CHAPTER 3

Mr. John smiled and responded, "My daughter studied Business Administration in the University of Nigeria."

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

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

"You cannot just court me with her yet..." Liam said, and his father smiled.

"I know, Liam, I am only just trying to compensate Mr. John Patrick for his goodwill and commitment in working with us for twenty years plus," 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."

Liam nodded as he heard Mr. John's last words. He walked with his father back to the front of the meeting hall, standing near the exit door.

Liam stated, "Dad, I don't like all you just did right now. There are many other ways to compensate Mr. John, not at my own detriment."

"What do you mean by that, Liam? Mr. John has been a committed worker. I know you won't understand all these because you're new here with us, but it is okay. Besides, he said if only his daughter agrees. So she might not even accept to work with us and there's no need for you to worry about all I have just said now." Mr. Taiye turned to leave the meeting hall too, and Liam replied:

"I hope she doesn't, father. Women aren't of my interest for now."

"Liam!" Mr. Taiye stopped and he stared back at his son and shook his head.

"You don't say that to your mother's hearing. Someday you'll find a good wife, but that's all by the way. Let's focus on business and forget about all I 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 shortly after his father left.

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

"Prepare the car. I will go back home for today. All official duties start tomorrow."

"Got it, boss!" Brown exited the meeting hall on the second floor and walked downstairs to inform Liam's personal driver, Israel, to prepare the car.

"Israel, get the car ready, boss is about to leave," Brown informed Israel on the ground floor, and Israel nodded.

The Benson group is a 5-storey multi-million dollar company with many staff and workers in it.

Liam stepped out of the elevator and walked towards the car park. Some of their workers stood out and beside their cars discussing, as it was a free day. Not much work was available to be carried out. His father gave them the break the previous day to witness him as the new CEO.

Liam sat at the back seat, while Israel started the car's engine and drove him home to the Benson villa.

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Liam stepped down from the car and walked straight to the living room downstairs. His mother wasn't in the living room as she was in the kitchen cooking. Even though they have plenty of servants working for them in their home. His mother, Mrs. Juliet, still prefers doing the cooking herself as she loves cooking their local dishes.

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

"Thank you," Liam replied and stared 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 prepared the popular Egusi soup garnished with beef and fresh fish.

"Good afternoon, Mom," Liam greeted his mother as he walked into the kitchen.

The two maids assisting his mother in the kitchen swiftly bowed their heads and welcomed him, "Welcome back, Master Liam."

"Thank you," Liam responded, while his mom washed her hand in the kitchen sink. She dried it with her short kitchen towel, walked to meet him and gave him a warm hug.

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

"Fine, mother. Hasn't father arrived home yet?" Liam inquired, and she replied, "No. Probably he's with his friends. You know he's happy you've returned and now resume the position as the new CEO."

"I know that, Mom," Liam smiled faintly at his mother's words. He stepped out of the kitchen, while his mother instructed the cook on what to do, as her meal was almost done.

"Just keep a watch on it so it won't get burnt. Once it is ready, serve it right out," Mrs. Juliet instructed a maid.

"Okay, Ma'am," Nora responded. She is the head to all the servants in their home.

Mrs. Juliet strode out of the kitchen to meet her son as he sat in the living room long black couch stretching his long leg.

She stepped out dressed in a long brown gown, and she removed her white apron from her chest and handed it over to a maid, who stepped out next after her.

"Here, take this to the laundry room and wash it."

"Okay, ma'am." The maid collected the apron and left, while Mrs. Juliet walked to sit on the opposite black couch across from Liam.

"Mom, why are you stressing so much on cooking when you have the maids at your service?" Liam asked, as he watched his mother sit.

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

"Hmm," Liam hummed.

"It is okay, mother. So long you're not stressed with it, I am okay with that," he replied.

"Not at all, my son. Tell me, how did the event go?"

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

"What do you mean by that, my son? Weren't they putting on clothes or how else did you expect them to have dressed?" Mrs. Juliet asked with wide eyes open as she felt confused with her son's claims.

"Decent, mother! That's how a corporate female worker is supposed to dress to office work. Decent, not trying to seduce anyone at work."

"Oh, Liam!" Mrs. Juliet had a faint smile on her face.

"They are young females and probably searching for a husband. You don't expect them to dress conservatively like a married woman covering everywhere. And besides, they might want you to admire one of them."

"No, mother! That's not something I will allow. Tomorrow I will give a new dress code order to Brown, and any of the new female staff and old staff who cannot follow suit are expected to quit."

"Liam! You won't do just that. You just resumed the CEO position. You won't be harsh to your workers and colleagues at office just because you're their boss," Mrs. Juliet frowned.

"I am sorry, Mom, but that's how I would like them to start dressing from tomorrow. I will have them inspected at the gate, before they are allowed into the company. I've already prepared the dress code and Brown will give out the information to them tomorrow." Liam stood up and Mrs. Juliet stared dumbfounded.

"Liam!" She finally called him, and he stopped.

"I am sorry, Mom, but if Father interjects in this, then I will have to resign from the company, as one must keep his or her focus, and I won't like to be tempted by any of my female staff."

"Okay, my son, if that's how you want it, I just hope there won't be any backlash in the company's already growth."

"Not at all, mother." Liam smiled at his mother, seeing her 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."

"Okay, my son, I will be expecting you."

Mrs. Juliet watched as her son took the stairs in the living room and walked up to the second floor.

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

She sighed and stood up to prepare the dining table with the maids.

Just then, her husband arrived home with another of his friends, Mr. Tunji Martin.

She greeted them as they walked into the living room and met her walking towards the dining room.

"Welcome, Honey!" Mrs. Juliet walked back to welcome her husband. Even though he is 68 years old, she doesn't fail to call him honey.

"Wow, the aroma of the soup is inviting." Mr. Taiye said, and his wife smiled.

"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 join us for dinner."

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

"Thank you," she responded.