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@ ODILI ONUOHA
2025-04-21 11:08:37CHAPTER EIGHT
James woke up early the next morning, the weight of his new responsibilities settling over him like a quiet storm. His uncle, Charles, had called him the previous night to officially confirm his appointment as the new president of JP Enterprises. His first task would be to review all the company’s investment plans and oversee critical decisions that would shape the future of the business.
He had gladly accepted the challenge. This was his chance to prove himself, not just to the Ray family but to everyone who had ever doubted him.
The following morning, James dressed in his usual simple attire: a plain button-down shirt and worn-out jeans. He had never been one for extravagant outfits, and he saw no reason to change now. With determination in his heart, he made his way to JP Enterprises.
However, upon arriving at the company’s grand entrance, he was met with hostility. The senior security guard, a burly man named Greg, frowned as he assessed James from head to toe.
“Excuse me, sir,” Greg said, blocking his way. “This is a corporate building. If you’re here to beg, you should leave.”
James raised an eyebrow, his expression calm. “I’m here to meet with the board.”
Greg let out a short laugh. “You? Meet with the board? Do you even know where you are? This isn’t some charity house, get out before I call for backup.”
James stood firm, unwilling to engage in an argument but also refusing to leave. The confrontation drew attention from other employees, some whispering among themselves while others simply watched in curiosity.
At that moment, Nancy, the company’s general secretary, arrived from a different entrance and noticed the scene unfolding. She gave the security guard an order not to let him in, she was unaware of James’s new appointment and didn't know that they had made a grave mistake.
Sandra, the company’s general manager, had been watching the scene from her office window and stormed outside the building in fury. As soon as she saw James being harassed at the entrance, her temper flared.
She didn’t hesitate. Walking straight to Greg, she raised her hand and delivered a resounding slap across his face.
“You fool!” she shouted. “Do you have any idea who you just insulted?”
Greg, now holding his stinging cheek, looked at Sandra in shock. “Ma’am, I didn’t know… I thought…”
Sandra didn’t let him finish. She immediately turned to James, her demeanor shifting to one of deep respect. She bent down slightly, bowing her head in reverence.
“Boss,” she addressed him formally. “I apologize for this man’s ignorance. Please, allow me to escort you inside.”
At the use of the word “Boss,” the entire crowd watching from the sidelines gasped in surprise. Murmurs spread through the employees gathered nearby.
“Did she just call him boss?”
“Wait… is he the new president?”
Greg’s face turned pale as he suddenly realized the grave mistake he had made. Without hesitation, he fell to his knees. “Sir, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know! Please forgive me!”
James, however, did not spare him a second glance. His eyes held no anger, just a quiet authority. Without a word, he turned to Sandra, nodding in acknowledgment.
“Let’s go inside,” he said calmly.
As James stepped into the building, Sandra leading the way, every employee inside the vast, modern corporate office stood up in unison. They had already received word of the new president’s arrival, but no one had expected him to be introduced in such a dramatic fashion.
As he walked past, whispers filled the air.
“So that’s the new president?”
“He was treated like a beggar outside… unbelievable.”
“I heard he’s Charles’s nephew… But why is he dressed like that?”
James paid no attention to the whispers. He had expected doubt and skepticism. What mattered to him now was proving his worth through actions, not appearances.
As he entered the boardroom, he turned to Sandra and Nancy. “Let’s begin. I want to see all the investment reports immediately.”
Both women nodded, admiration shining in their eyes. James was not just stepping into power he was about to redefine it.
Nancy walked briskly down the marble hallway of JP Enterprises, her heels clicking against the polished floors. She had been summoned to the president’s office, a place she had only entered a handful of times under the previous administration. The air was thick with whispers from employees who had just witnessed the shocking revelation that the so-called beggar at the entrance was none other than the new president.
Her heart pounded as she approached the large mahogany doors, pushing them open slowly. Her breath hitched at the sight before her, James seated comfortably in the president’s chair, his fingers interlocked as he observed her with an unreadable expression.
Nancy’s knees nearly buckled. She had been one of the skeptics, assuming that James was nothing more than an unfortunate case. And now, seeing him in that seat, she realized just how wrong she had been.
“Mr. James…” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. “I… I had no idea. Please, forgive me for my doubts.”
James remained silent for a moment, then spoke in a firm but measured tone. “What’s done is done. But let this be a lesson, Nancy never judges someone based on their appearance.”
She nodded hastily, her face flushed with embarrassment. “Understood, sir. It won’t happen again.”
His gaze darkened slightly. “Good. Now, I need your complete discretion. If anyone finds out about my true identity before the right time, you will no longer have a place in this company.”
Nancy swallowed hard and nodded. “I won’t tell a soul, sir.”
With that matter settled, she quickly pulled out a folder from her bag and placed it on the desk. “Here are the company’s current investment plans, Mr. James.”
James opened the folder and scanned the documents. His expression remained neutral, but internally, he was unimpressed. The investments were scattered across various top companies in the city, some of which had questionable stability. He had seen similar patterns before risky, short-term gains that often led to losses in the long run.
Without hesitation, he reached for a pen and started crossing out each investment one by one.
Nancy’s eyes widened in shock. “Sir? You’re… cancelling all the investment plans?”
James set the pen down and met her gaze. “Yes. These investments are not what the company needs right now. We need to rebuild our foundation with something more solid.”
She hesitated before speaking. “But, sir, these were carefully chosen by the previous board. Some of these are partnerships with major corporations.”
James leaned back in his chair. “That may be, but their choices were reckless. I won’t allow this company to sink under the weight of poor decisions.”
Nancy nodded slowly, beginning to understand the shift in leadership. “So, what’s the next move, sir?”
A small smirk played on James’s lips. “I will personally be investing ten million dollars into this company. That will more than cover the loss from these cancelled investments.”
Nancy’s mouth fell open slightly. “You’re investing… ten million dollars? Personally?”
James nodded. “Yes. Consider it a reset. JP Enterprises needs a fresh start, and I intend to give it one.”
Nancy stood still, stunned by the weight of his words. This was no longer the James she had heard rumors about. This was a man of power, a man with a vision.
As she gathered the documents and prepared to execute his orders, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. James wasn’t just here to lead JP Enterprises he was here to dominate.