“Benibo, we were waiting for you.” Edward walked to him and they exchanged a handshake before the lawyer followed him back to the settees.
Gladys moved closer and now smoothed the pleats of her trousers as everyone took their seats. Benibo sat stiffly and rifled through the papers.
Edward gestured to his staff, “Thanks for drawing up the papers so speedily, I really appreciate that. Benibo, I know you had some concerns; are they all sorted out?”
“Of course it is what you want that matters. The papers are as they should be, Gladys only needs to put down her signature to make it all official.”
Edward turned to her his face beaming, “I hereby transfer twenty percent of my stock holdings of this company to your name. I trust that we have become one now and what belongs to me belongs to you too. The shares are totally yours and you‘re free to use them as you will. They will be transferred to your brokers immediately after this.”
Gladys spoke so only he could hear. “Edward I can‘t thank you enough for this. I don‘t know how to repay you except to say the shares will be there for you anytime you need them. I love you with all my heart, you know that.” For her it was more symbolic than anything but it said more than a million words could portray.
“Thank you darling and now to the serious bit.” He sat down beside his lawyer.
Gladys took another empty seat and picked up the pen. She signed the loads of papers put before her, thoughts fixed all the while on Edward. Only the scratching of pen on paper broke the silence and little murmurs from either Benibo or Ogbonna as they pushed papers aside. Edward and the lawyer also had to do some signing afterwards. She looked at him and he returned it with that grin she was so used to. She loved him so much then and knew she would do so till there was nothing left of her.
Benibo cleared his throat again, “Edward, I wish you all the best with Gladys and to you too Gladys.” He stretched out his hand and she gave him a firm shake.
“Thank you Benibo.” They‘d got on well the few times they met in the past, so she wondered why he was not meeting her gaze as he stood up. He helped Ogbonna and the secretary pack up the documents and they all left the room soon after.