kingsley who owned the passport.
She didn't dare to look up at him, her trembling hand, clutching the passport. "I'm sorry." She managed to say in a shaky voice.
"Sure you are, you're wasting my time miss," Raymond dismissed her with a single, calm, icy retort. Then, she realized she hadn't stamped yet and she did immediately.
Gerard collected the passports and they walked past without a word.
Maxwell said to Raphael, "If the big boss can stand in line, then who are you not to?" He strode away too.
Raphael made a face. "Big boss?"
"Yes, actually, the man in the mask that was with them just now is someone not to be messed with, the big boss of the entertainment industry." The CEO of Domingo Airlines cleared.
As the CEO of Domingo Airlines uttered the shocking revelation about the trio, Raphael's jaw slackened, in horror and dismay.
The CEO, sensing the stunned audience hanging on his every word, delivered the final blow. "Your flight has been cancelled; you can no longer use this airline forever. Security, escort him out." He ordered the security guards present.
The frenzied feeding frenzy of the media was already underway. Smartphones were whipped out like pistols at a wild west shootout, cameras flashing and recording as the security guards took action; they immediately dragged Raphael out. He was bodily removed from the airport, amidst his screams and plight to speak with Ray and apologize.
'...I don't want to lose everything...' were the last words people heard before his voice faded completely.
The CEO paid deaf ears to his cries and turned to look at the check-in attendant, she knew immediately that it was time up.
"You, you're fired." He said to her and turned to those standing in line. "Please have patience with us, I'll get someone to replace her with immediate effect," he took out his phone and placed a call, "Ann, to the check-in counter, you're now the new attendant." He ordered into the receiver and walked away.
"Please sir, please have mercy on me!" She cried, her voice quavering with desperation. "I'm ready to wipe President Ray's feet with my tongue! Please, I need this job!"
"You didn't think of that before you chose a handsome face with no brain to your job, security, take this psycho out of sight," Marshall ordered as he continued to stride away.
He walked away without looking back.
Two hands grabbed her and pulled her outside.
In no time, the new check-in attendant took the seat behind the desk and went to work.