Chapter 15 The Anticipated

"It is with great joy that I announce that Davila Group of Company is spreading its tentacles beyond hospitality, and is exploring Oil and Gas; as the ownership transfer of 60 percent of Lewis Oils has finally been made official." David stood before his staff and executive to make the announcement on Monday morning. It is their mode of operandi to hold a brief meeting on Monday mornings. He killed two birds with one stone. "The mentioned shares were bought under our subsidiary companies; Gem stones Corporate and D Elite groups. I sincerely want to appreciate the individual efforts contributed towards the success of this great company." Everyone clapped and cheered, including other branches that joined the meeting via zoom.

"Before I proceed, does anyone have question?"

The accountant of the company jokingly pointed "I believe that translate into an increment in salary for the staff"

Everyone laughed.

A flicker of smile touched the corners of Dave s mouth "Of course it does, a laborer is worthy of his wages."

Dave then announced after the second round of applause had quieted. "I want to announce to the group before going public that I would be running for the gubernatorial position in the coming election."

The hall went quiet, and then suddenly the murmur started rising to a loud bee-hum in the conference room.

Finally the room went quiet as David interjected "I know this might come as surprise to you, and I might add that even I was surprised. But the opportunity came up and I thought why not?" he paused, making eye contact randomly with his audience. "It s an opportunity to serve my country, one I intend to take very seriously. So in lieu of this there s going to be a get together to celebrate our wins and to a new beginning. The circular will be passed. You are allowed to invite anyone. Thank you all."

The conference room erupted with rounds of clap.

***

Brenda had used the better part of her Sunday evening to go through the files in her father s library and she had discovered that not only the firm was going under but Desmond Lewis finances was in great danger too. She saw letters transferring ownership of some of his assets. She wondered what he did with all the money.

Brenda had secretly suspected her father s bankruptcy and she got her confirmation. She will not make the mistake of confronting him about it because it means admitting she was snooping around. Instead she was armed with renewed determination to do whatever was in her power to reinstate them.

She finally had the meeting with all her staff members. She had giving them each assignments to start with. The most important one was for Angelina to send mails to list of contacts that her father gave to her.

She drafted the mail to be sent, which still need final review for perfection. She made contacts with the furniture and the interior decorator company both for her new house and the office. And she had to decide on the look she want for the office and the office. So the decorator is coming with some plans so is the furniture company; she would have preferred to do the decoration herself if she had the time but she would be giving the concept she wanted instead for the decorator to carry out.

Brenda could sense the genuine happiness in the staff and she promised not to disappoint them. Most especially because their means of livelihood depended on either she succeeded or not. If things continued the way it was going, she doubted if her father would be able to keep up the pretense, and that means they all have to go find another way to sustain their family.

She could sense Angelina s excitement in fact the woman was treating her like she was a messiah who just came down from heaven to save them from destruction, with her bubbly personality. She had been checking on her since she cooped herself away in the office. So when Brenda had the tap she knew it must be Angelina again. She had appointed herself as her personal assistant. And she liked her optimism. "Is the final draft ready yet?" she asked from the door way from the up tenth time. She had either came in to ask if she needed anything or if she needed help, or even lunch, since she was busy since morning making contacts and scheduling meeting to remember food. Brenda took so much on herself because she needed the prospects to see her seriousness. She had contacted some producers and some top shots in the entertainment industry; she even managed to schedule a few appointments with some of them.

She felt she has achieved something. So finally she had a positive response for Angelina.

"Can you please order for a plate of veggie salad and a bottle of water? And yes I m done with the draft, so you can start sending the mails."

Brenda smiled when she clasped her hands together with glee as she moved into her office, and then took the draft from Brenda.

"Okay your launch is coming right up" she announced before stepping out.

Desmond got off the phone with the Party Chairman. Things are progressing just the way he wanted. He called in his secretary to find out when the representatives from Gemstones and the D Elite will be joining him for the meeting. Their business transactions were carried out through proxy, but they finally scheduled a meeting of the board today.

"The meeting is for 11:00 am sir."

Desmond checked his time; it was 10:30am. They were expected any moment from now.

He was going through a number of suggestions; okay may be not suggestions but decisions since he was the largest shareholder.

His secretary notified him of the arrival of the first person.

"Please send him in, thank you"

Dave looked around the office space as he followed the leading of the young receptionist, not what he would have chosen but he was not Desmond Lewis and he will never be. They had nothing in common and they never will, except maybe now that he was about to show him who his real boss is. He proceeded with the sinister smile on his lips. Was he nervous to be seeing Desmond Lewis in person after all these years? What he felt was hatred! Deep seated hatred for the man who made himself God because he had few cash to throw around.

Dave came prepared he wanted to shock the socks off Desmond Lewis, by the time he was through with him, he wouldn t know what hit. He anticipated this moment. In fact it was the oil to his engine of success. His hatred and revenge for Lewis were the passion on which his success rode on, so, no! He was not nervous, not at all in fact so far from it. He rubbed his hands together in excitement as he followed the beautiful lady who carried his briefcase, leading him to meet his mortal enemy.

"You are welcome Mr. Campbell."

He did not hear the pleasantness of the greetings, all he could hear was the voice that accused him of stealing wristwatch just to get rid of him. It was the same voice that told the security guards to beat him till he could not walk, let alone think of coming into his compound.

Dave remembered the domestic staff that came running to give him water when he was dragging himself away because his butt and legs were swollen from the lashes. She was the one that warned him off friendship with Brenda. He remembered her saying to him "what were you thinking, befriending a rich man s daughter?" And she told him of how she was asked to put the items on him while she served the food. The young woman had begged his forgiveness to assuage her guilt, saying that she did what she had to.

"Good morning Mr. Lewis" he looked old and grey but he was still reasonably looking good. Not looking at all like a man in Crisis. "So good to see you after a long time" he said in a deceptively sweet voice.

Dave sat on the Chair rested her back and folded his hands on his trim abdominal abs, hidden under the pristine white shirt beneath the navy blue suit that complemented his dark eyes.

He watched Desmond s expression.

"I don t think we have met" he said with a small laugh taking his seat behind the massive desk.

"Oh come on, you mean you can t remember this face?"Dave stared at him squarely, willing him to recall all the bad things he did to him.

"Let me jog your memory just a little. You remember the boy that was beating for stealing wristwatch, and oh, some cash? What was his name again…? You only know him as David, the scrawny boy that sold in traffic who suddenly became your daughter s friend? Because he wanted to steal from her rich father, you should remember now."

Desmond slumped in his chair dropped in to his chair. "What are you doing here?"

Dave barred his beautiful teeth. "Let s just say I m here to discuss with my partner"

"You are the representative I have been waiting for?"

"Yep! I am. He stretched out his long legs on the table."

"Well, I...I demand to speak to your Boss."

Dave laughed out loud. "Sorry, but I m the Boss"

Desmond looked worriedly around his office that Dave almost felt sorry for him.

"Okay, let s wait for the others then we make this meeting strictly official." He eyed his crossed leg on his desk.

"Sorry to burst your bubbles again, I represent the two companies."

"So…so you own the two companies?"

"Yes, me, myself and I, and three companies actually." he said flickering an invisible speck from his suit lapel. "And now that makes me the sole decision maker in this company"

Desmond really looked like he would pass out this time.