She opened her mouth to speak and a voice from the far end of the carpet shouted her name. Every head snapped toward the gate. Sonia. The shout came from the far end of the red carpet. Heads turned. A gay-haired man in a dark suit hurried forward with a brown envelope held like a crown. Two court officials walked beside him. Barrista Kenna, Sonia said with a calm smile. He bowed slightly and lifted his voice so the staff could hear.

Ladies and gentlemen, by the ruling of the high court, delivered two days ago, and by the will of the late Chief Adile, read and affirmed, Northside Holdings is now legally under the control of Mrs. Sonia Adial. These are the final papers. The murmurss melted into applause. Some people sighed in relief, as if a rumor had finally found its proof.

The band began a soft roll on the drums. Cameras clicked. David stood frozen. His smile cracked like glass. Sonia thanked the lawyer, handed the envelope to the MC, and turned to the microphone. She faced the crowd, but her eyes didn’t run from the truth. She held it steady. “Good morning, North Side,” she said. “Today we begin again.

My father built this company on three things: hard work, clean hands, and brave ideas. That is how we will move from good to great.” She paused, letting the words sink in. You have heard my name, but I want you to hear our plan. She lifted one finger. First, we will clean our systems and pay our debts on time. A company is a promise. We keep promises here.

Second finger, we will build a new products wing to serve schools and hospitals, not just big malls. My father always said, “If the poor cannot buy what you sell, you must sell something better.” and Lady the Grink as a lon on first basis if third finger we will create a talent school inside north side we will train our own people no cousin network no friend network merit air the staff clapped some even cheered the band hit a brighter note Sonia waited then raised her palm and the noise fell gently ow she said turning slightly toward David

to our new manager David swallowed He could feel the heat of a thousand eyes. Many of you may ask, Sonia went on voice even why keep a manager who is new to our house. The answer is simple results. We looked at data. We looked at projects he led. We looked at how he fixed a failing store in Yaba with a simple inventory plan and clear targets.

We did not choose him because of a last name or a handshake. We chose him because he can do the work. David blinked. He had never told Sonia those stories. How did she? His stomach tightened. Sonia faced him fully now. “Mr. David,” she said, the mic still in her hand. “You will work directly under me. You will report to me. I will give you directives.

You will lead the store network and the sales teams, not as a king, but as a builder. Do your job, and Northside will clap for you. Fail, and North Side will move on. That is my promise to you and to everyone here. A clean, firm line. Not revenge, not sugar, just a line. She turned back to the staff.

Welcome to a new chapter. The place erupted. The band jumped into a high- life tune. Staff crowded forward for handshakes. HR brought a slim folder and a pen. Security shifted, scanning gently. Somewhere, a drone rose, the little camera eye blinking. David stood there, skin hot, smile fixed, heart racing. He felt like a boy who had brought a stone to throw and found himself staring at a mountain.

The ceremony pushed forward like a river. Photos with team leads, a quick ribbon at the lobby. A tour of the new warehouse model on a large screen. Through it all, David’s thoughts ran wild. Work under her. Report to her. After last night, after the text, he remembered the message he sent with his chest. The one that called her bad luck.

He remembered hitting send with a smile. Now she was his boss. He tried to breathe. He tried to stand tall. He tried not to look like a man who wanted the floor to open and swallow him. HR’s head, a smart woman named Ada, stepped up beside him. Manager David, she said softly.

Please sign your onboarding forms and the code of conduct note. Then join the CEO in conference room A. Her tone was warm, but her eyes were sharp, like a teacher who had seen boys like him, and would not be fooled by cheap pride. David signed. His hand shook so much he had to steady the paper with his other palm. “Thank you,” Adah said. “And congratulations,” he wanted to answer.

“All that came out was air.” “Conference room A) smelled like new chairs and lemon polish. Glass walls looked over the city and the sea beyond it. The table was long, the kind that made you feel smaller than your own name. Sonia stood at the head with a tablet. Barrista Kenna sat to her left, flipping through notes. Adah took a seat and opened a slim laptop.

Two board members joined by video, their faces inside quiet squares on a big screen. David walked in and stopped at the end of the table, unsure if he should sit. Good, Sonia said. Not unkind. Well be brief. He Saturday. Sonia tapped her tablet and the big screen changed to a slide. 90 days fiv one reduce stockouts by 40% in six pilot stores.