Sheila walked past the receptionist. "Ms. Sheila..."The voice called out softly and in a hush, stopping her on her track. She turned slowly to the source of the voice, her brows creased slightly.
"What is it this time, Milan?" She questioned in reply with an air of uninterested. "Aren't you supposed to be out with boss? Why are you here?"
"Yeah, I know, right?" Milan muffled out with a small shoulder shrug. "We couldn't go any more because her flight was cancelled due to the new weather forecast, it's life-threatening to travel such a long distance with the type of weather that was forecasted earlier."
"Oh, I see ..." Sheila mouthed slowly, unsure of how best to reply to her.
"I was pained and angry, though, when I heard about the flight cancellation." Milan muttered slowly under her breath. "I couldn't get the chance to go to the meeting with boss neither did I get to meet Ryan Lerman as planned with you."
"They are still other chances, ifyou work hard enough, you will be given the same privilege as mine." Sheila told her. "You know, meeting top businessmen and going on international meeting and trips on behalf of Ms. Fellers and the company."
Milan smiled slowly, she felt Sheila's words were encouraging enough. "Yeah, I know. Today is my bad day, isn't it?" She doped out with a small but infectious laughter.
Sheila held the urge to laugh too, but was kind enough to offer her warm and calmed smile. "Work hard, Milan and chase not only promotion but that big bag like I'm doing already." She said carefully to her, patting her gently on her head.
"Sure, Ms. Sheila." Milan nodded her head vigorously in affirmation. "I'll be sure to put that in mind and work towards it as suggested, ma'am."
Sheila smiled at Milan's zeal. "I'll have to go now, it's almost near boss's closing hour, I have some reports to deliver to her before she leaves..."With that, Sheila left her presence without waiting on Milan's reply.
She knocked gently on Ciara's office door, patiently waiting on her offer to go in. As expected, Ciara's voice was heard immediately after the soft knock. "Come in..."
Sheila walked in, gently closing the door behind her. "Good day, ma'am." She greeted almost immediately she entered the office, her gaze fixated on the reports with her.
"Yeah, good day." Ciara responded flatly with a few head nods as she gestured for Sheila to seat. "Come have your seat." Sheila walked briskly towards the seat she was offered, taking it space.
"I suppose you are back and with a report?" Ciara asked, slowly raising her gaze from her system to meet with Sheila's, who gave her an affirmative nod in reply. "Good, can I have it?" Her voice was polite but not too audible.
"Here, ma'am." Sheila offered her the reports with her. "Here are the few terms discussed with him and with the report is your copy of the signed proposal."
Ciara collected the reports from her, dropping it hesitantly on the desk without bothering to take a look at it. "What was his reaction when you offered him the post of a CEO?"
"I'm surprised, ma'am, but he politely declined the offer. He preferred to hold a seat as part of the board of directors instead." Sheila said to her boss in reply.
Ciara's face was crumpled down in a frown, she literally did not understand why he would have rejected such a position he would kill for to have it -maybe that was then? "Did you mention the benefits that comes with it to him?" She asked to be certain Sheila delivered the message accordingly.
"Of course, I did mention everything to him, and I'm mostly surprised at how he declined. He did not state his reason for this, but, I guess something is not just right..."Sheila muttered slowly. "He's being unusually polite and calm when we were having the conversation."
Ciara was surprised at his change of attitude but on the hand, she did not care because she realized how much she was going to benefit from this. She only needed his skills and intelligent for sometime but since he practically declines the offer himself, she had no choice than to do as she intended as quickly as she can.
"If only he knows what's coming next for him -" Ciara thought out aloud. "I'm sure he would have grabbed this with his both hands but anyway, that's his luck though since they're more coming."
"I guess it is." Sheila uttered in reply as she stood from her seat, preparing to take her leave. "I think I'll have to excuse you ma'am, it's time for Gerald and Herzl should be here."
Ciara checked her wristwatch and nodded in confirmation. "Yeah, true. I'll call on you when I need something, for now, you can excuse me as requested." She told her in reply as she watched her leave her office.
Barely three minutes after Sheila exited Ciara's office, Gerald came in with Herzl on his heels. "Mom..."He called out as he ran to hug her legs, smiles on his face. "I miss you, mom."
Ciara could only smile as she picked him up, holding him in her arms instead. "I know, son. Mom missed you a lot, too." She uttered in reply, her smile getting wider than her usual smiles. "Guess what, little guy...？"
Herzl creased his brows, not too interested in his mother's guessing game, he'll prefer he spills the milk instead. "What is it, mom?" He muffled out.
"I'll leave it hanging then since you are unable to guess, but I bet that you are in for a surprise." She told him in reply before turning towards Gerald. "Did you do as requested, Gerald?"
"Yes, I send them to you." His reply was short but firm. "It's all done, I assure you."
"Good then, so I have no reason to worry much, right?" Ciara lilted, as she made to go out of her office with Gerald on her trail, still holding Herzl in her arms.
"Yes..."
*******
"Is this the surprise you have for me, mom?" Herzl was too impatient to clamp his mouth shut as he questioned his mother, his gaze was on her.
Ciara turned off the car's engine before replying to Herzl. "Yes, did you have any other expectations?" She uttered airily as she undo her seatbelt. "Something more to this, maybe?"
Herzl shook his head slowly in disagreement to his mother's questions. "No, possibly my expectation was less -coming to uncle Dwayne's home was the last on my list; I mean, it's not even the weekend yet." He was being honest with his reply.
"I know that was why I said it's a surprise for you, little guy." She enunciated. "Now, come."
They both hopped down from the car, Ciara was supposed to hold Herzl in her arms as always, but he insisted on taking the walk himself. On reaching the main door to the house itself, Ciara ringed the doorbell, waiting for a reply.
The door was answered by her brother, who ushered them in. The next person she saw in the house was enough to zap the life out of her.
(What is he doing here?' She wondered, her eyes widened in shock and surprise.