Chapter 2 - New CEO

In the Benson Group headquarters, Mr. Taiye Jackson sat in the front seat of the meeting hall, where they were holding a meeting with the various board members.

He leaned toward his personal assistant and whispered softly, “Introduce the new head to them now.”

They sat waiting to meet the newly appointed CEO, whose name had already been announced, though none of the workers had seen him yet.

Mr. Taiye Jackson was the former CEO, while his late father, Mr. Benjamin Jackson, had been the first to establish the Benson Group of Companies—originally known as Benjamin and Sons Group of Companies.

They were gathered to witness the formal transfer of company leadership to Mr. Taiye’s only son, Liam Jackson.

Liam was rumoured to be cold and distant. The workers knew that once he assumed the position of CEO, they would be held to stricter standards.

Some had heard Liam was arrogant, stern, and unappreciative, yet he was undeniably hardworking. He had been managing his own private businesses in the States before his father announced his retirement and asked him to return to Nigeria to oversee the multimillion-dollar empire.

Liam had initially refused. He saw little appeal in returning to Nigeria, except for his mother—a devout Christian who dressed modestly and never missed church, where she prayed fervently for her husband and their only child.

Liam was expected to understand that his mother had endured significant marital difficulties early in her marriage. His paternal grandfather, Mr. Benjamin Jackson, had opposed his son’s union with Mrs. Juliet.

Despite numerous women attempting to seduce Mr. Taiye and labelling his mother barren, Mr. Taiye had remained steadfast. He married only her and never engaged in extramarital affairs.

Mr. Taiye remained devoted to Mrs. Juliet, standing by her even when his family insisted she would never bear him another child after ten years. His mother had suffered repeated miscarriages, which Liam attributed to her constant fear that his father might leave her for another woman. Only he had survived, and he had recently turned thirty. His mother was now sixty, and his father sixty-eight.

Despite his affection for his parents, Liam was furious that his father had deceived him.

Mr. Taiye had pretended to be gravely ill, even arranging a fake doctor to call Liam with the news.

Upon rushing home from the States, Liam discovered his father hale and hearty, attending business meetings as usual. Angered by the trick, Liam wanted to return to the United States, but his father declined.

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Inside the headquarters of the Benson Group of Companies—which produced oil manufacturing products, gas equipment, steel, and other essential goods known worldwide—Liam waited in a private room on the second floor. He adjusted his necktie, wearing a long white shirt, plain black trousers, and a black suit laid out on the table.

His father had instructed him to be introduced to the various board members and business partners.

Liam exhaled heavily and reached for his suit. Just then, his assistant, Brown Anderson—whom his father had assigned on Liam’s first day—knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Liam responded.

“Boss, it is time for the introduction,” Brown informed him.

Liam nodded and donned his black suit properly.

As he stepped out, his father’s spokesperson announced to the prominent men and women assembled in the large hall, “Welcome Master Liam Jackson, new CEO of Benson Group of Companies Limited.”

The hall erupted in applause as Liam walked to the front and ascended the podium. His father sat in the front row while Mr. Silas Greystone, his father’s assistant, handed him the microphone.

“Thank you all for accepting our invitation and witnessing my assumption of the role of CEO of the Benson Group. I ask that we continue to uphold our integrity and work diligently to elevate our company to greater heights of transparency and quality. Thank you for being part of this new chapter,” Liam said. He returned the microphone to Mr. Silas and descended the podium amid renewed applause. Several senior executives rose to shake his hand as he approached his designated seat.

After the greetings, Liam sat down. His father, Mr. Taiye Jackson, smiled faintly at him before standing to deliver his own remarks, after which Mr. Silas would close the meeting.

“Thank you all for honouring my invitation and witnessing this new beginning under our new CEO—none other than my son, Liam Jackson. I appreciate all our past workers who have laboured tirelessly to uphold our company’s reputation and ensure the transparency that has made us one of Nigeria’s leading producers. I urge both old and new staff, as well as those in retirement, to respect and cooperate with our new CEO and to follow his decisions so that our company may grow globally. As you can see, he has returned from the States to be with us. Thank you once again. Silas, I hand the floor to you to close today’s meeting.”

Mr. Taiye returned the microphone to Silas, who outlined the new products and pricing before concluding the session. The guests and staff rose and filed out of the hall.

Liam remained behind with his father as the crowd thinned. He stood and approached Mr. Taiye, who was speaking with his friend Mr. John Patrick, one of their trusted managing accountants.

“Father, I would like a word with you,” Liam said, hoping his father would finish his conversation.

“Okay, son. I will be with you shortly,” Mr. Taiye replied. Mr. John turned to face Liam.

“Oh, Master Liam—congratulations on your new position,” Mr. John said with a faint smile.

“Thank you, sir. It is an honour to meet you and to work alongside everyone here,” Liam replied.

“You can always count on us, Liam. Your father is both my boss and a dear friend. I am delighted to see you stepping into his role. I am confident you will lead us to even greater success than your father and grandfather achieved.”

“Thank you, sir,” Liam said, smiling faintly. He appreciated genuine praise, as it motivated him to work harder.

“You are welcome, Liam. Mr. Taiye, I must be going. My daughter will be very upset with me for missing her university convocation today, even though she asked her mother and me to attend.”

“You know I could not miss your son’s introduction as the new CEO, so I asked her mother and elder brother to represent me. She will surely be annoyed.”

“Oh, I am sorry about that, Mr. John. I hope she understands,” Mr. Taiye apologised.

“Yes, she will,” Mr. John replied with a nod, preparing to leave.

“How about I make amends by introducing her to my son? Perhaps we could even extend our family friendship through marriage. I am sure she would be pleased,” Mr. Taiye proposed.

Liam frowned immediately from where he stood beside his father. Women held no interest for him, and he disliked his father attempting to arrange a match with a woman he had never met—simply because Mr. John was a friend.

“Oh, thank you, boss, but only if my daughter agrees,” Mr. John said quickly, aware of his daughter’s stubborn nature and unwilling to create tension between himself and his employer.

“Why would she refuse? Liam is handsome, and every girl desires him. What did she study at university?” Mr. Taiye asked.

Liam’s frown deepened as he looked from his father to Mr. John. He had no intention of being courted into a relationship with a stranger.