Too Little, Too Late

44

Ibrahim stepped into The Hexad through the company's revolving doors and felt nothing. There was no rush of excitement to be surrounded by everything he and the others built. There was certainly no stab of pride at how far they'd come. Lastly, there was no eagerness to head up to be with Bella alone if they'd come together or to meet her in his office if they'd come separately due to one reason or the other.

Swallowing the little lump in his throat, Ibrahim buried his hands in the deep pockets of his coat and walked on. He was greeted by people he knew well and those he didn't, and he did his best to reply as politely as he always did even though he no longer felt like he was worthy of the way they looked at him with happiness and admiration; as though he was someone they wanted to be so badly when he knew he wasn't.

The elevator ride up was unusually long and Ibrahim didn't like that the seconds were dragging themselves. He reached the last floor and stepped out of the carriage once the doors slid open. The secretary who'd texted the previous evening, Alexis, was at his side in no time and she let him know where the others were.

Ibrahim smiled at her, grateful. "Thank you, Alexis."

She smiled back. "You're welcome!"

Anneth's office was the last one on the left end of the floor and Ibrahim found himself hesitating for a near minute once he got there. Pulling himself together and relying on every ounce of courage he had, he put his hand on the door hand and pushed it down, helping himself in.

The conversation in the sitting area of the wide space ceased immediately he stepped in and every single person he'd called his friend for more than a decade – including Nathaniel who he assumed would be at the hospital – stared at him, warmth being a non-existent emotion in their gazes and on their expressions.

Ibrahim let go of the door and took another step forward, allowing the barrier fall shut behind him. His hands returned to his pockets and although he was tempted to fake a smile, he didn't. "I had no idea there was a meeting. I didn't get an invite."

Tobi shrugged. "Wouldn't have made a difference. You've been a ghost here recently and we've ran things well without you."

Ibrahim's heart cracked; yet another crack amongst many. "I've been going through a lot."

Jalal stood, speaking as he did so. "So we can see." He walked around the table. "In case you're blind, we're going through a lot too and it's all thanks to you." He walked over, his steps straight and sure. "How was breakfast with Mummy and Daddy dearest on Monday morning?"

"Jalal –"

The punch was one Ibrahim never saw coming and the force of it pushed him back a few steps. He hit the closed door and pain shot up his back. He barely recovered from the shock of it when Jalal punched him again and then again, pushing Ibrahim to the ground.

"Jalal," It was Bella. "Stop it."

Jalal didn't listen. He got on Ibrahim and threw another punch, hitting Ibrahim's hands which he brought up to shield his face. "The first one was me telling you hello. The second was me saying fuck you. The third? Another fuck you. The fourth is for Bella and this –" He got in one more punch before Nathaniel and Tobi pulled him away from Ibrahim. "That's for all of us, you asshole! Get the fuck off me!"

"Jalal, smettila (stop it)."

"He deserves it and don't you all dare tell me you didn't feel like punching him too five minutes before he dragged his stupid self in here!

Ibrahim's ears were ringing. Slowly, he pulled his arms back and the sleeves of his cream coat were stained with blood; little patches here and there. As his mind took him back memory lane, his breaths came out shaky; the fights that broke out in clubs and in parties where he and Nathaniel had to pull Jalal and Tobi out of each mess while Bella asked them to stop and Anneth avoided getting them caught by the cops, especially when it seemed as though things would spiral even further out of control.