Chapter 2: Father's proposal

In the Benson GROUP, Mr. Taiye Jackson sits in the front seat of the conference hall, where they are having a meeting with the various boards of members working under him in his other companies, all registered in his name. He speaks softly to his personal assistant in his ear like a whisper, "Introduce the new head to them now." 

They sit in the meeting hall, waiting to meet the newly appointed CEO, whose name has been announced, but none of the employees has seen him yet, as Mr. Taiye Jackson is the former CEO while his late father, Mr. Benjamin Jackson, was the first to establish the Benson group of companies, which means Benjamin and Sons group of companies. They wait to witness the new transfer of company ownership to Mr. Taiye's only son, Liam Jackson. 

Liam's rumored to be cold, unfilial, and the employees know that once he resumes the position as the new CEO, they will be dealt with harshly, as some have heard him described as arrogant, mean, and unappreciative. Nonetheless, he is very hardworking and runs some private businesses in the States before his father finally announced his retirement plan to him, asking him to return to his country to run his multimillion-dollar companies. 

Liam had initially refused, as he didn't want to return to his country, Nigeria, since he didn't find anything interesting there, except for his mother, who is a God-fearing Christian. She dresses modestly and does not skip attending church to pray for her husband and him, as he is her only child. Liam was meant to understand that his mother underwent a lot of marital crises at the beginning of her marriage to his father, as his father's father, Mr. Benjamin Jackson, had refused his son, Mr. Taiye, permission to marry his mother, Mrs. Juliet. 

However, because his father truly loves his mother, even though women were flocking around him, trying to seduce him and calling his mother barren, he had insisted on marrying only Mrs. Juliet, without engaging in any extra-marital affairs.

Liam's father, Mr. Taiye remained devoted only to his wife, Mrs. Juliet Jackson, and stood by her even though his family disapproved and said she couldn't bear him another child even after 10 years since Liam's birth. Mrs. Juliet had suffered many miscarriages, and Liam knew it was due to her constant worry about his father leaving her for another woman, which caused her to lose all those babies she had carried in her womb, except for him. He had just turned 30 years old, while his mother was 60 and his father 68. Liam loves his parents nonetheless, but his father had deceived him by lying about being sick and even arranged for a fake doctor to call him, telling him about his father's poor health over the phone and asking him to return from the States. Liam was very annoyed to come back to his homeland only to find his father hale and hearty, moving around and attending business meetings. Liam is upset that his father had tricked him into returning and refused to let him go back to the United States. 

******

Inside the headquarters of the Benson Group of Companies, where they manufacture oil products, gas implants, steel, and other basic amenities, their company is well known worldwide. 

Liam is in one of the private rooms on the second floor, adjusting his necktie as he wears a long white shirt and black plain trousers, with his black suit laid out on the table. His father had spoken to him about introducing him to their various boards of members and partners managing their businesses. 

Liam exhales heavily and finally picks up his suit to wear. Just then, his assistant, Brown Anderson, whom his father initially assigned to him on his first day at the company, knocks on the private room door, and he responds, "Come in."

"Boss, it’s time for the introduction to begin," Brown informs him, and Liam nods while adjusting his black suit properly.

Just as he steps out, his father's spokesperson announces to the rest of the prominent men and women sitting in the large meeting hall, "Welcome Master Liam Jackson, new CEO of Benson Group." The hall immediately breaks into a round of applause for Liam as he steps to the front and climbs onto the podium, while his father sits in the front row. His father's assistant, Mr. Silas Greystone, hands him the microphone so he can give a short speech to the staff.

"Thank you all for accepting our invitation and for witnessing my appointment as the new CEO of Benson Group. I would like us to continue with our integrity and work hard to build our company into a recognized symbol of transparency and guaranteed products. Thank you all for being a part of my new journey. Thank you once again," Liam hands the microphone back to Mr. Silas and steps down from the podium. The applause intensifies as he walks to take his seat, while a few top executives immediately stand up to shake hands with him as he approaches the chair made available for him.

Liam shakes hands with them before sitting down, and they return to their seats, while his father, Mr. Taiye Jackson, smiles at him faintly and stands up to give his own speech before the final closing remarks from Silas. 

"Thank you all for honoring my invitation and witnessing this new beginning with our new CEO, who is none other than my son, Liam Jackson. I appreciate all our past employees who have worked hard to uplift our company's name and create the transparency that positions us as one of the best production companies here in Nigeria. I encourage all of you—both old and new employees, as well as those retired—to respect and work amicably with our new CEO, and support whatever decisions he makes for our company's global growth. As you can see, he has just returned from the States to be with us. Thank you all once again. Silas, I turn it over to you to close the meeting for today." Mr. Taiye hands the microphone back to Silas, who reads out some news briefs about the new products and prices. After that, he closes the meeting with his concluding remarks, and the attendees and employees stand up to exit the meeting hall after the session with their new CEO concludes.

Liam remains in the meeting hall with his father after most of the guests have left, with only a few still discussing. He stands up and walks over to meet his father, who is conversing with his friend, Mr. John Patrick, one of their managing accountants.

"Father, I want to have a word with you," Liam tells his father so he can wrap up his conversation with his friend, Mr. John Patrick, who works as one of their managing accountants and is very trusted with their company funds.

"Okay, son, I will be with you shortly," Mr. Taiye responds while Mr. John turns to face Liam. 

"Oh, Master Liam, congratulations on your new position," Mr. John smiles faintly at Liam.  

"Thank you, sir. It's an honor to meet you too and work here with you all," Liam replies.  

"You can count on us always, Liam. Your father is my boss and a very good friend too, and I am so happy to see you taking over his position. I know you will lead us well to much better growth than your father and grandfather ever did."  

"Thank you, sir," Liam smiles faintly, as he loves praise from his friends, colleagues, and even elders, as it motivates him to work hard.  

"You're welcome, Liam. Mr. Taiye, I am leaving. My daughter will be very upset with me for not showing up at her school convocation today, even after she called me to come with her mother to the university," Mr. John says as he turns to face Mr. Taiye.  

"You know I cannot miss your son being introduced to us as the new CEO, so I asked her mother and her elder brother to attend her convocation on my behalf, and she will be very annoyed with me for that."  

"Oh, I am so sorry about that, Mr. John. I hope she understands," Mr. Taiye apologizes.  

"Yes, she will," Mr. John nods with a faint smile on his face, wanting to leave.  

"How about I make up for that and have her introduced to my son? Maybe we can extend our family friendship to marriage. I am sure she will be happy about that," Mr. Taiye proposes, but Liam immediately frowns from where he is standing, beside his father, waiting for him to finish his conversation with Mr. John.  

"Oh, thank you, Boss, but that’s only if my daughter will accept," Mr. John quickly rejects, knowing how stubborn his daughter is, and he doesn't want her to create any problems between him and his boss.  

"Why wouldn't she accept? Liam is handsome, and every girl wants him. What did your daughter study in the university again?" Mr. Taiye asks, and Liam's frown deepens as he stares from his father to Mr. John. Women are not his interest, and Liam doesn't like how his father is trying to court him with a lady he hasn't even met and doubts he will like, just because he's friends with her father.