Chapter 78

RICHARD POV

“Richard, you’re late again,” Sarah’s, my secretary's voice , rang out, sharp but not unkind. She stood by my office door, arms crossed, her expression a mix of disapproval and concern.

Anyway I already gave Sarah a free hand to address me friendly or scold me because I see her like a elder sister.

“I know, Sarah,” I replied, shoving a stack of papers into my briefcase.

“But you know how traffic gets in the morning. Remember I told you that I will be late in the morning. Did everyone arrive on time?”

“They did,” she confirmed, glancing at her watch. “And they’re waiting for you in the cabinet meeting room. Shall we?”

I nodded, grabbing my coffee mug and heading out. The hallway to the cabinet room was a long stretch of polished wood and glass. My shoes clicked against the floor as Sarah walked beside me, a clipboard tucked under her arm.

“Anything I need to know before we start?” I asked, my mind already racing through the agenda.

“Nothing you don’t already know,” Sarah replied. “But remember, Mr. Hargrove is likely to push back on the new sales projections. He wasn’t happy about the last quarter’s targets.”

I smirked. “When is he ever happy?”

We reached the double doors of the cabinet meeting room. Sarah stepped aside, letting me take the lead. I straightened my tie, adjusted my blazer, and pushed the doors open.

Inside, the room was a buzz with murmured conversations and the shuffling of papers. As soon as I entered, the noise quieted, and every head turned in my direction.

One by one, the board members and senior staff slightly bowed their heads in acknowledgment.

“Good morning,” I said, my voice firm but cordial.

“Good morning, Mr. Richard,” came the unified response.

I made my way to the head of the long, mahogany table. The chair there was larger than the others, a subtle but unmistakable symbol of authority.

As I pulled it back and sat down, the room seemed to settle into place.

“Let’s get started,” I said, placing my coffee on the table.

The meeting began with updates from each department. I listened intently, nodding occasionally, but my focus was on the bigger picture. When it was my turn to speak, I leaned forward, clasping my hands together.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” I began, “our sales projections for the next quarter need to be aggressive but realistic. We can’t afford another miss. The market is shifting, and we need to adapt faster than our competitors.”

I looked around the room, meeting each person’s gaze.

“Our new product line is promising, but it won’t sell itself. Marketing, I need a stronger campaign. Operations, ensure production is seamless. And sales..

well, you’ve got to close those deals.”

Mr. Hargrove, as expected, raised his hand. “Mr. Carter, while I understand the urgency, these targets are… ambitious. Do you really think we can hit them given the current economic climate?”

“I do,” I replied evenly. “And I’m not just hoping we will. I’m counting on it. Our team is capable, and the strategy we’ve built supports these goals. It’s not about what’s easy, Mr. Hargrove; it’s about what’s necessary.”

The room fell silent for a moment before murmurs of agreement rippled through the group.

We discussed other agenda items…logistics, customer feedback, future innovations. By the time we were done, nearly two hours had passed.

“Well done, everyone,” I said, standing up. “Let’s make this quarter our best yet. You’re dismissed.”

Chairs scraped against the floor as my team rose and began filing out of the room. I exchanged brief words with a few of them, offering encouragement or answering last-minute questions.

Soon, the room was empty, save for Sarah and me. She was sorting through the papers we’d accumulated during the meeting, her fingers moving deftly over the pages.

“Do you ever take a break?” I asked, leaning back in my chair.

“Not when there’s work to be done,” she replied with a faint smile.

I watched her for a moment, appreciating her efficiency. Sarah was more than a secretary…she was the backbone of this operation, the one who kept everything running smoothly.

Just as I was about to grab my coffee, my phone buzzed on the table. The screen lit up with the name Mom.

“Excuse me, Sarah,” I said, picking up the phone. “It’s my mother.”

She nodded and continued with her work as I answered the call.

“Hey, Mom,” I said. “What’s up?”

“Richard,” her voice was warm but insistent, “I need you to come home tonight. Early, if possible.”

“Home?” I asked, surprised. “Why? What’s going on?”

“It’s a surprise,” she said, her tone cryptic.

“A surprise?” I repeated, frowning. “Mom, you know I don’t like surprises. Just tell me what this is about.”

“You’ll find out when you get here,” she replied, her voice light but firm.

“Is it serious?” I pressed.

“No, no,” she said quickly. “But it’s important. Just come, Richard. Promise me.”

I sighed, glancing at Sarah, who was watching me with quiet curiosity. “Alright, I’ll come. But I can’t leave until I wrap up here. I’ll try to be there by dinner.”

“Good,” she said, a note of relief in her voice. “See you soon, dear.”

She hung up before I could ask any more questions. I stared at the phone for a moment, a sense of unease creeping in.

“Everything okay?” Sarah asked, breaking the silence.

“I think so,” I said, slipping the phone into my pocket. “But my mother’s being… mysterious. She wants me to come home tonight, and she won’t say why.”

“Maybe it’s good news,” Sarah offered.

“Maybe,” I replied, though the unease lingered.

I stood up, gathering my things. “Let’s finish this paperwork quickly. I have a feeling tonight’s going to be… interesting.”

Sarah nodded, and we worked in silence for a while. But my mind wasn’t on the papers in front of me. It was on the phone call, on the strange tone in my mother’s voice.

As I left the cabinet room later that afternoon, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever awaited me at the family house wasn’t going to be as simple as a surprise dinner.

And for a while, I felt so confused.