The 31st Annual Function

CHAPTER TWO.

Chief Kaave was tired, it had been a long flight, and the annual function was taking longer than usual. Not that it was even interesting, fun or meaningful. All he wanted now was to plant his feet firmly in his mansion. He had been away for barely a month, yet it felt like he had been away for too long. It was a good thing he came back sooner than expected, before his daughter completely ruined his Empire.

Coco's personal assistant and secretary Jeremy, whisked past his seat, smiling brightly. "Everything okay Chief, do you perhaps need something?" He asked. Every ten minutes it had been the same thing: "Everything okay?" "Can I get you a drink, Chief?" "Chips?" "A coat, Chief?" The president couldn't have been treated with more consideration.

"I'm fine." Chief Kaave said to Jeremy. Neither a drink nor coat will change his mind. He concluded, Coco still needed a lot of training and orientation. She wasn't ready yet for his Empire. Leaving the country now was the best thing for her, at least till he handles the last crime she committed, defrauding a company of twenty million dollars.

"Can I get you anything, Chief?" Another staff was bobbing past. He shook his head. He wondered where Vill was. He wondered why he hadn't come to welcome him. Why he wasn't at the annual function. What was more important than this? Was he, Vill, now feeling too comfortable?

Coco left her father's office, she had snuck out of the function which was happening downstairs, to properly arrange the office and see that things were in good shape. She stopped by the ladies room in the corridor. She studied her face in the mirror and was not happy with what she saw. She looked tired and drawn, with dark circles under her eyes. What she needed was a vacation and suntan, but no.

She didn't want to leave, she needed to be close to her dad and his Empire, especially now he was planning retirement. There is no way she was going to let Vill manipulate her dad into sending her to Australia, then make him the CEO of TRENDZ. That would be over her dead body.

Her face was creased in a frown. Carefully she applied more make-up: blusher, lip stick, eye shadow. Then she shook her tangled mass of jet curls and placed it with her fingers. She wished the function could last forever, the last thing she needed was to go home to an angry dad.

She knew her dad was not impressed with the way she organized the 31st function. She frowned even more deeply. Fuck shit. To elect her as the new CEO of TRENDZ EMPIRE, Chief Kaave will need more than a pep talk. She knew she needed to give her dad serious reasons and prove of any allegation to disqualify Vill of that position.

Vill Akash, right hand man, loyal servant and maybe errand boy to her dad for the past thirty years. He started serving her dad since when he was five years old. Her dad considered him a son, which didn't sit well with her. Who said she needed a brother figure in her life? She enjoyed being the only child, she enjoyed all the love and attention her dad showered her with.

She had always been relaxed and too comfortable, happy about the fact she had no one to compete with over her dad's asset and empire. She had been a fool not to see it coming, she didn't expect her dad, of all people to gamble with her like this. For Christ's sake, she spent all her life in Caritas business school, with the hope that one day she will rule over the empire.

She dailed her phone and spoke, "When I see him tomorrow, I want to see him with a broken arm and a swollen face." She made a face. "Wait for your balance at the roof top. Do not call." She ended the call and left the ladies' room and buzzed for the elevator impatiently.

Chief Kaave was just going to have to realize the fact that he was no longer boss. She was in control now, she planned to stay in control, maybe yes, she failed in hosting a successful function, but, she was in control.

***

Vill could barely see through, or walk. He laid there under the tree, stripped naked, and battered. He laid there praying silently for a good samaritan/passer by. He was bleeding, he was cold. He was almost covered in snow. His head filled with what-ifs. He remembered how Brandy cried while the hoodlums carried her away. Who were they? Where did they take Brandy to, and what business did they have with her?

It became obvious to him, Coco had no hand in this. Could it be Mr.Adams? Obviously, it was Mr. Adams. He had threatened to make him pay. Vill wasn't bothered. Mr. Adams was a puppy he'd take down with ease. Vill gathered his last strength, strode out, walked up the street, with no direction.

***

Christ!" Chief Kaave exclaimed. "What the hell happened?"

Coco jolted against the door, replied, "I did my best."

"I will not waste time making speeches, first thing tomorrow morning, you're leaving for Australia." Chief Kaave snapped.

"What, why?" Mrs. Kaave couldn't help but ask. She was always the last to know about their personal issues and decisions. They always made her feel irrelevant. Even when Coco was arrested last year for peddling drugs overseas, she found out from the social workers.

"I am not going anywhere dad."

"First, you are wanted by the federal government, for defrauding and stealing of funds. I need to sort that out, but while I do, you need to leave the country. Second, you know nothing about business, you cannot manage the empire, not now..."

"And lastly, you just want to crop me out of the picture, because, you want Vill to run the empire instead of me, because he is a man. The son you wished you had. I see what you're doing dad. I see right through you"

"I only want Vill in that position because he deserves it and besides it is temporal."

"Dad, you are giving him more than he deserves! And how about what I deserve, are you saying I deserve nothing?"

"Coco, you deserve everything I have. Do you even know how precious you are to me?"

"I know I mean nothing or very little to you".

Chief Kaave swallowed a rude reply. Coco was getting on his nerves. Not even his wife, Vill or business associate could talk to him with such disrespect and arrogance. He loved Coco more than he loved his life and empire. She meant everything to him, and standing there listening to those hurtful words she spat broke him.

Regardless, he knew, he had to be strong and not show any weakness. There is no way he was going to let Coco ruin everything he has worked for. At the appropriate time, he would let her run the empire. He knew, he was the female version of Coco, the only difference was that, she was impatient and she had poor judgement.

"You say whatever you want to say, to whoever, huh? You have no regard for anybody's feelings, huh? Coco, I am talking to you! " Mrs.Kaave, for the first time screamed at Coco.

"Will you please stay out of my business? This is between me and my dad." She snapped. "Good night, and just so we're clear, I'm not going anywhere." With that, she left Chief Kaave's bedroom.

Chief Kaave put his arm around Mrs. Kaave's shoulder and guided her to sit down. "Don't beat yourself over it, she'll be fine. I know how to press her buttons."

"You give her too much power."

Power - the ultimate aphrodisiac, yes, Chief Kaave knew he gave Coco too much power, it was necessary that he did give her that much power.

"She is indeed my son," Chief Kaave said stiffly. "The son I wish I had. She is bold and fearless."

Mrs. Kaave just had to accept defeat, Coco was never wrong in his eyes. Coco was all he cared for. But, she also had to admit that Coco was right this time, Vill was not deserving of that position. And besides, Coco did quite a great job at the function, she enjoyed every bit of it. This was the first time Coco hosted a function at TRENDZ, she brought spice to the event, she hosted the event differently, more entertaining than Chief Kaave or Vill had ever done.

The only issue she had with Coco owning or managing a business, was her life of constant crime and bad record. No month passed without her being arrested, for, either peddling drugs, fraud or carrying of arms. She had similar records with Chief Kaave, between both, she didn't know who was worse. Maybe Chief Kaave, he had a ton of murder cases that never even got to court. She also knew of the women Chief Kaave used, back then, in dirty south.

Unlike Chief Kaave, nothing fazed Mrs. Kaave. She took everything calmly, whether it be a missed attendance at work or a function, or one of Coco's criminal activities, nothing surprised her, she didn't expect much from anyone.

There were no surprises or expectations in Mrs. Kaave. All she ever wanted was a luxurious life, Chief Kaave gave her one.

According to rumor, she was married a non virgin at a very tender age of fourteen. She used to hawk bread on the city streets, Chief Kaave was one of her numerous customers.

Presently, Mrs. Kaave was a major stake holder in Trendz. Courtesy of her high profiled husband.