Ella

"What do you mean you have no idea what happened?"

"I swear Maxwell, I don't!"

"The plan was very clear Ella, from the very beginning, you were to take care of the head office while I was to take care of the production site!"

"I know Maxwell, that is what I did." I was now fully in tears. We had gotten home after the horrific Bella Beauty Awards night and everything else was just going down the hill.

"What is father going to say??" Maxwell asked, terrified. "This is so fucked up!"

Maxwell's father has always been a terror to everyone, including his family, most especially his family.

"This is the first time in the history of the company to not have an award.....and the worst part, it shouldn't be Bella Beauty Awards. I am ruined Ella, you have ruined me."

"Do not say that, Max. Why are you even blaming me for this??" I asked, still in tears.

"Because Ella my side was clear. Mrs Mia Soo came to the production site, and she was pleased with what she saw!"

"And how does that translate to me being the cause of our loss??"

"Remember the day you came back from work?? The same day of the inspection?? You complained that very day. You said you were not sure if our company stood a chance of bagging any awards."

"I was just stressed Maxwell, on that very day I was just so stressed." I started. "You have to believe me, Maxwell, what I said meant nothing." I tried to lie, but I did not think he was buying it.

There was silence for a moment.

"I am truly disappointed Ella....you have till Monday to explain what really happened at the head office on that faithful day..... I am very sure my Father would summon us."

He said and walked up the stairs.

I watched in horror about the whole situation.

"Dear Lord have mercy on me...." I muttered in tears.



****

MAXWELL

"Hello, Dad."

"Are you there alone?"

"Sir..."

"Is she there with you??" Father asked again.

"No Sir."

"You promised me, son!"

"I am so sorry Dad. I played my part well Sir...."

"Then it's she. I warned you about her at first, bringing in someone you do not know very well in the fold-our family."

I was now fully in tears. I held my phone in one of my hands and used the other hand to wipe my eyes.

"Dad, I thought....."

"Thought what son! After all those years, I spent my time preparing you, training you to take over and lead as I lead.

I know Mr Roberts is a good man and his little girl meant no harm, but still I tried to warm you, tried to point the fact out to you that she was never in our class.

How could she understand how to keep up with our good name!"

"I am so sorry Dad...." I breathed in heavily.

"The media son. It is all in the media already and why did you, in whose name, allow Ella to convince you to take so many pictures? It's giving clown-like. Did you both go there for the sake of pictures?? How can you both take so many pictures yet come back home empty-handed."

I realized how foolish I was. I had only wanted Ella to be happy and enjoy the night was her first big show.

"I will be at the head office on Monday... You and your first lady should better have some good explanations for me!!"

He said and hung off.

This was what I feared the most, what I fear the most has happened to me, and it was all of my wife's doing...... My wife has ruined me!!!

*****

ELLA

The following week at work.

Everyone was silent at work. It looked like someone had just passed away. It was just I and Maxwell that went for the events and somehow the news of what happened had spread this far.

"Oh, the media!" I thought.

"Good morning Mrs Ella, can I ....."

I walked past her and went straight to my office. All through the weekend was horrendous for me and today I have to come up with an excuse to give Maxwell's father.....he will be coming over this morning to the head office.

"Good morning Mrs Ella." That was Gloria. Gloria is currently the youngest at Skin by Nature. Gloria sometimes reminds me of the times when I was younger at Skin by Nature. I had to work as an errand girl till I was fit for a more formal position.

"How can I help you."

"Mr James is here at the office. He wants to see you!" She said and I immediately froze in my seat.

"I would be right there!" Immediately she left, I placed my hands on my head and thought about my life, how am I going to escape this?



***

"Hey, you....why do you keep looking around like you have no work to do?? Are you lost?? Do you think you are being paid to look around?" Asked Mr James.

"And why is your skirt way beyond your knee?? You look disgusting!" He said to another.

Everyone stood out of his way. Mr James always commanded terror.

I walked slowly to the main hall where he was -my father-in-law. I saw him seated in his wheelchair.

He had on his glasses and walking stick for additional support and a weapon!

Maxwell his son, was also there with him, and I was not surprised at that.

"Good morning Sir, I am so happy to see you, Sir," I said to him, but he stared on at me and wheeled away to the direction of my office.

I and Maxwell followed suit.



*****

In my office.

"Sir, let me help you," I offered.

"Have you helped yourself??" My father-in-law fired back at me, and I was dumb-struck.

"Go find yourself a seat." He ordered. "And you too!!" he shouted to Maxwell.

We were all seated in no time.

"Sir...." I called before Mr James spoke. I wanted to be the first to speak. Maxwell looked at me confused.

"Hmm, child! You have something to say??" Mr James narrowed his gaze at me.

Maxwell gave me another look urging me not to. He was trying to warn me of his father, but I was not ready to listen.

I cried all through the weekend and I have decided not to cry again. I was going to turn this situation around in my favor, I was going to take charge of this situation.

"Yes Sir, I have a lot to say!" I replied boldly. I warmed up in satisfaction as I saw Mr James thrown aback by my attitude and basked in its glory.... If he thought he was a lion, then it was good for him. I am a lion too.

"And what is it?" He asked.

"First I apologize for last weekend's Awards night."

"Oh, that??" He smirked. He was really being cruel, but I kept my cool.

"I know that is exactly why you are here sir!" I fired.

Maxwell looked at me stunned. No one, absolutely no one has ever stood up to his father.

"What happened was unfortunate...." I remarked. "But it is not all lost!!" I said.

Father and son kept their gaze on me, both trying to know what I was driving at.

"What do you mean, child?" Mr James asked. His temper had already cooled off, which was perfect.



I stared at both father and son. The Russells were really curious.

"What happened at the BBA was not a chance, nor was it a coincidence. Our company has been corrupted," I said.

"Ella!!" Maxwell shouted.

"Yes, Maxwell. How else could it be explained that we went to an awards night and came back empty-handed? All those smaller companies came back with something, but that was not us!!!" I screamed back at him.

"Ella!!" Maxwell called again, but this time calmly, and I wondered what was wrong with him. He had tears filling his eyes, but I felt no remorse.

"Mr James," I called, facing his father. " When I joined this family, I was given a standard to work with, and I tried my best Sir, you know I did."

"But was that enough??" He asked, thoughtfully rubbing his head, not meaning to mock me.

"You know it was Sir...." I said to him boldly. "You, Mr Russell, praise me yourself. Your son Maxwell has told me on countless occasions how it was extremely difficult to receive a good appraisal from you, but you did for me."

I stood up from where I sat.

"I came into this company and innovated a new line of products, which the markets have been praising....there have been massive rewards and a series of appraisals from critics.

This is the year we should have been recognized even more for our success, but it was not so because Skin by Nature is corrupted from within."

"Ella, what are you driving at??" That was Maxwell again. I looked at him disgusted, ready to pounce on him, but his father signaled Maxwell to keep shut, which was such a big relief.

"How do you mean Ella, that the company is corrupted from within??" Mr James asked, and I was satisfied that he did.

"Sir, before the representatives from the BBA's were here, they required a survey result as per traditions and the report that was sent to them was altered by one of us."

There was silence for moments in the office.

"And who do you think altered those results??" He asked.

"Who else Sir, but the one in charge of surveying herself.... Miss Jill Hattaway......."



****

JILL

I had heard of the cruel failure of the company I worked for at the Bella Beauty Awards. I say cruel because there was no way Skin by Nature would come back home without a single award. That has never happened before in over a decade I have been working here.

"Baby girl."

"Oh, Jackie." She had plunged me out of my thoughts.

"What's on your mind girl."

"Nothing much." I lied.

"Now that is a lie," Jackie said.

I took deep breaths.

"You are right Jackie. Did you not hear about the awards night??"

"Of course I did. Who didn't?" She asked.

"Girl, it's crazy. The media is going crazy... Come look." Jackie stretched her head and peered into my phone, and then she laughed, which surprised me because it was unlike Jackie.

"I have seen that girl." She said. "That was yesterday's news, Sunday special."

"It's so crazy, the media has gone mad!" I said, scrolling away.

"Can you imagine Jackie, what they are saying... Skin by Nature's CEO and first lady took silly photos, partying away, already lost from the start of the event....they definitely seemed like they didn't know what they came there to do!!" I was reading a news blog.

"Hmm," Jackie smirked.

"Jackie??" I echoed her name.

"What??"

"Don't you care??"

"Why should I ??"

"Really now??"

"My only concern is that we should all be given a break from work. We worked extremely hard in preparation for this so-called award, and we deserve a break!" She replied really unconcerned.

"Jackie," I called solemnly. I had never seen my Jackie like this before, this was so not my Jackie, she looked really stressed. I held her hands and gave her a warm smile.

"Jackie I understand...." She stared at me.

I have known Jackie for years and I know when something else is troubling her.

"You have me, you know?? You can always talk to me." I said to her, reassuring her.

"Whatever it is girl, I am always ready for coffee and talk," I added.

Jackie looked at me, her eyes watered.

"Put down your phone!" She said. "You dare not want Mr James Russell to find you scrolling through that."

"Oh, I laughed." Thanks, girl. "See I always have you to keep me in check."

And we both laughed.

"But hold on a sec," I interjected. "Was it because of Mr James Russell, founder Sir..." I said mockingly. "..... That you did not come to work with a lollipop today??" I asked her, still laughing.

"You can say that again girl, you can say that again girl...." And we both burst into another round of heartfelt laughter......