Chapter 2 The Charles

Walking into the office, she found her father standing by the window with a blank look on his face, trying to get his attention, she hugged him from behind.

"You know you would look so handsome if you smiled often" she teased. That got him smiling, and turning around he hugged her, she couldn't help but agree with her words, for he was really a handsome man.

"How are you, my darling? Are you ready to begin your journey here at DeNill?" He asked her pulling her out of the hug to stare into her face.

"Yes, I am Dad, just show me the way and I will walk in it"

Mr Davis walked to his chair and sat down. "Please have a seat dear." He said pulling out an ID and a file from his top drawer. "These are your contract papers and ID, I got them from HR, please fill them out and have them submitted before noon." He informed her smiling.

"And mind you, here at DeNill, there is no right direction, you just have to choose your path and walk in it."

"Welcome on board princess, my secretary will show you to your office" he announced standing up to give her a final hug which she returned smiling.

Knowing her father, she hadn't expected much of a welcome party. "Typical Dad." She murmured, as she stepped out of the office to meet Iris his secretary.

Iris has worked with him for three years now. She was a petite woman in her forties, with a lively and bubbly personality. They had met when Iris had brought paperwork to the house for him during his leave sometime last year.

Seeing her walk in, Iris got up from her desk smiling, "Here comes the prettiest and smartest of them all" she joked. "Congratulations on your graduation and welcome to the DeNill Publication team."

After giving her a warm hug, she said, "Follow me let me show you to your office."

"Thank you so much Iris, am super excited and can't wait to land a big story within my first month here."

"Well, I believe in you and know you can, but I must warn you, the competition is stiff around here, so you have to be at the top of your game." Iris said as they both stepped into the elevator.

She hit the bottom for the second floor and a few seconds later, they arrived at their destination, which was bustling with activities.

"Can I have your attention everyone." Iris shouted. This got everyone quiet.

"Thank you, this is Samantha Davis, she is our newest staff, please treat her with love and respect. And assist her in any way you can."

Turning to Samantha, she said. "Samantha this is your floor and over here is your workspace."

"Welcome once again to the team, feel free to reach out to me if you need anything." She informed Samantha, walking back to the elevator.

Feeling a bit nervous, Samantha entered into the space shown to her, it was small but wide enough to enable her to walk around while working, as she is fond of. It had a table, with a small flower vase and flowers set on it, and two chairs on both sides. She was pulling out her laptop and other stuff from her duffel bag and arranging them on the table when a head popped in.

"Hello am David, the Associate Editor."

Samantha walked across the room and gave him a handshake. "Nice to meet you, David, I hope to have something for you to edit soon." She said smiling.

David was a tall lanky guy, with wavy short hair and a cute smile, he seemed like a cool person and she hoped they would make good friends.

"Well . . .." David said. "Except you manage to land a mystery story or an interview with one of the Charles, you may not get to work with me for the next couple of months." "Am sorry." He added taking a step further into her work space smiling.

"Who are the Charles? And how many are they?" Samantha asked looking confused.

David couldn't suppress a grin. "Meet me at the cafeteria by two, and I will give you the lead to your first big story here at DeNill."

...

"So David, now that you made me buy you lunch, tell me about the Charles."

It was lunchtime, and they were sitting in a corner of the cafeteria beside the DeNill building. It was where most of the staff had their lunch.

Samantha had used most of the time to set up her workspace and had also gotten to know some of the other staff in the office.

She was now sharing a table with Rachael, the brunette, Andy the cool guy and Micary, the gay one, who had all the latest and top gist from various industries. Their work spaces were closest to each other.

"Which of the Charles, please? Micary asked. "Tell me it's the young, hot and incredibly sexy one." He asked fanning his face with his hands.

"Both" David answered. "If she can get any of the Charles interviewed, then she has gotten her first big story of many more to come."

At that moment Rachael lifted her head from the food she had been paying so much attention to. "You know that's not possible right? None of the Charles have ever granted an interview. "Like ever." She added for emphasis.

"Everyone calm down," Samantha shouted. "I need to know who the Charles are first before we get to the interview part"

"Charles Cain is a man in his late fifties. He owns Hester, the renounced electric car company. He lost his family to a plane crash some ten years ago and since then has become a recluse. Nothing is known about his personal life, as he doesn't attend social events, is not on social media and doesn't grant interviews. He never remarried by the way and his company is worth billions of dollars." David explained.

"And then there is Charles Stone." Micary chipped in, holding both hands to his chest.

"Charles Stone is the sole heir and CEO of Newville Corporation. He took over the affairs of the corporation from his father three years ago at the age of twenty-five, after graduating from Harvard Business School. Just like Charles Cain, he is not on social media, nothing is known about his personal life and he doesn't grant interviews. But since he took over as CEO, Newville has expanded to five different counties." David concluded. "Maybe I should have asked for a larger plate, all that talking made me hungry." He complained.

"Thanks for the information, guys. Now I just have to decide, which of the Charles it's going to be." Samantha said, tapping her chin.

"Go for the younger Charles, his violent tendencies are not so high," Andy advised. "The old Charles almost had his driver run me over the last time I tried to get an interview with him."

"I guess he never got over his loss. Rachael said.

"It is settled then, Charles Stone of Newville Corporation, it is. I am going to get my first big interview. Samantha said rubbing her palms together with a determined look on her face.