King

The boardroom was deathly still, so still that I was afraid to breathe for fear that I would break the quietude. Sweat formed under my armpit, my singlet stuck to my body, my palms were clammy. My socked feet found its way out of my shoes and onto the rugged floor. I was trembling.

Surprisingly, every other person in the room looked relaxed, too calm and it made my heart race even more. The AC was on but it seemed to be blowing hot air. This felt like a set up comprising of familiar faces, only that I had been given a forewarning.

"All in favour, raise a hand." Mr Adams deep voice bounced off the cream walls.

If my heart was racing before, now it was on a full gallop, threatening to jump out of my chest. I looked around me, at the grim faces of the other board members and the lopsided grin on Wole's lips. My hand trailed to my chest, in hopes of quietening the sound that my heart made as it trotted like a wild horse that was set loose. It was a wonder no one else could hear it.

Six hands went up and sweat broke out on my forehead. My jacket grew tighter, I wanted to remove it but I had to maintain composure. I settled on loosening my tie. Seven votes. That was all Wole needed for the position of CEO to be transferred to him.

There were seven of us on each side of the long table with Mr Adams sitting at the head. Wole was sat opposite me, a seating position I was certain was deliberate. Every now and then, he would flash me a smile that I badly want to wipe off his face. The members of the board who voted in support of the motion were also seated on his row.

One of his hands reached out to adjust his tie and I wished for one moment that it was my hands around his neck, squeezing the life out of him. We were both dressed in the same black suit and a white button-down shirt. But I was a better model for the attire.

Even in my state of disarray, I was rocking it with a grace that the wannabe would never possess. Try as hard as he did to impress everyone, I could never see him as more than the overambitious CFO he truly was. His glasses were still missing, replaced with contact lenses that made his eyes look as dark as the cup of coffee in front of me.

Plain, black coffee. I hated it. If it didn't contain enough sugar, excess milk, there was no need for it. The whole content should be emptied, the cup dumped in the trash with Wole. It must have been his idea to serve everyone coffee that was the same colour as his soul. Dark and bitter.

Wole raised the mug to his lips, taking a heartfelt sip. Of course, it tasted good to him. If only the coffee would burn his throat or hands. Sadly, it didn't. Instead, he placed the cup down with a certain delicacy as though he could read my mind. Our eyes clashed and the lower part of his face moved to form a smile. My fingers itched to pluck out those contact lenses, if he was within reach, I might have tried. 

"Mr Daniels," I wasn't the only one whose head turned in the direction of Mr Adams, "do you have the document?"

"No. No Sir." My voice came out steadier than I expected and I gave myself a mental high five. One more vote to seal my fate.

Mr Adams placed both hands on the table, his gaze swept across the room as if the solution rested on the foreheads of the men present. I rubbed my sweaty palms over my trousers. If only I could knock Wole out with my unopened bottle of water, then all of this would be over. Too bad I couldn't.

Six weeks had elapsed, was he going to join Team Wole or remain on my side? I wasn't so sure. Mr Adam mouth opened to speak but Wole beat him to it. 

"I have something for the board, Sir." 

A feeling of dread took over me and all my pep talk about staying calm flew out the window. Why couldn't he shut up?

One look at Wole, the smirk on his face and I shivered. He produced a document from his briefcase, made a show of handing it to me before giving it to the person closest to him so he could pass it to Mr Adams. I could feel it in my guts. I knew without even seeing it yet, what the content was.

Everyone stared at Mr Adam but not with the same concentration as I did. I was like a first-time mother watching her little one's every move. My eyes never left his face as it swept over the document. I tried really hard to read his lips as his eyes moved over each line but I could barely interpret his words.

He raised his head, gazed briefly at me, almost like it never happened. If there was any emotion I was able to identify in that fleeting moment, it was disappointment.

"A partnership. Landmark wants a partnership with us," he paused, taking a look at me that couldn't have screamed shame more than it did now. My heart dropped to my belly. "As a sign of goodwill, they are offering us the land, fully paid for. We can continue the extension of Pavilion."

The land that should have been ours in the first place. Was this all a game to them? How did Wole get his hand on this jackpot? Tibi. That witch. She wasn't even here and was still making my life miserable. 

"Mr CEO, you have done well."

It took a few seconds for his words to sink in, then the implication dawned on me - Mr Adams had just endorsed Wole as CEO. 

I shook my head slowly, this could not be happening. I refused to believe it even with the other men in suit standing up to congratulate Wole. Congratulatory choruses rang out in the air, some of the men patted him on his back, calling him CEO.

This was really happening.

Wole cleared his throat, everyone's action ceased. He waited till everyone was seated and I mentally prepared myself for his first speech as CEO, perhaps with a little jab directed at me. I should have known better than to underestimate him. He was the perfect match for Tibi; Sir and lady Evil.

"I have a request." I had never hated a voice as much as I hated his at this moment.

"Go ahead." Whoever replied to him, I didn't know and I didn't care to identify them.

"I would like the office on the last floor."

Only two offices were on the last floor, mine and that of Mr Adams. Wole wasn't that crazy to request for Mr Adams's which meant he wanted mine. Can today get any worse? I glanced at him to confirm my suspicions, the bastard was grinning at me.

How I remained composed after our gazes locked was a mystery but I could feel my fingers digging into my knees. Perhaps, Mr Adams voice that came almost immediately also had something to do with it. 

"Why?"

"As the CEO," he started, pausing to look at me. Yeah, we get it, you won. Speak. "I'll need a bigger officer and that one is just right."

My hands were gripping the edge of the table, all I wanted now was to hit him. Why was he this bitter? Taking deep breaths, I slowly let go of the table, he wasn't worth it. 

Mr Adams gaze darted between me and Wole, probably sensing the animosity. There was no love lost between us. I twisted my neck to face him, pleading with my eyes while calling upon all the divine powers I could at that point for him to rebuke Wole.

"He's right." No, he's wrong. Why is everyone against me? "Mr Daniels, we will get you a new office or you two can swap."

I nodded, not once, not twice, unable to form any coherent words. My head moved up and down of its own accord, I couldn't stop it from bobbing. Wole shared an office with his assistant, one of the many people I didn't want to be in the same space with.

Why? Why me? 

Brown shoes came into my line of vision. I trailed the feet to its owner: Wole. The room was nearly empty, save for the men who stayed behind to discuss with Mr Adams. Whatever Wole's reason was for being here, I didn't want to hear it neither did I want to be around him longer than I should. 

Standing up, I made to move past him when he blocked my path. I balled my hand into a fist by my side and raised an eyebrow at him. Patience was a virtue I wasn't certain I possessed anymore, not right now. 

Couldn't he have waited until later to gloat?

"No congratulations for me?" He asked. I stood still like a statue, I was very close to losing it. "The keys to my office, please."

Perhaps it was the fact that I had to leave the office I had stayed in for over four years that made me push him. But I did. The frustration, hurt and betrayal I had been feeling over the last few days were packed into the shove. Did it feel good? Yes.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins and I swung my fist at him. Stunned by my earlier attack, he never saw my hand which eventually connected with his face. The force and surprise made him stagger, his head twisted to the side. He took his time in straightening himself and when he did, I caught sight of blood trickling from his nostrils. 

It almost made me feel bad. Almost. He wasn't so high and mighty now, was he?

He wiped the blood from his face, leaving a red trail above his lips. Now what? I wasn't thinking much when I hit him but I wasn't sorry. With the way Wole's lips were pressed together, I knew he wasn't going to let this pass. Still, I stood my ground.

Like a wild bull, he charged at me. His fist narrowly missed my face as I sidestepped. The swift movement caused me to stumble and his body rammed into mine. We fell to the ground and Wole was on top me in a second, his chest heaving. 

He never got a chance to land any blows because he was pried off from me. I dusted myself up, slowly rising up to see Wole standing in between two men, staring at me with so much hate. It was a mutual feeling.  

"Everyone, leave." Mr Adams's voice was low, almost dangerous. I knew then that I had fucked up. I had forgotten that we weren't alone. No matter. I made to leave the room with the rest, "not you, King."

The alarm bells in my head went off. Mr Adams never called me by my first name, hell, he never called anyone by their first name. I was truly fucked.

"He has be-" I stopped myself before I could go on. We were alone now and as usual, he managed to make the room seem smaller with his presence. "Sir, I apologise."

"Clear your desk."

"What?"

"Clear. Your. Desk." I knew there was no arguing with him when he used that tone.

"Are you, are you firing me?"

"For every action, there is a consequence."

"He had it coming."

"You resume as Managing Director in a month's time, we should have your new office set up for you. Until then, do not come to work ... Enjoy the break, Mr Daniels." 

He was halfway past the door when he stopped, "whatever medical bills Mr Wole incurs will be deducted from your salary."

I collapsed into the chair, tired and defeated. I ran my hand through my face, half-hoping to wake up from this daydream. Nothing like that happened. One thing did remain, my new job role. I should have been glad that I wasn't fired. I would have if the Managing Director didn't have to answer to the CEO. I now answered to Wole.

* * *

My fist never came in contact with Junior's door before it opened. I winced as I shoved my hands into my pocket, my knuckles were sore. Hitting someone was only fun at that moment, I hoped never to do it again. 

The person who opened the door was unfamiliar, a fair beauty with a mole above her lips. You could easily mark her out from miles away. She was also short, maybe shorter than Tibi and possibly eviler. Standing at the top of the stairs should have added a few inches to her height but I still towered over her. She was that short.

Junior hated short girls and now I did too. So I couldn't understand why there was a short lady standing at the entrance like the gatekeeper. She was smiling but I wasn't fooled one bit by it. The most beautiful of smiles often harboured the worse intents.

"Who the fuck are you?"

The smile on her lips died and a smirk made its way to mine. Her cheeks heated up and I hoped it was in anger. If she got angry enough, maybe she would leave. I didn't drive myself straight from the office to be faced with this. I needed my friend.

"This one does not have home training," she murmured but it was loud enough for me to pick out her words. Replacing her frown with a smile, she placed one hand on the door, another on the doorpost, "rude much?"

"Where's Junior?" I was in no mood for this bullshit, not from someone I didn't know.

As if summoned, Junior appeared by her side, bare-chested and in only a black jogger. That was when I took notice of the girl's outfit. The sweatshirt she was wearing looked like Junior's, hell, it was his. I could never forget the FENDI logo written in big, bold, colourful letters at the front because he made me buy it for him.

Seeing her in the shirt with his hands wound around her waist from behind made me angry all over again.

"King." I could have sworn her eyes widened as if in recognition and a smile flitted to her face. That little action irritated me. Yes, I was good looking, the ladies man, but she could have at least tried to tone down the admiration while wearing Junior's shirt. She wasn't even my type. 

"You didn't tell me you were coming," Junior added with a smile. His chin rested on her head, the way he was holding her made me wonder if there was more to this.

Fair lady removed Junior's hand from her waist, the only good thing she had done since my arrival. She twisted slightly to face him then I saw it, the hickeys littered all over neck that her curly hair failed to cover.

"Maybe if you were not biting someone daughter's neck, you would have seen my missed calls." I didn't call him, never once did I think to call him because nine out of ten times he was working from home.

As if that was not enough, I continued, "since when do you bring your conquests home?" 

Her jaw dropped. Good.

"King!"

I could hear the warning in his voice but I didn't care. "You don't even like short girls."

"King. If you keep talking like this, I'll have to ask you to leave." Junior said with a seriousness that I didn't realise was possible with him. I scoffed. He wouldn't dare.

"Why will you do that? What happened to bros before hoes?"

The words were barely out of my mouth when a hand connected with my cheeks. She slapped me. I scoffed again, if she thought those soft hands were going to stop me then she had to try again. I was on a roll.

"Get out." It was shortie's turn to speak.

Rubbing my cheek where she struck me, I smiled, "you have no place here."

"King. Please leave."

Junior and I stared at each other with me searching his eyes for any indication that his last statement was a joke. There was none. I let out a suppressed sigh. I couldn't recall the last time we fought, let alone ever being asked to leave his house. 

With the appearance of one woman, both of them were happening at once. I shook my head slowly. Women were no good.

"Fuck you." And then I took my leave.

*****

You guys, I'm hollering right now. I've never seen King lose his shit like this. I can't say I like it but my man needed to let off some steam, he just directed all of that anger to the wrong people.

Book of the chapter: Regrets by Teefabulous, it is a Nigerian themed teenfiction. Prepare yourself because you will be really tempted by Isere's parents. The fun part is that the author updates frequently.

Question: Do you think King overreacted? I know y'all are smart, so guess who was with Junior?