BREAKING THE ICE QUEEN |A Nigerian Romance|

3.

NAOMI

The weeks went by and work has been going on super smoothly. This week, I have a trip to Ogun state. We have a potential partner we intend to snag and the facility happens to be there.

Vincent, my assistant, has mailed my to-do list to me this morning. Meeting with AfDB reps for the empowerment program we have. We have this as our CSR. Dad ensures we do it and now that I am at the helm of affairs, he made me promise to carry on the legacy. Nathan is an artist. He owns his studio and is making great money from it. It was a struggle between him and mum. Dad had no problem with him chasing his passion, but mom, she wanted her son to chase his career as an engineer. She is an engineer also, she went in fully regarding practicing her profession, so imagine her shock when the apple of her eyes decided to leave her dry and hanging.

Now that he is "the Nathan Onaifo" for his art, her pride has returned. She organizes paint and sip with her friends, in a bid to flaunt her son.

"After AfDB, what next?"

"Someone filed a case against us. She saw something weird in the drinks she got her kids."

"And why am I just knowing about this?" I ask, very surprised.

"It happened this morning." He responds.

"But that is not all, ma."

"Do I have to say go ahead for you to speak?" I hiss.

"Chief Anifowoshe pulled out of the partnership." Chief was top secret. He is the Ogun trip I was supposed to make this week.

"Get out of my office!" What the hell? Why am I unfortunate to work with bunch of incompetent mess ups? Was dad merely allowing them work all these years due to his empathetic nature or what? I understand that we have other business ventures handled by my older brothers; Gillian and Thompson, but this one which is so dear to me, cannot be the one that ends up being a disaster. In fact, none of them should.

Mail begin

To: Head, Quality Assurance & Control
Head, Legal Advisory

I need an explanation as to why the issue regarding the company being sued had to be brought to my hearing, unsorted.

Also, QA&C, your assessment of that product batch should be submitted to me before COB today.

Mail ends

This issue better not be a severe one, else, heads will roll and someone will go down for it.

On the other hand, why did Chief Anifowoshe pull out? That is another issue I need to handle.

"Get me a call appointment with Chief." I state over the intercom to Vincent.

"Yes, ma'am." The line ends and a few minutes after, Chief's call is forwarded to me. Another huddle to deal with. Clearing my throat, I pick the call and put on my sweetest of voices.

"Hello, Chief. Good morning." Do not mistake him for an old man. Chief is merely in his mid thirties. Just like me, he is old money. Also, he got his Chieftancy title very recently.

"Naomi, good morning." I roll my eyes and chuckle.

"Chief, has my company wronged you in any form? What I am hearing is not wonderful at all."

"Let us discuss in camera, Naomi." I roll my eyes. All these people that money cannot refine.

"Chief, what's the issue?" I try to cajole him but he is unyielding.

"If you want to know what it is, come to the mainland." But the mainland is far. Why is this man behaving like this?

"Hmmm."