C8 The challenge

Caden walked out of the company as his manager accompanied him to the parking lot.

"Inform my parents I went to meet Marshal," Caden says to Mr. Alfred who nods as he watches him enter the car and set fire to the engine, and drove off.

Caden and Marshal never liked each other since teenage always look for one or two things to dive into themselves with.

Their dads who were brothers gave them their companies and ever since then, their animosity grew stronger and the two companies they rules became rivals of each other.

Caden drove to the compound of the selected lounge he was to meet with Marshal as he descended from the car and pressed on the car remote control which automatically lock the car doors as he stroll to the lounge.

One thing about Caden's father was underrating Caden's achievements.

Mr. Morrow would always eye on Marshal's achievement, which would always make Marshal feel he is achieving a lot more than Caden. And whenever Caden confronts his father to stop underestimating him, his father replies always pressure Natasha home and get married to her then would I feel you have achieved what no one has ever had.

And Innocent Caden would want to gladden his dad which was why he was still dating Natasha though he felt he no longer have feelings for Natasha but who was he not to impress his dad?

"There comes the daddy's boy." Marshal a guy in his mid-thirties with blond small hair pointed out and Caden smirked.

Meeting with Marshal sometimes was a brave step Caden always make and one of his bravest achievements was punching Marshal in the face when he dissed his mother for having Lawrence in her old age. Ever since Marshal dare not mention his mother's name in every of their abusive words.

Caden realizes; sometimes a punch can solve what you don't like.

"I can't believe you're as punctual as your father's andropause." Caden cussed and Marshal scoff.

"You've changed for the past few months I guess," Marshal says belittling him.

"Let's characterize it as symptoms of your old age." Caden fired.

"Thirties isn't an old age." Marshal gritted and Caden smirked as he collected a glass of champagne from the waiter.

He sip it scanning Marshal's angry face softened.

"Seems like the blotches of the punch I gave your unattractive face refuse to heal," Caden say dropping the cup on the table, having to be the one winning as he take a cigarette and lightened it while Marshal still maintained silent, his anger seemed to have softened but Caden could assume Marshal was dying to punch him in the face.

"How was your trip to Miami? I heard you came back with little business bargains as usual." Caden emitted and Marshal sighed as he take the cup of champagne and drank all the champagne in the cup.

Marshal dropped the cup as he poured champagne inside the cup again.

"Better than having no business deals." He finally retaliated.

"I see you're still head over heels for competing with my designs in Asia," Caden says sarcastically. "I bet your Asian marketers are not well paid because of the little money you make a day." He chipped in puffing out smoke at Marshal.

"You're prideful nowadays. I see you have something up your sleeves." Marshal says sipping from the champagne.

"Something that would blow off your company in the next few months. Your company name would be forgotten." Caden laughed.

"How about I challenge you." Marshal challenged smiling slyly.

Caden chuckles opting that Marshal was planning something as he inhaled the cigarette again.

"You're scared?" Marshal asks, indirectly convincing Caden to accept his challenge which comes with a selfish plan.

"Nah. I accept the challenge.".

.

Gladys yawn tiredly as she walk out of the company with Naomi who had delayed her for the past few minutes because she was busy taking some selfies with Morrow's models.

"It's been twenty minutes you've been taking selfies with those models and yet you claim not to have taken enough pictures?" Gladys say rhetorically and Naomi pouted a yes.

"It's one reason why I wanted to work in Morrow's Company. I wanted to see my phone full of photos of me and those models you know." Naomi says as they walk out of the compound.

"Okay, you'll take the remaining pictures tomorrow. By the way, how many selfies did you take with them?" Gladys questions

"Little. Just 76." Naomi replied and Gladys exclaimed

"What! And you claim... Just little..." Gladys says pronouncing the last two words dramatically.

"Come on don't be dramatic. A diehard fan of models will take one hundred and seventy-nine pictures." Naomi added operating her phone and Gladys nodded negatively muttering "You're crazy.".

They walked to the bus stop together with Naomi still giggling at every picture she had taken with the models and Gladys found her crazier than she had imagined.

Gladys was sure since her birth she had never taken such amount of pictures as Naomi had as she kept on repeating Naomi was crazy while Naomi replied dBm w with she was just being childish.

The bus arrived and they walked in.

Gladys had asked Naomi why her mother didn't come to pick her up and Naomi had replied that her mother was caught with a breaking news which she must anchored tonight and Naomi as well understood her mother's profession.

The bus sped into the night and on getting to the next bus stop, Gladys alighted from the bus and bade Naomi as she walked to the street.

The happiness of returning from work after a long day caught her feelings and she beamed in smiles as she bite her lower lip blushing at no one in particular.

She walked to her apartments planning to shower and eat her dinner before going to the club to share her good news with Jackson, she just can't wait to let the world know she have a job now and she was on her way to achieving her dreams.

She walked up the stairs and opened the door to her apartment, as she walked in she realized that the sitting room was dark which was unusual as she walked to turn on the switch.

As she turn it on there came the loud shout of

"Happy first day at work!" Her mother, Jackson, Mr. Brown, and three other neighbors shouted as Gladys fidgeted surprised.

"Mum," Gladys called as they sang a strange song they must have composed for her.

"We wish you more salaries to your account, more boss's affection, and less hate in the company." They chorus and Gladys smiled appreciating them.

"Here darlin'." Her mother fed her the cake and she bite it with a smile Mr Brown offered her flowers and she accepted it pecking him in the cheeks as Jackson walk towards her with a small gift box.

"Here, a little gift for your first job." He offered and she thanked him for collecting it as they hug each other and Jackson patted her back muttering well-done.

He knew how hard she had been trying to get a job for the past two years but it was all going with negative rejections, but Gladys kept on trying and pushing hard.

Jackson felt her happiness, he knew her inner self was screaming in joy as he disengage the hug.

"I guess I won't be seeing you in the club any longer." Mr. Brown teased and they all laugh.

"Come on, go take your bath and get prepared to come have dinner with us." Mrs. Morgan said and Gladys nod walking to her room.

She entered and shut the door behind her.

She dropped the flowers and the gifts Jackson had given earlier on the bed as she whispery screamed in happiness and what comes next was her funny dance moves of shaking her boobs, legs, and her favorite dance style twerking.

She danced for a while before going to the bathroom.

She showered and it helped relaxed her stressful day as she put on her pajamas and footwear, she tied her hair into a rough bun as she walked out of her room to join the guest in the dining room.

She joined them and sat beside Jackson who teased her about how she looked she would just give him a playful punch in the shoulder while he act like it was painful and she would laugh at every of his pretense and groan.

She ate well and appreciated everyone for coming to celebrate with her as they all wished them goodnight Gladys turned to her mum and gave her a big hug and her mother kissed her hair sniffing at the tears of joy that were beginning to well up in her eyes.

They disengage the hug and Gladys thanked her mother again before retiring to bed.

Seems like all mother has reasons for their acts.

Who would think Gladys's mother can be so sweet like this?

Gladys slept like a puppy who was well fed and accommodated and she prayed that her life should go on as smoothly as now.