Better Late Than Never

14

Ayra got to work on Monday morning by 8:40AM and she parked right beside Ayman's Tundra, the difference in their car sizes making her smile a little. Grabbing her bag and lunch pack which Salama had packaged despite her objections, Ayra got out of the vehicle and locked the doors.

Going around the main block, she headed to the extension and pushed the door open, immediately welcoming the warmth and the familiarity. Only a number of people were in and she smiled back at them, returning their warm greetings. She stopped by the open door of the meeting room, sighting Ayman in the wide space.

Blinking, she walked in just as he put the last document he held in front of the last chair of the long table. "Good morning."

He raised his head, his momentary surprise giving way for a relaxed and softer expression. He straightened and glanced at the black strapped watch on his wrist. He raised his head almost immediately. "You're earlier than we agreed."

Ayra shot him a small smile. "There wasn't much to do at home this morning. What are you doing? Was this what you needed my help with?"

He shook his head and walked around the table, towards her. "No, it isn't. I just wanted to put the documents down for each person."

"I could have done that."

He stopped in front of her, enough space between them. His smile was beautiful yet small. "I don't mind doing such from time to time. Good morning. I didn't reply your greeting earlier."

"Oh, that's alright."

"I hope the rest of your weekend went well?"

She nodded. "It did. I spent most of it resting. Yours?"

"It went well too, Alhamdulillah...Why don't you drop your bag in your office and then meet me in mine? We'll go over what I need your help with there."

She nodded again. "Okay."

"Alright then."

He didn't walk out until she did and then he closed the door behind them before walking in front of her all the way to their offices. Once again, he was in green but in the jade shade, and Ayra found herself taking all of him – via his back view – the entire walk. He was tall and he was broad, filling out his thobe quite nicely. When he turned to look at her, as though he'd sensed her staring, Ayra quickly looked away and mentally asked herself what she'd been doing.

He walked into his office and she walked into hers. It was becoming habitual to drop her bags on a section of the table, pull the blinds up, and then put incense in the burner before turning on everything possible; from all the lights to the computer and her printing machine which had arrived during the previous week. She put on the landline too. When everything was in perfect order and place, she left her space and knocked on Ayman's door before helping herself in.

The incense he'd burned was new to her but it was soothing and she loved it. Ayman, who'd grabbed two documents from his table, walked to the sitting area. "Have a seat, please."

Ayra walked in that same direction and occupied one of the sofas, watching as he sat in front of her, the coffee table between them. As he stared at the papers in his hands for a minute, she quickly glanced around his space. It was like every other time she walked in; neat, in perfect order, and absolutely him. Just like most hours on every other day, the blinds were up, letting whoever was in the space see outside and whoever was outside see inside.

Ayman handing her one of the documents got her attention. "Here."

She took it from him. The papers – about twenty something of them – were held together with a red paper clip and the front page told her what it contained. She raised her head. "These are all the designs we'll be launching at the opening of this branch?"