Novels by euniceeti18

The elevator doors slid open onto the executive floor, Manuel stepped out without slowing. Gavin matched his pace, a brown file tucked beneath his arm, neither of them spoke.The corridor was quieter than usual. Most of the senior executives were either in meetings or had already left for lunch. The only sound came from the faint tapping of computer keys somewhere beyond the reception area.A polished brass nameplate caught Gavin's eye, ‘Chairman's Office,’ and beside it sat another, ‘Helen Lawson- Executive Assistant to the Chairman’. The office door stood half open, Helen looked up from her desk the moment their footsteps reached her. Her face immediately brightened, “Mr. Rodriguez,” she rose immediately. “It's good to see you.” Manuel simply offered a polite nod, “Good afternoon, Helen.” Her attention shifted to Gavin, “And Mr. Shaw.” A warm smile spread across her face, “I was beginning to think you'd forgotten where this office was.”Gavin chuckled, “I've been keeping busy.”“So

The boardroom doors stood open and Manuel slowed his pace as he approached. Inside, only one chair was occupied. Chairman Theodore Blackwood sat near the window, a porcelain teacup resting on its saucer. Afternoon light settled over his silver hair, softening the deep lines around his eyes. He looked less like the chairman of a multibillion-naira corporation and more like someone's grandfather enjoying a quiet afternoon.He looked up as Manuel entered, “There you are.” His voice carried the same warmth it always had. “I was beginning to think you'd forgotten an old man.” Manuel managed a faint smile, “I've been occupied.”“So I've heard,” Theodore gestured to the chair opposite him. “Sit.” Manuel sat down and neither of them spoke immediately, Theodore poured another cup of tea and slid it across the polished table, “You look like you haven't been sleeping properly.” Manuel wrapped a hand around the warm cup, “I've had a few things on my mind especially concerning the company.”The ch

The archive room which smelled of old paper, dust drifted through narrow beams of afternoon light that slipped between the blinds. Metal shelves stretched from one end of the room to the other, each lined with neatly labeled storage boxes that had not been touched in years. Gavin ran a finger along one of the labels before pulling the box free, ‘Board Meetings... Four Years Ago.’ He carried it to the long table in the center of the room and lifted the lid.There were folders, minutes, attendance sheets and voting records. Everything had been preserved with almost obsessive care. He slipped on a pair of cotton gloves before opening the first folder. On opening it, there was nothing, the second, still nothing. A quiet sigh escaped Gavin because he knew hours of work awaited him.---Upstairs, Manuel sat motionless, the recording remained paused. Alistair stood frozen beside the projector, the corner of a single sheet peeking from the blue proposal folder. Manuel zoomed in again, but sti

The office had emptied by the time Manuel reopened the laptop. The steady hum of the air conditioner was the only sound in the room. Outside, evening painted long shadows across the courtyard. Most employees had gone home hours ago. A few lights still burned on the lower floors, but the executive wing had fallen silent. Gavin was at his desk arranging Manuel’s schedule for the next day as Manuel had quite a number of meetings the following day.Manuel rested his hand on the mouse, the archived recording waited on the screen, ‘Board Meeting – Project 608’ and he clicked on it. The loading circle spun once before dissolving into the familiar boardroom, the video was dated four years earlier. The camera overlooked the entire conference room from one corner of the ceiling and the younger version of himself sat at the head of the table. His suit was darker, his expression harder.Around him, the board members settled into their seats, exchanging quiet greetings before folders began opening

Brandon walked into Manuel’s office just after Alistair left. The photograph Alistair had left behind still lay beside the folder, Manuel picked it up for a moment before sliding it back into the folder and then he looked at Brandon, “Was just about to call you.”“Does the program still work because it has been dormant for a while?” A small smile tugged at Brandon’s lips, “Trust me.” He pulled the laptop closer and the screen lit with a pale blue glow. A password and then another, then a black window replaced the desktop and lines of text appeared one after the other. Gavin walked around the desk, “I’ve never understood any of this.”“You don’t have to,” Brandon replied as his fingers moved quickly across the keyboard. The cursor blinked, he inputted another command, followed by one more command and then, the screen refreshed. Rows of timestamps filled the monitor as Manuel folded his arms across his chest, “When was the last attempt?”Brandon didn’t answer immediately, his eyes move

“No worries sir, I’d just send for him.” Gavin said and went out, returning a few minutes later.The knock came exactly five minutes later and the door opened with Alistair stepping inside. He stopped when he saw the office, Manuel sitting behind his desk and Gavin by the window. When he was sent for, he had spent a lot of time masking his emotions properly before coming to face Manuel even though he had no idea why he was being sent for. His eyes swept over them once before returning to Manuel. “You wanted to see me.”“Sit,” Manuel said.Alistair remained standing for a second, then he pulled out the chair and sat. The office fell quiet and Manuel just slid a photograph across the desk. Alistair’s hand froze, not for long but just a second and then he looked up, “Where did you get that?”“My question first. Who’s she to you?” Manuel asked calmly.Silence filled the office as the photograph remained between them. A woman smiled up at the ceiling, one hand hooked through Alistair’s arm