Mrs CEO

Layla POV

"How can a woman of over thirty be so comfortable without a man?" My mum said, shouting from the stairs while she was running down. I crossed my legs and went through the earnings of my company for today. My company is a multi-dollar company and although I have people who are in charge of the daily runnings, I must take note of every penny that enters the company.

"Am I not talking to you, Miss Layla Madison?" She yelled. This time, she was already standing in front of me.

I looked up and sighed silently, why is she so concerned about what I do with my life

"Want to have a grandchild soon, huh?" I asked her. My mother was a very determined woman, that was one trait I took from her. She never stops at something until she gets it. For a 69 year old woman of average height without a husband, I must say she is doing very well for herself.

"Look, I am not comfortable seeing you turning down every suitor. What is your problem?"

I dropped the papers and stood up from where I was, trying to get to the kitchen to grab something to eat but she blocked me.

"Are you walking out on me?"

"I am tired of this same conversation everyday, mum. Are you not tired already?"

My mum clapped her hands in amusement and looked into my eyes.

"Tired? Did you just say tired? Unless this is the last time you want to see me."

I put my hands on her shoulder and smiled, "I have told you before that I am not interested in getting married. Not now, not ever."

"Just kill me, Layla. Just kill me," she pretended as if she wanted to fall down to the ground and I held her.

"Do not worry about me. I will be fine." I said to her and left her standing motionless with her mouth open. She probably is thinking about how she raised a daughter like me but I am Layla Madison, I will do whatever I want to do. Nothing on earth and beyond can stop it.

* * *

It was already 9pm and I was having an online meeting with my staff. It was a compulsory meeting that nobody dares not to attend. I had already prepared a proposal that everyone must sign immediately after the meeting. The proposal was about the replacement of staff. Staff who had not contributed anything to the progress of the company. And also, staff who have one way in other flaunted my order, questioned my order and stepped on my toes. The proposal is not a matter of negotiation, all they need to do is sign it as I already have the names of the staff on my blacklist, among which was my personal assistant.

I stared at my laptop and over 1,000 staff were in attendance.

"Impressive," I muttered. Although, I know deep down that those not in attendance will have to give a tangible explanation. I checked my time again and it was already after 9. It is high time the meeting started.

I unmuted myself and at the same time, muted everybody. I started speaking to them, each of them were listening attentively as the comment section was already filled with praise comments. On a normal day, I will not be able to differentiate the staff who were ass licking me from the staff who genuinely loved me. Everyone wanted to get on my good side and so no one could question my authority. It was a privilege for them to be employed in one of the top five successful industries who pays their staff's fat salaries.

"You are all welcome to another great opportunity to have a word with me. A proposal has been sent to your various emails. You have just two minutes to sign it after this brief meeting," I paused and checked if anyone had left the meeting yet. When I saw no one had, I continued. "Anybody who fails to do so within that speculated period of time will have to face the consequences. I repeat, anyone who fails to sign the proposal will have himself to blame," I warned.

"Moving further, I would like to call out the names of the staff who unfortunately will no longer be working with us," I disclosed and the people started flooding the comments section with comments. I saw things like,

"Who will that be?"

"I hope I am safe this time."

"Again?"

I expected that kind of response but I did not bulge, instead I proceeded with my speech.

"It is a ritual in this company that I, Layla Madison must sieve out the people doing well from the weeds. I will now proceed with the calling of names."

I peered my eyes into the already prepared booklets that contained their names and read from it.

"There are just fifty of them. The company will no longer work with them, starting from today. Please, pay attention to your names as I call them."

"Mr. Matthew Jockey."

"Miss Penelope James."

"Louis Owen." The moment I mentioned the name I exhaled deeply. That was my Personal Assistant. I am sure if we had this meeting physically, everybody would have gasped. I won't be surprised if an article goes round the internet with a headline stating, No-nonsense Billionaire, Layla Madison finally dropped her Personal Assistant.

Bloggers will make a lot of money from this. My name is a money making machine from them and I await the article.

Louis Owen was one of the employees who was faithful to me and I have worked since the day this company started functioning. Luck was not on his side as he stepped on the lion's tail. I had no choice but to let him go because there is a limit to what I can tolerate.

I went on and on and called out all the names and to my surprise the number of participants of the meeting drastically started reducing. People started leaving the meeting. This was something that has never happened. I composed myself and just when I was about to say something. My phone rang. I looked at the laptop and my phone.

It was a call from an unknown number. I dismissed everybody and answered the call.

"Is this Miss Layla Madison?" It was a male voice and a lot of things started running through my mind.

"Yes. Is anything the matter, Mister?"

"Prepare for your downfall."

Kayla

"You do not have the right to do anything to me," I said to the caller and he laughed.

"Who do you think you are? A god?"

"If that is what you think I am, then yes, I am a god," I stood my ground.

"Let us see how it goes then."

"If you think you are that powerful, why don't we meet physically?" I asked him. Deep down, I wonder how he wants to plan my downfall. In this country? Where my name is well known? The only thing he can do is give bloggers a topic to talk about after that, I will clear the mess. After all, I have the money to put them in their place.

"When I am done with you, you will know that it is not everyone you mess with."

I scoffed and bit my lower lip and asked him, "What do you think you have to show to the world? No one will believe anything you say."

"I have your secrets in my palm and I will leak it out to the world. Trust me, everything you have worked for will crumble before your eyes."

"Do your worst," I said to him and hung up. I gave this situation a deep thought. My laptop was running and I had to shut it down.

This is not the first time I have been threatened. I have received all kinds of threats. From death threats to Kidnap threats but there was something peculiar about this treat. This is the first time I have talked so long with someone who wants to see me fall.

There was something I noticed about the caller. During the time we talked, his voice was soothing. Although, I could not place who the voice belonged to but his voice sounded more like a lover than a killer.

Just when I was about to go to sleep, my phone beeped and I saw a text message from my mum. It read:

"You have a date with my close friend's son by 5pm tomorrow. Please, co-operate this time. Everything has been arranged."

I threw my phone on my bed and stamped my feet on the ground.

"What does the woman want from me? An arranged date? Oh God." I ranted, hitting my bed continuously.

Can't this woman let me be? Now, I will have to look for what to wear for the stupid date and this woman will not take a no for an answer.

There is no need to run away from it, I will just go on the date and tell him whatever I feel like saying. I get that men want to have one or too many relationships with me but they do not love me. They are all liars and cheaters. Maybe, I am just unlucky and I submitted to fate. I can never find love at least, not now. Maybe in my other life. Most of the men I have come across are parasites. They all want to suck you dry and dump you after they have nothing to gain again from you. Besides, What do I need love for when all the men I have had romantic relationships with keep messing me up? This is one thing my mum does not understand. I understand that she is so desperate to see her only daughter walk down the aisle in a white radiating wedding gown. What she does not understand is that I do not want that type of life. If only she can be patient with me.

* * *

"Increase the price of stocks and let people who are ready to invest in the company, buy stocks. After an hour, close the sales," I ordered the stock broker of Soaring Eagles company. Yes, that's the name of my company and I am very proud to mention it anywhere.

"But...ma. We might run on a loss," the stock broker complained and I eyed him.

"When was the last time you disobeyed my order?"

"Never ma," he answered with his eyes looking to the ground.

"Good. I am sure you know what that means. Do as I say. No questions." I answered and I walked out briskly and I was followed by my bodyguards. One of which carried my bags, the other held my files. On my way to my office which was on the topmost floor of the building, I bumped into Mr. Cyril, an ex of mine. This time I made sure I carried my shoulders high and I did everything possible for him to notice me.

"Mr. Cyril," I called out and he turned immediately. He shook the moment he saw me and blinked continuously. It was obvious he was shocked to see me.

"Layla. It has been years since we last saw," he stressed.

Yes, son of a bitch. Years since I met another woman in your bed.

"It is nice meeting you,"

"Are you here for business? This company has to be one of the leading companies to invest in. I have made quite up to a million dollars by investing here," he revealed and I chuckled.

"Of course, Cyril. Why won't it be the best when I am the owner of the company?"

He raised one of his eye brows and began to stutter.

"But...B..ut...But..."

"Are you surprised? You wrote me off didn't you?"

He shook his head and said, "no, no. How will I?"

"Well, we will see some other time, Mr. Cyrillllllll," I said, stressing Cyril. I brushed past him and he just stood there, maybe waiting for someone to tell him this was all a dream.

I got to my office in no time and the guards arranged my things and we're about to leave when I stopped them.

"We need to be on alert. Tell this to the security team. I do not want to be seen alone."

"Yes ma. We will do as you just said," one of them said and I looked at the other waiting for his response.

"Everything will be under control but can we know the reason?" He asked. It was as if a knife pierced through my heart. Never have I been this scared because of a mere threat.

"My life and this company is at stake."

"We will protect you," They said in unison and I dismissed them.

I dialed the stock broker's number on the landline phone and he answered.

"Check for Me. Cyril's name on the list of investors and cancel him. I do not need him." I ordered.

Layla's Mum

I gripped the steering wheel of my Rolls Royce car and I felt waves of disappointment flowing through me. Everything I see reminds me of my daughter. This car I am in was given to me as a birthday gift from her. Only if her father were to be alive to see how successful his daughter had become. I am sure he is proud wherever he is.

He would have also helped me talk some sense into her. Right from the time Layla was a child, she had been really close to her father and I can vividly remember the scene when he offered to take her out on a date when she turned eighteen. After he died in a plane crash, Layla suddenly became a loner and distanced herself further away from me. A little girl with no father and no siblings. Her only sister died a long time ago. Just her and her mother in the lonely world. This is one of the reasons I want her to settle down, so that she can have a companion.

There is no day that passes that I do not ask myself where I have failed as a mother. I don't even know the reason for her consistent hatred for men. She does not open up to me and I am confused as always. I do not know what to do.

I am on my way to meet the ladies, as we usually call ourselves. Although, no one among us is less than 50 years. We have a regular spot where we usually meet and come together to talk about our pains, children, business. We were five in number. Charlotte, Sophia, Freda, Jane and myself.

I got to the venue and went in to meet them. As usual, I am always the last person to arrive.

"Vera," Jane called out. She was in a long purple floral gown and her hair was made into a bun. I waved at them and took my seat close to Charlotte.

"You are late again. This time you are going to pay a fine," Freda snorted and I nodded.

"That is not a problem to me. How much is it?"

"Ohhhhh! Look at her. Who would not want to have a daughter like hers?" Jane said, pointing to me and I chuckled.

"About your daughter, Vera," Sophia started and I looked on. I called on the waiter to take our orders since they have not taken. Suddenly, my daughter has become a topic of discussion.

"What happened to Layla?" I asked, pretending not to know where she was driving.

"Money, power, fame. How do you deal with that? Don't you think that is the reason she is not getting married?" Sophia asked and I twisted my mouth, looking in another direction.

"How is my daughter's wealth a problem now?"

Charlotte and Freda looked at each other and they burst out laughing.

"Men don't like women with so much influence. Think about it, if you were that wealthy, do you think your husband would have married you?" Charlotte chopped in and I hit the table. Thank goodness, the food and drinks we ordered have not been served. If not, it would have been scattered on the floor now.

"My husband is dead. Leave him out of it."

"May his soul continue resting in peace," Charlotte said and it was as if she was mocking me. It hurts to be the only widow here. They are all enjoying their partners while I mourn mine every single day. Although, it has been up to ten years since he left. His absence is still greatly felt.

"I think that was the only reasonable example she could give. Do not be angry," Sophia said. Maybe she thought that would calm me down

"It won't hurt if she used herself as a case study. Mind you, I was not as influential as my daughter when I got married but I was not in the state of depending on a man to feed."

"Ooouuu...Bravo!" Charlotte roared and they all clapped. I felt slightly embarrassed but that was the truth. The waited brought out food and I thanked him before he left.

"We all know that you have been having a difficult time talking to your daughter about her getting married," Sophia said as I sipped from the cold soda drink and crossed my legs while they were waiting for my response.

"Actually my dear, I am tired. I have tried and tried but Nothing is working," I lamented.

"Just arrange her marriage with a man. Why are you so slow?" Charlotte advised.

Sophia nodded and said, "exactly, that's what I did and look, my daughter is happily married with two kids."

"I already set her up for a date." I disclosed and they all laughed. Jane brought out her phone and her eyes were on it.

"A date? Do you think anything is going to come out of it? Come on, you should know your daughter better now," Freda shook her head. I could tell she was disappointed but instead of saying anything, I looked on and took a bite from the pizza. I am just doing that so that I can dwell on my thoughts. I do not want to say anything that I know will hurt my daughter and at the same time, I want the best for her.

"Give her a contract to sign. Let her get married to one rich family as soon as possible," Charlotte suggested.

"Rich family? Again? Let her pick up a poor man on the street and change his life." Jane blurted out, looking away from her phone.

"What if she ends up not loving the man?" I asked. "No,no, no. I can not risk that." I continued.

Charlotte sipped from her wine and it was then I remembered we forgot to say a toast because of a mere argument.

"Who marries because of love nowadays? Babe, we are in the twenty-first century. Do not forget."

"I will reconsider." I thought aloud. That may be the only way out.