"Yes, but I'll take care of it as soon as I get home."
Maduabuchi nodded thoughtfully. "Good luck. I hope everything works out well for you."
For hours on the flight, their conversations flowed with an ease she had never known. By the time the first seven hours had slipped by, it felt as though they had known each other for a lifetime.
When he noticed her exhaustion, he gently urged her to rest for the remainder of the journey.
17 hours later...
Olaedo strode off the plane, her steps brisk as she scanned the area for Maduabuchi.
Not seeing him, she quickly turned and headed for her waiting driver and second secretary. Her only thought now was to reach her mother as soon as possible.
On her way to the hospital, her phone pinged.
She read the message with a sigh of relief, her mother had undergone surgery and was already showing signs of improvement.
Leaning back into the seat of her limited edition sports car, Olaedo sank into its plush leather, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders.
As she dialed her best friend Nnenna, Maduabuchi's face flashed through her mind again, bringing a faint blush to her cheeks. She wondered if she should mention him to Nnenna, who would no doubt be thrilled.
Nnenna had warned her many times, "You're practically married to your work! At this rate, you won't find a husband till your sixties!"
For so long, work had been Olaedo's world. Even after her faith became a deeper part of her life, business remained her first love. "Money answereth all things," she often reasoned.
Being one of the youngest billionaires in the world at just 19 had meant endless late nights and chains of espresso shots, but the rewards were undeniable.
Her best friend's voice broke through her thoughts. "Hey girl! Back in the country?"
"Yes," Olaedo replied, holding back a grin. "Just heading to the hospital. Are you still there?"
She heard the sound of a door opening. "Yep! Just fed your mom. Told your brother he could head back to campus since I'll be here till you arrive."
Olaedo's face softened. "You're the best, Nnenna."
"Pfft, it's nothing. Now, spill! How was the trip?"
As Maduabuchi's face flickered in her mind again, her heartbeat quickened. Twisting a lock of hair around her finger, she whispered, "Nnenna, I think I'm in love."
----------------------------------------
"CEO Anozie…CEO Anozie! Madam!"
"It's time for the board meeting!"
The voice jolted Olaedo back to the present. A bitter smile replaced the light blush that had spread across her cheeks. The world that had felt so bright and warm now felt cold and hollow.
Taking a deep breath, she braced herself. Time to face the sharks.
"I'll be out in five minutes," she called.
As she organized her notes, Maduabuchi's face lingered in her mind, that gentle smile that had once made her heart flutter. 'How could someone who had seemed so calm, so genuine, tear my world apart?'
She shook her head. 'No, I have to keep it together.' She was the pillar of her family, and this company's future, not to mention a good part of the country's financial health depended on her strength.
With a final breath, she rose, ready to fight
For the first time ever, the walk to the boardroom felt far too short. Olaedo caught snippets of hushed conversations from employees as she passed, each one laced with worry.
Most feared for their jobs, yet to her surprise, their respect for her had not wavered.
This strengthened her resolve.
Thousands of families depended on this company, and she couldn't let them down.
Standing outside the boardroom she had once entered without a second thought, she took a deep breath and nodded to her assistant, who understood the gravity of the moment and remained silent.
With steady hands, she pushed open the door herself.
Inside, tension filled the air. Board members, investors, and senior executives waited in heavy silence.
With steady, controlled steps, Olaedo made her way to her seat at the head of the table, receiving a few reassuring nods from her closest supporter, but also catching smug glances from those who had never hidden their envy.
Years of experience had prepared her for moments like this.
"Good evening, everyone," she greeted, her voice firm. No one replied, but a few friends among the group offered supportive nods, bolstering her confidence.
"We all know why we're here. Let's get started."
She gestured to the Chief Financial Officer, Akin, who began with a serious look. Turning to the screen displaying troubling figures, he said, "Thank you, Ms. Anozie. Based on our review, the company is facing a critical financial shortfall. Approximately 35 billion in our local currency has been misappropriated from our accounts. This amount impacts our immediate liquidity as well as our projections for both the current and next quarters. Without swift action, we're looking at a loss margin of over 60% and a serious risk to partnerships and investor trust."
The room grew tense as Akin walked the team through the financial data, underlining the need for an urgent solution to maintain stability.
Olaedo nodded, then turned to the head of the legal team, Mrs. Shola, a respected crisis management expert who brought both strength and experience to the table.
"Our legal position here is challenging," Shola explained calmly. "Given the extent of the missing funds and the ongoing media scrutiny, we can expect investigations from regulatory agencies, including the EFCC. I recommend full cooperation with authorities, while also moving quickly to secure our key assets."
Shola's words added a calm resolve to the room, and the confidence of her advice restored a measure of control.
Next, Olaedo nodded to Mr. Chidi, the Chief Human Resources Officer. He wore a concerned but empathetic expression.
"We need to handle employee morale with care," he advised. "There are already rumors of potential layoffs, and it's creating unease among our employees. I recommend communicating our commitment to them openly, emphasizing that we see layoffs only as a last resort. We should also prepare a public statement addressing the allegations directly to keep our image steady."
Feeling the weight of thousands of livelihoods depending on this meeting, Olaedo straightened.
"Thank you," she replied. Addressing the entire board, she said, "Protecting our company, employees, and reputation is our top priority. I will do everything in my power to see that we stabilize operations."
Her gaze moved across the table, inviting input.
Suddenly, Mr. Ade, a senior board member with a known history of opposition, cleared his throat. "It's clear we're facing more than just a minor setback," he sneered, folding his arms. "Some might say that this kind of situation calls for fresh leadership, someone who… wasn't quite so personally entangled in a scandal of this magnitude."
Olaedo met his gaze without wavering. "I understand your concern, Mr. Ade, but I'm fully prepared to guide this company through this challenge and come out stronger."
"And how, exactly, do you plan to do that?" another adversary, Mrs. Ikenna, spoke up. "There are rumors that shareholders are beginning to lose faith. The stock has plummeted, and the more perceptive among them are selling off their shares while they can. Tell us, Olaedo, what magic wand do you have to reverse this?"
The underlying threat in their words struck her, but she maintained her composure. She had considered buying back shares in recent days to regain leverage over the company, and she felt more certain than ever now. She would find a way to preserve her control, even if she had to make personal sacrifices.
She made to address their concerns, but before she could speak, Mr. Ade, emboldened by his supporters, chimed in once more. "It's clear this company is headed for further turmoil under the current leadership, and I think a change is—"
But before he could finish, Mr. Okeke cut him off with a wry smile. "Of course, Mr. Ade or should I say Dr. Ade?"
The room fell silent for a split second before Mr. Ade's chest puffed up, a self-satisfied smile curling his lips. "Ah, yes. Doctor, actually. It's Dr. Ade, if you don't mind."
"Oh sorry, Dr. Ade." He continued "I'm sure you've got a lot of ideas, especially after....how should I say....investing so generously into your doctorate."
"..."
The room erupted in quiet laughter as the implication of Mr. Okeke's words sank in. Seeing the mockery on their faces, Mr. Ade's face turned a shade of red that could rival a ripe tomato.
"Oh, don't mind me," Mr. Okeke continued smoothly, "It's just, we all know that in certain circles, money can buy a lot, even a doctorate."
Olaedo couldn't help but glance at Mr. Okeke with a grateful smile. His words had lightened the mood, cutting through the tension in the room like a knife. The laughter that followed provided a brief respite.
Mr. Okeke turned to the others, his tone shifting to a more serious note. "Let's not forget who is sitting in that chair. Olaedo built this company from the ground up from the age of 18 till now. She is one of the youngest multi billionaires in the world for crying out loud. She's earned her place as CEO, and she's the one who can get us out of this mess. We need to rally behind her now, not tear her down.
He paused before continuing with a sly tone "Unless..."