~Miwa's POV~
I walked into my brother's huge office, he lifted his gaze to me, chuckling at my disguise, I unwrapped the hijab and glared playfully at him before moving to the back off his chair and grabbing his suit jacket which he had carelessly discarded, for someone who was usually crazy about keeping things in order, it was quite surprising.
"Rough day?" I asked in concern as I corrected the jacket that was turned inside out before taking it to the closet and hanging it up. Yeah, my brother's office had a closet, perks of being the vice president of a conglomerate, not just a closet but his whole office space was like a palace, built for comfort considering the long hours he spent here usually. It wasn't just him though, my father didn't slack on the decor of the whole building when he took over from Grandpa, and it was again redesigned after father succeeded in making Akunna corporation almost five times as successful as it used to be, he wanted the headquarters of Akunna corporation to look up to standard.
"The usual... nothing I can't handle." He assured me, I stared at him for a while as he typed on his computer.
"Is it about the PR manager and the documents he disappeared with?" I asked him, he looked at me before nodding.
"They are important documents and we will suffer a loss if they land in the hands of our competitors, it's been only two days since he called in sick and I was hoping to give him the benefit of the doubt but he had no reasons to go home with the documents, I sent Ray to his home address and guess what?" He asked me, his anger obvious in his tone.
"Probably moved out... I understand that project is relatively important but we wouldn't incur too much losses from loosing it, what has you so worried?" I asked knowing my brother's concerns had to do with more than some papers.
"He's a lackey of Director Chidi, his men have already begun spreading rumors among the workers about the stolen documents.... you know what that means right?" Deji asked me, my gaze steeled as I nodded.
"He's trying to discredit you as the succesor, he holds a considerable number of shares and probably hopes to become the next president of the company, it's only been a short while since father took a break and left you completely in charge temporarily, if something like this happens while you're in charge, it will discredit your qualifications as the succesor. Further more, should you be unable to recover that document or detain the manager, the other employees who were already having silly ideas will try something thinking they can go scot free as well...in short, this is Director Chidi's method of throwing dirty water on your flawless work so far... the conniving bastard." I replied in anger, Deji nodded.
"Do you want me to handle it?" I asked him, he sighed.
" that's why it worries me, as much as I wouldn't like to reveal my dark side too soon, I can't let that little thief go but that'll mean I have to get you involved, I already promised to give you a few years of freedom apart from the work of the subsidiaries you're in charge of, I said I wouldn't add anymore, I don't go back on my words." He admitted sincerely, I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I'm the one who initially asked you to leave these matters to my network, your network is just as capable but they can trace it back to us, I said I'd be in charge of the secret network to ease your burden ever since you became vice president, I offered this myself and I recall how reluctant you were to hand over the network to me because you didn't want me doing dangerous things...do you remember what I said to you then?" I asked him in a quiet tone, he nodded placing his hand over mine.
"You asked me to let you protect me... just like I did for you, Dad and Mom." He replied, I nodded in approval, my brother had been in charge of the secret network since he turned thirteen, I was only seven then, he handled it for eight years and I took over when I was 15, this was because his work load had doubled since he entered the company when he was 17 and I was 11, he had to handle both the network and his duties for 4 years but as the company developed, I could see the work taking it's toll on my brother who was 21 at the time so I proposed to relieve him of the network.
"So let me protect you Deji, it's not yet time for you to show the world your fierce side, let them keep underestimating you for now, thinking you're just a stupid rich heir who was lucky enough to be a genius but knows nothing about the underground details of the company... keep your perfect image for now and then blow up in their faces when they least expect... I can't wait for them to realize, that the quiet and merciful vice president is a hundred times more deadly than Dad." I chuckled at the thought and he smirked, my brother was the kind who rarely raised his voice and was always offering second chances despite the offence, the employees loved him and most looked down on him as well, this was what happened when you came off as a push over, of course that wasn't my brother's true nature but they could keep on living in that fairy tale world for now, it was only a few months left till Deji would completely take over, father had everything planned and would announce his retirement once he returned. At 23, Deji would become one of the youngest CEO's in the world and he would take Akunna corporation to new heights, I completely believed in his abilities...in a few months time, the world should know just who exactly Adedeji Michael Akunna was.
"I want him alive." Deji said as he gave in, I chuckled darkly.
"Definitely.... I have the lightest touch, I'll have him before you before the end of the week, he'll still be breathing at least...." I trailed off in a low tone, Deji laughed but nodded.
"I'm guessing that's the best you can offer... lightest touch?, Say that again with your conscience." He replied amused, I glared playfully at him as I pulled out my phone and dialled a number.
"Iretomiwa Akunna, his name is Chinedu George, Find him for me even if you have to turn the whole country upside down, I want him at the safe house before the week runs out, I'll handle the questioning personally." I instructed to my subordinates, I knew they would give me an answer soon... conniving to harm my brother's reputation, this guy was in for some serious trouble.
"I'll inform you once he is found, now for the reason I came..." I said, he nodded and gestured for me to go take a seat.
I sighed, settling into a couch in my brother's office, I had smuggled my way in here to sign for the appropriate papers for the scholarship to be conferred.
"Was it hard to get in?" Deji asked me as he concluded his work and left his desk area, coming to me with the papers in hand. He was referring to me getting into the company and up to his office unnoticed.
"Not really." I replied with a shrug and he frowned slightly, I raised a brow at him.
"I should fire the security... how could you go completely unnoticed, it seems they're slacking on the job." He said in a serious tone, I chuckled slightly, only my brother would use his own precious sister as a test for the prowess of his security.
"Did you want me to get caught?" I asked him amused and he shrugged.
"Not necessarily but I at least expected some suspicions which I would have to help cover up, it would prove they're alert." He replied, I rolled my eyes.
"Don't blame them, although disguised, I came in with Ty, he's pretty high up in their ranks so naturally him coming in with someone, strange or not wouldn't attract too much suspicion, they probably labelled it as one of his usual secret missions." I justified, he pondered it for a bit but still didn't seem convinced.
"Just let it go Deji, I'm sure the CCTV camera caught sight of me regardless, you'll have to handle that at least so don't be too disappointed, besides it's not really their fault I'm this awesome." I said in a teasing voice, he rolled his eyes at my words, chuckling before handing me the papers.
"All details concerning the nature of the scholarship are outlined, read through them carefully, any questions...." He began but I cut him off.
"What the hell Deji, it's me, cut out the formalities, I don't have to read through something you prepared." I replied, laughing at his unconscious slip into business mode, he smirked but didn't comment, watching me as I quickly signed all the papers without hesitation.
"You didn't even read the first line...you could be signing off your inheritance or your life for all you know.." he grumbled at my careless signing, I flashed him a bright grin.
"Doesn't matter, you're more important than both to me anyways... I wouldn't mind signing off anything to you." I stated matter of factly, in a family like ours, it was expected of the siblings to hold malice against one another for the unspoken battle of inheritance, it was never like that between I and my brother though, my parents taught us to always rely on each other... between the both of us, the love and trust was unparalleled.
"So what next?" I asked him, chuckling at the adoring look in his eyes when he stared at me, he glared playfully at me before pushing his laptop over to me.
"Everything is already set accordingly, click that and you'll be live, only your voice is being aired of course and the questions asked will be kept short and professional." He assured me, I nodded in thanks to which his answer was a smile, before he rose to his feet and headed back to his desk area.
I followed his instructions and the face of the interviewer popped up on the screen, I glanced at Deji to be sure and he nodded, informing me that she couldn't see my face but I could see hers.
"So we have with us here today the first prize winner of the prestigious Akunna foundation scholarship although due to some circumstances, we can only hear her answers but that'll do.... now if you wouldn't mind, can you introduce yourself, we would really like to know the name of the lucky genius." The woman's excited voice sounded out, I was quiet for a while before responding.
"Miwa.... Iretomiwa Vicentia..."
~Author's Note~
Votes and comments are really appreciated ☺️☺️