"My daughter studied business administration at the University of Nigeria," Mr. John said.
"That's fine, then. Have her submit her CV to us once she's home. I am sure we still have more vacancies for newcomers like her; I will be expecting her response," Mr. Taiye replied.
"Father!" Liam quickly cut his father's speech off as his frowns deepened.
"You cannot just connect me with her yet." Liam said, and his father smiled at him and replied,
"I know, son. I am only trying to compensate Mr. John Patrick for his good will and commitment to working with us for over twenty years." Mr. Taiye responded, while Mr. John only smiled faintly at Liam as he bowed a little to leave.
"I will be taking my leave now, boss. Thank you and congratulations once again, Liam," Mr. John said as he excused himself, while Liam nodded as he heard Mr. John's last word. He then walked with his father back to the front of the meeting hall, they stood near the exit door, and he spoke, "I don't like what you just did, father. There are many other ways to compensate Mr. John Patrick, and not at my own detriment."
"What do you mean by that, son? Mr. John has been a committed worker here. I know you won't understand all this because you're new with us, but that's okay. Besides, he said only if his daughter agreed. So she might not even accept to work with us, and there's no need for you to worry about all that has just been said," Mr. Taiye said as he turned to leave the meeting hall, while Liam harrumphed, "I hope she doesn't, father. Women aren't of my interest for now."
Mr. Taiye paused, and he stared back at Liam and shook his head as he replied, "Liam!"
"You don't say that within your mother's hearing. Someday you'll find a good wife, but that's all, for now. Let's focus on business and forget about all we have just said."
"Okay, father," Liam sighed, and he watched his father exit the meeting hall, leaving only him in the hall. His personal assistant walked back into the meeting hall to meet him immediately after his father left and asked, "What should I do now, boss?" Brown stood in front of Liam.
"Prepare the car; I will be going back home for today. All official duties start tomorrow," Liam replied.
"Okay, boss," Brown said, and he exited the meeting hall on the second floor and walked back downstairs to inform Liam's personal driver to prepare the car.
"Israel, get the car ready; the boss is about to leave now." Brown informed Israel on the ground floor, and Israel nodded, as the Benson Group is a 5-story multi-million dollar company with lots of staff and workers in it. Liam stepped out of the elevator and walked towards the car park while some of their workers stood out and beside their cars, discussing that it's a free day and no work is to be done as his father had given them the previous day off to witness him as the new CEO.
Liam sat in the back seat of his car while Israel started the car's engine and drove him home to the Benson residential villa.
Liam stepped out of the car and walked straight to the living room downstairs, and his mother wasn't in the living room as she was in the kitchen cooking, even though they have many maids and servants working for them in their mansion. His mother, Mrs. Juliet Jackson, still prefers doing the cooking herself, as she loves preparing their local dishes.
A maid stepped out to welcome him as she heard the sound of the car arrive, and she bowed to him and greeted him courteously, "Welcome back, Master Liam."
"Thank you," Liam looked away from her as he made his way towards the kitchen to find his mother. The aroma of the food she was preparing had filled the entire living room as she was preparing the popular Egusi soup garnished with beef and fresh fish.
"Good afternoon, mom," Liam greeted his mother as he walked into the kitchen, and the two maids assisting his mother in the kitchen immediately bowed their heads lower to him and said, "Welcome back, Master Liam."
"Thank you," Liam replied to them while his mom washed her hand in the kitchen sink and dried it with her short kitchen towel. She then walked up to meet him and gave him a warm hug.
"Welcome home, son. How was your day today in the office?" Mrs. Juliet asked.
"Fine, mother. Hasn't my father arrived home yet?" Liam asked in return, and his mother replied, "No son, He's probably with his friends. You know he's happy that you finally returned home and now assumed the position as the new CEO."
"I know that, mom," Liam smiled faintly to his mother, and he stepped out first from the kitchen while his mother instructed the cook on what to do as her meal was almost ready.
Mrs. Juliet stepped out in her usual long brown gown, and she removed her kitchen apron from her chest and handed it over to a maid who stepped out next to her.
"Here, take this to the laundry room and wash it," Mrs. Juliet said.
"Okay, ma'am" The maid collected the apron and left, while Mrs. Juliet walked up to sit on the opposite couch across from Liam.
"Mom, why're you stressing so much on cooking when you have the maids and cooks at your service?" Liam asked his mother as he watched her sit across from him.
"I know that, son, but you know cooking is part of exercise, and I enjoy cooking too. I cannot leave all the work to the maids and cook alone, as I might end up becoming lazy and sick as I have already retired this year from the nursing home before you returned."
"Hmm," Liam hummed.
"It's okay, mother. So long as you're not stressed about it, I'm okay with that," Liam replied.
"Not at all, son. Tell me, how did the event go?"
"Fine, mother. It's just a simple meeting of the new staff, but I don't like how some of the young female staff dressed," Liam stated, his face twisting in irritation.
"What do you mean by that, son? Weren't they wearing clothes, or how else had you expected them to have dressed?" Mrs. Juliet asked in surprise, confused by her son's claims.
"Decently, mother! That's how a corporate female worker is supposed to dress for office work. Decently, not trying to seduce anyone at work," Liam replied, and his mother gasped.
"Oh Liam!" Mrs. Juliet had a faint smile on her face.
"They're young female staff and probably searching for a husband. You don't expect them to dress like a married woman, covering everywhere to work. And besides, they might want you to admire one of them," Mrs. Juliet added.
"No, mother! That's not something I will allow. Tomorrow I will give out a new dress code order to Brown, and any of the new female staff and old staff that cannot follow it are expected to quit."
"Liam! You won't do just that. You just assumed the CEO position, and you won't be harsh to your workers and colleagues at the office just because you're their boss," Mrs. Juliet frowned.
"I'm sorry, mom. But that's how I would like them to start dressing from tomorrow onwards; I will have them inspected at the gate before they're allowed into the company. I have already prepared the dress code, and Brown will disseminate the information to them tomorrow," Liam stated as he stood up from the couch while Mrs. Juliet was dumbfounded.
"Liam," She finally called him, and he stopped.
"I'm sorry, mom, but if my father interferes in this, then I will have to resign from the company. One must keep his or her focus, and I don't want to be distracted or tempted by any of my female staff."
"Okay, son. If that's how you want it, I just hope there won't be any backlash to the company's already-growing growth," Mrs. Juliet replied.
"Not at all, mother," Liam finally smiled at his mother, seeing that his mom had agreed.
"I will have to go upstairs now and freshen up. The aroma of the soup is inviting; let me freshen up first and come back downstairs to join you for dinner," Liam said.
"Okay, son, I will be expecting you," Mrs. Juliet said as she watched her son climb the stairs in the living room and start going upstairs to the second floor. Their house is a standard duplex. Even though her husband has the money to purchase a multimillion-dollar mansion, she still prefers staying in the Benson Villa, as it keeps a lot of her past memories alive.
Mrs. Juliet sighed as she stood up to prepare the dining table with the maids. Just then, her husband arrived home with another of his friends, Mr. Tunji Martin, and she welcomed them as they walked into the living room and saw her walking towards the dining room.
"Welcome, honey," Mrs. Juliet said as she walked back to welcome her husband. Even though he's 68 years old, she never fails to call him honey.
"Wow, the aroma of the soup is inviting," Mr. Taiye said to his wife, and she smiled at him.
"Where's Liam? Isn't he back yet?" Mr. Taiye asked.
"He's back; he went up to freshen up," Mrs. Juliet replied.
"Okay. Meet my friend Tunji Martin; we have a little business discussion, but that will wait, as Tunji will be joining us for dinner."
"Okay, honey, welcome, sir." Mrs. Juliet smiled at Mr. Tunji, and he greeted her, "Well done, ma."
Anita goes back home with her father and mother, who arrived at her school to witness her final graduation ceremony.Her mother is very happy, but her father keeps his usual non-smiling face as he drives them home.He's proud of her that Anita didn't allow her beauty to sink into her brain and deter her from becoming successful in life, but nonetheless, he's still confused as to why she's the prettiest of all his daughters.Even though his wife didn't give him a son, he isn't bothered about that, as their custom permits a woman to inherit all her father's property, even though she's already married to another man, but he still wonders if he's Anita's true biological father.He sighs as he drives towards their home, as the university is closer to their home that's in the city.Arriving home, he drives into their simple compound and parks, as their home is just a simple bungalow, which is a flat consisting of 4 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and 5 toilets with bathrooms.Mr. Joshua
Mrs. Tonia smiles faintly at Anita as Anita makes way for Glory to pass with the tray of soup in her hands. Anita walks into the kitchen without uttering any words to her mother, but her face holds a great sorrow that her mom understands better."Anita," Mrs. Tonia slowly calls her name."What is it, mom?" Anita asks as she walks beside her mother."I want you to know that your father really loves you, like the rest of your siblings, and isn't against your success," Mrs. Tonia replies, holding Anita's hand in hers."Hmph," Anita sighs. "I know, mom, but I don't care about that. If Dad likes me, fine; if he doesn't, fine. I will always see him as my father, and that's all.""Anita," Mrs. Tonia begins."Mom, where's the fufu?!" Flora steps into the kitchen and interrupts them. She looks at Anita and walks to the kitchen cabinet to meet their mother."Mom, why are you holding her hands and talking to her? Are you begging her for something?" Flora asks again, crossing her arms over her che
Mrs. Tonia didn't say anything after Flora exited the room. She sighed and walked up to sit beside Anita on the bed, while Favour and Esther also exited the room."You shouldn't be so harsh with your sister. Fighting with her wasn't necessary," Mrs. Tonia said to Anita as she sat beside her on the bed."I know, mom, but they keep disrespecting me too much, and it's getting out of hand," Anita replied."It's okay. I understand, but don't change yourself because of them. Keep being my sweet and calm daughter," Mrs. Tonia advised Anita."Okay, mom," Anita sighed as she stared at her mother, while Glory walked up to sit on the bed too."I've got to go now and meet your father. Glory, go now, pack your bags, and come join Anita here," Mrs. Tonia said."Okay, mom," Glory replied. She stood up from the bed and walked out of the room to the one she shared with Lisa. Flora was already there, arranging her clothes into the wardrobe, but she didn't say a word to Glory, who stepped in and carried
Anita couldn't say anything after their mother left them to be with their father. She sighed and stared back at Flora, who seemed worried, as they walked back to sit on the couch."What do you think is the problem?" Esther asked Flora, but Flora shook her head and replied, "I don't know, but I am worried it's something serious."They sat back on the couch, waiting for their father or mother to step out and talk to them. Anita sighed and finally walked back to her room, not knowing what the problem was. She believed her mother would let them know, even if her father didn't want to, as she saw her father was already dressed to leave for work before receiving whatever news made him devastated. She prayed silently in her heart, "Let it not be that my father has lost his job."Anita shook her head and walked back into her room, feeling that her father's scream had something to do with his office work. She sat on her bed and picked up her phone to type her letter of application to the Benson
Liam walked into his office and took his seat in his executive chair, swirling it sideways and staring around his office. He smiled and rolled up his sleeves to start his new day at the office, leaning forward to his desk and switching on his computer to check the company's records. He waited for the computer to finish booting.Liam tick-tocked the time as he waited for the computer to boot up. Just then, his secretary knocked, and he responded, "Come in."Margret walked into his office, holding a file, and smiled faintly at him, staring downward a little before stopping in front of his desk."Yes... What's your name again?" Liam asked her as he looked up at her pretty face."Margret Jonathan," she said, still smiling at him."Okay, Miss Margret, what do you want, or what can I help you with?" Liam asked her."Sir, Mr. John Patrick brought this file this morning and said I should hand it over to you," Margret replied, staring at him."Okay, drop it here." Liam pointed to the space on h
"Hello, boss," Margret quickly picked up the office line and received the call."Come into my office right away," Liam responded. Margret gulped, quickly stood up from her seat, and dropped the phone. She saw Bambam smiling at her as she prepared to attend to a client sitting in front of her.Some clients stepped into Margret's office to see her, but she immediately directed them to other staff on the third floor, knowing the new boss didn't like to be kept waiting. Margret walked towards Liam's office door, knocked gently, and heard his cold response, "Come in."Margret gulped as she opened his office door and walked in."What took you so long to respond to my call?" Liam asked, continuing to type on his computer without looking away from the monitor."I'm sorry, boss, I arrived late from lunch," Margret replied. Liam paused his typing and looked up at her."Do you want to be fired?" he asked."No, boss," Margret responded nervously, fumbling with her fingers as her palms became sweat
Temisa is in her father's mansion, a standard duplex in a government-owned estate that her father bought as a new house."Father, have you submitted my CV and letter of application to the new boss?" Temisa asked as her father stepped into the living room. She sat on the long couch, filing and brushing her long nails.Mr. John stared at his daughter. Instead of standing up and welcoming him, she sat comfortably on the couch, filing her nails and asking him questions as if he were her errand boy."Temisa, you're quite unbelievable; not even a welcome greeting for your father?" Mr. John asked as he dropped his briefcase on the center table and loosened his necktie."I am sorry, father. Good evening, father. Welcome home," Temisa said, dropping her leg from the couch where it had been resting."Where's your mother?" Mr. John asked."She went to the market to refill the house with food.""And your elder brother?""Father, I'm not their keeper, and I don't know where Martin went either," Tem
"Mom, I cannot work with them if that's what their new boss now wants from them," Temisa refuted as she stood up from the couch. She had been sitting with her mother when Felicia left with the car key to offload the car's boot."I can understand you, Temisa, but know that your father went through the stress to get your application submitted to their boss. It will be very insulting to your father if, after their new boss approves you, you fail to resume with them. Remember, your results aren't even the best, and yet they want you to work with them," Mrs. Bianca said."But mother..." Temisa was lost for words as she stared at her mother, a beautiful, full-figured black woman."Just think about it, Temisa, and be easy on yourself. You're lucky your father is doing all this to get you to the top among your peers. He told me personally that the CEO's father wants you to be engaged with his son, and the only way you can be engaged with his son is by getting closer to him and building a bond