Shadow of Doubt

Chapter 24

SA'AD's POV

I was starting to believe Hafsah's words about me being a caveman, otherwise why stand and wait for her outside that office without doing anything. I just stood there and watched as recognition etched in her expression before it turned into a terrified one. She had turned around and moved back into the office as fast as she could.

Seeing her was simply the highlight of my year, it was like I had finally woken up after all those nightmarish months. She still looked the same; tall, slender, caramel skin and those beautiful brown eyes. Except her eyes were now darker, more mature and held a lot of secrets and weights to it. I made a mental note to spend the rest of my life trying to see I bring the previous light back to her eyes.

"So you just turned around and left too?" Abdallah asked me on the phone and I scoffed.

"Yes, with the intention of going back on Monday."

"Sa'ad, come back and get your guardians to talk to her father." I wondered how Abdallah was yet to get tired of saying those words to me. God knows I wouldn't repeat an advice more than twice but Abdallah would never give up on me.

"Not before I talk to her and find out if she thinks we still have a chance."

"The girl is simply following her father's orders." Abdallah tried to reason with me. "I would worry more about getting on her father's good side."

"I'm already on his good side, he just doesn't want me anywhere near her. Can you believe he asked me about Hauwa the last time I met him? He was like "kun daidaita da cousin din ka amma Ko?" It was like was telling me to just give up on his daughter." It was laughable really, because he said it so casually that I chose not to answer, I didn't know what my answer would've been.

Abdallah was silent for a while before clearing his throat "Do you think Hauwa would listen to you if you were to go back to her?"

"Honestly? I'm hoping she's hundred percent over me because it's Hafsah or nobody."

Abdallah lets out a chuckle before adding "Good to know." We talked for a few more minutes and I assured him that I wouldn't be leaving Lagos without talking to Hafsah, I don't care what happens after that.

That's why I found myself in the office of their manager and much to my dismay, I was using the power of my workplace to persuade them into getting her for me. After a few minutes of formalities and civil conversations, the manager told me to feel at home and that he'll be leaving for a meeting. He'll send Hafsah down here shortly. I shook his hand and thanked him once again before I sat back and braced myself.

Here goes nothing, or everything.

Exactly four minutes later, there was a knock on the door and after a few seconds, she opened the door and walked in confidently. She didn't look scared or surprised to see me there. She was expecting me to come back.

"Hafsah." I breathed as I stood up from the chair I was sitting on and she stood there at the door, looking all elegant in her corporate clothes. This was a new look on her and I wondered if there was anything she couldn't pull off with grace. "Hafsah." I said once again and she finally met my eyes. It was as if all the had been sucked out of the room because I felt like my buttons felt tighter now.

"Figured you were the one when they told me I had a visitor, I'm here and I'd like you to go straight to the point because this might be the last time you're seeing me." She said all this with her head high and looking straight into my eyes. Her eyes were harder than I've ever seen them, the dark brown orbs held no emotions while the dark eyeliner surrounding her eyes made the white pop under her heavy lashes. Her face was glowing way too much and I didn't like how I couldn't take my eyes off her. It wasn't right to stare too much.