9. Change of Power 4

“Our brother-in-law is dead, Big brother,” he informed Gerald.

“I am aware. Get ready, we will go home tomorrow.”

“Better. I hope we will be permitted to leave?”

“Of course. The news of his death is all over the airwaves.”

“It is okay.”  

At Laura's House

The distance from their school, Chilham, to the house, was thirty minutes. They arrived a few minutes before 10 AM and were surprised that nobody was mourning Tim. Besides, Laura had gone to work as though nothing happened, and hell was let loose.

“Dad and Mom, what has he done to deserve such treatment? Is he not part of the family?” Gerald blurted out.

“Even if he was a dog, ain't you bothered that he was killed without trial? Can't we get justice for him?” Samuel added, and their parents aggravated things with their answers, “I would rather get justice for my dog than for a wife beater.”

“Especially the one who beat my daughter and caused the death of my grandchild.”

At that time, Samuel was distraught and stated, “Who would not beat a cheeky wife like Big sister? She has no respect for her husband.”

“I doubt if he beat her up. I doubt it,” Gerald emphasized.

After the big brouhaha, they left for their rooms and resolved to call Tim's number.

“Let's see if the person with his phone will give us a clue on how to get his corpse for burial.”

At The Auxiliary Armory PLC

Laura returned to her office, took her seat dejectedly, and murmured, “It is just for today. When the Chairman comes, I will take my rightful position. I can't work with a small boy.”

She was sulking when Alice walked to her with disparaging remarks about her on social media.

(Miss Dickson, former Mrs. Dickson-Williams out to seduce the new Chairman.)

“What! Who did this? I was only adjusting my brassiere, and they said I was trying to seduce the new Chairman. Is it fair?”

“I thought as much. What do I do?”

“Which media house posted that? I will get them arrested and ask for damage at once.”

“It is social media news. Tracing the poster will be difficult. But we can only counter it.”

“That is good. Make a counter post and debunk their lies,” she ordered.

“I got it,” Miss Dickson.”

At The Chairman's Office.

The meeting had lasted for over an hour and George felt that taking tea or coffee would not be a bad idea. 

“How do I get the Secretary's attention?” He faced the General Manager and inquired.

“There is an intercom on the Chairman's desk,” he explained.

“I will get her,” the Personnel Manager, Capt. Edwin Jaja volunteered and took a step.

“Thank you for that, Captain,” George appreciated him. He walked to the door, opened it, and announced, “Secretary. The Chairman needs your attention.”

Laura was startled by such an address. Previously, the Chairman would press the bell and she would take her time before walking to him.

“I got it, Captain," she accepted all the same and began to put on her shoes. Likewise, Capt. Jaja walked back and joined the meeting. 

“She is coming,” he announced after he took his seat.

Unfortunately, Tim only taught George how to hold a meeting and not how to handle a repulsive secretary with an exaggerated sense of self-worth. The few seconds delay by her did not augur well with him and he revolted. At once, he faced the Personnel Manager and asked, “Is she that clumsy? What is keeping her?”  

He smiled broadly and replied, “She will be here soon.”

Nevertheless, she arrived and George looked into her eyes. He waited for her to apologize for her delay but she did not because she never thought that she offended him. On that note, he felt slighted and attributed it to his age. To strengthen things and take his rightful position as the Chairman's Representative, he reprimanded her, “I thought secretaries are trained to be smart. Why did it take you ages to arrive?”

The management team especially the Accountant was so pleased with that. They had never had it so good. The former Chairman condoned her because of the way she got the job.

George would have been more polite if she had introduced herself as a married woman. Now, he believed that she was a single girl and related to her on that note.

After a few seconds of locking eyes with George, her face turned red and she answered, “I am here, Sgt. Young.”

“Serve everyone tea or coffee,” he ordered with finality in his note and continued with the meeting.”

'When did I become a tea girl?' she asked herself. She looked at the General Manager and hoped that he would correct what she termed a misconception but he did not notice her.

“I got it, Sgt. Young,” she answered, moved to the pantry, and made a fool of herself.

At Tim's New Apartment

Although he was not physically present in the office he was watching everything that was happening there from his device. When Laura was pushing up her breasts he shook his head bitterly.

“So, this is why she wants me out of the way?” He asked himself. He was following up the meeting when his phone rang and he felt disturbed.

“Oh!” He exclaimed when he saw the caller. Likewise, he looked intently at his phone until the call timed out.

“Everyone believed that I was dead. What do I do?” He asked himself. While he was mulling over the call, it rang again. He ignored it until it timed out. Nevertheless, he continued following up with the meeting. When George asked Laura to serve tea, he was downcast and mumbled, “I hope the stress will not affect my baby?”

Now, he saw her serving the tea angrily and he frowned at her conduct.

“So, she exhibits her mannerlessness at work too? Gen. McDonald must have endured a lot,” he pointed out and continued watching. At that point, she served all of them with tea and was about to step out when George called her attention, “Secretary,” and she halted like a frightened cat. She glared at him for addressing her like a common janitor. Without noticing her looks, he explained, “I can't remember requesting for tea. Kindly change it to coffee.”

He pushed his tea aside, it spilled and soiled the table.

“Get the napkin quickly and clean the table,” he requested nonchalantly. To avoid more trouble for herself, she walked quickly to the pantry, picked up the napkin, and returned. She cleaned the table before she carried the tea and walked back to the pantry while the meeting continued. Within a few minutes, she returned with coffee.

“I have changed it, Sgt. Young,” she informed him.

“Better,” he responded cursorily. To rub it in, the Accountant requested, “Secretary, kindly change mine. I need a cup of coffee.”

Tim laughed unrestrainedly and pointed out, “Lazy girl. Just like her parents.”