EXTRA MILE FOR LOVE

38: Being a Gentleman

"Are you sure you'd be able to go today? You don't look too well." Marwa declared. "I will manage Marwa, even If I stay home all alone It won't change anything, and I'm going to be so bored." Najma replied as she adjusted her posture. They have been standing for the past 15 minutes, waiting for the bus to arrive.

Nabil wanted to stay back at his hotel room, and not go to the culinary school today. Besides he doesn't have much work to do. But he had to go because of Najma. He started driving while remembering the look on Najma's face yesterday. She looks pretty when she's frustrated and angry he thought to him. "I will just have to teach her how to be like me, not to be too vulnerable for this love thingy." He said out loud. From afar, he sighted Najma standing together with another lady that he didn't care to look at twice.

He drove pass them but changed his mind, he reversed back and wind down the window of the car. "What are you doing here by this time, shouldn't you be in the school?" He asked sulking his face. Marwa informed him that they were waiting for the bus stammering, while Najma folded her arms looking sideways as If Nabil wasn't talking to the both of them.

"I'm giving you 10 minutes to be in the office!" He announced and drove off. Najma let out a long hiss as she glared at the car. "Najma are you crazy? Do you want to get in trouble?" Marwa asked, she was really concerned for Najma.

"What can he possibly do Marwa?" Najma asked. "He is the boss! Haven't you heard he owns 68% of the shares? And I heard he's planning to buy the remaining shares." Najma kept quiet, thinking about how she's going to continue living in Dubai with having to face him everyday. Only God knows for how long he'd be here.

Najma and Marwa got to the school late. Immediately they wore their aprons and toques, The executive chef summoned Najma to the kitchen. "The boss instructed me to direct you to cook 5 intercontinental cuisines, and 5 continental cuisines." He announced.

"Only me? What did I do?" Najma asked looking dumbfounded. "You have 1 hour to do it." He declared and walked away. "I swear I'm going to kill him! It's better I go to jail than having to see that excuse of a man everyday! What does he think of himself?" She stomped her feet and pouted while folding her arms. Marwa came in and met her in that posture.

"What on earth is wrong with you?" She asked amidst laughing hysterical. "Do you know what that arrogant and nonchalant boss of yours ordered me to do?" Najma asked with her hands at akimbo. "Which of the bosses? The boss's boss or the boss?" Marwa asked. "The stupid so called boss's boss." Najma announced rolling her eyes. "Shhshh, do you want us to get kicked out of this school?" Marwa asked as she used her palm to cover Najma's mouth.

"Let them kick me out, I'm tired. He had the nerve to tell the boss that he should instruct me to cook 5 intercontinental cuisines, and 5 continental cuisines. And I have just an hour to do that stupidity." Najma announced. "Wow! That's a lot. I know he's definitely punishing you for snubbing him a while ago. But we are both guilty for coming late. I will help you." Marwa declared.

"No Marwa, I don't want you to get in trouble. I mean, I was the one asked to cook not you." She announced. "It doesn't matter, let's get to work already!" Marwa smiled as she reached out for the knife.

It took them 3 hours, 13 minutes to finish cooking. By then, Najma's legs were so swollen that she could barely walk. "I'm going home immediately after this." Najma slurred as she removed her toque and apron. Marwa went together with Najma to Nabil's office as they arranged the cuisines neatly on the office's center table.

"Hey stay back!" Nabil declared as Najma and Marwa were about to leave the office. Najma halted with her heart beating fast, She knew Nabil was talking to her. She motioned for Marwa to leave the office.