Chapter 8

“CEO?” Vikkie asked mockingly, “Are you referring to Niko as a CEO?” She laughed out loud, not believing it.

“Maybe he's the CEO of broke people ha ha.” Trevor joined in the mockery.

Vikkie moved closer to Niko saying “Hey are you maybe the chairman of Pizza guys association?” She enjoyed doing this, making Niko shift backwards.

Aaliyah could see Niko struggle to hold himself, he was obviously angry and had already set a reputation for not letting things slide easily. Aaliyah knew he would strike if the annoying talks from Vikkie kept coming, so she held him by the hand saying “Let's get the fuck outta here Niko. They're gonna regret this soon.” She turned, leading him away.

“Who's gonna regret? We ain't regretting nothing, and you guys better stop wasting your time, you're not gonna get a job here.” Vikkie shouted at them as they walked away. They thought Niko and Aaliyah were there in search of a job, just like them.

Vikkie and Trevor exchanged glances and laughed at each other “I like the way you support me when I trash talk him.” Vikkie said laughing.

“And I like the way you trash talk him.”

“I can't wait to see how he'd cry when he leaves here without a job.”

“I'd make sure I record him crying like a baby. He's such a loser.”

They walked away, their laughter echoing faintly as they moved toward their seats. Niko turned back to watch them go, his jaw clenched in anger, but Aaliyah placed a calming hand on his shoulder.

"Just forget about them, they're gonna come begging you on their knees soon enough.” she whispered. "They're gonna wish they never underestimated you."

“You really do speak to me like you live inside my mind. You know exactly when I'm angry.” Niko said.

“I guess it just happens.”

“Nah I think you've got a gift.” Niko took a deep breath.

Everyone gradually settled into their seats, and the room grew quiet as the time finally came for what they've all been waiting for. The atmosphere became very formal and tense as the lights dimmed. A spotlight hit the stage, and the only man wearing a white suit stepped up to the microphone.

‘Quiiin…’ The microphone made a noise as he tried to speak. “Sorry about that.” He pressed a few buttons on it to get the settings right, he looked around the calm and waiting faces of everyone in the room. Then began "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome," his voice echoed through the room. "Before we begin, I have the honor of introducing a very special guest."

Niko immediately glanced at Aaliyah who turned to give him a reassuring smile. The man in a white suit continued, "To introduce our important guest for the day, please welcome the most beautiful lady in this room at the moment, Aaliyah Denovan."

There was a polite round of applause as Aaliyah stood up smiling brightly adjusting her skirt.

A bunch of men at the back couldn't help but get lust after her “Oh Why's she adjusting the skirt? She should leave it like that. I wanna see her clean thighs.” A male voice came from the back seat.

“Shut up man, you're here for a job, not to lust after a lady you can't afford.” Another said.

Aaliyah clapped along with everyone gracefully making her way to the stage. She moved with the kind of confidence that commanded attention, yet she remained charming.

“Man… look at her behind. It's so perfect and obviously soft. I wonder who's hitting that shit.” A voice from the back again.

“Man are you not gonna shut up already? Jesus!”

“Why do you pretend like you don't see what I see? She's fine as hell.”

“Yeah every man in the room knows she's fine. So shut up and pray you get the job you came looking for.”

The room fell into a hush as Aaliyah approached the microphone.

"Thank you, everyone," Aaliyah began, her voice very clear. "First of all I wanna say that I'm actually not the most important person in this room tonight.” She paused to smile at someone waving at her from the back. “There's a new member of this company that's very important and his addition is very crucial. Today is a special day for our company. We're about to welcome someone who will be taking on a huge responsibility.”

As Aaliyah spoke, Vikkie and Trevor looked at each other as confused as they've never been before. “Wait, she's an important member of the company?” Vikkie’s eyes were widely opened.

“Shit! She seems to be a shareholder of something else. Jesus, we spoke to her disrespectfully!” Trevor lamented.

“Oh shit! Trevor.”

All eyes were still on Aaliyah as she continued “I will be introducing you all to someone who will lead us into a new era. It is my great pleasure to show the man who will be taking charge of this esteemed company. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Niko Foster!"

The room erupted in applause as Niko hesitantly stood up. “Oh my God, this is huge.” He smiled nervously in the midst of applause and praises. He'd never had that kind of experience before and it was completely overwhelming.

“Congratulations Niko Foster.” A few voices said and he shook hands with a few people as he walked up the stage.

Everyone else seemed happy except Vikkie and Trevor who sat there looking at each other like two fishermen lost on an island.

“What did we just do Trevor?” Vikkie’s jaw dropped as she turned to Trevor.

“Vikkie, I think we just messed up our entire chances of ever working for this company again.”

“Niko’s never going to hire us to work here. How did all this even happen?” Oh my God I can't believe this.”

“Shit Vikkie, we gotta apologise to Niko.”

“What? You must be fucking crazy!”

“Why would you say that? He's obviously the man in charge and we don't stand a chance after everything we've done to him. I need a job so bad right now.”

“But what about your current job at the auto shop?”

“Oh Vikkie. You gotta forgive me.”

“For what?”

“I never had a job at the auto shop. I lied to you about the job. I really need this opportunity.”

“So you've been filling me with lies all this while?”

“I'm sorry Vikkie I didn't want to look like a loser too. Especially after you told me how your boyfriend Niko was good for nothing cos he had no money, so I didn't want to look like a good for nothing too, so I lied that I work there.”

“Shit! So where do you get all the money you've been spending?”

“I took a loan.”

“You took a damn loan at the bank?”

“No it's not the bank.”

“Then where?”

“It's from a loan shark downtown.”

“Shit! That's worse!”

“Now I need this job so that I can be able to pay the loan I took.”

“I think you'll need another option.”

“Why?”

“Cos we're never gonna get a job here.”