"Mrs. Lugard," Mariam intoned with an assured, steady gaze that pierced directly into Helen's and her mother's souls. "I'm afraid I must inform you that our company will not be entering into a partnership with yours."Helen's mother, who had been silently observing the exchange, audibly gasped at Mariam's words. Helen, meanwhile, felt a chill run down her spine, her hopes of securing the collaboration dashed in an instant."What do you mean, Miss Mariam?" Mrs. Lugard stammered, her face a mask of confusion and anxiety. The seed of fear had been sown deep within her, her heart rate quickening and her throat tightening, as she grappled to comprehend the gravity of Mariam's words.With the same unwavering composure, Mariam replied, her gaze unwavering, "Mrs. Lugard, our company will not be signing any contract with yours. I'm truly sorry if this comes as a surprise." The finality of her statement hung in the air, leaving no room for misinterpretation.Helen, her eyes swimming with confus
As soon as Mrs. Lugard entered the living room, Cecilia could see the rage, disappointment, and anxiety pouring out of her like smoke from a fire. The woman practically collapsed onto the couch, her hands running through her messy hair as if trying to wring out the stress that was coiled inside of her like a spring. Mrs. Lugard was clearly not in a good mood, and Cecilia knew something big was up.Cecilia calmly walked over to Mrs. Lugard, concern in her voice as she gently sat down next to her mother. “What’s wrong, Mom? How did the meeting go?” she asked, trying to get to the bottom of what had put such a dark cloud over her mother's mood. Mrs. Lugard sighed heavily, her eyes shadowed by fear. “We didn’t get the contract,” she said in a low voice, sounding exhausted and defeated. “They said they can’t trust us because of our character,” she explained. It was clear that this news had taken a huge toll on Mrs. Lugard, who was struggling to make sense of what had gone wrong and wh
Helen, her heart pounding with anticipation, entered Philip’s home, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of her target. Finding it empty, she wasted no time, using the password to gain access to the house. With a focused mind, she set to work, carefully cooking up a delicious meal and sprucing up the house, creating a cosy and intimate atmosphere.After putting the finishing touches on the dinner table, she excused herself to take a shower, changing into a provocative nightie that left little to the imagination.Philip stepped into his house, the delicious aroma greeting him like a long-lost friend. His nostrils flared, savouring the familiar scents as he turned to Helen, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. “You’re…home,” he said, his tone carefully measured.Helen, her face the epitome of sweetness, smiled at him, her gaze lingering on his face. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said, her voice lilting with innocence. “I thought you might appreciate a home-cooked meal for a change.”
“What utter nonsense!” Henry roared, his booming voice vibrating through the air. He slammed his fists against the desk with such force that it sent papers and files flying into the air. His face was twisted with rage, his eyes ablaze with fury.“How dare you accuse me of such a thing!” he continued, his voice dripping with venom. “You have no proof, no evidence. You’re just a desperate fool grasping at straws.”The policemen took a step back, their hands raised in a placating gesture. “Calm down, sir,” one of them said, his voice strained and uncertain. “We mean no harm.” They exchanged nervous glances with each other, aware of the volatile situation they found themselves in. They had anticipated a heated response from Henry, but his explosive anger had caught them off guard. They hoped to diffuse the tension before it spiraled out of control.The policemen had arrived at Henry’s office with the intention of questioning him about the recent attack on Tony. Henry’s aggressive respon
The moment the door closed behind the police officers, Henry’s pride crumbled. He sank into his chair, his eyes hollow as he stared into the empty room, his mind buzzing with thoughts of Tony and the threat he posed.“I can’t let him win,” Henry muttered, his hands balled into fists on the desk. “I need to distract him, to throw him off my scent. But how?”His brow furrowed in concentration, his thoughts racing as he tried to devise a plan.Henry’s frustration reached a fever pitch as he paced back and forth, his steps growing more agitated with each passing minute. He combed through his memories, racking his brain for a potential solution. But with each failed idea, his breathing grew more desperate and his hands shook with rage.“There must be a way,” he murmured, beads of sweat dotting his forehead. “I can’t let Tony win. I won’t let him win.”A moment later, the door opened and a masked lady walked in. Her feet covered in black silhouette heel,her hair pulled back in ponytail. She
Helen walked into her family's company surprised to see Philip gathered together with the media personnel who were interrogating him.His eyes lit up immediately when he saw her approaching, smiling lovingly at her, everyone who saw the love in his eyes cheered at them. He took Helen's hands and faced her to the audience."Hello everyone, my fiancee and I will be tying the knot this weekend. We are getting married," He screamed as he laughed cheerfully. The crowd yelled in happiness as they clapped to celebrate the good news.Helen on the other hand was shocked at the news Philip announced. She felt her stomach tighten in nervousness and anxiety. Philip didn't mention this to her, all he said was that he had plans for the media but he could have informed her so she could be emotionally prepared for the media. She felt displaced and nauseous at all that was happening, it was all beyond her power and it saddened her."Big congratulations Miss Helen Lugard," the crowd cheered, they all
It's been two weeks now since Tony informed Mariam that he was ready to take back his position as the new CEO of the company. Mariam had moved swiftly, almost mechanically, to put the pieces in place for the announcement of Tony's appointment as CEO. Each email, each phone call, and each memo had been sent out to partners and investors. Helen and her mother were not to be left in the dark about the imminent power shift. Both of them arrived at the meeting with a cool, professional air, but underneath their icy exteriors, their minds were racing with speculation.Inside the boardroom, the atmosphere was heavy with tension, like a storm cloud ready to unleash a torrent of emotions. The participants were seated around the long, polished table, their faces a mixture of curiosity, apprehension, and in some cases, barely concealed glee.As Mariam ushered Tony into the meeting room, an air of change filled the space. Tony took his seat at the head of the round table, his gaze strong and co
With the approach of Helen and her mother, Tony rose to his feet, his posture commanding. Yet, the moment Mrs. Lugard extended her hand in congratulations, Tony's expression hardened, a coldness radiating from him as he spoke. "There's no need to put on a facade. I know you hate that I am so successful now," he said, his voice frigid, refusing to acknowledge her gesture of goodwill. With that, he turned on his heel and strode out of the boardroom without a backward glance, leaving both Helen and her mother feeling ashamed."Tony.... "Helen called but the didn't bother to answer her as he made his way to the door. Mrs. Lugard’s embarrassment was noticeable as she folded her hand back at her side, the air of confidence and authority that she had exuded just moments before vanishing in an instant. Silent and seething with anger, she walked towards the door, Helen followed, the two women making a hasty pullout from the boardroom. The anger and frustration that coursed through Helen’s