Dareen

9# Don't lose your mind

Music: Don't lose your mind- Omar Khairat.
Elliot
"Sir Elliot," I heard someone calling once Dareen closed her apartement door.
Turning around, I searched for the source of sound.
"That's me." Harry whispered.
"What's wrong?" I furrowed my brows.
"Can we have a word, please?"
"Sure." I nodded,and he motioned for me to get in. "You're worrying me."
"I am sorry for that, but I really need to talk with you." He sighed closing the door. "Let's sit in the living room." He suggested, and I nodded following him inside.
"I have a problem, and you're the only one who can help me."
"Tell me, and I won't hesitate if there's something that I can't help you with."
"It's Dareen." He sighed, and I passed him a look of concern. "Dareen is more than a sister to me. I'm really worried about her."
"Why?" I asked nervously.
"We nearly had a fight the other day. She has been acting strange since that day."
"If you're talking because I stayed the other day, I-"
"That's none of my business. I know that Dareen won't do anything against her principles, but I also know that she's hiding something, and you're the only one who knows what kind of thing is this. Now, tell me, what happened the other day?"
"She was tired and fainted, so I brought her here, and stayed here to make sure that she's okay, and then she woke up, and started to throw up, so I stayed next to her, and fell asleep without knowing it. That's all." I lied.
"Are you sure?" He sighed.
"Sure." I nodded.
"Okay." He nodded with a sigh.
"Is that all what you wanted to ask about?"
"I hoped that you'd tell me, but-"
"I told you everything that I know."
"I know that, but I'm sure that something happened with her. Maybe there was something worrying her, and that's why she fainted. Don't you agree?"
"I don't know. She looked okay." I shrugged.
"What's wrong with this girl?" He whispered to himself.
"She may be stressed with her exams or something. Let it go. If there was something important, she would've told you. You're too close, and she trusts you."
"I don't know." He sighed. "I'll talk to her again tomorrow, and see what is she going to say."
"Okay, but don't pressure her too much." I reminded.
"Sure."
"Okay, excuse me." I smiled walking to the door.
"I'm sorry for bothering you, but you're the only one whom she's talking to lately."
"It's no problem. If you need anything call me."
"Sure." He nodded shaking my hand.
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"Can we talk?" Ethan stepped out once I opened the front door.
"What did you do with the girl?" I asked walking to my room with hin following me.
"She slapped me when I tried to talk to her."
"That's normal." I rolled my eyes. "What's next?"
"I wrote her a note."
"This?" I threw it at his feet. "I told you to beg her not just throw a note and run like a coward!" I yelled.
"She gave me no chance!"
"You made up a chance to hurt her, and now you'll find a way to correct your mistake!"
"How did you get that?" He motioned for the note.
"I have my ways, and I told you that I know your every move. Where you go, what you do and with whom you talk! From now on, take care of your every move cause I'm watching you." I warned.
"You're unbelievable."
"What about you, sir?" I glared at him. "Everyone makes mistakes! I'll sort it out in the way I see fits." He protested. "You choose the easy way out, and that won't work with me. I think that I spoiled you, and now I'm fixing this mistake." I said sternly before taking off my blazer. "Leave the room. I want to rest."
I pointed to the door as he rolled his eyes pulling it open.
"You better focus on your exams." I said, but he just walked out ignoring my comment.
Well, fuck him.
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"Good morning, Linda." I pecked her cheek as I picked up the journal.
"Good morning, bunny." She smiled.
"Where's Ethan?"
"Still sleeping." She sighed making me roll my eyes.
"Will you please wake him up? I don't have the energy to yell."
"Let him sleep, Elliot. He was going to Paris with his friends today, but you forbid him. At least let him sleep for a bit now."
"They have exams, and you're still saying Paris? I did the normal thing!"
"I know, but I mean let him enjoy his day."
"I'm leaving." I groaned pushing the stool to stand back to my feet.
"Wait, I want to tell you something."
"What is it, Linda?"
"Your mother called, and she's coming over with Dan and Alice."
"They're so welcome here." I rolled my eyes, and she slapped my shoulder with a glare.
"She's your mother! Don't talk like that about her!" She admonished.
"You are. She's the one who gave birth only. I don't even know her, but I still have to be polite and welcome her and that son of a bitch!" I raised my voice.
"Shh! Ethan is sleeping inside."
"Let him hear. I'm saying the truth. Aren't those the ones who stole my life! At the age of eighteen I was responsible for a child. Why? Because they wanted to have fun and enjoy their lives! What kind of mother are you talking about?" I yelled.
"What's going on?" Ethan asked stepping in.
"Nothing's wrong." I picked up my keys before walking out.
"Elliot, wait!" Linda yelled.
"We'll talk when I get back cause I'm late." I sighed closing the door behind me before walking to my car.
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"Hello," Dareen smiled as she stepped into our office.
"Hey." I smiled holding the door open. "Where are you going?"
"Sir Adam called me, and I was going to discuss our plan from yesterday. Come with me."
"Okay." She nodded placing her bag on the chair before walking out with me following.
"Are you okay? You look tired."
"The headache is too much for me, and the heels are not helping. I was going to trip over like three times since I got out of my car."
"You don't have to wear these heals."
"I need to wear an appropriate outfit." She recited my words.
"I never said that it wasn't appropriate. I just said that it didn't match the place we're in." I pointed out.
"What's the difference?" She asked as we stopped outside Maria's office.
"When I say that it's not appropriate, it means that it's revealing or something, but when I say that it doesn't match the place, I mean that it looks good on you, but it's just out of place." I explained.
"Ahuh, you're very specific." She giggled before stepping into the office. "Hey Maria, we wanted to meet Sir Adam, please." She smiled at the girl.
"Sure, he's waiting for you." She motioned for the door.
Knocking softly, I opened the door motionning for her to walk in first. A familiar voice called me.
"You're always that slow? Come in!" She teased making my eyes widen.
"Sandra!" I laughed hugging her tightly nearly pulling her off the ground.
"I missed you so much." She smiled pecking my cheek.
"I missed you more. When did you come?" I smiled pulling away.
"Just today, but I wanted to make it a surprize for you." She grinned.
"Oh! You became so beautiful." I teased spinning her around.
"I'm always beautiful, you ass." She giggled.
"Watch your language, young lady." Uncle Adam cleared his throat making me chuckle.
"It looks like you're all busy. I will return to my office." Dareen said quietly.
"No, let me introduce you. This is Sandra, my only daughter. Sandra, this is Dareen."
"Oh really? You're so beautiful." Sandra smiled giving her a small hug.
"Uh- thank you, ma'am." She smiled nervously.
"Girl, I'm Sandra. What's wrong with everyone calling me "ma'am" today?" She giggled making me shake my head.
"You're very hyper today." I chuckled.
"Yes! I miss you guys so much."
Dareen looked so awkward, and I honestly felt bad for making her feel so out of place.
"Dareen, are you okay?" I asked.
"Yes, sir." She nodded with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Okay, let's get back to our work. Sir Adam, we need to talk to you later."
"You're calling your uncle 'Sir'?" Sandra furrowed her eyes.
"Your uncle?" Dareen frowned looking at me.
"You don't know?"
"Sandra, we're at work not at home." Sir Adam sighed.
"If you don't need anything, please excuse me." Dareen looked very angry, and I started to hate myself for not telling her before.
"You're excused." He nodded, and she walked past me pushing the door open.
"Dareen, wait!" I held her hand making her turn to face me.
She just looked at my hand that was holding her for a second. "Let go." She whispered, and I let her hand fall from mine.
"Why are you very angry with me?" I sighed in frustration as I followed her down the stairs.
"I'm not. Why would I?"
"I'm asking the same question!" I shugged, and she turned to face me.
"I thought that we were friends!"
"We are!"
"No, we're not. If we were, I should've known that you're his nephew!"
"Will you listen?"
"Nevermind. I don't want to listen. It's nothing that I should be ma- uh!" She gasped as her foot twisted under her.
"Sit down!" I held her arm helping her to sit on a stair.
"It hurts!" She whimpered holding it.
"Is there anything wrong?" Some worker asked me.
"It's fine." I shook my head.
"Will you please let me carry you?"
"I can walk on my own." She declined standing back up.
Holding her hand, I helped her down the rest of the stairs and to our office.
"Sit here." I instructed helping her to a chair before raising her foot to rest on my leg.
"Does it hurt here?" I asked stretching her foot.
"A bit, but it feels better."
"Don't wear these again." I glared at her as I massaged her ankle.
"I don't want to, but I have to wear them to avoid the complains of some people!" She glared at me resting her foot back on the ground.
"Will you please let me explain everything to you?"
"You don't have to. It doesn't matter." She shook her head.
"It does matter cause I care about how you think of me! I just did that to make sure that you don't think of me as a dependent person. I worked at this company as a young worker just like you, and it was too hard to reach this position."
"But I'm not anyone. You know everything about me, Elliot, but I know nothing about you. I feel so out of place." She whined.
"You're not. I am sorry if I'm making you feel like that, but I didn't mean it."
"So, Sandra is your cousin?"
"Yeah, and we grew up together just like you and Harry." I smiled.
"Nice." She nodded before standing back up.
"Dareen," I called making her turn around.
"Yes?"
"I like your dress." I smiled.
"Oh- thank you." She blushed.
We were cut off by a loud knock.
"Come in!" I yelled, and Sandra pushed the door open.
"Are you okay? I heard that you sprained your ankle." She asked Dareen.
"No, it's okay. Don't worry." Dareen smiled sitting behind her desk.
"Don't you need to go to the doctor?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore, so it doesn't matter." Dareed declined.
"Okay," She nodded before turning to me, "I'm coming over tonight."
"Call Linda and tell her. She'll throw a party for you." I chuckled, and she giggled.
"Okay. Finish your work quickly, so that we'd leave together."
"Alright." I nodded, and she walked out closing the door behind her.
"You have a list on your desk with everything that you have to do today." "Okay." Dareen nodded switching on her laptop.