Chapter 3 - Liam refusal

Mr. John smiled and replied, "My daughter studied business administration at the University of Nigeria."

"That's fine. You should submit her CV to us once she's at home. I am sure we have more vacancies for new bees like her. I will be expecting to see her," Mr. Taiye replied.

"Father!" Liam quickly cut his father's speech off as his frowns deepened.

"You cannot just court me with her yet," Liam said, and his father smiled at him and replied, "I know, my son. I am only just trying to compensate Mr. John Patrick for his good will and commitment to working with us for twenty years plus."

Mr. John smiled as he bowed a little to leave. "I will be taking my leave now, boss. Thank you and congratulations once again, Liam," he said, excusing himself away from them.

Liam sighed after hearing Mr. John's last word. He walked with his father to the front of the meeting hall while they stood near the exit door, and he spoke, "Father, I don't like all you just did right now. There are many other ways to compensate Mr. John Patrick, and not at my own detriment."

"What do you mean by that, Liam? Mr. John has been a committed worker here. I know you won't understand because you're new here with us, but it's okay. Besides, Mr. John said if his daughter agreed. So she might not even consider to work with us, and there's no need for you to panic about all that was just said," Mr. Taiye replied, turning to leave the meeting hall.

Liam remarked, "I hope she doesn't. Women ain't of my interest for now."

"Liam," Mr. Taiye paused, staring back at his son. He shook his head, saying, "You don't say that to your mother. Someday you'll find a good wife, but that's all, by the way. Let's focus on business and forget about all we have just said."

"Okay, father," Liam agreed, watching his father exit the meeting hall, leaving only him in the hall. His assistant, Brown, walked back into the meeting hall to meet him immediately after his father left.

"What should I do now, boss?" Brown asked, standing in front of Liam.

"Prepare the car. I will be going home for today. All official duties start tomorrow," Liam said, sighing deeply.

"Alright, boss," Brown replied, exiting the meeting hall on the second floor. He went downstairs to inform Liam's personal driver, Israel, to prepare the car.

"Israel, get the car ready. The boss is about to leave now," Brown said.

"Okay," Israel replied, waiting for Liam to step out.

Israel then stood watching the Benson Group, a 5-story building with many staff preparing to leave. 

*****

Liam stepped out of the elevator and walked towards his car in the driveway. Some workers stood beside their cars, discussing that it was a free day and no work was available to be carried out. As Liam's father, Mr. Taiye had given them the break the previous day to witness him as the new CEO.

Liam hopped into his sleek black car, settling in the back seat, while Israel shut the door and got into driver's seat. 

Israel ignited the black car's engine and drove home to the Benson villa.

Arriving at the Benson's mansion, Israel drove the car into the residence and parked it. 

Liam then got out of the car and walked toward the mansion. He entered the living room of the one-story duplex, seeing that his mother wasn't in the living room, but in the kitchen cooking. 

Een though they have many maids, Mrs. Juliet Jackson still prefers cooking. As she loves preparing their local African dishes.

A maid stepped out of the kitchen to welcome Liam, as she heard the sound of the car arrive. "Welcome back, Master Liam," she bowed and greeted him.

"Thank you," Liam replied, staring away from the maid, and made his way into the kitchen to find his mother. 

The aroma of the food his mother was preparing had filled the entire living room with its delicious scent.

Mrs. Juliet was preparing the delicious Egusi soup garnished with beef and dried fish.

"Good afternoon, mom," Liam greeted his mother as he entered into the kitchen to meet her. 

The two maids assisting his mother in the kitchen immediately greeted him, "Welcome back, Master Liam."

"Thank you," Liam replied, looking back at his mother. 

Mrs. Juliet washes her hands in the kitchen sink and dries them with her short kitchen towel. She smiles and walks up to give Liam a warm hug.

"Welcome home, my son. How was your day today in the office?" Mrs. Juliet asked.

"It was fine, mother. Hasn't my father arrived home?" Liam asked. His mother responded, "No, my son. Your father is probably with his friends. You know he's happy that you finally returned home, and now the new CEO of Benson Group."

"I know that, mom," Liam smiled and walked out of the kitchen.  

Mrs. Juliet then instructed her maid on what to do as her meal was almost done.

"Just keep an eye on it, so it won't get burned. Once it is ready, serve it right out," Mrs. Juliet instructed a maid, who replied, "Okay, Ma'am."

Nora, the maid, smiled as she was the senior maid. 

Mrs. Juliet then walks out of the kitchen, entering the living room to find her son, and seeing him seated on the long couch in the living room, and stretching his long legs.

Mrs. Juliet wore a brown gown, and she removed her apron 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 replied, taking the apron and walking away. 

 Mrs. Juliet then walked up to the couch to sit across from Liam.

"Mom, why are you stressing so much when you have the maids at your service?" Liam asked his mother, watching her sit across from him.

"I know that, my son, but you know that cooking is part of exercise, and I enjoy cooking too. I cannot leave all the work to the maids, as I might end up becoming lazy and sick. As I have already retired this year from the nursing home before you returned," she said.

"Hmm," Liam hummed. "It's okay, mother. So long as you're not stressed about it, I'm okay with that."

"Not at all, Liam. Tell me, how did the event go?" Mrs. Juliet asked.

"Fine, mother. It's just a simple meeting of the new staff, but I didn't like how some of the female staff dressed," Liam stated, his face twisted in irritation.

"What do you mean by that, my son? Weren't the women putting on clothes, or how had you expected them to dress?" Mrs. Juliet inquired, confused by her son's claims.

"Decently, mother! That's how a female staff is supposed to dress for the office. Decent, not trying to seduce anyone at work," Liam replied, and his mother gasped.

"Oh, Liam!" Mrs. Juliet has 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," she replied.

"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 stated, his face twisted in irritation.

"Liam! You won't do just that. You just resume 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 will like them to start dressing from tomorrow onwards. I will have them inspected at the gate before they're allowed into the company, and have already prepared the dress code. Brown will give out the information to them tomorrow," Liam said, standing from the couch, and Mrs. Juliet was dumbfounded.

"Liam," Mrs. Juliet 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 won't like to be distracted or tempted by any of my female staff members," Liam replied.

"Alright. If that's how you want it. I just hope it won't affect the company's growth," Mrs. Juliet replied.

"Not at all, mother," Liam replied with a smiled to his mother, seeing that she had agreed.

"I will have to go upstairs now and freshen up, and come back to join you for dinner. The aroma of the soup is inviting; let me hurry up," Liam said.

"Okay, son, I will be expecting you," Mrs. Juliet replied, watching her son climb the stairs in the living room to the second floor.

Their house is a standard duplex. Even as her husband has the funds to purchase a multi-million-dollar mansion, Mrs. Juliet still prefers them living in the Benson Villa, as it keeps a lot of her past memories alive.

Mrs. Juliet stood up to prepare the dining table with the maids. Just then, her husband arrived home with another of his friends, Mr. Tunji Martin.

Mrs. Juliet walked back to welcome them, as they entered the living room and met her.

"Welcome, honey," Mrs. Juliet said, hugging her husband. Even though he's 68 years old, she doesn't fail to call him honey.

"Wow, the aroma of the soup is inviting," Mr. Taiye praised his wife good cooking skills, as he kissed her cheek affectionately.

"Where's Liam?" Mr. Taiye asked. "Isn't he back yet?"

"He's back; Liam went up to freshen up," Mrs. Juliet replied.

"Okay, meet my friend, Tunji Martin; we have a little business discussion, but that will wait until after dinner, as Tunji will be joining us for dinner," Mr. Taiye informed her.

"Okay, honey, welcome, sir," Mrs. Juliet smiled at Mr. Tunji, and he greeted her, "Well done, ma."

"Thank you," she replied.