Chapter 4

Lola on the left, Zara on the right.

Song: Imagine Dragons - Thunder.

Zara.

When I got back to the house, I freshened up and wore some casual clothes I saw in the closet and sat on my bed.

I heard a loud ding from my new phone and decided to check what it was. I opened it and saw a message.

*Aminu: My fair lady.*

The text was from Aminu. How though? How did Aminu even get my number in the first place. I decided to reply him.

*Me: How did you get my number and how is your number in my phone?*

I sent my reply and waiting for his, this was insane although a part of me felt happy that I was talking to him.

A reply finally came in

*Aminu: Lol, I knew you would ask that. Well you really should monitor what people do on your phone.*

I suddenly remembered when he took my phone and fiddled with it. That little criminal.

*Me: You do know that you're a criminal right?*

*Aminu: Your cousin says that all the time. Now that you said it, I guess it's true isn't it? Maybe I should turn myself in to the police.*

I burst out laughing.

*Me: Lol you're silly Mimi*

*Aminu: What's a Mimi?*

*Me: Your new nickname.*

*Aminu: Hmm.. Mimi.. I like it. Can't wait to hear it from your lips though 😜*

*Me: Oh really now?*

*Aminu: Yeah, you know you're so gorgeous right*

At this point I was blushing so hard, I might have been red.

*Me: Thank you.*

*Aminu: Really can't wait to see your face again, I think I need a regular dosage of you or I might just perish.*

*Me: Lol, you won't perish in Jesus name. I reject it for you.*

*Aminu: Amen, but I wish we can go out sometime. I should leave you, its getting late."

*Me: Okay, Goodnight Mimi.*

*Aminu: Goodnight Zara.*

I put the phone on my chest as we finished texting.

I don't get what's happening to me. My mind is telling me not to entertain boys, at least until I got the hang of Lagos.

But my heart was already melting for this guy I just met. I needed to be really careful before I got my heart broken.

---

Today was the day that Louis was finally going to take me to the office.

I woke up extra early and prepared for the day, wearing a long sleeve chiffon shirt that looked really pretty and a pair of black trousers. I also wore the same wig from the day before.

I got outside and saw Louis already waiting for me in the car.

He was wearing a navy blue suit with matching trousers, not forgetting a hat on his head.

"You girls can delay ehh" he said as I entered the front seat. He sounded exhausted.

"Would you rather I followed you looking like a mad person?" I asked and he scoffed.

"Let's just go biko(please)." He grunted and started the car and drove out of the compound.

We pulled into a compound which had something akin to a skyscraper in the middle of it and some other buildings around.

It was fascinating.

On the skyscraper read 'Kaph Group.' In big bold letters. I couldn't stop looking around.

When Louis stopped the car, he turned to me.

"Are you nervous?" He asked me.

"Yeah a little." I told him calmly but inside I was freaking out. I was just an expert in keeping my cool.

"So i called a meeting of the board of directors to announce the new Chief Operating Officer, you are going to be in the meeting. When we get there, don't smile or greet anyone, you're an Okafor so you're to be greeted not them. You will sit directly beside me understood?" He instructed and I nodded my head.

I already knew all these things since I took Business law twice and did six courses in Economics, so the terms he used weren't foreign.

"Let's go." He said and we stepped out of the car together and he held my hand.

As we stepped into the building, I was almost overwhelmed by the bustling activity going on. There were a lot of people moving about in the lobby area. I prayed to God silently to see me through.

The lobby was very large. It had brown walls and marble tiles of the same colour. The waiting area had a lot of black sofas that looked very comfortable.

As we passed, I saw that anyone who passed us greeted us like if they didn't, they'd be fired.

"Good morning sir, ma."

"Good morning sir, Good morning ma"

And on and on it went until I was lead to an elevator.

I've seen them in movies.

We went up to the 54th floor was it? And immediately I got out of the elevator I almost fell but Louis caught me. The elevator made me feel numb.

"Haha First time in an elevator, don't worry you'll get used to it." He said and I glared at him.

"You think!" I said and he laughed.

"Come on, we're late." Louis said, taking my hand again.

This floor was much more quiet than the ground floor. He lead me to a room with tall glass doors, that was already filled with people sitting around a large conference table.

We walked in and when they noticed us, or Louis rather, they all stopped what they were doing.

I looked at all of them, there were men and women alike, most of the men were older and only few were young but most of the women were young, only two were older.

One of the women started looking at me with disdain in her eyes. She was very beautiful. Dark skinned and very sophisticated. She had this sense of entitlement around her. I wondered why she was glaring at me, she doesn't even know me.

"Sorry I'm late" Louis said and I noticed his voice changed. His voice was deep before but he was always playful but now his voice was more commanding and authoritative. It made even me flinch.

I felt the urge to greet everybody but I remembered Louis' words to not greet anybody.

"Lola could you scoot over please." He told the lady who was giving me a death glare when we came in. I noticed she was sitting on the chair beside the chair at the head of the table which I guessed that Louis would sit down on.

She in turn gave him a confused look but still stood up and adjusted to the empty seat beside her.

Louis slightly pulled me forward "sit here" he whispered before he finally sat down. and I did as I was told. I could already feel the lady's eyes burning holes into the side of my head. I didn't understand why she was so mean to me even without speaking.

"Good morning all" Louis greeted with his authoritative voice.

"Good morning sir." They all said in unison except me. I just sat there wishing to disappear.

"It is no news that we've been looking for a new COO since the last one had to retire." Louis started.. "And the board is meant to vote for a new one but there's been a slight change in plans. This news is coming from the office of the Chairman." He continued and sat up straight. I suddenly started feeling like he's about to shock everyone.

"The chairman hired a new COO." He said and that made everyone start to murmur among themselves.

"Who is it?" The lady beside me asked, sounding very upset.

"Quiet please." My cousin ordered and everywhere became as silent as a graveyard again.

"I want you all to meet Chizaram Okafor, my cousin, and the new Chief Operating Officer of Kaph Group of companies." He introduced leaving me shocked beyond words.. How come this happened. And he didn't tell me. How was I supposed to be the COO, that's like being a CEO. I didn't think I could deal with it.

The whole room was suddenly filled with applause. Everyone was clapping and smiling at me except the lady beside me. She looked betrayed like she was about to cry.

When the clapping died down the lady suddenly spoke up.

"What's her qualification?" The lady beside me suddenly asked and my heart started to race, I was so mortified already.

"First class graduate in Business Administration and Management, with a little Business Law on the side." He answered her. He only knew that because he asked for my credentials. His answer earned me approving looks from the other board members.

The lady still continued "So she has no masters degree, no PhD and clearly no experience and you want her to-"

"Miss Dorego!" Louis exclaimed angrily, making my heart race some more. If Louis keeps this up, I might just faint.

"She is an Okafor. That's qualification enough. Or have you suddenly forgotten who owns this company?" Louis scolded to her and I looked at her. She looked really angry but she didn't say a word again.

"This meeting is adjourned, Miss Dorego my office, NOW!" It was very obvious that Louis was furious at her.

After he said that, everyone started leaving, some congratulated me while some just smiled and nodded their heads at me. I felt better because of the love I was getting, genuine or not.

As people were filing out, Louis finished whatever he was doing and took my hand again, dragging me out of the chair I was sitting on and leading me out of the conference room. I noticed the lady who I now knew as Miss Dorego following us behind.

He took me into two big double doors which lead to a big office with some lounge chairs to the side and table with computer screens where I saw a man typing away on the computer.

Immediately he noticed us walk in he stood up awkwardly "Good Morning sir" he blurted out.

"Morning Nonso" Louis said authoritatively while passing him. He lead us again to another door which I prayed was his office.

We entered the room and the beauty struck me hard. It wasn't to much, but it was beautiful.

There was a big office desk that looked like glass in the center and a big chair behind it, with two smaller chairs in front. To the corner were black sofas and a table in the center.

"Sit there." Louis ordered me pointing at the black sofas and I obliged.

Miss Dorego had already entered the office and she was glaring at me like I just took something valuable to her.

"Lola, what was that at the meeting?" Louis half yelled making her eyes snap to him.

So her actual name is Lola.

"I was just asking the right questions. I didn't want you bringing in someone who isn't competent" She snapped making him turn to her.

"So that's why you felt like you could undermine my authority in front of my directors? Look we might be engaged, but if you're going to work here you have to observe due protocol in front of the other staff" Louis shouted.

'So he's engaged to this nasty person' I thought.

"How could you?" Lola asked making Louis give her an inquiring stare.

"It was supposed to be me. And then you just bring someone out of the blue. Just like that?" Lola said, her voice becoming low.

Louis started to rub his head. He looked utterly frustrated. "Look, this is a family business, you know that and that was the reason why I wanted you in that position but she's an Okafor. She has to be at the helm of affairs, masters or not."

"Who cares if she's an Okafor..." Lola screamed making my heart start to beat too hard and too fast.

"Just look at her. She clearly hasn't worked in a place remotely close to this before. And you expect her to run this company? She will run it into the ground Louis." Lola said and I got upset, jolting up from my seat.

"Excuse me?" I exclaimed, giving Lola my best glare.

"Zara, I'll handle it." Louis said and I decide to keep quiet just this once. But I silently dared her to upset me one more time.

Louis sighed hard. "Lola, don't talk about Zara like that, you're pushing me." He said darkly, glaring at her and I saw her visibly flinch at the sound of his voice.

She sighed "I'm sorry." She said and I sat back down.

Louis sat down in his chair, relaxing his back. "You're Director for human resources so I expect you and your department to train her. She will be shadowing you for the rest of the week. Just makes sure she gets orientation." He ordered.

Lola scowled but nodded and left the office.

Louis looked at me funny. "So Miss COO, are you ready for your first day."

I shook my head. "Hardly"

"Why?"

"You sprang up on me. I'm not sure that I'm ready for this. COO is a big position." I whined. I didn't have any job experience, I didn't know the first thing about running a company. I didn't know how to do this.

Louis sighed, stood up and came to the sofa, sitting down beside me. "Why do you think I gave you this job. I know you can do it. You had excellent results, not one failure, just As and Bs, so it was very evident that you know this job well. Secondly, you're an Okafor, I can't have you as a subordinate in your own family company. You're strong Zara, I know you can do this." He assured me, looking into eyes.

His words were supposed to calm me down and make me confident in myself. But I was terrified. The treatment I received from his fiancee wasn't helping either.

My eyes were  clouded with tears and soon enough, they began to fall. Louis immediately pulled me to his chest "Zara.. Don't cry."

"I'm scared Louis.." I cried and he just held me tighter.

"Look Zara. I don't know or understand the relationship between our fathers to the extent of us not knowing about each other's existence. But they're gone now and that's in the past. We're here now and we only have each other, so believe me when I say that I will always take care of you. I will always be by your side."

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Its a shame that Louis and Zara are cousins right?😔 shame.

They're so cute together. But that's how brothers are anyway.

Who's more beautiful? Lola or Zara (Pictures above)

Stay tuned for more adventures of Zara.

Garbas will appear soon!!!

Please Vote I beg you.. Just seconds of your time.. Comment what you think.

Love you and Thanks for reading 😘😘