The soft beeping of the monitor was the only sound in the hospital room when the door opened gently. Jalen, propped against the pillows with a bandaged shoulder, raised his eyes from the file he had been pretending to read. He didn’t need to look twice to know who had entered. Mr. Okonta, with that aura of authority that seemed to follow him everywhere, walked in briskly, his designer suit as crisp as his voice when he greeted.“Mr. Adesina,” Okonta said, standing near the bed with his hands folded across his chest. “I trust you are recovering well?”Jalen forced a polite smile, though the weight in Okonta’s tone told him this was no casual visit. “I'm getting better, sir. Thank you for checking in.”Okonta’s gaze shifted briefly to Aisha, who sat quietly on the chair beside the bed. She looked fragile, her face pale, her fingers knotted together on her lap. Okonta’s eyes lingered on her for a moment, sharp and calculating, before he returned to Jalen.“Recovery is important, yes

The sun was only beginning to break the horizon when Jalen Adesina’s black SUV rolled through the gates of Adesins Corporation headquarters. It had been weeks since he last stepped into the building, and though his body was still weak from surgeries and near brushes with death, he refused to show it. His face was pale, his steps calculated, but there was still that unyielding air of command about him — the dignity of a man unwilling to be seen as broken.Inside his office, Fiona rose quickly from her seat as soon as he entered. Her eyes softened with worry, but she swallowed it down and went straight to business. A heavy brown folder sat in her hands.“Sir, I’ve compiled the latest reports,” she said carefully, laying the file on his desk. “The company has been badly shaken since you’ve been away. Investors are restless. A few major contracts have already been delayed. Staff morale is low. People are whispering in corners, wondering if we can survive this storm.”Jalen lowered hims

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Jalen began, tugging a small smile that did not quite touch his eyes. His voice carried across the wide conference room, calm but sharp enough to demand silence. “This meeting is majorly to appreciate your tireless efforts so far for the growth of this company.”A cheer followed his words. Some clapped lightly, others exchanged excited glances. For a company that had faced storms these past weeks, a word of appreciation from the top felt like fresh water to dry soil. Aisha, seated at his right, glanced at him with quiet satisfaction. Jalen returned her look with a faint nod, though his heart was far heavier than his smile.Fiona, standing by the far corner with her notepad, raised her hand. “Order, please,” she called. Slowly, the noise ebbed, and the staff returned their eyes to their boss.Jalen leaned forward, clasping his hands on the table. “We will start with something simple. Your names and the positions you hold. Please, one after the other.”The sta

The morning sun streamed weakly through the curtains, soft rays crawling across the bed where Jalen lay. His eyes opened slowly, his chest rising and falling with a deliberate rhythm, as though he had forced his body to remember strength. The night before had left him restless, but now something in his spirit told him it was time to return fully to work. He could not remain crippled by wounds, physical or emotional.The memory of Mr. Kene’s confession was still fresh in his mind. The man had stood in that conference room trembling, his face wet with sweat despite the air conditioner, before admitting he had betrayed the company for Tiana. Jalen had dismissed him immediately, no second thought. Loyalty once broken had no place in Adesins Corporation. But even as Kene left, shamefaced, Jalen felt no triumph. The damage had already been done.By mid-morning, Jalen dressed carefully. His hands still moved slower than they used to, but determination carried him through. The mirror refl

The convoy of trucks and workers at the site created a restless hum in the background as Jalen stepped down from his SUV. He adjusted the sleeve of his jacket, his face set in calm determination though his body still carried the weakness of the past weeks. His assistant walked quickly by his side, clutching files, her heels clicking against the gravel floor.“Mr. Adesina, welcome,” the project manager greeted warmly, hard hat tucked under his arm. His eyes were bright with the eagerness of a man who wanted to please.Jalen gave him a firm handshake. His gaze shifted instantly to the structure rising above them. Eighteen floors of steel, concrete and glass stretched proudly against the sky. Workers shouted to one another as metal clanked and cranes shifted heavy beams.The manager explained with pride, “Sir, everything is on schedule. Less than four months from now, we’ll hand this building over, complete and shining.”Jalen nodded slowly, his chest tightening with cautious relief.