The Chess King Necklace

Episode 8:My new life

Amora's POV:

Sparkling Heights had offered to help me find a place to live and I was so grateful. This company was showing me so much love and whatever loyalty, dedication, and commitment they expected from me, was definitely building.

Sparkling Heights was a construction company and I had been recruited to join the procurement team of the company. The head of my team was a charming and very friendly young man, Mr. Blake and he had done his best to make sure that I felt very comfortable and relaxed on my first day of work. But our vice head, Stella was just an arrogant pain in the neck who seemed to hate anyone prettier than her. Lol!

The CEO of Sparkling Heights is Benson Drakes and honestly speaking, I had no idea that he and Stephen were related!

I was shocked to find out that they were cousins. It all happened one day when I had a lot of work to finish and so I had to stay back in the office till very late.

As I was working on my computer, all stressed out, my back aching, our team leader, Mr. Blake approached me.

“Amora,” he said and chuckled as he handed me a bottle of chilled Coke to relax.

“Yes Mr. Blake,” I said tiredly.

“So sorry. Some days are like this. When we have to work and work and work. And stay up late.”

“I'm so tired. My back aches. Ahh. But I can't stop. This work won't go home with me. I have to tidy it up here.”

“That's why I brought you Coke for energy.”

“Yh. Thank you. How could I forget to say it earlier? Sorry.”

“It's fine. It's cool. Maybe we can go home together after we are done working. How much longer do you think you'll stay?”

“I guess 25 mins to 30 mins more.”

“Ok. I think I'll be done by that time too. I just need to write this letter to the CEO of Brilliant Plastics.”

He sighed and continued.

“I don't know why these two brothers have to go through this unnecessary formality when they can make business deals over a f*****g w******p chat! Or even dinner!”

“Mr. Blake!” I said laughing at his irritation. I found it funny.

“But wait, did you say that they are brothers? I thought that our boss's only brother was still in high school.”

“Yes. Well, they are cousin brothers. Stephen Eagle and our CEO. You must have heard of the Eagle family right?”

“Stephen Eagle?!!!” I screamed in surprise.

“Yes. Do you know him Amora?”

“No, not really. I guess I have seen him on the news once. So Stephen Eagle is cousins with our boss?”

“Absolutely. Now let me go get this letter written so that you can finish up here too,” he said as he began to walk away.

“Ok,” I replied, still digesting the news about our boss being cousins with Stephen Eagle. Why did that man have to resurface in my life again?

Stephen's POV:

“Ok Debby. Tell him that I'm willing to negotiate the terms of the deal but tell him that if he intends on a 50:50 split, then he better kiss the deal goodbye.”

“Yes sir.”

I walked into the meeting room and settled down in my chair. I was using the Rubik’s cube to entertain myself as board members filed in. Today, some delegates from Sparkling Heights, my cousin's company, would be coming to make their pitch.

My company wants to build a factory in Africa, where we have our third largest market and different construction companies have been eyeing the juicy contract.

Well, this is business and I will select the best team to carry on with the project even if it is not my cousin's company.

And so, the delegates from Sparkling Heights arrived and as they stepped into the meeting room, I was surprised to see one of the twins among the delegates. I haven't been in contact with them since the time I first visited their home to take my necklace.

I was concentrating on the meeting and also on Amora. Yes, even before the delegates introduced themselves, I had this strong conviction within me that the twin present was Amora. No offense, but Aurora didn't appear so intelligent to me to be able to work for my cousin.

“Brilliant presentation, Mr. Blake Jones. You answered all my questions. You left no doubts in my mind. I must say that you are really prepared for this. However, I still have two more companies to interview before a decision is made. So, thank you, have a good day, and wait for our response.”

“Ok sir,” Mr. Blake Jones replied.

“And yes, one more thing, don't be in a hurry to leave. Stay back. Don't leave until I tell you to.”

“Ok, sir.”

I concluded my engagements in the meeting room and went out to meet them. They were waiting for me at the reception.

“Nice work Mr. Blake. My cousin picked a perfect person.”

“Thank you sir.”

“Here, have this. Buy something for yourself and the team on your way back home.”

“Wow, thank you sir.”

All this time, Amora kept acting as if she didn't know me. Acting so professional. Like this was the first time we had met. This girl.

“Well, Amora, can I talk to you, for a few minutes please.”

“Uhmm…”

“The team will wait for you. This won't take long,” I said smiling at her. I didn't fail to notice the surprised looks on the faces of other team members.

“Ok.”

Amora and I went outside to the parking space to talk. There, I lost all stitches of professionalism and did what I intended to do when I saw her in the meeting hall. I hugged her. I held her close. I didn't want her to let go and she didn't.

“It's so good to see you again Amora,” I said while still hugging her. We moved apart and I looked into her eyes. She was smiling.

“You seem really happy to see me”

“Well of course I am. I… I guess I missed you.” I said chuckling and she laughed.

“Missed me? How many times have we met? Just two and you say you miss me.”

“And those two times weren't just any ordinary meeting,” I said, winking at her.

“Stop it,” she said, pretending to be vexed.

I don't know why, but seeing Amora again brought me so much joy. It seemed as if I had finally reconnected with a long-lost friend. As I looked at her, memories of my visit to her home in Leicester filled my head; my necklace, her twin sister, the simple bungalow, her father's behaviour, all of it.

“So, you got a job here?”

“Yes, I had been eyeing Sparkling Heights for a very long time. In fact, that's one of the reasons I took IBE. To make my curriculum vitae irresistible.” she said smiling.

“Uh uh. So what do you do at Sparking Heights?” I asked her as I folded my hands.

“Procurement. Procuring construction materials. I work directly under Mr. Blake Jones, the guy who presented.”

“Yeah, I could see that.”

“How?”

“He introduced you, remember? Plus his interactions with you during the meeting spoke of a certain familiarity. So how is Aurora? And your parents and Evans?”

“My parents and brother are okay. And Aurora, she's fine. She's doing good. Her confectionery business is expanding. And she even plans to participate in the next MasterChef UK.”

“Wow, that's excellent. And your parents and brother?”

“They are all good,” she said and looked in the direction of her team members as if she was getting embarrassed or impatient.

“Stephen, you said this would be a brief discussion but you and I know that this conversation isn't ending any time soon. So, how about we stop here and continue later? I don't want to keep my colleagues waiting. Who knows what they are thinking now?”

“Oh let them think whatever they want…”

“Stephen,” she said, cutting me shut with a stern expression on her face.

I smiled and said, “ok, ok ma'am. Can I have your number?”

“Sure.”

I pulled out my phone and gave it to her. She put in her number and as she was about to hand it back to me. I said, “And your sister's.”

“Huh?”

“Your sister's number. I would love to speak with her too.”

“Oh okay.”

After I had collected the numbers, I led her back to her colleagues who had been patiently waiting, bade them goodbye, and walked right back into my office.

“Girl, you know Stephen Eagle?!”

“Well, not really.”

“This doesn't seem like a “not really” situation,” a colleague said laughing.