CHAPTER 6

Mavin

After I had escorted my grandpa home and taken him to his room downstairs, I made sure he drank his medicine. Then I left him in Angela’s care and went back upstairs to my bedroom.

I went into my closet and changed from my casual clothes into a blue suit. I was getting ready to leave for the company, as I had a business meeting at noon with my shareholders and partners.

I had contacted Henry Black to reschedule the meeting for the afternoon and to inform my secretary that I wouldn’t be arriving on time.

It was Saturday, October 18. I took my time to dress properly in my room because the meeting included foreign partners I worked with. Even though Grandpa Charlie had threatened to cut ties with my company unless I married and gave him a grandchild or got someone pregnant before the year ended, I still had to work hard to control his company too. It was only a temporary warning, and I didn’t want to take it or his written will seriously.

I walked over to the mirror again to check my appearance and adjusted my blue suit’s necktie. Once I was done, I put on my socks and black shoes, then left the house and went downstairs to my garage, where I kept many cars—SUVs, G-Wagons, and sports cars—that I drove around the city myself.

I walked toward my black SUV, a black Range Rover Sport, one of my favourite cars. I got into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and drove out of the residence toward my company.

I was still thinking about Thelma, the young lady I had a one-night stand with. I thought it best to get a full background check on her. I couldn’t remember using any protection the previous night, and it wasn’t as if I had planned to sleep with anyone.

Knowing it was her first time made me feel bad. I had been rough with her because I hadn’t been with a woman before.

I finally arrived at my company’s gate. It was a smooth ride from home to the office with no traffic.

I drove into the company headquarters, where my office was located. We had other smaller branches in different states.

I stepped out of the car elegantly and walked toward the building, with bodyguards stationed around the luxurious five-star structure.

I made my way to the private elevator and went up to the third floor, where the meeting hall was. I stepped out of the elevator and went straight into the business meeting.

Being a black man, nothing about what had happened the previous night showed on my face.

I was very strict and unfriendly with most of my staff. They knew it was best to work diligently, and even the female staff didn’t try to seduce me at work.

I entered the large meeting hall and walked toward the head seat, where I usually sat as CEO of M.W Group.

Most of our top partners had arrived, and they all wore displeased looks because I was late. The hall was silent as I finally sat down.

I didn’t know what the discussion was about anymore. All I could think about was Thelma.

What had she done to me? I didn’t know, but I was sweating despite the air conditioning.

Luckily, my assistant Henry Black was there to help. He stood up and began reading out the brief of the business meeting to our partners, including the new marketing values, pricing, and shares.

Our only top competitor was B.H Group. They were far ahead of us. After the meeting ended, and since I was still sweating heavily, I stood up and shook hands with some of the partners without negotiating. I told them to meet with Henry Black instead and left the hall with a displeased look on my face.

I wasn’t in the right mood to speak with any of them, and they were used to my mood swings. I had heard different comments about me.

I walked out of the meeting hall and entered the elevator that took me up to the fourth floor.

I stepped out and walked toward my office door. My secretary, Mrs. Tonia Briggs, a middle-aged woman in a black suit, stood up from her desk and greeted me. “Good afternoon, boss.”

Mrs. Tonia was light-skinned and married with two kids. I managed to respond to her greeting, not wanting to be rude, then entered my office.

My office was wide and spacious, painted white mixed with ash grey.

I walked to my black office chair, stopped beside the huge desk, and took off my blue coat first.

I subtly blamed myself for not listening to Doctor Amari’s advice earlier to get a quick medical check-up after noticing I was sweating.

I dropped the coat on another seat. I wasn’t expecting any guests, especially since it was Saturday and not our usual working day. I was still sweating despite the air conditioning.

I picked up the office telephone and called Mrs. Tonia’s line.

When the call connected, I told her not to allow anyone into my office and to direct them to the other top staff who were around. I also asked her to reschedule any important appointments until I had time.

Mrs. Tonia replied, “Okay, boss.”

I ended the call, walked to my fridge, took out a cold bottle of water, and drank from it to calm myself.

I finally sat in my office chair and thought about Thelma again. What kind of witchcraft had she used on me? I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

“Oh no! Maybe it’s because I haven’t been with a woman in a long time, but why can’t I just stop thinking about her?” I grimaced and picked up the office line again to call Sir Adam and find out if he had gotten Thelma’s full details since he brought her to me the previous night.

The phone rang on the first ring, but Sir Adam didn’t answer immediately.

I frowned and called him again. He finally picked up.

“Hello, boss,” Sir Adam said.

I immediately asked, “Have you found any details about Thelma’s real information yet?”

“No, boss, but we’re still trying to match her identity. The only identity that matched her image was Thelma Sebastian, the only daughter of CEO Conrad Sebastian and Melissa Sebastian.”

I froze and sat up properly on my chair. The revelation took a moment to register.

“What?? Which Conrad Sebastian are you talking about, Sir Adam?” I asked.

“Uhm, boss, I believe Thelma is the daughter of the CEO of B.H Group.”

The line went silent for a while. Then I finally replied, “I don’t believe you. Do your findings properly.”

“Well, boss, that’s what the hacker found. Maybe when I find another identity that truly matches Thelma’s image, I’ll let you know.”

I sighed heavily and replied, “Okay.”

The call ended, but I was still staring at my phone screen in disbelief. I couldn’t believe I had slept with my enemy’s daughter.

B.H Group monitored all my company activities and literally copied everything my company did.

For a long time, Steven Sebastian and I hadn’t interacted, even when we met at shows or award ceremonies.

Steven and I mostly competed for Best Entrepreneur of the Year, Businessman of the Year, and Billionaire of the Year. Our companies were also compared by other growing firms wanting to know which was better—my grandfather’s L.X Group or B.H Group.

I continued staring at my phone screen silently, then finally dropped it on my desk. I still couldn’t believe that CEO Conrad Sebastian would allow his only daughter to stay out late at night without bodyguards.

“This is unbelievable!” I said as I sat up properly and switched on my computer to research CEO Conrad Sebastian and his entire family online for the very first time.