Chapter 3 Charles' tale

"So what's the expected return rate, Mr Feng?" Charles asked.

"45% during the first fiscal year, 49% during the second year and a steady 7% increment for the years to come" Mr Feng replied.

The conference room had just 5 people in it. Mr Charles the CEO of Feyton Industries, Mr Feng who was the head of accounting and sales. There was also Miss Cherry Kingston, head of research and the mind behind the Chicken wing project. Mr James Collin, an external contractor, was also present. Stacy, Charles' personal secretary was also present.

The chicken wing was a revolutionary project on drones. Faster, sharper, smarter drones. Feyton Industries was looking to take over the market by the scruff of its neck. Hence the hush hush on the project. The fewer the people, the fewer the probability of a leak. Yet there had been news of just that. Rumours of the opposition working on this same project.

"If you see in these charts" Feng used his pointer to indicate a point on the chart, "you'll see the expected impediments in swarming the market"

"Is it something that we can overcome?" Cherry asked

"Well that is up to you. The quicker we are able to enter the market, the easier we can hold the market before the opposition wakes up" His Chinese accent still tainted his otherwise clean English.

"How far away are we?" Charles asked turning his eyes to Cherry

"All things being equal, 3 months" Cherry replied

All eyes turned back to Feng.

"That could work"

"Make it 2 months" Charles said.

Cherry was about to object but instead swallowed her words and nodded.

"So Mr Collin, you have seen it all. We are expecting killer adverts and reviews. We need the world to talk about the chicken wings. We want that woman strolling into KYC talking about the Feyton Chicken Wings. We want children in the cafeteria talking about Chicken Wings. Can you make that happen?"

"Of course. I don't think we need to go into my portfolio. We've made it happen with the micro cams and the market swarmed around that. We'll do it again. Scratch that, we'll do you one better" Collin replied, smug confidence smeared his face and words.

A smile crept across Charles' face. Those half-smiles that creased the edges of the mouth. More of a smirk than a smile. He tasted the pride in Collin, but also knew that he could back it up to the letter. Collin was a man that got the work done. If he needed to get the word out, he go the word out. Advertising concerts, billboards, television, radio, word on the streets, whatever means necessary.

So when Collin said he'd do one better than the last, his word had weight.

"Well, we'll see" Charles passively replied.

"We will" Collin quietly replied.

They both knew the game they were playing. Charles seemingly unimpressed in Collin's portfolio while being fully aware of his prowess. Collin acted unscathed by Charles' passive gaze. They had been playing this game for years. And the results were satisfactory for both bodies.

"Well seems like we are all on track. Good job everyone. Very good job" Charles commended. "We at Feyton Industries want to change the world and we are pushing in the right direction. My Father built this company from the scratch, a book publishing firm. Through grit and hardwork, sleepless nights, sweat, pains we built this to be one of the leading technology stronghold. I want it to stay that way. Leading and not trailing. Each lady and gentleman in this room has had a role in this movement and your efforts are highly appreciated. Our bank accounts don't feel so bad too."

There was snickers all over the room. The Feyton family was known for paying well.

"The point at the end of the day is, keep what we began rolling. One day, we will dwarf all our competitions. So if that is all, we can all get back to work."

The smiling faces slowly packed up their things and slowly left the conference room save for Mr Feng.

"You know, your father will be a very proud man. What a fine leader you have become."

"Well I had an excellent teacher"

"You know, your father never lost faith in you. Even when you had your rebellious streaks. Sometimes he just wanted to strap you to the table and whip you silly."

"Geez, I can only imagine. I was in college, if I wasn't rebellious then, when would I be?" Charles replied jocosely.

"Well an apple wouldn't fall too far from the tree. Back in the days, your dad and I did some pretty crazy things. Damn, we smoked so many blunts a day that just coming close could get you high", Feng snickered, "but at last we grew up, became men. The day your daddy said he wanted to start a business, I doubted. I'm not going to lie, I doubted. Yet he pushed, and when I later became part if it all..."

Emotions pushed into his voice. Charles understood. Mr Feng and his Father had been friends for over 40 years. Longer than he'd even lived.

"You'll be alright. It's obvious, you have your father's determination." Mr Feng packed up his file and made to go.

"Hey" Charles called out, "thanks dad"

Feng smiled. He loved Charles like his own son.

Charles walked over to the window and looked out. His father had created a company but he had produced an industry. And he was fucking proud of all he had done.

He had money. Loads if it. He had a fully functional business. And finally, he'd found a woman that meant the world to him. Could his life be any better. Yeah, she loved him back just as much.

He brought out his phone just to see her picture. She had the most beautiful brown eyes he'd ever seen. And even though he'd normally had a thing for blondes, he'd fallen head over heels for this brunette. She'd made him feel, made him love, made him willing to give off all his wealth just to spend a moment with her.

Charles felt like he had all a 30 year old man would've ever wanted. Money, success and a woman that craved him as much as he craved her.

But even through all his splendour, there was that crack that nibbled at his mind. He picked up the phone, a crease rumpled his beautiful brows, and he called Stacy.

"Yes! sure." Stacy replied on the phone.

Charles looked across the office space, through the glass walls, and saw Stacy catwalking towards the conference room. Right Where he was.

'Stacy, you're really beautiful.' Charles once said during one company party. He said it and stroked her dirty blonde hair.

And after a few drinks, some flirty gestures and a little stroll in the garden, they'd kissed. Not just a peck on the lips. No, but lips locked like a pit bull's grip.

He'd apologised and they promised to forget all that and put it behind them. And they had. It was just a week after that incident the Charles met Christina. And since then he had put everything, absolutely everything about other women behind him.

"Sir? You called"

"Yes Stacy. Please have a seat"

Stacy sat down and watched Charles take in the the view before him. He was a fine man. 6ft 3', broad shoulders that slayed the navy blue suit he wore. Wavy black and long hair that almost touched his shoulders. His green eyes left a woman thinking about them long after he was gone. The very thing that happened to her since the day they kissed.

"Stacy, since you came here, you have been very helpful to the growth of this company. For that I am very grateful."

"Well thank you sir. I really appreciate the commendation." Stacy beamed.

"You keep me organised. Without you, I'll be a big mess. Thank you Stacy."

Stacy misted and held her heart.

"There's this teeny thing that I want you to also do. Show how committed you are to the companies growth." Charles said and sat at the edge of the table right in front of her.

"You have a friend at Blackwood right?" Charles asked and when Stacy nodded, he continued "I want you to use that your friend to get me more information about what's going on there"

"But sir, that would be manipulative. Using my friendship in that way will be, just wrong."

"It's for a greater good. You were the one that told me about them having information on the chicken wing. It's simply business. We're simply using our resources to get what we want. I just want to know where my leaks are coming from so I can plug it"

"Well, if you put it that way. I'll see what I can do"

"Excellent. Thank you for your loyalty, it'll never go unnoticed"

"I do hope so. Can I go? I have tons of files to log into the computer"

"Sure, thanks again"

Stacy started leaving the remembered something and wheeled around

"Your lady called. Said that you should call her back"

"Okay. Thanks for the heads up"

Charles rooted his phone and called Christina.

"Hey Baby. Been thinking of you all day" the female voice said as soon as the line connected.

"Oh yeah? Same thing has been happening to me too"

"And yet you didn't call me" Charles could hear the pout in her voice

"Sorry baby. I was held up in a meeting. Mr Feng put us in a long ass meeting. You know how it is with him"

"Ya. And you love him like that"

"I really do, don't I?" Charles did love him, "know someone else I love?"

"Your secretary?" Christina replied sarcastically

"She ain't bad, you know" mischief in his voice

"You'd better take your eyes off her ass"

"I've never even looked at them. My eyes are stuck on yours"

"Like you could" Christina replied and giggled.

"You're the only one I want and that's all that matters. I'm going crazy just thinking of you"

"Oh really?"

"Every single inch of you"

"What do you want" Charles heard Christina croon into his earpiece.