Chapter 3

Mr. John Patrick smiles and reply, "Oh, she studies Business Administration at the University of Nigeria."

"That's fine then. Have her submit her CV to us once she's at home. I'm sure we have more vacancies for newcomers. I will be expecting her response."

"Father!" Liam quickly cuts his father's speech as his frown deepens

"You cannot just court me with her yet," Liam says.

"I know, son. I am only trying to compensate Mr. John Patrick for his goodwill and commitment to working with us here, for over twenty years," Mr. Taiye responds, and Mr. John smiles faintly as he bows a little to leave.

"I will be taking my leave now, boss. Thank you and congratulations once again, Liam."

Liam nods as he hears Mr. John's last words. He walks up with his father back to the front of the meeting hall, standing near the exit door.

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

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

Liam says, "Father, I hope she doesn't accept. Women aren't of my interest."

"Liam!" Mr. Taiye stops, and stares back at his only son then shakes his head.

"You don't say that in 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 sighs, and watches his father exit the meeting hall, leaving only him in the hall. His assistant walks back into the meeting hall to meet him immediately after his father, Mr. Taiye, left.

"What should I do now, boss?" Brown asks, as he stands in front of him.

"Prepare the car. I will be going back home today. All official duties start tomorrow" Liam says.

"Okay, boss!" Brown left the meeting hall on the second floor, and walked back downstairs to inform Liam's driver to prepare the car.

"Israel, get the car ready. Boss is about to leave," Brown informs Israel on the ground floor, and Israel nods. The Benson Group is a 5-storey multi-million dollar company with lots of staffs, and workers in it.

Liam steps out of the elevator, and walks towards the car park. Some of their workers stand beside their cars discussing. It is a free day, so not much work is available to be carried out as Mr. Taiye gave them a break the previous day to witness his son as the new CEO.

Liam sits in the back seat of his car, while Israel starts the car engine and drives back home to the Benson Magnificent Crib house.

Liam steps down from the car, and walks straight into the living room downstairs. His mother isn't in the living room, as she's in the kitchen cooking. Even though they have lots of maids, and servants working for them at home, his mother, Mrs. Juliet Jackson, still prefers to do the cooking herself, as she loves cooking their local dishes.

A maid steps out of the kitchen to welcome him as she hears the sound of the car arriving, and she bows to Liam, and courteously greets him, "Welcome back, Master Liam."

Liam nods, and stares away from her, as he makes his way to the kitchen to find his mother. The aroma of the food she's preparing has filled the whole living room, as she's preparing the popular Egusi soup garnished with beef and fresh fish.

"Good afternoon, Mom," Liam greets his mother first, as he steps into the kitchen, and the two maids assisting his mother in the kitchen immediately bow their heads lower, "Welcome back, Master Liam."

"Thank you" Liam replies to them, and his mother washes her hands in the kitchen sink, dries them with her short kitchen towel, and walks up to him, giving him a warm hug.

"How was your work today in the office?" Mrs. Juliet Jackson asks Liam.

"Fine, mother. Hasn't father arrived home yet?" Liam asks in return.

"No, son. Probably he's with his friends. You know he's happy you finally returned, and resumed the position as the new CEO."

"I know that Mom," Liam smiles faintly, as he steps out first from the kitchen, while his mother instructs the cook on what to do, as her meal is almost done.

"Just keep an eye on it so it won't get burnt. Once it's ready, serve it right away," Mrs. Juliet instructs.

"Okay, Ma'am," Nora responds, as she's the cook, and heads to all the maids, and servants in their home.

Mrs. Juliet steps out to meet her son, as he sits on the long couch stretching his long legs. She's dressed as usual in her long gown, and removes her kitchen apron, handing it over to a maid who steps out after her.

"Take this to the laundry room."

"Okay, Ma'am," The maid collects the apron, and leaves, while Mrs. Juliet walks up to sit on the opposite couch.

"Mom, why are you stressing so much about cooking, when you have maids and cooks at your service?" Liam asks his mother, as he watches her sit across to him.

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

"Hmm," Liam hums.

"It's okay, mother. So long as you're not stressed with it, I'm okay with that."

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

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

"What do you mean by that, son? Weren't they wearing clothes, or how else did you expect them to dress?" Mrs. Juliet asks in surprise, as she's confused by her son's claims.

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

"Oh, Liam!" Mrs. Juliet smiles on hearing her son.

"They're young females, and probably searching for a husband. You don't expect them to dress like a married woman by covering everywhere. 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 staff and old staff that cannot follow suit is 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 the office just because you're their new boss," Mrs. Juliet has a frown on her face.

"I'm sorry, mom. But that's how I would like them to dress starting from tomorrow. I will have them inspected at the gate, before they're allowed into the office. I have already prepared the dress code, and Brown will give out the information to them tomorrow." Liam stands up to retire to his room, and Mrs. Juliet is dumbfounded.

"Liam" She finally calls him.

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

"Okay, 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 smiles, seeing his mom already agree.

"I will have to go up now and freshen up. The aroma of the soup is inviting. Let me freshen up, and come back downstairs to join you for dinner."

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

Mrs. Juliet watches as her son takes the stairs in the living room, and walks up to the second floor.

Their house is a standard duplex home. Even though her husband has the money to purchase a new multimillion-dollar mansion, she still prefers they stay in the old Benson Villa, as it keeps a lot of her memories alive.

Mrs Juliet sighs as she stands up to prepare the dining table with the maids, and just then, her husband arrives home with another of his friends, Mr. Tunji Martin.

She greets them, as they walk into the living room and meet her walking towards the dining room.

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

"Wow, the aroma of the soup is inviting," Mr. Taiye says to his wife, and she smiles.

"Where's Liam? Isn't he back yet?" Mr. Taiye asks his wife.

"He's back. He went up to freshen up," Mrs. Juliet replies.

"Okay. Meet my friend Tunji. We have a little business discussion, but that will wait, as Tunji will be joining us for dinner," Mr. Taiye informs his wife.

"Okay, Honey," Mrs. Juliet smiles at Mr. Tunji, and he greets her, "Well done, Ma."

"Welcome," she responds.