Chapter 4: The Chairman
1468 Words
The atmosphere inside the grand lobby of Apex Heights Holdings had turned ice-cold.Employees stood frozen behind their desks.Visitors whispered among themselves.
The polished marble floor reflected the bright crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, yet none of the elegance could hide the tension spreading through the building.
At the center of it all stood Theo.His delivery uniform was slightly dusty from work.His worn sneakers looked completely out of place among the expensive suits surrounding him.
To everyone present, he looked like a poor young man who had wandered into a world far beyond his reach.Manager Stephanie folded her arms across her chest.Her sharp face twisted with disgust.The fitted black business suit she wore highlighted her professional appearance, but the arrogance in her eyes ruined any elegance she possessed.
Beside her, receptionist Immaculate sneered openly."Why are you still standing there?" she mocked."We've already told you that Chairman Obunga isn't meeting beggars today."
Several employees laughed quietly.Theo remained calm.His expression never changed.That only irritated Stephanie further.
"Security!"The command echoed through the lobby.Four security guards immediately stepped forward with base ball stick.Large men dressed in dark uniforms surrounded Theo from every direction.The visitors nearby moved away instinctively.Everyone expected the young delivery rider to panic.
Instead, Theo simply looked at them.His calmness was unsettling.Stephanie pointed directly at him."Throw him out and break his legs because he can't apologize."
The guards exchanged glances before moving closer.Just as one guard reached for Theo's arm,,,A furious voice thundered through the lobby."Stephanie" "What exactly is happening here?"
The voice was so powerful that everyone froze instantly.Heads turned.Footsteps echoed across the marble floor.A middle-aged man wearing a tailored navy-blue suit strode into the lobby.His silver hair was neatly combed.His posture radiated authority.His sharp eyes swept across the room like blades.
The moment employees recognized him, panic appeared on their faces.
"Mr. Obunga..."
The words escaped several mouths simultaneously.
General manager Obunga ,, people assume he was the chairman because he the one handling everything publicly.The man who had built Apex Heights Holdings into one of the most powerful companies in the country.
The guards immediately stepped back.Stephanie's confident smile returned.She hurried forward.
"general manager Obunga, this is just a misunderstanding."Obunga ignored her completely.His eyes landed on Theo.For a brief moment, his stern face softened.Then he turned toward the staff.His expression became terrifying.
"Who ordered my guest to be treated like a criminal?"
Silence.Nobody dared answer.Stephanie laughed nervously."Sir, this man claims he has an appointment, but he's obviously lying."Immaculate nodded eagerly."He's just a delivery rider."Several employees agreed.Obunga stared at them.Then he spoke slowly.Each word landed like a hammer."A delivery rider?"
Nobody understood why his voice sounded so dangerous.Stephanie forced another smile."Exactly."Obunga inhaled deeply.The disappointment in his eyes became visible.Then he delivered the sentence that shattered everyone's world.
"This young man standing before you..."He pointed toward Theo."...is the new Chairman of Apex Heights Holdings."silence erupted,Absolute silence.The entire lobby stopped breathing.The words echoed repeatedly inside everyone's minds.New chairman.Chairman.Theo.The delivery rider.
For several seconds, nobody moved.Nobody blinked.Nobody spoke.Stephanie's smile vanished.Her face turned ghostly white.The blood drained from her cheeks,,she started sweeting inside,she felt like she want to pee her pants out
Immaculate looked as though her soul had left her body.One visitor accidentally dropped his briefcase.The loud crash echoed through the silent lobby.Only then did reality begin sinking in.The guards immediately lowered their batons.One of them even stepped backward in fear as if he had seen a ghost.
Stephanie stared at Theo again.Her body trembled.Images flashed through her mind calling Theo Pervert, Beggar,Filthy poor man,Worthless delivery rider.Every insult she had thrown at him returned like a nightmare.
The man she had humiliated moments ago was now her boss.The highest authority in the entire company.Her knees nearly gave out."No..."The word escaped her lips."This can't be real."
Obunga's cold gaze landed on her."Are you questioning my decision?"Stephanie's mouth opened but No words came out.Fear flooded her entire body.
Immaculate suddenly rushed forward.To everyone's shock, she dropped to her knees."I'm sorry sir I was early blinded of your greatness "Tears streamed down her face."I didn't know your the chairman sir!"The security guards followed immediately.
One by one, they bowed their heads."Please forgive us, Chairman."The atmosphere transformed completely.The same people who had been ready to throw Theo onto the street were now begging for mercy.
Stephanie remained standing.Not because she wanted to.Because she was too shocked to move.Theo finally stepped forward.The lobby watched him carefully.Everyone expected anger,revenge or punishment because he had complete Authority now
Instead, Theo simply looked around the room.His eyes settled on Stephanie.Then on Immaculate.Then on the guards.For a brief moment, nobody could predict what he was thinking.
Finally, he spoke.His voice was calm,Steady."I don't blame any of you, because all my life I have gotten such words and mockery."The words stunned everyone.Even Obunga seemed surprised.
Theo continued."But remember something."The lobby became silent again."Never judge someone by their clothes."His gaze swept across the room."Today it was me."A brief pause."Tomorrow it might be someone else."The words struck harder than any punishment.
Many employees lowered their heads in shame.Stephanie felt tears forming in her eyes.Not from fear,,but alot of guilt For the first time, she saw herself clearly.And she hated what she saw.
Theo turned toward Obunga."Let's move on."Obunga trembled slightly."As you wish, Chairman."The title sounded strange.Even Theo wasn't used to hearing it.
Obunga immediately addressed the staff."From this day forward, Mr. Theo is your chairman."The employees bowed simultaneously.
"Welcome, Chairman!"
The unified voices echoed through the building.Theo felt overwhelmed.Just days ago, he had been struggling to afford food.Now hundreds of employees were bowing before him.Life truly was unpredictable.Then he remembered something,,,,,Something very important.He looked toward Obunga and said sharply "I have one rule and order."
Theo glanced around the room.His expression became serious and pressed,,,"No one is allowed to reveal my identity outside this building."Confusion appeared on many faces.
Obunga raised an eyebrow."You wish to remain anonymous sir ?"Theo nodded."Yes."He wasn't ready yet,,His entire life had changed overnight.
The sudden wealth, power, responsibility,needed time to adjust.More importantly...He wanted to see people's true faces.because If everyone discovered he was rich, their behavior would change instantly.
Just like Stephanie and Immaculate.Theo wanted genuine relationships.Not fake admiration.Obunga understood immediately.A smile appeared on his face."Very wise sir."
He turned toward the employees.His voice became commanding."Effective immediately, a company-wide confidentiality order is issued."The employees straightened instantly."No employee is permitted to reveal Chairman Theo's identity."His eyes narrowed.
"Violation will result in immediate termination."The seriousness of his tone left no room for argument.Everyone nodded quickly."Understood, sir."The order spread throughout the building within minutes.Emails were sent.Managers were informed.Departments received notifications.
The secret chairman would remain a secret.Outside Apex Heights Holdings, nobody would know who Theo really was.Not the media, competitors, former classmates,Especially not Naomi, becauseThe thought of her stirred something painful inside him.A wound that hadn't fully healed.
Theo pushed the feeling away.That chapter of his life was over.At least, that's what he told himself.Obunga gestured toward the elevators."Shall we continue to my office again for some paper signing?"Theo nodded.The private executive elevator doors opened.As he stepped inside, he glanced back one final time.The employees still stood frozen,Many looked embarrassed,Others looked amazed,Some looked inspired.
Stephanie stood near the reception desk.Their eyes met briefly.Her expression was complicated full of regret,shame and admiration , because she always wanted to impress the new chairman only to find she has missed her chance.
Before she could speak, the elevator doors closed.The lobby disappeared from view.Inside the elevator, silence filled the space.Theo stared at his reflection in the mirrored wall.For a moment, he barely recognized himself.Not because his appearance had changed.Because his life had.The young man staring back at him was no longer just a delivery rider.No longer just a poor orphan struggling to survive.He was now responsible for an empire.
Thousands of employees.Billions and trillion in assets.Countless lives connected to his decisions.The realization felt heavy.Obunga seemed to notice but kept quiet.
The elevator continued rising.Higher and higher.Toward the executive floors.Toward a future Theo had never imagined.A future filled with wealth,Power,Opportunity and danger.
Below them, the city stretched endlessly beyond the glass walls of Apex Heights.Cars moved through busy streets.People rushed to work.Life continued as usual.
Nobody knew that one of the most powerful men in the city had spent the morning being called a beggar.Nobody knew that the hidden chairman still wore a delivery uniform.Nobody knew that the game had only just begun.As the elevator doors opened onto the executive level, Obunga smiled.
"Welcome to your office, Chairman."Theo stepped forward.His heart pounded.His journey was only beginning.Far below, Stephanie remained standing in the lobby.She watched the elevator indicator climb,disappear.Something had changed inside her.
The mysterious young man she had insulted.The chairman who chose kindness over revenge.The man who carried himself with dignity despite humiliation.For reasons she couldn't explain...She could no longer stop thinking about him.And that frightened her more than anything else.The hidden chairman had arrived.
- Writer
