DECE-P-TION

DXXXV

I walk down the stairs, pulling my shirt down as I see Alya on a phone call by the windows. "What do you mean? Was I supposed to follow her when she acted like she didn't know me? No." I drop my gym bag down to get my protein shake. I stand for a second to see her pacing in her robe. I recall the dress she's wearing underneath that makes me want to pull the robe off of her.

Think straight. I stroll to the kitchen to get the protein shake then come back to take my gym bag. "Ya Jaffar, you should talk to her. I'm going through enough and I'm done following them to mend a relationship they're not interested in. Okay. I'll call you later." She hangs up, letting out a sigh. She turns to see me.

"You're going to the gym already?" She walks to me, pulling my shirt down before leaning forward, expecting a kiss but she places her hand on my forehead. "Your temperature is still not okay. How about you just take a rain check today?"

I stand straight, looking at her. Why is she acting like we didn't have sex? Like it wasn't her first? I know I didn't disappoint.

She checks my watch for my heartbeat and temperature. "Please, take a rain check today."

"Okay." I agree, dropping my gym bag and she smiles. "I was thinking of going to Abba's today. Maybe stay there for a night."

"Yeah, we should visit him." I agree as she leans on the sofa, slightly sitting on the armrest. "I would like to sleep over there." She places her hands by her sides, her robe slightly opening and revealing her skimpy night gown and legs.

"The night?" I stand in front of her. "I mean, spending two more days will be way better." I chuckle, placing my hands beside her. "Leaving me here. Alone." I lean closer, my face only a few inches away from hers. "Someone is getting attached."

I shrug. "What can I say? Last night was–out of this world." My eyes shifting from her eyes to her lips, hoping to get a reciprocation. "Yes or no?" She touches my beard, keeping eye contact. "I believe I need convincing."

She smiles, placing her arms around my shoulder. "Do I need to?" Her nose tip almost touching mine. I feel like carrying her off to the sofa, bedroom, wherever. Her playing hard to get is making me go crazy.

"Depends." She sighs, moving closer then leans to my ear. "Do you really want to do this?" Her hot breath on my ear making me more frustrated as she lets her lips brush my ear. I hang my head, inhaling deeply. "You're making it harder than it's supposed to."

"I doubt that." She whispers once more before pulling away completely. "I'm famished." She stands up after I step back. She pulls her robe and ties it. "Are you interested in fries?" She walks towards the kitchen. "Are you on the menu?"

"No!"

I look down to see how she has affected me. I sigh frustratedly sitting down. "It's never easy with her." I mutter, finding myself smiling.

Alya's point of view.

I push the door open, walking into the board room with imam beside me. "No, I won't be attending any other meeting apart from this." I wave my hand, dismissing him before sitting on my chair. "Good morning."

"Good morning." I respond to rayyan with a smile. "Have you been briefed about the meeting?" I shake my head, pursing my lips. "I thought it's about the insurance case."

He sighs, looking away. "No but you'll catch up in a minute." I nod, turning to see Falah strutting into the room. That's why I wasn't briefed? I hide the surprise and aggravation and keep it professional. I lock eyes with Falah but he kept his expression the same.

He sits, unbuttoning his blazer. "Good day, Mr Nadeem. I hope you're well." The executive greets Falah with a smirk on his face. "Fine, thank you. Good day to you all." He crosses his legs, analyzing all of us.

"We're here to negotiate once more especially after the incident that happened earlier this month. This case is getting a lot of negative attention and we would like to sort this out as soon as possible." Falah nods in agreement.

"We would like to give you another opportunity to revise what we offered you. This is not something we do often but given the circumstances, it's understandable. The contract that was given to you by Mrs. Alya Khaldoun as you might recall." Falah shifts his eyes to me then back to the paper that was placed in front of him by one of the secretaries.

Falah doesn't bother to pick it up. "It would be in your best interest." Rayyan adds. He pauses for a few seconds to look at the document then raises his eyes to look at rayyan. "My best interest? My best interest is winning the case and getting my client's rights back. The deal you're offering might be considerate from your perspective but absurd from mine."

He leans forward, looking at everyone in the eyes one by one. "Unfortunately for you, i will continue to pursue justice for Mr Lawal. Looking forward to see you in court."

He stands up, buttoning his blazer. "Mrs. Alya is no longer working your case so the leniency she once showed you won't be available. We'll be expecting a call from you today when you change your mind. We will not offer this to you again." Falah chuckles softly. "Don't bother, have a good day." He walks out of the office.

"What an arrogant brat." Miss Leslie hisses frustratedly. "He'll break." The exec sighs, placing his arms on the table. "He needs to be brought off his high horse." She turns to look at me. "Why did you drop the case?"

"Personal reasons, madam." I respond gaining a glare from her. "You have to make a decision. Your work or your marriage. You can't have both."

"That is not our problem, Leslie." The exec reminds her. "What if she divulges our information about the case to him?"

"With all due respect, you don't know me madam. I've proved myself to be a trustworthy and diligent worker for years. It would be disappointing to know that I still can't be trusted after dedicating years of my life here." I defend myself while holding eye contact.

"Mrs Alya is professional. Her loyalty lies with this firm and she chose to avoid compromising the case, that is why she handed it over to me. If it were otherwise, she'd keep the case and leak information. I believe rather than to judge her intentions, it would be best to appreciate her efforts."

Rayyan adds when Miss Leslie stands up in aggravation. "I don't know what the specifications were when you were hiring but I hope they put the money where their mouth is." She scoffs before walking out of the office. I look at the exec as he sighs.

"Never mind her. Shes a very impulsive woman but she has a point." He stands up. "We appreciate your dedication but we need to know that you won't bring your personal affairs to work. We need you here, with us." He walks out of the room with two of his people following him, leaving me and rayyan.

I close my eyes for a second. "It doesn't matter anymore since you're not working the case. Don't worry yourself." We stand up. "I don't deserve you, you know that?" I smile, taking the bottle of water from the table to drink.

"You flatter me."

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