Seven

'I was not going to do this. I was not pushing through with this.' I kept chanting in my head the next morning as I rode to work. 

There was no way in hell I was going to work under someone and definitely not in a farm.

Why must I take the brunt for the company? And why did those stupid Africans insist on having me do this? Why could I not just order a staff to do it? This was frustrating. 

I ignored everyone's greetings as I stormed into the building. I could see from my periphery how scared my employees were of my mood. 

Getting to my office, I banged the door shut. Cassidy was already waiting with some files but I ordered her out. I sat in my chair and balanced my head in my arms as they rested on my desk. 

Would these stupid people have told Grandma to do this if she was the CEO? Why would Grandma even agree to this shit? I could not do it, even for business. 

I grabbed the telephone receiver on my desk. 

"Send Miss Jones into my office right away." I ordered my receptionist. 

I banged the receiver in its cradle before I could get an answer and breathed out to calm down. I heard the door creak open slowly and Cassidy peeped in. 

"Come on. We have got work to do." As soon as she stepped in, I demanded. "Ring up those black bastards and inquire if there is any other way around this bullshit of a condition. Set up my next meeting. Send for Mr. Jonson immediately after that. And I need to have a teleconference with all the managers and directors of our company overseas."

She grimaced at my use of cuss words and nodded frenziedly as she typed away on her tab, setting up the activities for the day. 

"You have a stakeholders meeting to attend by two pm today," she reminded me. 

I tapped my fingers on the desk, "Cancel it. Send in a representative for me. Make sure they are competent."

She nodded again and set to work. My thoughts wandered to Jide. Was he a worker at Finesse Restaurant? I had to admit he looked good in his uniform. Why was he dressed like a mad man the first day we met? 

I smiled smugly. What would he do now I had destroyed the motherless babies home? Maybe that was why he was quiet the last time we met. He must have realised I had every advantage over him. Why the fuck was my head filled with thoughts of him?

"Mr. Spencer would not be able to make it by ten because of traffic. And Mr. Jonson is out on work basis. Should I set up the teleconference for you now?" She asked. 

I admired her green suit and yellow muffler. Her brunette hair was tied with another yellow muffler and her feet was clad in a green shoe. The girl did know how to dress up. I wondered why she was still single. But it was none of my business anyway. 

"Ma'am," she snapped me out of my daze. 

I frowned and nodded before waving her off. The meeting was not supposed to be held until twelve noon. But who cared? They should all learn to be on alert. I should not be the one taking all the brunt and doing the hard jobs. 

I scowled at the thought of me working in a farm. That would be degrading my status. Jeez. What were those foolish people thinking?

"We are set up," Cassidy informed me and I put on my most intimidating frown for the camera. 

"Good day ma'am," they greeted in discord. 

They were over a thousand. A mixture of males and females. Different cultures and languages. But there were no blacks. Grandma had made it so. 

I did not know if Dad had tried to breach this arrangement, because of how proudly that Jide had talked about him. But whatever it was, Grandma did not allow it and I was gonna let it be that way. The least I could do to Grandma for training me was to do her bidding and make her proud. It was for my own good after all. 

I got to know how the branches around the world were running; what challenges they faced and how I could help with them. The headquarter in Spain needed my attention. A customer sued them to court and I was needed urgently. 

"Can you not handle it?" I asked the manager.

"I am sorry, ma'am. Even the legal unit is at a loss on what to do," he informed me. 

"What would my coming there do?" I cut in irritated. 

Why could people not do jobs they were freaking paid to do right? They needed me to do everything. Even sacrifice a whole one month on a stupid farm. 

"Your influence, ma'am," he implored. 

"Okay. Hopefully, I will be there next week," I said, pointedly glancing at Cassidy who was already adding that to my schedule. 

"Done," she whispered. 

"Good. I am glad we are all doing well. Until next time. Good day," I dismissed them.

Cassidy got off the phone and informed me. "Your flight is booked for Tuesday. You can go and get back the same day."

"Book a hotel. I would love to spend four days and enjoy the Spanish scenery," I said. 

She nodded and went back to the phone. My telephone rung and I picked it up. 

"What is it?" I snapped. 

The squeaky voice of my receptionist sifted through the receiver, "Mr. Jonson is here, ma'am."

I relaxed, "Let him in."

"Yes m..." but I banged the receiver down. 

There was a knock and Mr. Jonson let himself in. He had a yellow helmet on. I smiled at him. That yellow helmet meant good news. 

"So?" I prompted as soon as he sat.

"Done. We were clearing the rubbles when I was informed you sent for me. Had to find my way here immediately," he rambled. 

The smile on my lips widened, "Good. Construction begins as soon as that is done. How long will it take?"

"Five months," he replied.

"I will give you three months," I cut in. 

He corked his brows, "That would not be possible ma'am."

"Everything is possible," I countered. 

"The process and procedure would take a longer period of time because of the type of building this is," he tried to persuade me. 

I shut my ears. "I do not care. Just do it. You were the one who said we should expand more."

He nodded but still tried, "It does not mean we should rush into it."

"Three months, Mr. Jonson. Or you are out," I leaned on my desk as I tossed those words at him.

He stared at me blankly before sighing and standing up to leave. "I will do my best."

"You better do," I called out as he shut the door. 

"Ma'am?" Cassidy said my title uncertainly. 

I gave her a pointed look.

"I know you said you did not care about my opinion but you have to loosen up a bit. Everyone is tensed having you around and it could mess up their jobs. You act so much like Mrs. Stone. Your father was quite different, you know." She mumbled, not looking me in the eyes. 

Those words again, 'Your father was different.'

"And you happen to know my father more than I do?" I accused, hurt that everyone knew my father except me. 

How was he so good to them but not to me? He was able to spend a lot of time with them but not with me. 

"I did not imply that. I was just saying..."

I intercepted her, "Shut the fuck up if you do not want to be flung out. Keep your stupid opinions to yourself. One more display of this insolence and you are out."

Her face paled in horror. "Forgive me."

My telephone rung again and I chafed in response, "What?"

"Mr. Spencer is here," the receptionist squeaked. 

"Okay," I replied curtly and returned the receiver. 

"Get me coffee," I demanded and Cassidy opened the door, just as Mr. Spencer walked in with his PA.

"Mr. Spencer," I plastered on a smile and rose in greeting. 

"Miss Stone," he replied while I gestured that he sat at the conference table. 

I soon joined him, "My pleasure finally meeting up with you."

"Same here," he replied. 

"What brings you here?" I interrogated as Cassidy returned with two cups of coffee and placed it in front of the visitors. 

She took her seat beside me as Mr. Spencer replied. "Well, it was a case that needed urgent tackling."

I became more serious. My body posture stiffened. "What could that be?" I probed.

He shifted in his chair and collected a file from his PA. The file landed with a thud in front of me. Scanning it, my face morphed in horror as I digested what was in the file.

"What is the meaning of this?" I thundered. 

"There is really no need to raise your voice, Ivory. We do not believe them. We just need clear evidence as to what caused your father's death. Then we can pass this on as a rumour," he calmly said. 

My pupils dilated as I watched him. I fought so hard to reign in my emotions. 

"What are you saying? You got the doctor's report," I retorted.

"But the police rejected that report. They wanted to conduct their own autopsy but your family refused them. That made the case cold and inconclusive," he drawled out.

I swallowed a lump. "Where did you get this from?"

He stood up now, his PA doing same, "It does not matter. We just need to ascertain the cause of your father's death or we would withdraw our shares."

What was the meaning of this? Could this be true? Were the doctors lying to me and the public? Did Grandma know about this? Why did they want to know the cause of Dad's death all of a sudden? How the fuck did they get these classified documents? This had better be a rumour.