The office of the Ashanti Cocoa Buying Company was a kingdom unto itself, and like all kingdoms, it had its courtiers, its generals, and its hidden schemers. Kwesi walked through the open-plan office, his presence causing a ripple of activity. Clerks looked up from their ledgers, typists paused mid-sentence, and even the errand boys seemed to stand a little straighter. It wasn’t fear that commanded this respect, but competence. In a world where delays were the norm and excuses the currency, Kwesi Dankwa delivered results.
Kwesi moved through the office, exchanging handshakes and nods. There was a palpable buzz in the air. Everyone knew the Regional Director position was opening up soon, and everyone knew, or at least whispered, that Kwesi was the chosen one. He was young, yes, barely thirty, but his track record was impeccable. He had streamlined the transport routes, cut losses by fifteen percent in his first year, and commanded the respect of both the office staff and the rough-edged truck drivers.
But as he passed the accounting department, the atmosphere shifted slightly. Kojo Danso, the head accountant, was leaning against his doorframe, arms crossed over his chest. He was a man who wore expensive suits that somehow never seemed to fit right, and his smile always stopped short of his eyes.
“Welcome back, the returning hero,” Kojo said, his voice dripping with a saccharine sweetness that made Kwesi’s skin prickle. “We heard you single-handedly saved the shipment from a storm in Tema.”
Kwesi chuckled, stopping briefly. “Hardly single-handedly, Kojo. The team did great work. I just made sure the paperwork was in order.”
“Always humble,” Kojo replied, his gaze lingering on Kwesi’s briefcase. “I hope you brought back some good news for the books as well. The margins have been… tight lately.”
“Tighter than they should be,” Kwesi said, his tone serious for a moment. He had noticed discrepancies in the accounts before he left—fuel costs that didn’t match mileage, warehouse fees that seemed inflated. He intended to look into it properly once he settled in. “We’ll discuss the figures later, Kojo. I need to see the Director.”
“Of course, of course. Don’t let me keep you from your destiny.” Kojo stepped back into his office, but not before Kwesi caught a flash of something in his expression—not just envy, but fear.
Kwesi dismissed it. Today was too good a day for suspicion. He had a promotion to secure, a father to visit in Bantama, and later, he would see Abena. The thought of her made him quicken his pace. Life, it seemed, was finally falling into place, like the well-stacked sacks of cocoa in the warehouse below. He knocked on the Director’s door, ready to step into his future, unaware that the very ground beneath him was already being undermined.
