The London Empire's main boardroom was an architectural marvel—floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city, sleek black and white interiors that mirrored power and precision, and a table long enough to sit twenty-five comfortably. Yet, today, comfort was the last thing on anyone's mind.
Oma adjusted the blazer over her shoulders. Ann stood beside her, holding a tablet and trying not to let the nervous twitch in her hand show.
They had been summoned less than twenty minutes before. One of the assistants from Human Resources simply told them, "You're to be present at the executive evaluation meeting. Drop everything now."
No preparation. No clue.
As they entered the boardroom, they recognized familiar faces. Shalon and Rebecca were already seated, whispering among themselves. Heads of Departments were filtering in, including Marketing, Branding, Strategy, Public Relations, and Legal. Senior Executives in dark suits. The COO and CFO. Even the ceremonial CEO. Then came the quiet tension as the glass doors opened again—and he walked in.
Kaine London.
The room shifted.
He didn't speak immediately. He adjusted the cuffs of his tailored black suit, his jaw clenched as if he were restraining fire behind it. His presence made people sit straighter, breathe slower, hope to avoid eye contact.
Oma felt her throat close up. It was him. The man from the party. The one who dominated the entire room without saying a word. Her eyes flickered to Ann, who leaned in slightly and whispered, "He looks familiar. I just can't place where."
Oma whispered back, "The party. The one Juliette dragged us to. The one with the billionaires. That's him."
Ann's eyes widened.
"Meeting starts now," Kaine's voice cut through the air like a blade. "I expect no interruptions."
They all sat.
---
The meeting began with updates—performance reviews, targets hit, budget allocations. Kaine listened, eyes sharp but expression unreadable.
Then came the turn.
He stood. His voice dropped to a low, commanding pitch.
"You all love fancy PowerPoints and beautiful charts. I'm not impressed." He walked slowly to the screen, flicking through the slides. "You see progress. I see laziness hidden behind aesthetics."
He tapped on a slide.
"Marketing metrics are stagnant. Branding has inconsistent messaging. Public Relations mishandled last month's press leak. And Strategy? You're moving like snails with a map upside down."
A murmur went around the room.
"You have one week," Kaine said coldly. "One. Week. Or you'll be replaced. Entire teams if I have to."
The silence that followed was thick enough to suffocate.
He sat. "Continue."
---
The meeting dragged for over three hours. Ann and Oma remained still, observing, trying not to look shaken. Every time Kaine's eyes flicked across the room, Oma stiffened. She could feel her heartbeat in her ears. The memory of the party—the way his eyes held her, how she'd felt exposed under that gaze—it all came back.
After the main meeting, there was a secondary meeting held by the Senior Executives and Department Heads to break down the urgent deliverables. This one was more practical: lists of assignments, realignment strategies, project audits. Oma and Ann were given direct roles in a new Branding initiative to correct public image inconsistencies. They barely had time to breathe.
Work resumed, but it wasn't normal. Everyone worked in hushed voices, tense, focused. No one wanted to be on Kaine's chopping block.
---
Group Chat: Code Red Velvet
(Time: 7:52 PM)
Mia:
Ladies, who's in for the billionaire yacht party this weekend? Let's not flop this one ooo, I've already booked my stylist.
Regg:
In. My makeup brushes are ready to snatch wigs and souls.
Juliette:
You know I don't miss any party that has "billionaire" attached to it. Outfit on lockdown.
Tessie:
Count me in, baby. I've already scheduled my wax, nails, and lashes. It's game time.
Vee:
I'm definitely showing up and showing out. No one's stealing my spotlight this time.
Madi:
Me and my boss said we're attending together... so yes, I'm in.
Ether:
You guys know I live for parties. I'll be there with a vengeance.
Debby:
Let's cause a little chaos and sip some champagne.
Pesha:
Me already dreaming of the view and the cocktails. We move.
Iffy:
Quick one, girls—I might not be around for a while. Got this major architectural contract out of town. I leave in two days, might miss the party.
Juliette:
Aww, baby girl, go chase that bag! But we'll miss you!
Tessie:
Do that rich girl work, mama. We'll toast to you.
Mia:
Wait... Ann, Oma, y'all are unusually quiet. What's up?
Ann:
Sigh... there's a reason.
Oma:
Yeah. We won't be coming for the party.
Tessie:
Ehn?! Why?!
Regg:
What happened?
Vee:
Spill, babes. Don't keep us hanging.
Ann:
It's... complicated. Something happened today at work.
Mia:
What kind of something?
Oma:
We had a general meeting today. Big one. All the top bosses were there. Then Kaine showed up.
Pesha:
Wait, wait... which Kaine?
Oma:
That Kaine.
Juliette:
The Kaine?? The devil in a suit? The man who owned that party like he owned the damn world?
Madi:
No freaking way.
Debby:
Oma, what do you mean "showed up"?
Ann:
He's our boss. The CEO of The London Empire.
Group Chat went silent for 2 minutes.
Ether:
You're kidding, right?
Tessie:
Wait, so... that same Kaine... the one we were all staring at like idiots at the party??
Oma:
Yes. That one.
Oma:
He entered the meeting room and my soul almost left my body.
Oma:
He scanned the room and I swear, he recognized me. Maybe even us.
Ann:
When he stepped in, my stomach dropped. I felt like I'd swallowed ice. I knew he looked familiar but it didn't click till Oma reminded me of the party.
Mia:
Oh my God. That man saw all of us that day. We literally froze like mannequins.
Regg:
I was smiling like an idiot and sipping fake champagne.
Tessie:
I literally adjusted my boobs in front of him. In public.
Juliette:
We are finished.
Debby:
Let me guess, y'all were caught slacking in front of your ultimate boss.
Oma:
Pretty much. I was staring like a complete fool. And when I glanced back, he was watching all of us. Like... assessing. Clocking everything.
Ann:
That man doesn't forget faces. And if he knows we're friends... he might start watching us.
Vee:
Okay, now I'm scared.
Ether:
We can't mess up your jobs, babes. If he's your boss, we'll back off for now.
Mia:
Yeah, we'll go lowkey. No more flashy moves that could tie us back to that party.
Tessie:
So no party this weekend?
Oma:
You can go... just don't mess up, and don't mention us.
Ann:
Please. He's already breathing fire at the company. We're just trying to keep a low profile.
Iffy:
I'm missing the party anyway, but y'all be careful. That man gives dangerous energy. And if he's as sharp as he looks, he's not forgetting anything.
Juliette:
Noted. Operation: Stay Out of Kaine's Radar begins now.
Mia:
Damn. The world is small, sha. But don't worry, we got your backs.
Tessie:
Always.
Regg:
Love you girls.
Ann:
Love you too.
Oma:
Love you guys. Goodnight.
(Time: 10:42 PM)
---
Later that night...
Oma tossed and turned in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was on replay—Kaine's cold voice in the meeting, the piercing look he gave her, the tension that hung over the room like a curse.
Her phone buzzed softly.
Ann:
> "Can't sleep too?"
Oma:
> "No. Too much on my mind."
Ann:
> "We'll be okay. Let's just stay sharp."
Oma stared at the screen for a moment, then locked her phone and finally allowed her eyes to close. Her heart slowed, her body relaxed… and sleep, at last, claimed her.
.
.
.
.
To Be Continued.....