Nia and Jess stepped into the gleaming lobby of Morrison Group of Companies, where the air was thick with polished elegance and the faint hum of ambition. The reception area was a study in understated opulence—high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and sleek marble floors that echoed the faintest of footsteps. Jess, ever the pragmatist, leaned in and whispered, "This place screams 'serious business.' Ready for this?"
Nia gave a tight smile, her nerves jangling like the loose change in her purse. "As ready as I'll ever be. Let's just hope this goes smoothly."
"Hey, don't worry. I am here with you!" Jess squeezed her palm and gave her a small smile.
They approached the receptionist, a poised woman with a sharp bob and a polite but distant smile. "Ms. Mirren and Ms. Carter here for the 10 a.m. meeting with Mr. Lincoln Morrison."
The receptionist tapped at her keyboard, her eyes flicking between the screen and Nia. "Mr. Morrison is running a bit behind schedule, but his executive assistant will take you to the meeting room. Please follow me."
With practised grace, the executive assistant led them through a labyrinth of glossy corridors adorned with framed accolades and portraits of distinguished-looking figures. The hum of busy offices filled the air, underscored by the occasional clink of coffee cups and murmured conversations. Jess, always the curious one, leaned closer to Nia and murmured, "Don't stress ok? We got this!"
Nia sighed. "I just want to get through this meeting and focus on making PixelWave a success with this new launch."
They reached the conference room door, and the executive assistant gave them a brief nod before disappearing down the hallway.
The door opened, revealing a long, sleek table surrounded by high-backed chairs. At the head of the table sat Lincoln Morrison, the CEO of Morrison Group of Companies. His presence was commanding—a man in his late thirties with a neatly groomed beard and an aura of quiet authority. Beside him were three board members, all impeccably dressed and seemingly as composed as their leader.
They reached the conference room door, and the executive assistant gave them a brief nod before disappearing down the hallway. The door opened, revealing a long, sleek table surrounded by high-backed chairs.
At the head of the table sat Lincoln Gabriel Morrison, the CEO of the Morrison Group of Companies. His presence was commanding—an extremely handsome tall built man in his late thirties with a neatly groomed beard and an aura of quiet authority. Beside him were three board members, all impeccably dressed and seemingly as composed as their leader.
Lincoln looked up from his notes and smiled warmly, an expression that seemed to defy the cold, mysterious reputation that often surrounded him. "Welcome, Ms. Mirren. Ms. Carter. I apologize for the delay. I was just about to make an announcement before we dive into the meeting."
Nia's heart skipped a beat as she took in the scene.
She had done her homework—Lincoln Gabriel Morrison was a shadowy figure in the business world, rarely making public appearances and even more rarely revealing personal details. The board of directors was known for their discretion; their private lives were virtually impenetrable, shrouded in mystery. The media had little to offer beyond the occasional headline about the company's successes or controversies.
Lincoln's warm tone and unexpected openness made Nia's curiosity spike. "Please, go ahead," she said, trying to sound more composed than she felt.
Once they were settled, Lincoln cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the room with an air of authority mixed with genuine friendliness. "As some of you may be aware, I will be taking a year-long sabbatical to travel through Europe with my wife. I have been given an ultimatum from her end!" Lincoln chuckled with love reflecting in his eyes for his wife. Everyone couldn't help with chuckle as well.
"It's been a rewarding journey for me, both professionally and personally, but now it's time to focus on my family and the new addition we are going to have very soon." Lincoln said with small smile playing on his lips as if he was the most contented man on this earth.
Nia's eyes widened in surprise. She had never known Lincoln was married. The revelation was jarring, shattering the carefully maintained aura of mystique that surrounded the Morrison family.
She exchanged a puzzled glance with Jess, who looked equally taken aback.
To add it, he was taking a sabbatical for his pregnant wife! Nia's heart warmed at such a beautiful gesture of love and adoration!
What a lucky woman!
Lincoln continued, his voice steady and earnest. "During my absence, my younger brother will be stepping in as the acting CEO. I'm confident he'll do an excellent job. He is a genius and thanks to him our privacy and personal affairs stay a mystery and well protected from the prying eyes of paparazzi. He had experience in managing a firm as well. He's currently en route but is experiencing some delays due to traffic. I expect him to join us shortly."
A ripple of murmurs passed through the room. The younger Morrison was a figure Nia had heard of in hushed tones but had never seen. The idea of someone so closely related to the elusive Lincoln taking over added a new layer of intrigue to the meeting.
They had a good conference and discussion with Lincoln regarding their ideas and the upcoming launch she planned. But now as Lincoln is stepping away for a year, she hoped his brother would be as accommodating and business-savvy as Lincoln.
Lincoln turned his attention back to Nia and Jess, his expression genuinely warm. "Before we start, I want to take a moment to commend PixelWave. The innovative approach you've taken with your games is impressive. Your last year's launch has already made quite a splash in the industry. I'm eager to hear more about your upcoming projects. As we want to expand in that direction, I am hoping for a good pitch from you Ms Mirren!"
Nia felt a surge of relief and gratitude. The unexpected praise from Lincoln was reassuring, and it helped to ease some of the tension that had been building up.
She managed a grateful smile. "Thank you, Mr. Morrison. We're excited about our upcoming projects and look forward to discussing them with you."
Lincoln looked like he was about to correct her on something but just then the door to the conference room creaked open, and all eyes turned toward it.
The door opened, and a tall figure strode in with the quiet, unshakable confidence of someone who had seen the world from its most shadowed corners. His steps were smooth yet purposeful like a man trained to observe every detail while remaining entirely unnoticed. Broad shoulders filled his perfectly tailored grey suit, the sharp lines hinting at strength beneath, while his movements held the kind of precision only honed through years of high-stakes operations. The air seemed to tighten as he entered the room, as though his presence alone altered its gravity.
Nia's breath caught in her throat as the man's face came into view.
Zachary Alexander Morris!