Meant To Be Yours!

Chapter XXXIV

Me: So Inaya came to my house last night and had a meltdown.

Zahra: 😳

Amira: Define meltdown.

Me: She came to apologise. Like for everything. She told me that Fatima is wrong about me, then ran to the car.

Zahra: Wtf! I'm speechless @Amira what do you think?

Amira: Where did that come from?

Me: Saad came to take the food in the evening and told me Fatima wanted to see me. I went there and she said her usual hurtful words without knowing the family doctor and Inaya were at the door.

Zahra: I'm so sorry Nikki. You don't deserve this.

Amira: We keep saying that but if there is no action to back it up does it matter?😡😡 I don't understand... this is getting old and I don't like it. We are a family, Natalia and Nathan are practically our kids, I mean 🤷🏻‍♀️

Zahra: 😔😔

Amira: I'm telling Abdul the moment he lands.

Me: You will do no such thing. I mean it.

Amira: I'm not hiding this from him 😡😡

Me: It is my problem, not yours so I decide!! 😡😡

Amira: 🙌

Zahra: Nikki you know we love you right?

Me: Yap. Laters.

Amira: 😔

Zahra: 😔

I locked the phone turning my attention to my laptop. 

"Hey sexy", Karim said pulling me in a hug. I rolled my eyes. "Hey beautiful", Jax said rushing into the room looking sharp as usual. He kissed my cheek, then sat next to Karim. "Do you always have to call me nicknames? I'm starting to think you're obsessed with me", I smirked making them laugh. The proposals went on for six hours. I was starting to lose focus. "Mercy, how many are left?", Karim asked. "Just one Sir", she replied. "Ok then. Let's get this show on the road", Jax said sitting straight one final time.

The door was opened and in walked three men that I never thought I would see again. My father, Craig and Charles were standing right in front of me. "Nikki?", my father said. "You two know each other?", Jax asked. "Yes. This is Mason, my father and these are my brothers Craig and Charles", I said then turned to see Karim who had a straight face because he knew what I went through with my family. I told him when we had a heart-to-heart at one of the office parties. He took it too seriously to the point where he has been behaving like my brother. 

"Gentlemen, you may start. We don't have all day", Karim said running out of patience. Jax was still in shock but I texted him, telling him to relax and that I would explain it later. Turns out my family had a winery that they wanted to be displayed in Karim's supermarkets. From the numbers, it looked like an attractive product and on the expensive side. I was not so sure but it seemed like something we could consider. When they were done father tried to ask for a private moment with me but Karim shut him down, thankfully. 

"Can you two tell me what is going on? Why were you so cold to her father man?", Jax asked but Karim remained quiet. I figured it was my story to tell. "They disowned me when I got pregnant and my brothers ghosted me. I tried to ask for help from them but they chased me away, saying I was a disgrace to the family. I struggled for months until I finally got a job at the mall. As much as it pained me to see them being awarded on the news for being billionaires, I never hated them. I decided to use it as a way to strengthen my will. My boss was so understanding and, he helped me every step of the way. To be honest, I'm glad they did what they did to me because then I wouldn't have met any of you", I said gathering the files.

I was about to start going through the proposals when Karim entered my office. "Hey Nikki, you got a minute?", he called me by my name. It was a serious talk. "Yeah sure", I said sitting straight as he sat on one of the chairs in front of me. "Are you ok?", he asked and I was puzzled. "I spoke to Ahmed and he told me some crazy shit that I have no idea why you endure but it's none of my business so I'm going to ask you again. Are you ok?", "Yes, I am. And he is worth it, I know it seems stupid from your point of view and before you start telling me how there are a lot of men out there who can't wait to love me just know that I know that and I've tried and we both know how that tuned out. Abdul is the only one that makes me feel like I can do anything. He makes me feel like I'm the best thing that ever happened to him and I choose to hold on to that feeling. Fatima has hated me for years and I thought, I must have done something to deserve her hatred but yesterday she told me that, she hated me because I had nothing to bring to the table, I was a burden to her son, I was not rich enough and I was black. At that moment, it hurt me to my core, but when I gave it a second thought I discovered that she was just lost. She didn't know what love is anymore. To her love is more materialistic. It's not about the heart anymore it was about what money had to offer. It's funny if you think of it. She has a husband who loves her more than anything and endures her with all her good and bad sides and yet, she is missing the real reason why he is still by her side. She doesn't have money to offer anyone. She is a housewife, and her husband is the one offering her a good life. She's a real definition of a burden and yet that is what she calls me. Karim, I'm with Abdul because he is an amazing father to my kids and he loves me for me. Not the powerful woman you see here as your Head of Operations but just Nikki Edwards", I finished and saw the corner of his lips lifting in a smile. "You're so smitten that I can't even begin to explain. Here I was thinking you have no weakness at all. Good for you Nikki", he said then chuckled as he left my office. With the way women were looking at him at the office, it was only a matter of time before he found himself in the same situation I was in.