New Assistant
1306 Words
“I still wonder why your choices of projects always seem bizarre!” Victoria grumbled as she dumped the sticky ugly looking clay back in the bowl.
In her days, projects were much easier. You either plant gardens and painfully watch teachers share the fresh harvest as they accrued you scores. The scores were based on your nurturing abilities and healthy produce. Or you make paper crafts and that's it!
Her daughter watched her mother, the tough CEO dressed in jean overalls and head tie, grumbled while she worked. She felt sad.
“I am sorry for stressing you, mum,” Zoey whispered. “It looked more fun”
“Precisely my point. Fun things catch more of your attention.” Victoria grumbled. “What happened to coding and Robotics, inventing flashlights, and something more modern and less messy?” She threw her arms in the air.
“Oh, don't you dare do that!” Auntie Ima warned through the kitchen window. They were building Zoey's ecosystem project in the yard. Auntie Ima was cooking and observing them too, “Talking about modernized choices, how else can one explain you still living in your mother's old house with a yard full of spirogyra?!”
“Auntie Ima!” Victoria gasped!
“Yes?!” Auntie Ima marched her same frequency. Zoey giggled. She loves when her grand auntie attacks her mum. “You said she should enjoy the quiet side of nature. That's exactly what she is doing. Ecosystem.”
“I'm done!” Victoria gave up, “When you're up for the salon project session, call me.” Victoria went off to rinse her soiled hands in the yard’s tap.
“Don't worry we'll name the project after you.” Auntie teased.
Zoey was literally holding her ribs now. Auntie Ima feigned an angry look at Zoey, “And you there! Get on with that God forsaken mud of yours before I'm done with breakfast. Remember your mother is cancelling everything to have a day with you.”
“Yes, Auntie” Zoey stifled her laughter. Victoria was secretly smiling at the name God forsaken.
“Goodmorning, ma'am.” A slender lady dressed in a nice corporate gown with an iPad walked into the yard. She handed Victoria a Bluetooth.
“Good morning, Grace.” Victoria replied, still laughing. Grace walked away almost immediately. Victoria fixed the Bluetooth in her ear just in time to hear Grace saying she is on.
Victoria walked into her kitchen as she listened to the board member’s discussion. They were analyzing the profit position of the south south region of her company. Her speaker was muted.
“I heard you greeting someone in the yard,” Auntie Ima said. She was plump and a close resemblance to Victoria. She had been there for Victoria and Zoey since her sister, Victoria’s mum, passed.
“Grace is around.” Victoria nodded. She drank some water. “What are you making?”
“Boiled yam and egg sauce.”
“I'll have tea. But Grace can have my portion.”
“Get a chef.” Auntie snobbed “I'm making for Zoey and I.”
Victoria sighed, grabbed her water and walked away. She saw Grace in the dining room with all her gadgets set. She was having a face-time video conference meeting. She could see the AI note taker transcribing the minutes of the meeting. Grace is always proactive and efficient. She'll have her minutes of meeting handy before the secretary does.
Victoria sat with her for a few minutes. The East regional executive was speaking.
“Each time schools evacuate for holidays, our profit margin depletes. Investing more on confectionery production within July to August is not advisable.” He emphasized
“I never argued that, Mr. Nonso. My question is, while we take your advice, how do we sustain the profit in this period. We need an effective solution. The same salaries are paid this period, mind you.” Grace pointed out
“Can you ever speak without a subtle threat to staff welfare?” Mr. Nonso asked irritably
“Except I have a reservoir of cash somewhere, I am positively concerned about my staff.” Grace snapped back.
Victoria sighed as other board members spoke all at once. An overweight man in a suit raised his hand. Everyone kept silent.
“We all appreciate your input and commitment, Ms. Vaughn. In meetings like this, it's only the CEO that calls out the algorithms and gives key takeaways. Let's not question each other's projection, yes?” Barrister John said.
Grace reinforced. “As the board administrator, I am part of every problem and its solution to sustain everyone in this room. Whether the CEO is here or not, I am obliged to ask the appropriate questions. Let's not over flog her absence. Way forward, please.”
“Can we hear the North income projection?” A board member suggested
“Positive. Pricing was doubled and we licked our fingers with triple profits compared to last month.”
Everyone applauded. “The north loves sweets!” Someone teased
“Let's have foreign affairs reports since all local regions are grounded except the East.”
“We need the CEO’s direct input on this.” Mr. Nonso nagged. Everyone shifted in their seats with frustration.
Victoria stood up and walked slowly to the yard to check on Zoey. Grace glanced at her and back to the meeting, “Well, the CEO is not physically present and we are entrusted to sort these issues out.”
“I'm sure it's because of her daughter again.” Mr. Nonso murmured
“You seem to have a problem with that.” Grace retorted. “We have the merger and profits as top priority here.”
“It's on the news that we are merging.” Barrister John agreed.
“What?! Isn't this serious -” Mr. Nonso began but Victoria pulled out her Bluetooth. She wasn't ready to listen to their bickerings.
***********
The pretty broadcaster’s voice was crisp,“The new board members for Cleopatra have been endorsed and the official list will be announced in 90 days.
“One of the former board members, Mr. Etienne, spoke with our correspondence that he was glad the prospective board members were acquainted with modus operandi to collaborate with their long standing partner the Brooks Holdings. However, he declined comments on the merger rumors, calling them classified.
“Speculation points to one name as the new board chairman: Victoria Cole, daughter of Samuel Brooks. Which begs the question: Where does that leave the famous son of Richard Kingsley in all of this…..”
Ethan’s phone rang. He glanced at it and muted the T.V. It was Liam, his friend.
“Guy, are you on the news?” Liam's alto voice came through.
“The headlines.” Ethan groaned, combing his hands through his dark hair.
“No be small thing. You have disgraced your ancestors. Where is your English blood?” Liam scolded.
“Godfather was here last night. He knew this would be headlines this morning, I believe. He made a deal.”
“Deal? Tell me, your name will be on that list.”
Ethan breathed, “Give me everything you have on Victoria Cole.”
“What? The ice queen of Brooks Holdings?” Liam asked, “Being that you both have business ties, aren't you supposed to have all her details?”
“Point noted. I have disgraced my ancestors,” Ethan said as his British accent slipped through. “Just get to work, Liam.”
“Give me five. And bros, thank your old man for having a smart Nigerian brother like me.” Liam laughed.
Ethan exhaled. Liam was just the first representative of all the mockery coming, Ethan noted.
- Writer
