As the sun began to set, the room was bathed in a warm, golden light, and the evening festivities commenced. The evening session was just lightweight sessions and workshops, splitting them into different classes where they were taken by different coaches. Lana could feel both Andre and Cameron constantly staring at her, her eyes usually catching both of them. Towards the end of the day, the businessmen were called to dinner, cooked by the hotel’s renowned chef. Each dish was a work of art, presented with precision and flair on fine china and crystal glassware. The aroma of roasted meats and fresh herbs wafted through the air, attacking the senses and building anticipation. The first course, a delicate seafood bouillabaisse, was served with a side of crusty baguette and a dollop of creamy rouille, all of which looked strange to Cameron. He looked at it with admiration but ate with a different attitude. The flavours danced on the palate—a perfect balance of sweet and savoury. As th
Lana hoped she was not going to regret what she was doing, but she hoped in her heart that this was the right choice for her and the children. People were starting to suspect her and Cameron’s relationship to be beyond official business, and if there was something she could avoid, it was definitely a scandal at the moment. If the news leaked that she was staying at his place despite not being married or engaged, they could be in more trouble than they bargained for. The thought had suddenly occurred to her during the business meeting after she had met Freda. For yet another time, she weighed the consequences of what she did in her mind, hoping that Cameron would be emotionally okay. Sinking on the couch in the long, deserted, untidy room, she flipped the light switch, the light blinking to life. She took a look around, taking in the scenery. A thick layer of dust coated every surface, softening the edges of furniture and belongings. Cobwebs clung to corners like delicate tapestri
The day was cold and windy, steadily announcing the near arrival of winter and its children. Settling for a fully furred sweater with a turtle neck, Kathy came out of the convenience store, bags in hand, breezing through to the sedan parked on the other side of the mall. She walked to the car, almost tripping over on the interlocked tile floor twice. After successfully navigating to the car, she settled in, rolling down her window to look for her way out. The lights on the cell phone sitting on the dashboard blinked repeatedly, and the phone rang out, sending Kathy jolting back. She picked it up and found a strange number; she had been wary of picking unsaved contacts ever since she left Andre, but something kept picking at her to pick it. She held the phone, measuring the weight of the decisions in her mind. She picked it up, and the familiar raspy voice of Andre came over the phone, booming loud and clear with an ever-authoritative tone. “Hey, where are you?” “I guessed you di
Still curious as to who came down the car with Cameron, Lana tried to look beyond his head, but he had overshadowed her from the front, not allowing her to see anything but his clothed torso. “Where is your guest?” She asked curiously. “Good morning, Lana.” “Morning Cameron.” She realised she had not even greeted him that morning.At the same moment, Andre came into the hall, intentionally brushing past Cameron and extending a hand to me with his smile. “I called you this morning. I guess you were not on your phone.” He said, a naughty smile dancing on his lips. His gaze shifted from Lana to Cameron, and he let out another laugh. “Oh, we shouldn’t really talk about your romantic life around your boss.”Lana knew what he was driving at, and she was not ready to let him achieve it. She stepped in, giving him a side eye. “Have you lost your way, young man? Or have you sent Kathy packing again?” He looked at her in shock and bewilderment, mouth wide agape. A vengeful, naugh
It was the fourth and final day of the meeting, which also doubled as the most anticipated and filled moment of the meeting. The grand ballroom had been redecorated for this event and was abuzz with excitement as the crème de la crème of the business world gathered for the annual Business Excellence Awards, one of the most prestigious awards in the industry. One would know that this was indeed an awards ceremony that was worthy of being the talk of the town; everything was top-notch. The media presence at the ceremony was impressive, with a diverse range of outlets and journalists invited to cover the event. The list included leading dailies of national newspapers like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal; industry-specific business publications like Forbes, Fortune, and Bloomberg Businessweek had a strong presence; and digital media outlets like CNBC and Reuters were also in attendance. Regional newspapers and business journals from the host city and its environs we
It was going to be a celebration galore all through the night for the Black Bricks group. Cameron receiving the award would be the precursor to many other good things for the company. The management had called Lana, informing her of close to ten deals and contracts coming from different sources; even the government had called in to congratulate him. Congratulations were still pouring in from different sources despite it being a few hours, leaving them to wonder about the amazement of photography and wire sources. In honour of his team, Cameron decided to throw a little party, more of a gesture of appreciation for their efforts. The party was planned to be thrown the next day, and Lana was tasked with inviting different personalities. Darby, acting as the event planner, in cooperation with the welfare department of Black Bricks Group, was running here and there, making sure everything was in equal proportion. Cameron must be so happy for him to agree to host a party in honour of th
The hall was resplendent in a warm, celebratory ambience, elegantly set for the prestigious award celebration. The walls, adorned with golden accents, gleamed in the soft light, while the polished marble floor shimmered like a canvas of elegance. Round tables, covered in crisp white linens, were arranged throughout the hall, each one adorned with a stunning floral centrepiece that added a pop of colour to the sophisticated setting. The chairs, upholstered in rich velvet, were positioned with precision, inviting guests to linger and mingle. A grand stage, adorned with a gleaming podium and a majestic backdrop, stood proudly at the front of the hall, awaiting speeches on the award. The lighting was dimmed to create an intimate atmosphere, with spotlights strategically placed to highlight the award recipients and guest speakers. The walls were beautified with sleek, modern displays showcasing the achievements and contributions of the Black Bricks entire team, who were indeed the awar
Little did the attendees know that the event was about to take a whole new turn that they hadn’t expected. After the music band had dazzled the audience, Cameron was invited on stage to give a speech in honour of the award. He stepped onto the podium, his baritone-filled voice echoing through the room. He held up the award in his hand, the evidence of excellence glittering in the bright reflection of the hall’s bulbs. “Good evening, distinguished ladies and gentlemen of society. A special thanks to the organisers of this event for giving us this award. We really appreciate it.” There were clicks and flashes from cameras from different angles. He flinched from the sudden light attack but regained his composure, picking up the microphone. He dropped the award on the floor, much to the amazement of everyone, and got down from the podium with one hand in his pocket. “This award, once again, is not mine; it is ours. My thanks go to the entire team, from welfare, who are making sure we