CHAPTER 3

Mr. John Patrick smiled at Mr. Taiye. "My daughter studied business administration at the University of Nigeria."

"That works. Have her submit her CV to us once she returns home. We have vacancies for new graduates like her. I expect her response."

"Father!" Liam interrupted his father's speech as his frown deepened.

"You cannot pair me with her yet." Liam said, and his father smiled at him.

"I know, my son. I only try to compensate Mr. John for his goodwill and commitment in working with us for more than twenty years," Mr. Taiye responded, while Mr. John smiled faintly at Liam and bowed slightly to leave.

"I take 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 and stood near the exit door. He spoke. "Father, I dislike what you did just now. Other ways exist to compensate Mr. John without affecting me."

"What do you mean by that, my son? Mr. John committed himself as a worker. You will not understand these matters because you join us now, but that is fine. Besides, he said it depends on whether his daughter agrees. She might not accept work with us, so you need not worry about what I said." Mr. Taiye turned to leave the meeting hall, and Liam replied to him.

"Father, I hope she does not. Women hold no interest for me now."

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

"Do not say that within your mother's hearing. Someday you will find a good wife, but that is beside the point. Let us focus on business and forget what I said."

"Okay, Father!" Liam sighed and watched his father exit the meeting hall, leaving him alone. His personal assistant walked back into the meeting hall to meet him immediately after his father left.

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

"Prepare the car. I return home for today. All official duties start tomorrow."

"Okay, 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. The boss leaves soon," Brown informed Israel on the ground floor, and Israel nodded.

The Benson Group operated as a five-story multimillion-dollar company with many staff and workers. Liam stepped out from the elevator and walked toward the car park while some workers stood outside and beside their cars, discussing matters. The day remained free, with no major work available, as his father had granted them the break the previous day to witness him as the new CEO.

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

Liam stepped down from the car and walked straight to the living room downstairs. His mother did not sit in the living room; she cooked in the kitchen even though many maids and servants worked for them in the home. Mrs. Juliet Jackson, preferred cooking herself because she enjoyed preparing their local dishes.

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

"Thank you," Liam replied and looked away from her as he made his way toward the kitchen to find his mother.

The aroma of the food she prepared filled the entire living room. 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 immediately bowed their heads lower to him. "Welcome back, Master Liam."

Liam nodded to them while his mother washed her hands in the kitchen sink and dried them with her short kitchen towel. She walked up to meet him and gave him a warm hug.

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

"Fine, Mother. Has Father arrived home yet?" Liam asked in return, and she replied, "No, my son. Your Dad probably meets with his friends. You know he feels happy that you returned and now assume the position as the new CEO."

"I know that, Mom," Liam said with a faint smile to his mother as he stepped out of the kitchen first. His mother instructed the cook on what to do, as her meal neared completion.

"Keep watch on the food so it does not burn. Once ready, serve it immediately," Mrs. Juliet instructed a maid.

"Okay, ma'am," Nora responded. She served as the cook and head of all the maids and servants in their home.

Mrs. Juliet finally walked out to meet her son as he sat on the long black couch and stretched his long legs. She stepped out dressed in her usual long brown gown. She removed her kitchen apron from her chest and handed it to a maid who stepped out next after her.

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

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

"Mom, why do you stress yourself with cooking when maids and cooks serve you?" Liam asked as he watched his mother sit.

"I know that, my son, but cooking provides exercise, and I enjoy it. I cannot leave all the work to the maids and cook. I might become lazy and ill, as I retired this year from the nursing home before you returned."

"Hmm," Liam hummed.

"That is fine, Mother. As long as it does not stress you, I accept it," he replied.

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

"Fine, Mother. It involved a simple meeting of the staff, but I dislike how some young female staff dressed," Liam stated as his face twisted in irritation.

"What do you mean by that, my son? Did they not wear clothes, or how else did you expect them to dress?" Mrs. Juliet asked with wide-open eyes, confused by her son's statement.

"Decent, Mother. Corporate workers should dress decently for office work—not to seduce anyone at work."

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

"They are young females and probably search for a husband. You do not expect them to dress like married women who cover everything. Besides, they might want you to admire one of them."

"No, Mother! I will not allow that. Tomorrow I give a new dress code order to Brown, and any new female staff or old staff who cannot follow it must quit."

"Liam! You will not do that. You just assumed the CEO position. You will not act harshly toward your workers and colleagues at the office just because you serve as their boss," Mrs. Juliet frowned.

"I am sorry, Mom. But that is how I want them to dress starting tomorrow. I will have them inspected at the gate before they enter the company. I prepared the dress code already, and Brown will distribute the information to them tomorrow." Liam stood up, and Mrs. Juliet felt dumbfounded.

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

"I am sorry, Mom, but if Father intervenes in this, I will resign from the company. One must maintain focus, and I will not allow temptation from any female staff."

"Okay, my son. If that is how you want it, I hope it causes no backlash to the company's growth."

"Not at all, Mother," Liam finally smiled at his mother upon seeing her agreement.

"I will go upstairs now to freshen up. The aroma of the soup invites me. Let me freshen up first and return downstairs to join you for dinner," Liam said.

"Okay, my son. I expect you."

Mrs. Juliet watched as her son took the stairs in the living room and walked up to the second floor, as their house served as a standard duplex.

Even though her husband possessed the money to purchase a multimillion-dollar mansion, Mrs. Juliet preferred they stay in the Benson Villa because it preserved many of her past memories.

She sighed as she stood up to prepare the dining table with the maids. Just then, her husband arrived home with one of his friends, Mr. Tunji Martin.

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

"Welcome, honey!" Mrs. Juliet walked back to welcome her husband. Even though he was 68 years old, she never failed to call him honey.

"Wow, the aroma of the soup invites," Mr. Taiye said to his wife, and she smiled at him.

"Where is Liam? Has he not returned yet?" Mr. Taiye asked.

"Liam returned. He went upstairs to freshen up," Mrs. Juliet replied.

"Okay. Meet my friend Tunji Martin. We have a business discussion, but that waits, as Tunji joins us for dinner."

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

"Welcome," she responded.