Chapter 173 Company Rebranding - Part 1
"Hello Angela, hope you are doing well. Please, help me speak with Zora. I don't have much time left," Elorm said, sounding very sad and creating an impression of dying.
"What do you mean?" Angela asked, annoyed because she was still sleeping when her phone began to ring, pulling her out of her sleep.
"I just want to make peace with Zora before I leave," Elorm said and coughed violently, holding the phone at a distance from himself.
Back at Bryce's place, Angela's eyes widened, hearing the cough even though it sounded like it was away from the phone.
"Elorm, what is wrong with you?" Angela asked, but just then Zora walked in and heard Angela calling Elorm's name.
"Is that Elorm that I know?" Zora asked, holding a cup of tea while rooted to the entrance with the door open.
"Errr, yeah," Angela replied.
"I am sorry," Angela heard Elorm say, but Zora left the room.
"I am sorry, Zora just left. She is too angry to speak with you," Angela said to Elorm.
"I understand. Just tell her, it was nice meeting and getting to know her. I will cherish the memory for the rest of the moment I have left. Please tell her to forgive me," Elorm said and ended the call.
Angela got down from the bed and quickly went to search for Zora. Angela didn't have to search for long, as Zora was standing on her balcony inside her room.
"Zora, I am not sure, but I think Elorm might be dying?" Angela said, and that drew Zora's attention to Angela, who was standing at the entrance of the balcony.
Back at the company, Bryce was done addressing the employees, and they were happy with the new ideas he was bringing on board and the new company name, PEG Industries.
Back in Bryce's office, Bryce walked Bernard, Ariana, Evans and Britney through the details of the business plan. They asked the necessary questions and applauded the new plan.
"So when do we start?" Britney asked, all excited.
"We have already spent half of the day. We start now, and by the end of the week, everything should be done for the launch and heavy advertisement next week," Bryce said.
"I can handle the employee appraisal," Ariana volunteered.
"I will help Ms Ariana with that in the meantime. My official work starts next week anyway," Britney offered, and Bryce smiled at their determination to make a difference.
"I will start working on building the new systems right away," Bernard said.
"Martin, you will work with Bernard in putting the system security in place. Ms Ariana's hand will be full," Bryce said to Martin and shifted his gaze to Ariana. "You can attend to the security team when you are done with the employee appraisal. The new HR will come in tomorrow," he added.
"Bernard, let me have your budget on what you will need to build the new systems, together with the security systems," Bryce said. "Evans, once that is ready, I will provide the funds and will be in charge of that," he added.
They left Bryce's office and immediately got to work. The first thing Bernard did to make the employee appraisal very easy was to put the appraisal form online. Using the standard provided by Bryce, the system would automatically grade the employees once they submit the completed form.
Britney and Ariana sent the link to the appraisal form to all the employees and gave them up to the close of business hours to complete the forms. Martin and Bernard quickly jumped into creating new tight security systems for the company. There was the installation of sensors everywhere, and all the employees were given a metallic brochure with the company's symbol that they had to wear at all times. Anyone without the metallic brochure will appear red on the security dashboard board, and the system will flag the person as an intruder.
Bernard quickly moved to work on the new operating systems. Getting to the close of the day, all the employees had completed the appraisal form. Britney and Ariana were so happy to see how easy the system had made their work. The system, per the code in the standard, had put the employees into groups. Exceptional performers, Good performers, Average performers and Underperformers. They picked the underperformers, went through their files and realised the system was right. Those people, per their contract and company standards, were performing poorly. They were going to be the first group of employees to go into the P.I.P., Performance Improvement Plan.
They looked at the average performance and decided they would study them for a month and see if these employees would move to Good performance. They want all employees to either be exceptional or good.
Bryce and Evans worked on the employees' new salary structure. A lot was accomplished within the day.
"Great work, everyone," Bryce praised, meeting Evans, Britner, Ariana and Bernard at the close of the day in his office. "Tomorrow, the new HR manager comes in, and some people will be in to change the company inscription outside. I will be taking care of the name change with the authorities," Bryce said.
They closed for the day, and Bryce returned home with his team. It was half an hour past 6 in the evening when Bryce and Martin returned to the apartment. Angela was relaxing on the couch, watching TV. Martin wondered where Zora was when Angela came to greet Bryce.
"I will take these to the study and go wash down," Martin said, and Bryce nodded.
Martin dropped Bryce's laptop and some documents he brought home in the study and went upstairs towards his room. Before he entered his room, he decided to check on Zora. He knocked gently on her door and smiled when he heard Zora's voice inviting him in.
He pushed the door open and walked in. He closed the door behind him and walked up to Zora, who stood up from behind her desk to greet him.
"I missed you," Martin said after greeting Zora with a kiss.
"I miss you too," Zora said, but Martin noticed quickly she wasn't okay.
"Talk to me, what bothers you?" Martin said and led her to the bed to sit.
Zora told Martin all about Elorm and his request to see her. Martin stared at Zora for a while before asking.
"Do you wish to see him?" Martin asked.
"No, I don't, but Angela was the one who spoke with him. And according to her, he sounded sick. She said he wanted to come clean with me as he didn't have much time," Zora informed him.
"Do you want to know why he did what he did?" Martin asked, and Zora raised her head to stare at his face.
"I don't know if I want to see him. We were very close. I never expected him to do that to me," Zora expressed.
"You need closure, my love," Martin said to Zora, and she was surprised.
"Are you sending me out there to meet my ex?" Zora said. "Well, we didn't officially confess we were dating. We just flowed with the situation," she added.
"I trust you," Martin said.
"And what if he asked me to come back and I agree," Zora asked, staring at Martin.
He was silent for a while, staring at Zora.
"I will be okay with what makes you happy," Martin replied, but Zora could read from his voice that it wasn't an easy statement he just made.
"Martin, I would rather not see Elorm, but I also want to know why he did that to me. Whether it was his fault or not, I am not reuniting with him. I want you," Zora said with all honesty and that brought some joy to Martin's heart.
He cupped the side of her face and rubbed her cheeks with his thumb, staring into her eyes with a smile playing on his face.
He drew closer and kissed her. Zora threw her arms around his neck, responding to the passionate kiss from Martin.
"I love you," Martin confessed, whispering against Zora's lips.
"I love you too," Zora replied.
"Do let me know when you want to go meet up with him. I will go with you," Martin offered, and Zora smiled.
"I have to go shower, and we can go down for dinner. How did you spend your day?" Martin said.
"Aside from Elorm's trouble, I went through the files Mr Moore gave me in addition to the contract. I am ready for tomorrow," Zora said, and Martin smiled.
Ms Angela worked in the company before. She can always help. I am also here, and Mr Moore is more than happy to help, too," Martin said, and Zora smiled.
He pecked her on the lips and stood up. Zora deliberately lay on the bed seductively and smiled at Martin.
"Are you sure you don't want some snacks before dinner?" Zora teased.
"In the creation story, I am sure you were the tempting, juicy apple handed to Eve. Irresistible. I think I will take a cue from Joseph and run out of this room," Martin said and took long strides towards the door, making Zora laugh.
Zora watched Martin exit the room, and the door closed behind him. She stood up and went into the bathroom. Her desire for him was getting out of control each time they spent time together, but Martin wanted to save their first time for when they are officially married.
"Martin, you are driving me crazy and making me hungry," Zora said, splashing some water onto her face.
Back in Martin's room, he was leaning against his closed door, pulling his tie loose.
"Zora, you are breaking my control. You will make me break my vow at this rate," Martin whispered.
Back at Elorm's place, he was sitting on the bed with his phone in hand. He typed a text to the man he was working with.
I am successful with phase one. I will be meeting Zora soon. I will make the next move. A dying man's request.
He sent it to the man and received a positive acknowledgement, and he smiled.
"I will make you pay for ending my father's life," Elorm said under his breath through gritted teeth.