Novels by Gladys Okoh

Alex woke early the next morning to another text from Vincent.“Blackwood meeting confirmed. Noon at The Sterling Club. I'll have someone there.”Alex deleted the message and got dressed. Today would be interesting. Thomas was meeting with Jonathan Blackwood, the man he had wanted to marry off to Nora. Whatever they discussed, it wouldn't be good.Downstairs, the family was already at breakfast. The tension from yesterday hung in the air like smoke."Good morning," Alex said, pouring himself coffee.No one responded. Thomas glared at him over his newspaper. Derek smirked into his eggs. Only Nora looked up, but her face looked confusing to Alex. "I'm going out today," Alex announced. "Job hunting.""Another waste of time," Thomas muttered."We'll see."Alex finished his coffee and left. He caught a taxi to the Meridian Tower, where Vincent was waiting with files and fresh intelligence."The surveillance is in place," Vincent said. "We'll have audio and video of the entire meeting.""G

Alex returned to the Davis mansion just after noon. The house was quiet, most of the family out on their usual routines. He found Nora in the garden, sitting on a bench beneath an old oak tree."May I join you?" he asked.She looked up, startled. "Of course."He sat beside her, maintaining a respectful distance. The flowers around them were in full bloom, carefully tended by the groundskeeper Thomas employed."Thank you," Nora said quietly. "For whatever you did with Parker.""I told you I would handle it.""But how? Alex, I've been thinking about this all morning. You don't have connections at Hartwell Industries. You don't have money for lawyers. So how did you make this happen?"Alex considered his answer carefully. "Sometimes it's not about what you have. It's about what you know and who you talk to.""That's not an answer.""It's the only one I can give right now."Nora turned to face him fully. "Are you in trouble? Did you do something illegal?""No. Nothing illegal. I promise."

Alex woke at six AM to his phone vibrating. It was a text from Vincent.“Parker termination complete. An apology letter is being delivered to Davis’ residence at 8 AM.”Alex dressed quietly and went downstairs. The mansion was silent. He made coffee and waited at the kitchen table.At exactly eight o'clock, the doorbell rang.Alex opened it to find a courier holding a large envelope and expensive flowers."Delivery for Mrs. Nora Munroe.""I'll take it."The courier left. Alex examined the envelope, heavy paper with the Hartwell Industries logo. Inside were two documents.The first was a formal withdrawal of the lawsuit, signed by David Parker and notarized.The second was a personal apology letter.“Dear Mrs. Munroe, I please accept my reserved apology for my inappropriate behavior and the distress I caused you. My actions were inexcusable. The lawsuit has been withdrawn and I am no longer employed by Hartwell Industries. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive my terrible jud

Alex followed Derek down the hallway toward the study. His footsteps were silent on the Persian rugs that lined the marble floors. Ahead, Derek walked with the confidence of someone who belonged here, who had never questioned his place in this world.They reached the heavy oak doors of the study. Derek knocked twice and entered without waiting for a response."Grandfather, he's here."Thomas Davis sat behind a massive mahogany desk like a king on his throne. He was seventy-eight years old, silver-haired and sharp-eyed, his face weathered by decades of ruthless business dealings. Catherine and Richard sat in chairs facing him, their expressions grave."Alex." Thomas didn't stand, or offer a handshake. "Sit down."There was only one chair left, positioned directly in front of the desk. Lower than Thomas's chair, designed to make visitors feel small. Alex sat, maintaining eye contact."I'll get straight to the point," Thomas said. "You're a cancer in this family. You've been a burden sin

Vincent nodded, accepting the non-answer. He pulled a leather folder from his desk and slid it across to Alex."These are the preliminary financial reports. I'll have complete documentation ready by morning, but this should give you an overview of where we stand."Alex opened the folder. Pages of numbers, charts, projections. Three years of company growth laid out in black and white. His eyes scanned the figures quickly, his mind automatically processing the data.Revenue up twenty-three percent. Market share increased in seven of nine sectors. The stock price nearly doubled. Vincent had done well in his absence."Impressive work, Vincent. My father really made the best choice in choosing you""Thank you, sir. Although, there have been many challenges. There have been three attempted hostile takeover bids in the past eighteen months.""Unsuccessful, I assume?""Of course. But they're getting bolder. Your return makes them know that Apex Global is stronger than ever."Alex closed the f

"Three years!" Vincent's voice trembled with emotion. "Mr. Munroe, we've been waiting, hoping you would return. Where have you been?""That doesn't matter right now." Alex kept his voice low, aware of the people passing in the hospital corridor. "Vincent, I need your help with something urgent.""Anything, sir. Just name it.""There's a man named David Parker at Hartwell Industries. He assaulted my wife and now he's filing a lawsuit against her. I need that lawsuit withdrawn and I need him to issue a formal apology. Can you handle that?"There was a brief pause. Then Vincent's voice returned, crisp and professional. "Consider it done, Mr. Munroe. I'll have our legal team begin immediately. Parker will regret ever touching Mrs. Munroe.""Good. But Vincent, I need you to keep my identity confidential for now. No announcements or publicity. Can you do that?""Of course. May I ask why the secrecy?"Alex glanced back at Nora's hospital room door. "Because I need to know who my real allies