BOUND

EPILOGUE

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

SIX YEARS LATER

"Akbar's settlement papers have been sent to your table," Afira informed Faris. "I need you to review it first thing tomorrow."

She was sitting next to Faris in their SUV as they were returning from work. After she graduated five years ago, Afira joined their business and had been working in their firm's legal department since then. Every morning Faris would drive her to the office, but in evening it would be their driver who would escort her back to the house, because Faris was accustomed to working late hours. Tonight, it was one of the rare occasions when Faris got off early and they were heading back home together.

"I've already approved the previous draft which you sent to me a week ago," Faris said. "What have you modified this time?"

"We renegotiated the deal," Afira answered. "He agreed to pay a sum of half a million dollars over a period of ten years to our company as a bailout. In exchange we would withdraw all his fraudulent cases which you had filed against him six years ago, so that he can return to the country without getting arrested."

"This case has already dragged on for so long," Faris stated. "And I have no idea how long it would've lingered if you didn't get involved. I am glad that we come to an amicable conclusion thanks to you."

"It was a little awkward for me at first to work on a lawsuit against someone who could've been my husband, but now I am very pleased that I took part in this case and managed to resolve this dispute."

"And this was just one case," Faris remarked. "Since you've signed up in our company you have made plenty of integral contributions, I can't emphasize enough how much you made me proud."

"Being proud is not good enough," Afira argued. "I want a raise Boss."

Faris laughed.

"You are not my employee; you are running this company, and owner doesn't get raise."

"That sounds unfair."

"You said once that in a marriage you want to be an equal. That's the cost you have to pay. Deal with it."

"Talking about being equal," Afira said as she remembered something. She unzipped her handbag, extracted an envelope and handed it over to Faris. He held the steering wheel in one hand and the envelope in the other.

"What is it?" he asked distractedly.

"Open it."

He teared open the envelope and slid a piece of paper out of it which he found out to be a cheque on which his name was written.

"Why are you giving me this?"

"This is our little settlement," she said amusingly, Faris looked confused. "Remember you told me that if you paid for my college education, then I could payback once I started earning. This is the full compensation you lent me for completing my degree. I have been saving this up for quite a while and now we are finally squared up."

Faris smiled. He put the cheque back into the envelope and safely placed it inside his coat's inner pocket.

"Just out of curiosity," Afira said. "I would like to know that what are you going to do with that money?"

"Perhaps I'd buy a necklace for you as a present," Faris replied. "It would be a fitting graduation gift."

"But this is your money," Afra said bewildered. "Why would you spend it on me?"

"Because I earn money to spend it on you." Afira smiled at Faris's answer.

They've reached home. Faris parked the car in the driveway and went upstairs to their bedroom to take shower, while Afira headed to their backyard. As she swung open the back door, she found Mr. Dawood and a small little girl playing with Dan and Zoe along with their puppies. Dan and Zoe were reaching the end of their lifetime, but their energy level was still sky high, Zoe was licking that small little girl just like she licked Faris.