It had been a whole year since Mr. MarQueen last visited the firm, an experience that Ben often recalled with mixed feelings. The first time he stepped into the office was right after Ben's wedding, when Ben had whisked himself away on his honeymoon. In those early days, the firm was fresh and bustling, with no senior partners to fill in Ben's shoes. Mr. MarQueen had gamely stepped up to the plate, taking on responsibilities while he and his mother awaited Ben's return in Accra, all while Ben was off enjoying the bliss of newlywed life.

Now, back in town, Mr. MarQueen's return felt strangely lacklustre. Instead of visiting the office together to meet the new staff-those eager faces that were part of the firm they had built together-he merely waved Ben off with a casual excuse about exploring the city with his mother. Ben couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the thought. How many sights of Accra could one man possibly need to see?

As he struggled through the traffic on the busy Tama motorway, Ben's mind was a whirlpool of thoughts. Hadn't Mr. MarQueen seen enough of the city since his visit last year? Why is it that when it comes to the firm, he turns to relax? An unsettling notion crept into Ben's mind: was their collaboration of the law firm a ploy by Mr. MarQueen to provide Ben with enough reason to linger in a place that had already given Ben everything he needed-Love and perpose?

Ben shook off the thought as he pulled into the office parking lot. Arriving at his assistant's desk, he noticed Sylvia deeply absorbed in organising files-likely cases waiting for his attention.

"Good morning, Miss Benson," he greeted, a warm smile breaking through his earlier tension. "Do you have a moment to chat in my office?"

Sylvia regarded him with a hint of scepticism but nodded. "Of course, sir." She followed him, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

Once behind closed doors, Ben set his briefcase in the drawer and gestured for Sylvia to take a seat. As she settled in, he couldn't help but notice the striking transformation in her appearance. Today, she wore a sleek white suit that accentuated her curves, paired with bold red pencil heels and a matching shade on her lips. The gold watch glimmered on her wrist, adding a touch of elegance. She looked stunning, different from her usual professional demeanour, and Ben couldn't help but wonder if she had plans for after work.

"You look fantastic today, Miss Benson," he remarked, studying her. "Any special plans I should know about?" A hint of playful scepticism laced his tone.

A flush of colour rose to Sylvia's cheeks as she met his gaze. "No, sir," she replied, her voice a little shaky.

"I see," he said, a thoughtful glimmer in his eyes. "Well, the reason I called you in is that Mr. Hamilton has finally decided to move forward with the acquisition we proposed. He'll be stopping by later today to sign over ownership of his company to the Calton Estate Agency-run by Mr. Tamaklo, of course. Since you were instrumental in convincing him to take the deal, I'd like you to handle the sign-off."

He paused, gauging her reaction, expecting some form of hesitation. But to his pleasant surprise, Sylvia nodded, her expression resolute.

"Excellent. You can head out then."

Just as Sylvia stood to leave, Ben called her back. "Miss Benson?" She turned, curiosity brightening her eyes. "I heard you did a fantastic job on your first case here. Keep it up, and I might just throw more opportunities your way."

A faint smile spread across her face as she walked out, leaving Ben feeling a flicker of pride for both his firm and his remarkable assistant.

***

Later in the day, as Sylvia sat at her desk, her fingers danced over the keyboard, entirely absorbed in her work. The soft hum of the office buzzed around her, and she was unaware of a sharply dressed man making his way towards her-the kind of man who seemed to command attention without saying a word.

"Good morning, Miss," he said, offering her a warm smile that contrasted with his expensive suit.

Sylvia looked up, momentarily surprised. "Good morning, sir," she replied, returning his smile with a hint of curiosity. "How may I assist you today?"

"I'm here to see Mr. Adams. Is he in?" The man's tone was smooth, yet the glint in his eyes hinted at a playful confidence.

"Yes, he is. And who might you be?" Sylvia asked, holding her ground.

The man smirked, a playful challenge in his expression. "Who is asking?"

"I am," she replied, her frown deepening as she maintained eye contact. There was something about his demeanour that raised her guard, but she pressed on. "I need to verify your identity to check if you have an appointment. It's company policy. If you're here discreetly and worried about your identity being exposed, I assure you, I will handle it with utmost discretion."

The man's smile widened, revealing a sense of amusement. "It's Mr. MarQueen. You can call me Mr. MarQueen."

Suddenly, a wave of recognition washed over Sylvia, and her heart skipped a beat. She straightened up, suddenly all business. "Sir, I apologise. I had no idea who I was speaking with." She fumbled for the phone, her fingers slightly trembling. "Let me inform him right away that you're here."

"Of course, ma'am," he replied, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

As Sylvia dialled, her mind swirled with disbelief. She glanced at Mr. MarQueen, surprised by the humility radiating from someone so prominent. "He'll see you now, sir," she said, reluctantly pulling her gaze away.

"Thank you, Miss..." He paused, awaiting her name with an air of expectation.

"Miss Sylvia Benson, sir," she answered, her heart racing.

His eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Oh, do you happen to be related to a certain Miss Mabel Benson?"

Caught off guard, Sylvia's breath hitched for a moment. How did he know her sister? "Yes, sir," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mr. MarQueen smiled warmly, a genuine expression that eased her nerves. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Sylvia." With that, he turned and strode confidently into Ben's office, leaving her in a daze, feeling as if she had just brushed shoulders with greatness.