The Cat's out of the Bag

Mr. Dike, a consistent contrarian, leaned back and smirked. "Even if this money buys us time, what's to stop another crisis from derailing us again? Trust takes years to build and seconds to destroy."

Olaedo met his gaze without flinching. "You're absolutely right, Mr. Dike. That's why we've implemented strict governance measures, including third-party oversight, to ensure we operate with the highest integrity."

She continued, "And let's not forget, it's not just about avoiding crises, it's about innovation and growth. We've launched five new product initiatives in the past three month, which are already receiving positive market feedback."

The COO, Mr. Okoro, spoke up, "I would like to commend the CEO for her leadership. These investments and operational changes didn't happen by chance, they're the result of her vision and decisive action. I urge the board to support her."

A few other directors nodded in agreement, shifting the room's mood in Olaedo's favor.

Olaedo concluded the meeting with a firm message. "This company has faced unprecedented challenges, but we've turned adversity into opportunity. I ask for your continued support as we move forward together."

As she sat down, the chairperson applauded lightly. "Thank you, CEO. Your resilience is commendable."

As the meeting adjourned, Olaedo noticed Mr. Ade and Mrs. Ikenna exchanging hushed words. Although they didn't look fully convinced, their earlier defiance had softened. Meanwhile, Mr. Okoro walked up to her, saying, "That was impressive. You've silenced many doubters today."

Olaedo smiled inwardly. She had taken another step toward regaining control and proving her worth, not just as a leader but as a force to be reckoned with.

------------

Thursday evening arrived in the blink of an eye. Chibuzor watched silently as the housekeeper led the servants to load up the last of the gifts into the car.

The elderly man felt the sheer amount was excessive, but then again, it wasn't a bad idea to make a solid impression on the in-laws. So, he chose to keep quiet.

Olaedo dressed in a knee-length champagne-colored flare gown with short sleeves, its skirt beautifully pleated, giving her an elegant yet modest appearance. Chibuzor, on the other hand, wore a brown shirt paired with dark blue pants, simple yet classy.

Before leaving, he tried calling Olisa, but Olisa informed him that he would arrive separately after handling some matters. With that, they set off.

As the car moved along the quiet roads, Olaedo decided to once again summarize her family for Chibuzor.

"My mom is a single mom; my dad passed away fifteen years ago in a fire accident." Her voice softened, and she took a deep breath to steady herself.

Chibuzor glanced at her, feeling a pang of sympathy. He couldn't imagine losing his grandfather, who had been like a father to him. He wanted to comfort her, but seeing her composed expression, he held back and let her continue.

"I have three younger brothers," she said with a small smile. "My first brother, Chukwuemeka, is studying medicine and is currently in his fourth year. The second, Emmanuel, is a second-year law student. And the youngest, Kelechukwu just wrote his final high school exams this year."

Her face lit up with pride as she added, "They're easy-going and fun. Always top of their classes, too! You'll love them."

Chibuzor smiled in response but couldn't help sighing internally. 'I know I'll love them, but will they love me? I'm the guy who 'stole' their only sister without asking for their permission.'

He sighed once again 'This is going to be rough.'

After about thirty minutes, the car turned into a wide compound. Flowers lined the walls, framing the tasteful duplex that sat at its center. The place radiated warmth and care.

Chibuzor looked at Olaedo with a newfound sense of admiration. 'So, she would rather live modestly in a rented two rooms apartment and build something beautiful for her family. She's really one of a kind.'

Before he could dwell further on his thoughts, the front door of the house opened. Mrs. Anozie stepped out, flanked by two grown boys and Olaedo's best friend, Nnenna.

One of them was particularly muscular, and the sight of him made Chibuzor cringe inwardly. 'I'm dead! Why didn't she tell me one of her brothers could probably pummel me into the ground?!'

Chibuzor and Olaedo approached the family, carrying the gifts.

"Good evening Mom. Hii guys!"

"Good evening ma" Chibuzor didn't lack behind as he greeted, bowing slightly as custom dictated.

"Welcome. You can call me Mom too. A friend of Olaedo is my son or daughter too" Mrs. Anozie replied warmly, though her smile couldn't entirely hide the curiosity bubbling within her. She was itching to bombard Olaedo with questions.

Emmanuel, Kelechi and Nnenna stepped forward to greet them and assist with the bags. Emeka hadn't returned yet, so the group made do with the two brothers.

Chibuzor, however, refrained from saying much. He was waiting for Olisa, who was supposed to arrive shortly. According to tradition, a marriage discussion required all key parties to be present, and Olisa was his chosen companion for this meeting.

But deep down, another reason lingered, a smaller, more personal one. He was afraid.

'What kind of man marries a woman without seeking her family's blessing first?' He thought, guilt weighing him down. He had done precisely that, and now he was here, three months late and trying to make amends.

Masking his nervousness as best as he could, Chibuzor engaged in light conversation with the family, keeping the topics superficial while the dining table was being set.

Meanwhile, outside, Emeka arrived at the compound and parked his car. As he walked in, he noticed a sleek, expensive vehicle sitting in the driveway.

Surprise flashed across his face. 'Who could this belong to?' he wondered. Olaedo wasn't the type to splurge unnecessarily. She had been using the same car for years, refusing to upgrade despite their encouragement. She always prioritized their family's needs over her own desires.

Shrugging, Emeka continued toward the main house. But before he could get there, the gate creaked open again, and another luxury car rolled into the compound. He stopped in his tracks, curiosity pulling him toward the vehicle. As he approached, the car door opened, and a man stepped out.

Emeka froze, his mind racing. 'Onuh Olisa!'

For a moment, he stood in a daze. As a fourth year medical student serious with his studies, Emeka idolized Olisa. He had devoured every article Olisa wrote, tracked his achievements meticulously, and dreamed of surpassing him someday. Yet, here Olisa was, in his family's driveway.

Olisa noticed Emeka's resemblance to Olaedo and smiled. "Hey, brother! Don't just stand there. Come help me out."

'Did my mentor just call me brother?!' Emeka thought in disbelief as he mechanically approached and began helping with the bags.

They walked into the house together, Emeka leading the way. After quickly swapping their shoes for slippers, they headed toward the dining room.

As they approached, muffled conversations drifted toward them. Hearing Olaedo's voice, Olisa's grin widened. He picked up his pace and called out, "Hey, sister-in-law! I'm here, and I brought gifts. I guarantee they're better than whatever that block of ice you married could manage!"

The dining room fell silent. You could've heard a pin drop.

"Married?!" Kelechi's voice rang out, echoing everyone else's disbelief. His reaction was the loudest, though the rest of the family wasn't far behind. They simply had better self-control and stayed silent, their expressions screaming questions.

All eyes turned toward Olaedo and Chibuzor, who both glared daggers at Olisa.

'We planned to tell them ourselves!' they both thought bitterly.

Chibuzor facepalmed, overwhelmed with regret. 'Why did I think inviting this blabbermouth was a good idea? Look at the mess he's made! I just hope Olaedo remembers all the good I've done for her and stops them from completely tearing me apart.'

Stewing in his fury, Chibuzor directed another glare at Olisa, who remained oblivious to the damage he had just caused.

Completely oblivious to the chaos he had unleashed, Olisa scratched his head in confusion. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?" he asked, genuinely perplexed

The realization hit him like a bolt. "Wait a second... Don't tell me you two dated and got married secretly?!" He threw his hands up dramatically. "No wonder you didn't invite me to the wedding! I was wondering about that this whole time."

'Zip it, escape-plan-coolest-brother Olisa! You're not giving me an escape route here, nor are you being cool!' Olaedo mentally screamed as she shot daggers at him with her eyes. Yet, Olisa seemed determined to dig a deeper hole, obliviously spilling the news to her stunned family

Olisa, now observing their frozen faces appeared equally shocked. "Wait, wait, wait..you mean to tell me you didn't tell your family? Or your friends? Not even me, your best pal?!"

He paused, but only for a moment before turning toward Chibuzor, his eyes widening at a possible bigger revelation. "Chibuzor! Don't tell me you didn't even inform--"