It was just 8 months ago when I decided to leave my father's house and take Sekani as my responsibility, it was after then I got my first job as an auditor but after so much tears, regret and pain, I made the needed struggles and look at me now.

These were the thoughts that crowded my mind as I looked at myself in the mirror. I was dressed in a black lady's suit with my hair packed in a firm bun.

I looked so formal and cheek,I want the people to have a good impression of me, most especially now that they would be looking at me as their boss and not as their fellow worker.

I took my handbag from my bed and walked out of the room. I climbed down the stairs with my heels clicking loudly against the shiny tiles. My eyes landed on Drake who was having breakfast alone.

He wasn't dressed for work, he wore a black hood with navy blue shorts. I would have ignored him and walked out of the house but I wanted to know why he wasn't going to work.

"You aren't going to work, aren't you ?" I asked him as I rested my body against one of the dining seat. He have me a simple nod as he buried his face into the cereal he had before him.

"Why ?!" I gave him a confused look as I looked at his bowl that had more cereal than milk.

"I don't feel too good so I stayed back, I'd work from home." He said before taking another spoon from his bowl.

I didn't ask or say anything else,I just turned around and walked out of the house with my head held up high. I was sick of this whole mood changes and ill treatment. The earlier I start this job the quicker I get Drake out of my life.

Even if a huge part of me didn't want him out of my life, I think it's best for my emotional health if we were apart because his actions when he's in a bad mood really affects me.

I walked towards my car as I unlocked it with the keys in my hands. It's been long I drove the car,I hope it's battery isn't drained.

About entering into my car,one of the guards rushed towards me and stood erectly by my side.

"Good morning ma'am, where are you headed ?" He asked me as he gave me a straight look.

"Work." I said as I tossed my bag into the car while I got into the driver's seat.

"Is any guard escorting you ?" I expected that question and to be frank even though the guards meant safety, having grown men follow me about is really uncomfortable.

"There'd be no need for that, I'm fine." I tried to dismiss the guard but his next words were unexpected.

"Ma'am the last time you left this house with no guards,things ended badly so with all due respect, I'm going to be your guard today even if you don't like it." He said as he ushered me to get up from the driver's seat. I looked at me with an amazed expression as I rounded the car to get in the passenger's seat.

#############

I was welcomed by Sarah who was smiling widely at me from where she sat at the reception.

"Yes that's my girl." Sarah melodiously sang as she walked towards me as she stretched her hands out for a hug.

"Morning, Sarah."I greeted her as I pecked her on both cheeks as we shared a hug.

"Oh darling,how are you ?" She broke the hug with her hands still holding my arms.

"I'm doing okay." I smiled broadly at her trying to pretend I was fine but half of mind was still wary about Drake.

"Okay,come this way then." She said as she took a step forward and I trailed behind her with the guard following my footsteps.

Sarah smiled at me,giving me a sense of pride as we were in the elevator. I was getting uncomfortable with all the attention and care but it was worth it.

We walked down the aisle of offices and a slender lady wearing a black fitted skirt and a nice pink jacket led the way with her heels clicking against the tiles.

We entered into an office which I assumed is the board room because I could see all the management staff alongside other workers but I couldn't spot Stephen and Scott.

I was ushered to the my seat by the lady who led us in here,I took my seat quietly while everyone stared at me with a blank expression.

"Good morning everyone. I'm sure you all know why this meeting is being held." Sarah said as she walked towards the end of the table where Mr Orchard usually sits.

They nodded in agreement as Sarah settled in her seat with the help of the same lady in pink jacket.

"You all know my husband is dead and this company needs to move on so we'd be selecting a new CEO." Everyone had their eyes widened while some stroked their chin in interest.

"This person that has been picked, has shown competence,diligence and trustworthiness. He or she that would be announced today as the new owner of this company was selected by my husband. I believe the lawyer would take it from here." A lady with a brunette hair and a nice flare gown walked towards where Sarah sat.

"Good morning. This right here is Mr Orchard's will and I'd be reading the section that concerns the company." She rose her hand that held the files in her hand before placing them on the table.

She opened up the folder containing multiple files and singled out a particular file. She closed the folder and put the file closer to her face.

"I'd be quoting in Mr Orchard's words as I read." She said looking at the faces of the people then she continued reading.

"As for the Orchard Industries that I've built from scratch into a prestigious organization, I've entrusted it in the arms of someone that'd take the company to the next level and make it a better version of itself. I hereby declare that all assets concerning Orchard Industries and the company itself be put in the hands of..." She paused for a while to create suspense in the minds of the workers as she smirked at us for a while.

I knew whose name was going to be called but I still felt a knot tied around my abdomen which affected my pace of breathing. Sarah gave me a nod and a smile to calm me down as she could see my shaky hands.

"Miss Skai Valerie Hart."Everyone turned their heads towards me as they joined their hands together making a thunderous applause.

Sarah gestured for me to come forward and after a while of looking around,I stood up from where I sat and gave everyone slight bow.

I walked towards the end of the table where Sarah was seated. I gave her a quick hug as she got up from the seat and ushered me to sit.

"No I can't si..." I wanted to turn down the gesture but she put her hands out to stop me.

"No you're the boss now so enjoy your seat of authority." She smiled at me as she pushed me into the seat. I turned away from her and looked over at the faces that were staring back at me.

I smiled at them as I settled myself properly on the seat before looking up at the people,I could spot some familiar faces of people I worked with before leaving for the contract.

"I'm really honoured to be in this position. I was once your fellow colleague but now I'm here overseeing everything. This shouldn't change how you view and interact with me because I'd love to work in a friendly and conducive environment with no preferences rendered towards me." I smiled at them with my eyes roving around their faces.

"Irrespective of what I've said the respect and dignity that should be accorded to a boss should be maintained. I would like us to work hand in hand to reach the goal that late Mr Orchard had entrusted me to reach. And that goal is making the company a better version of itself." I straightened the creases of my suit as I stood up then I gave everyone a slight bow as they applauded me.

"Hold on, how can we be sure that you're the right one for this company ?" A middle-aged man threw that question at me as he gave me a sinister smile.

"If I could remember vividly, I was employed to oversee the finances of this company and as soon as I stepped in,the finances of this company began sailing smoothly." I smirked at him knowing I was about to hook him with his own words.

"So what does that mean for us ?" He shrugged with his arms wide in the air.

"If I could oversee the finances of the company that well it means that I can oversee you and every other person in this company even if they like it or not." I leaned forward supporting myself on the desk with my hands while giving him a stern look.

"Any other questions ?" I asked as I returned back to my initial position. Everyone shook their head in unison in answer to my question.

Sarah and I were ushered out of the board room. We entered into the elevator which was taking us to the upper floor.

"Well done ma'am ,you were on fire." She complimented me as she pushed the button on the elevator.

"Thanks."I chuckled to myself as I clenched the handle of my hand bag.

We came out of the elevator once it stopped and the offices in this floor were little in number unlike the previous floor.

"Welcome to the executive floor, your office is at the end of the aisle."She said as she led us to a huge wooden door that had nice designs on it. I thought to myself if the door looked this good how much more the interior.

And I was right,the interior was mind blowing. The table was at the side of the room with a transparent glass wall at the end.

There was a bookshelf at the other side of the room which was opposite the table. There was a coffee table and two comfy cushion at the end of the room by the glass wall.

"Here it is ! This is your office and all your work would be done from here. I'm going to be your personal assistant so I'd be at your service at all times." She said all in one breath before she turned around to walk out.

"Uhm sorry,I didn't get your name ." I stopped her before she walked out of the office.

"It's Melody." She melodiously answered before she walked out of the office. That explains why she talks in a high pitched melodious voice.

"So do you like the office ?" Sarah said as she walked over to where the cushion and coffee table were located.

"Yes it's lovely." I answered her as I dropped my bag on the waxed wooden table.

"Skai, I'm sure you saw all the smiling faces at the meeting." She said as she slumped into one of the cushions.

"Yes, I feel they already like me except for that cranky dude." I rolled my eyes as I walked towards where she sat.

"Oh yeah they do,skai come sit." She let out an unamused laughter as she gestured for me to sit in the other cushion.

I took my seat and put one of my legs on top of the other as I settled myself in the cushion.

"Skai if they are giving you wide smiles,that doesn't mean they are actually happy to see you on that seat." I furrowed my brows at what she had said as I shifted in my seat.

"I'm sure you didn't see Stephen and Scott,right ?" She cocked her head to the side with a grin on her face.

"Yes, I've been meaning to ask. What happened to them ?" I narrowed my eyes as I looked at her with keen interest.

"They were fired, my husband always had his doubts about them and it turned out he was right." She smiled at me as she stroked a strand of her hair.

"What ?! Why ?!" I threw those questions at her as I sat on the edge of the cushion.

"They've been embezzling money from our company, claiming they were other miscellaneous expenses but thanks to your good auditing skills we were able to decipher a loop hole in the system." She stood up from where she sat and faced the glass wall.

"How ?! I didn't notice any embezzlement,I just streamlined the money coming in based on the budget that was designed."I shook my head in confusion as I tried to recall if I had spot anything suspicious at any point in time.

"Exactly, you streamlined it so that means you cut off their means of extracting money and they connived with some unknown employees too but my husband ran a check of the expense and saw there was a large sum of money that was being received by a ghost worker so one thing led to another and we got answers to our questions." She walked over to the coffee table and took her bag in her hands.

"So with that,do you think the employees would be happy someone is replacing their cash cow? " She arched one of her brows while she smirked at me.

"No and that means they would be out to get me out of the company at any cost. Oh wow, such snakes !" I clenched my fists as I stood up from where I sat.

"Well it's not all of them,just be discreet and firm then you'd have them at your finger tips." She smiled at me before she gave me a quick hug.

"Are you going so soon ?" I asked her realizing she's about to leave.

"Yes,this isn't my husband's office anymore besides I have to prepare some things for the funeral." We both walked towards the door as I had my arm around her shoulders.

"That doesn't change anything. You're like a mother to me and I'd want to take care of my mother. " My eyes saddened remembering I haven't been close and helpful to my real mother.

"You're such a darling, I appreciate that." She smiled at me as we walked out of the door. I watched her walk down the aisle into the elevator,I stared at her until the elevator was shut.

"Miss Skai, would you like to go somewhere ?" The guard who followed me from the house asked me as I turned to go back into my office.

"No, I'd stay in here for a while ." I walked into my office and closed the door behind me. I leaned against it letting out a huge sigh.

I really needed someone to pour the mixed emotions that has flooded my mind and my head was beginning to spin.

Becky! That's who I need to see right now. I rushed to my hand bag on the desk and took out my phone. I dialed Becky's number and waited for her to pick up.

"Hey girlfriend !" Her voice was unnecessarily high as she spoke into the phone.

"Are you less busy ? Can you come over because it's an emergency." I made sure she knew I was in dire need of my best friend because even if she was busy she'd drop it all for me.

"I'm on my way now, I'd have to forfeit my lunch break besides where are you ?" I smiled because my plan worked as I took my seat in the chair behind the desk.

"Orchard Industries and don't ask questions yet, I'd explain everything when you get here." I knew she was going to be confused as to why I was here and not at home or at Drake's office.

"Oh yeah you better!" She said before she ended the call which made me chuckle at her dramatic nature.

I sat in there for a while thinking about how a lot has changed before I remembered I had to call my mom to check up on her.

"Mom." I spoke immediately into the phone as soon as she picked the call.

"Hey sweety, I'm so glad you called. How are you doing ?" Warmth filled my heart as I heard her voice,even if she was far from me her words still had an effect on me.

"I'm fine mom, I really need to see you. I miss you." I need to tell my mom everything and let her in on what's going on in my life.

"I'm always available,just name the time and place." I chuckled as I tried to think of a place we could meet but none was coming to mind that was when I decided to bring her home again.

"8pm at Drake's place, I'd send one of the guards to come pick you up." I could feel her happiness over the phone as she let out repeated gasps.

"Sure hun, I'd send you my address." She squealed for joy while I smiled down at my desk.

"Can't wait to see you again,take care mom."I said as I took out the phone and ended the call.

I relaxed back into my seat thinking about about all that Sarah had said. I was going to run this company in the best way I could and I'd make sure no greedy employee ruins that for me.