The Cold CEO's Woman

CHAPTER 2 - The new CEO

In the Benson Group headquarters, Mr. Taiye Jackson sat in the front row of the conference hall, where he was having a meeting with the board members from his other companies, all registered under his name.

He leaned in and whispered to his personal assistant, "Introduce the new head to them now."

The staff sat in the meeting hall, eagerly awaiting the introduction of the newly appointed CEO. His name had been announced, but no one had seen him. Mr. Taiye Jackson was the former CEO, while his late father, Mr. Benjamin Jackson, had established the Benson Group of companies, originally known as Benjamin and Sons Group of Companies.

They sat in the conference hall, anticipating the new era of company ownership under Mr. Taiye's only son, Liam Jackson.

Liam was rumored to be cold and aloof, and the workers feared the consequences of his leadership.

Some had heard he was arrogant, mean, and unappreciative. Nevertheless, he was hardworking and had a successful private business in the United States.

His father had announced his retirement and asked Liam to return home and take over the company.

Liam initially refused, reluctant to return to his country. He found little to no interest, except for his mother, a devout Christian who dressed modestly and never missed church services to pray for him and his father. He was her only child.

Liam understood that his mother had faced many challenges at the beginning of her marriage to his father.

His paternal grandfather had disapproved of his son, Mr. Taiye, marrying Ms. Juliet. She came from a humble background, but his father loved her deeply. Despite past relationships with other women who had tried to seduce him and called his mother barren, Mr. Taiye insisted on marrying only Mrs. Juliet.

He remained faithful to his wife, standing by her even when his family disapproved, claiming she couldn't give him another child after Liam's birth ten years prior.

Liam knew his mother had suffered multiple miscarriages, fueled by her fear of his father leaving her. She had lost all the babies she had carried except for him. He had just turned 30, while his mother was 60 and his father 68.

Liam loved his parents. However, his father had tricked him into returning home by lying about his health. He claimed to be sick and arranged for a fake doctor to call Liam, informing him of his father's illness and urging him to return from the United States.

Liam was shocked to find his father healthy and active, even attending business meetings. He was furious that his father had tricked him and refused to let him return to the States.

Inside the exquisite headquarters of the Benson Group, which encompassed oil manufacturing, gas implants, steel production, and the production of basic amenities, their company was globally recognized.

Liam stood in a private room on the second floor, adjusting his necktie and cufflinks. He wore a black tuxedo and black shoes. His father had instructed him on how to introduce himself to the various board members and partners managing their businesses.

Liam sighed and picked up his suit jacket. Just then, his assistant, Brown Anderson, whom his father had assigned to him on his first day at the company, knocked on the door.

"Come in," Liam responded.

"Boss, it's time for the introduction," Brown informed him.

Liam nodded, finishing his adjustments. He stepped out of the room and into the hall. The spokesperson announced to the staff in the large meeting hall, "Welcome, Master Liam Jackson, the new CEO of Benson Groups of Companies Limited."

Liam walked onto the stage, and the hall erupted in applause as he stepped out and climbed onto the podium. His father sat in the front row, while his father's assistant, Mr. Silas Greystone, handed him the microphone to address the staff.

"Thank you all for acknowledging our invitation and being a witness to my resume as the new CEO of Benson Group. I would like us to continue with our integrity and work really hard to continue building this company into a much brighter recognition of transparency and guaranteed products. Thank you all once more for being a part of my new journey. Thank you," Liam said, handing the microphone back to Mr. Silas Greystone, who was the spokesperson.

Liam stepped down from the podium, and the applause intensified as he walked to take his seat. Some of the top staff stood up to shake his hand. As Liam approached the front seat reserved for him, he shook hands with them before sitting down. They returned to their seats, while his father, Mr. Taiye Jackson, smiled faintly and stood up to give his own speech before Silas's final remarks.

"Thank you all for honoring my invitation and being witness to this new beginning with our new CEO, who is none other than my son, Liam Jackson. I appreciate all our past workers, who have been working really hard to uplift our company's name and create a sense of transparency that we are one of the best production companies. And I would like you all, both old and new workers and those in retirement, to respect and work amicably with our new CEO and to follow whatever decisions he makes for our company to grow globally, as you can all see he is a global citizen and has just returned from the States to be with us. Thank you all once again. Silas, I give it to you now to close the meeting for today," Mr. Taiye said, handing the microphone back to Silas.

Silas read out some new briefings about the new products and prices. After that, he closed the meeting with his ending speech, and the workers stood up and exited the meeting hall after the meeting with their new CEO ended.

Liam remained in the meeting hall with his father after the number of guests and staff dwindled, leaving only a few for further discussion. He stood up and walked over to his father, who was discussing something with his friend, Mr. John Patrick.

"Father, I want to have a word with you," Liam told his father, interrupting his conversation with Mr. John Patrick, who worked as one of their top managing accountants and was highly trusted with their company funds.

"Okay, son, I will be with you shortly," Mr. Taiye responded, while Mr. John Patrick turned to face Liam.

"Oh, Master Liam, congratulations on your new position as our CEO," Mr. John smiled faintly at Liam.

"Thank you, sir; it was an honor meeting you too and working here with you all," Liam replied.

"You can always count on us, Liam. Your father is my boss and a very good friend too, and I am so happy to see you taking over his position as the new CEO. I know you will lead us well to much better growth than your father and grandfather ever did," Mr. John said.

"Thank you, sir," Liam smiled faintly, as he enjoyed praise from his friends, colleagues, and even elders, as it motivated him to work hard.

"You're welcome, Liam. Mr. Taiye, I am leaving now. My daughter will be very upset with me for not showing up today at her school convocation, even after she has called me to come with her mother to the venue," Mr. John Patrick said, turning to Mr. Taiye.

"You know I couldn't miss your son being introduced to us as the new CEO, so I asked her mother and her elder brother to attend her convocation ceremony on my behalf, and she will be very annoyed with me about that." Mr. John told Mr. Taiye, and Mr. Taiye responded, "Oh, I am so sorry about that, Mr. John. I hope she understands."

"Yes, boss, she will." Mr. John offered a faint smile, wanting to leave while Mr. Taiye spoke. "How about I make up for that and have her introduced to my son, and maybe extend our family friendship to marriage? I'm sure she will be happy about that."

Liam frowned from where he stood beside his father, waiting for his father to finish his conversation with Mr. John Patrick, but Mr. John quickly rejected it. "Oh, thank you, Boss, but that's if only she will accept."

Mr. John knew how stubborn his daughter was, and he didn't want her to cause any problems between him and his boss, but Mr. Taiye quickly said, "Why won't she accept? Liam is handsome, and every lady wants him. What did she study again at the university?"

Liam's frown deepened as he stared from his father to Mr. John. Women weren't of his interest, and he didn't like how his father was trying to set him up with a woman he hadn't even met and doubted he would like, simply because his father was friends with her father.