The Last Barrel of Oil

Richard Martin is an American economist and presidential advisor. He is concerned with the direction in which the world is being steered by the delegates of the oil-producing countries who are considering a reduction in oil production. Suggestions are being made that preparations to live without oil must be made now before we are down to the last barrel. Continued global growth has accelerated the reality and Richard Martin contemplates having to change his lifestyle and relinquish his hard-earned comforts. His wife, Sherry, is a beautiful, athletic, intelligent, and successful corporate lawyer. What more could a man want? Lately, she has not provided him the solace she once had. This worries her. Was there someone else? Was she going to go through this again?

As a university student, their son, Jacob, strives to show that he has the same economic prowess as his father. Desire for a mysterious, Nigerian classmate, Zaria, and an allegation of sexual assault threaten to derail his ambitions. His skeptical sister, Sophia, attends the same university and discovers secrets about her brother, mother, and father which shatter her already bleak outlook on life.

After reviewing research done by Jacob and Zaria, Richard Martin deduces that materials such as plastics will become more valuable as oil production wanes and plots with an Englishman, Brian Smith, and a Nigerian, Ajani Oni, to corner the plastics industry. He risks his marriage and career, so that he can stake a claim on financial security for his family. Nigeria is chosen as the test-market for the initial venture against the wishes of his wife who is unaware of her husband’s intentions. Then, a fateful business trip to the Delta reveals deep secrets and wreaks havoc on their self-absorbed lives.

Who will have the last barrel?