In Benson Group, Mr. Taiye Jackson sits in the front seat in the conference hall, where they're having a meeting with their different boards of members working under him in his other companies, all of which are registered underneath his name.
He speaks to his personal assistant softly in his ear like a whisper, "Introduce the new head to them now."
While they sit in the meeting hall waiting to meet the newly appointed CEO whose name has been announced, none of the workers has seen him yet. 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 sit waiting to witness the new handling of company ownership to Mr. Taiye's only son, Liam Jackson.
He's rumored to be cold, unfilial, and the workers know that once he resumes the position as the new CEO, they will be dealt with harshly, as some have heard of him being 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 Nigeria, as he didn't find anything interesting there, except for his mother, who is a god-fearing Christian mother. She dresses modestly and never skips attending church to pray for her husband and him, as he is her only child.
Liam was made to understand that his mother underwent a lot of marital crisis at the beginning of her marriage with his father, as his grandfather, Mr. Benjamin Jackson, had opposed his son, Mr. Taiye, marrying his mother, Mrs. Juliet.
But because his father truly loved his mother, even though women were trying to seduce him and calling his mother barren, his father insisted on marrying only his mother, Mrs. Juliet, without having extramarital affairs.
He stuck to his wife, Mrs. Juliet Jackson, and stood by her, even though his family refused and stated she couldn't bear him another child even after 10 years of Liam's own birth.
Liam's mother had many miscarriages, and he knew it was because she worried so much about his father leaving her and marrying another woman, which caused her to lose all those babies she had carried in her womb, except for him. He just turned 30 years old, while his mother is 60 years old and his father is 68 years old.
Liam loves his parents nonetheless, but he is angry that his father tricked him by lying about being sick and arranging a fake doctor to call him and tell him about his father's ill health over the phone, asking him to return from the states. Liam was annoyed to return home and see his father healthy and attending business meetings.
Inside the headquarters of the Benson Group of companies, where they have oil manufacturing products, gas implants, steel production, and other basic amenities, Liam is in one of the private rooms on the second floor, adjusting his necktie as he wears a long white shirt and plain black trousers, with his black suit on the table.
His father had spoken to him about introducing him to their different boards of members and partners managing their businesses.
He breathes out heavily and finally picks up his suit to wear. Just then, his assistant, Brown Anderson, whom his father had first assigned to him on his first day at the company, knocks on the door of the private room, and he responds, "Come in."
"Boss, it's time for the introduction to begin," Brown informs him, and he nods and puts on his black suit properly.
Just as Liam 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 of Companies Limited." The hall immediately erupts in a round of applause as he steps to the front and climbs onto the podium. His father is sitting at the front seat, while his father's assistant, Mr. Silas Greystone, hands him the microphone to address their staff.
"Thank you all for acknowledging our invitation and being witnesses to 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 beacon of transparency and quality products. Thank you all for being a part of my new journey," he hands the microphone back to Mr. Silas and steps down from the podium. The applause increases as he walks to his seat, and a few top heads immediately stand up to shake hands with him as he approaches to sit in the available seat.
Liam shakes hands with them before sitting, and they return to their seats. His father, Mr. Taiye Jackson, smiles faintly at him and stands up to give his own speech before the final closing remarks from Silas.
"Thank you all for honoring my invitation and being witnesses to this new beginning with our new CEO, who is none other than my son, Liam Jackson. I appreciate all of our past workers who have worked hard to uplift our company's name and create a reputation of transparency. I would like all of you, old and new workers, and those in retirement, to respect and work harmoniously with our new CEO. Please follow whatever decisions he makes to help our company grow globally. Thank you all once again. Silas, I hand it over to you to close the meeting for today." Mr. Taiye hands the microphone back to Silas, who announces some new products and prices before delivering the closing speech. The invitees and workers stand up and exit the meeting hall after the meeting with their new CEO concludes.
Liam remained in the meeting hall with his father after the numbers of guests and members reduced, leaving just a few discussing. He stood up and walked over to meet his father, who was talking with his friend, Mr. John Patrick, one of their managing accountants.
"Father, I want to have a word with you," Liam told his father, so he could finish his conversation with his friend, Mr. John Patrick, who worked as one of their managing accountants and was very trusted with their company's funds.
"Okay son, I will be with you shortly," Mr. Taiye responded, while Mr. John finally turned to face Liam.
"Oh Master Liam, congratulations on your new position," Mr. John smiled faintly at Liam.
"Thank you sir, it is an honor meeting you and working here with all of you," Liam replied.
"You can always count on us, Liam. Your father is my boss and a very good friend, and I am so happy to see you taking over his position. I know you will lead us to much better growth than your father and grandfather ever did."
"Thank you, sir," Liam smiled faintly, as he loved praise from his friends, colleagues, and even elders, as it motivated 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 said as he turned 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. She will be very annoyed with me about that."
"Oh, I am so sorry about that, Mr. John. I hope she understands," Mr. Taiye apologized.
"Yes, she will," Mr. John nodded with a faint smile on his face, wanting to leave.
"How about I make up for that and have her introduced to my son, and maybe extend our family friendship to marriage. I am sure she will be happy about that," Mr. Taiye proposed, but Liam frowned immediately from where he was standing, waiting for his father to finish his conversation with his friend, Mr. John.
"Oh, thank you, Boss, but that's only if she will accept," Mr. John quickly rejected, knowing how stubborn his daughter was and not wanting her to cause any problems between him and his boss.
"Why wouldn't she accept? Liam is handsome and every girl wants him. What did she study in the university again?" Mr. Taiye asked, and Liam's frown deepened as he stared from his father to Mr. John.
Women weren't his interest, and Liam didn't like how his father was trying to set him up with a lady he hadn't even met and doubted he would like, just because he was friends with her father.
Mr. John Patrick smiled at Mr. Taiye and said, "Oh, she studied Business Administration at the University of Nigeria.""That's fine then. Have her submit her CV to us once she's home. I'm sure we have more vacancies for newcomers like her. I will be expecting her response.""Father!" Liam quickly cut off his father's speech as his frown deepened."You cannot just court me with her yet," Liam said, and his father smiled at him."I know, son. I am just trying to compensate Mr. John Patrick for his goodwill and commitment in working with us for over twenty years," Mr. Taiye responded, while Mr. John only smiled faintly at Liam and bowed slightly before leaving."I will be taking my leave now, boss. Thank you and congratulations once again, Liam," Mr. John said as he left.Liam nodded as he heard Mr. John's last words and walked with his father back to the front of the meeting hall, standing near the exit door and said, "I don't like all you just did right now, father. There are many other
Anita goes back home with her father and mother who arrive at her school to witness her final convocation ceremony.Her mother is very happy, but her father keeps his usual non-smiling face as he drives them home.Anita's father is proud of her that she 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 how she's the most beautiful amongst all her siblings.Even as his wife doesn't bear him a son, he isn't bothered about that, as their custom permits a woman to inherit her father's property, even though she's already married to another man.He sighs as he drives towards their home, as the university is closer to their home in the city.Arriving home, he drives into their simple compound and parks as their home is just a simple house, which is a flat, consisting of 4 bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, and 5 toilets with bathrooms.Mr. Joshua Baker is the owner of the house as he acquired and bought the
Mrs. Tonia smiled faintly at Anita as she made way for Glory to pass with the tray of soup in her hands. Anita walked into the kitchen and didn't utter a word to her mother, but her face held a sorrow that her mom understood better."Anita," Mrs. Tonia sighed and called her name."What is it, mom?" Anita asked and walked 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 replied, holding Anita's hand in hers."Hmph," Anita sighed."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...""Mom, where's the fufu?!" Flora stepped into the kitchen and interrupted them as she eyed Anita and walked 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 asked, crossing her arms around her chest."No, Flora, I am only a
Mrs. Tonia doesn't say anything after Flora exits the room. She sighs and walks up to sit beside Anita on the bed, while Favour and Esther exit the room next."You shouldn't be harsh with your sister. Fighting with her wasn't necessary," Mrs. Tonia says as she sits beside Anita on the bed."I know, mom, but they disrespect me too much and it's getting out of hand," Anita replies."It's okay. I can understand, but don't change yourself because of them. Keep being my sweet and calm daughter.""Okay, mom," Anita sighs as she stares at their mother while Glory walks up to sit on the bed too."I have to go now and join your father. Glory, you go now and pack your bags and come join Anita here.""Okay, mom," Glory replies as she stands up from the bed and walks out of the room, going to the room she shares with Lisa. Flora is in the room, arranging her bag of clothes and she doesn't utter any word to Glory who steps in and carries her own box of clothes out.Lisa sighs as she returns from th
Anita can't say anything again after their mother leaves them and walks back to the room to be with their father.She sighs and stares at Flora, who seems worried, and they walk back to sit on the couch."What do you think is the problem?" Esther asks Flora. Flora shakes her head and responds, "I don't know, but I'm worried it's something serious."They sit back on the couch waiting for their father or mother to step out and talk to them.Anita sighs and finally walks back to her room as she doesn't know what the problem is either. She believes her mother will let them know about it, even though her father doesn't want to, as she saw her father was already dressed to leave for work before receiving whatever news that made him devastated. She prays silently in her heart, "let it not be that father has lost his job."Anita murmurs and walks into her room, feeling his screams echoing in her mind has something to do with his office work. She sits on her bed and takes up her phone to type h
Liam walks into his office and takes his seat on his executive office chair. He swivels the seat sideways, staring at his office. He smiles and rolls up his sleeves to start his new day in the office. Leaning forward on his desk, he switches on his computer to check the company's records, waiting for the computer to boot. He ticks off the time as he waits for the computer to finish booting. Just then, his secretary knocks, and he responds, "Come in."Margret walks into Liam's office holding a file and smiles faintly at him, looking downward. "Yes... What's your name again?" Liam asks her, staring at her pretty yellow face."Margret Jonathan," she says, still smiling."Okay, Miss Margret, what do you want or how can I help you?" Liam asks as she steps forward."Sir, Mr. John Patrick brought this file this morning and said I should hand it over to you," she replies, staring at him."Okay, please drop it here," he points to the side of his desk with empty space and a few files. Margaret
"Hello Boss," Margret immediately picked up the office line and received the call."Come into my office right away," Liam responded. She gulped and quickly stood up from her office seat, dropping the phone line. She saw Bambam smiling at her as Bambam prepared to attend to the client sitting in front of her.Some clients stepped into Margaret's secretary's office to see her too, and she immediately directed them to other staff working on the third floor to attend to them, knowing the new boss didn't like to be kept waiting.Margret immediately walked towards Liam's office door, knocked, and heard his cold response, "Come in."Margret swallowed as she opened Liam's office door and walked into his exquisite office to see him."What took you so long to respond to my call?" Liam questioned, continuing to type on his computer without shifting his gaze away from the monitor screen as his fingers clicked faster on the keyboard."I'm sorry, boss. I arrived late from lunch," Margret replied. Li
Temisa is in her father's mansion as their home is a standard duplex in a government-owned estate, as her father bought the duplex as a new house."Father, have you submitted my CV and letter of application to the new boss?" Temisa asks, as her father just steps into the living room and she sits on the couch filing and brushing her long nails.Mr. John just stares at his daughter as instead of her standing up to welcome him, she sits comfortably on the couch filing her long nails and asking him questions like he's her errand boy."Temisa, you're quite unbelievable, not even a welcome greeting from you to your father?" Mr. John asks, as he drops his briefcase on the living room center table and slowly loosens his necktie."I am sorry, father. Good evening, father. Welcome," Temisa drops her leg down from the couch where she previously rested it and relaxes while filing her long nails."Where's your mother?" Mr. John asks, and Temisa responds, "She went to the market to refill the house