Just as John was lost in his thoughts, there was a sudden knock at the door. His head snapped up, his daydream interrupted. "Yes, who’s that?"

"It’s Roy, sir," came the familiar voice from the other side of the door. "I’ve managed and the food is ready, as you requested."

John couldn’t help but smile. Roy’s impeccable timing never ceased to amaze him. "Come on in, Roy. You always know when to show up," John called out, shaking off the lingering thoughts of his grand plans.

Roy entered the room, a broad grin on his face. His well-groomed beard and a perpetual twinkling in his eye, the kind of guy who could make anyone laugh even on their worst day. "You know me, sir. I’m like a genie in a bottle—just rub the lamp and I appear. Hehee!"

John laughed, feeling his mood lighten instantly. "Well, if you’re a genie, then I’m going to have to start making some serious wishes. You’ve got a knack for timing, my friend. How is Mary? Actually, she is the best chef."

Roy chuckled and confirmed that indeed Mary is a professional chef. However, he turned to John shaking his head. "Nah, I’m just here to make sure you don’t starve while you’re busy conquering the world. The meal’s all set in the dining room, and I must say, it smells absolutely divine. The chef outdid himself tonight."

"Perfect," John replied, rubbing his hands together. "I’ll be down at five. I need to fuel up for the big day tomorrow."

Roy gave him a mock salute. "You got it, boss. I’ll leave you to your planning and scheming. Just don’t get too lost in those grand ideas of yours—you’ve got a plate of fried meat waiting to be demolished."

John waved him off with a grin. "Don’t worry, Roy. I won’t keep the food waiting too long." As Roy left the room, John stood up and stretched, shifting his thoughts from his grand visions of the future to the more immediate need of recharging his body with a good meal.

Immediately, he made his way to the dining room, where the scent of the food greeted him like an old friend. The meal was as delicious as Roy had promised, and by the time John finished, he felt completely sated and ready to call it a night.

Sleep came easily, and John’s night was dreamless, calm before the storm of the busy day ahead. He woke up early, feeling refreshed and ready to tackle whatever challenges lay before him.

After his usual morning routine, it was just past eight o’clock when his phone rang, pulling him from his thoughts. The caller ID showed it was Williams, the CEO of Lions Security Company.

"Good morning, Mr. Williams," John answered, his tone polite yet professional.

"Good morning, John," Williams replied, his voice equally courteous. "I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time?"

"Not at all," John said, leaning back in his chair. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, I wanted to inform you that there will be a slight delay in posting the guards to your firm," Williams began, his voice tinged with regret. "Unfortunately, due to some unavoidable circumstances at the company, we won’t be able to have them in place today as initially planned."

John’s brow furrowed slightly, but he kept his tone even. "I see. That’s disappointing, but I understand. These things happen. Just make sure it doesn’t become a habit."

"Of course," Williams replied quickly. "I assure you, this is a one-time issue. We’ve had an internal situation that required immediate attention, but I’ve made it clear to my team that such delays are unacceptable moving forward. The guards will be ready to start tomorrow, and I’ll personally oversee the introduction."

John nodded, even though Williams couldn’t see him. "That’s fine, Mr. Williams. I’ve got a tight schedule today anyway, so tomorrow actually works out better for me. Let’s make sure everything’s in order then."

"Absolutely," Williams said, sounding relieved. "I appreciate your understanding, John. Oh, and I wanted to thank you for the prompt payment. The $100,000,000 has been approved and processed without any issues."

John couldn’t resist a chuckle. "I’d hope so, considering the size of that check. I expect top-notch service for that kind of money."

Williams laughed as well, the tension in his voice easing. "You have my word, John. You won’t be disappointed."

"Good," John said, his mood lifting at the thought of having one less thing to worry about. "We’ll touch base tomorrow, then. Thanks for the update, Mr. Williams."

"Thank you, John. I look forward to our meeting," Williams replied before the call ended.

John smiled to himself as he put the phone down, pleased with how smoothly the conversation had gone. The minor delay was no big deal, especially since it gave him more time to focus on his meeting with YECO officials later in the day. Just as he thought to call Laura to confirm their plans, his phone rang again. This time, it was Laura herself.

John’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw her name flash on the screen. "Well, speak of the devil," he muttered to himself before answering the call. "Laura! I was just about to call you. What a coincidence."

Laura’s cheerful voice came through the line. "Morning, John! Great minds think alike, hehee? I’m already in Greenland City, waiting for you."

John grinned, feeling a rush of excitement at the thought of seeing her. "You’re ahead of the game as always. I was about to ask if you’d contacted the manager at YECO, but I guess you’re already a step ahead."

Laura laughed lightly. "Oh, you know me. I like to stay on top of things. But don’t worry, I didn’t call them yet. I figured it’s better to meet in person—time’s flying, and we don’t want to waste any more of it."

John nodded in agreement, even though she couldn’t see him. "You’re right. Meeting face-to-face is always better for these kinds of deals. No time to waste in business."

"Exactly," Laura replied with a playful tone. "And speaking of time, you’d better hurry up. We’re meeting in thirty minutes or so, right?"

John glanced at the clock, realising that he needed to get a move on. "Yeah, I’ll be there. You can count on it."

"Good," Laura said, her voice bright. "And don’t forget—I’m eager to see you too, not just the business side of things."

John chuckled. "Don’t worry, Laura. I haven’t forgotten. I’ll see you soon."

As they ended the call, John felt a renewed sense of urgency. He quickly dressed, opting for a sharp suit that balanced professionalism with a touch of style. After a final check in the mirror, he grabbed his keys and headed out to his Rolls Royce, the sleek car gleaming in the morning light. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The drive to the city was smooth at first, but as he got closer to the centre, traffic began to thicken. John found himself inching along at a snail’s pace, surrounded by a sea of vehicles all heading in the same direction. He flipped on the radio to a smooth jazz station, letting the music keep him calm as he navigated the congestion.

Finally, he reached the City Mall, where Laura was waiting in her Suzuki. Her car was a stark contrast to his Rolls Royce—compact and practical, yet stylish in its own right. John admired her choice; it reflected Laura’s no-nonsense approach to life and business.

As they exchanged waves, Laura led the way out of the area she had parked, heading toward the YECO company quarters. The drive was short, just about three kilometres, but the traffic made it feel longer. They finally arrived at the gates of YECO, which were surrounded by a high perimeter fence.

The fence was painted in alternating colours of deep blue and silver, giving it a sleek, modern appearance. Tall, well-maintained trees lined the inside of the fence, adding a touch of greenery that softened the industrial look of the compound.

The company’s logo—a soaring eagle clutching a set of tools—was prominently displayed on the gate, a symbol of their reputation for precision and excellence. Actually, the outfit of the company matches their commitment and hard work in their building and construction.

Laura’s Suzuki rolled to a stop in front of the gate, with John’s Rolls Royce pulling up right behind her. They both waited as the gatekeeper, a middle-aged man with a neat uniform and a friendly demeanour, emerged from his small office. He carried a visitors’ check-in book and a pen, ready to record their arrival.

After a brief introduction and checking the visitors’ records book, the gate slowly swung open for them, John couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. This was the first step toward turning his vision into reality, and he was more than ready to get started.

Just as John and Laura parked their cars in the lot, they got outside, shook hands. "Finally, we are here, let’s gate the ball rolling buddy." Grace broke the silence. However, before John could utter a word, their attention was interrupted from the gatekeeper. " Hey, Grace, stop!"