From Aliya to Hafiz

Twenty-five.

Hafiz.

A knock came from outside my office and I pressed a button underneath my desk to let the person in.

"Morning," Abir greeted, setting a stack of files on my desk. "These need your signature before submitting to finance, it's the funds needed to purchase electronic appliances. We've settled with Ruuya, they'll be the middleman."

I drew the files closer and flipped through the pages of one before setting it aside. "Did you include Ruuya's cut?" I asked. Ruuya Appliance store was one of Unais's US-based businesses. They didn't produce appliances of their own but instead partnered up with big names in the IT industry, having priority on the latest products and stuff like that.

It seemed like it wouldn't be lucrative but it was one of his most income-generating investments. He leached off the fame and trust of bigwigs like Apple, Sonny, Hisense, and the like, using it to set up a trustworthy image for his brand. This in turn added credibility to his Ruuya ventures, a term that encompassed his six businesses in different fields, based around the US, UK, Madina, and Germany.

"Yes, it's all detailed on page 4 of the second file. In the third file are the official counteract we signed and one copy, and the first has the price list of the products we've chosen and why."

I nodded "I'll check them out after reviewing this proposal. The chairman should have gotten it yesterday but it got delayed."

"That reminds me, what did you find?" I looked up at him, setting the pen I was holding on the document in front of me. It was a pair with the one I gave that nuisance, Aliya.

"I was about to bring it up," he replied. "Like you said, she hasn't been here long, and couldn't have offended someone in such a short time to the extent the person would want to ruin her blossoming career. I followed that train of thought, and came up with one suspect," he stated.

I knew who it was before he even said it. The only way Aliya could garner malice was through her association with me. And there was only one person I knew who would do something so low.

"How is she related to them?" I asked, scowling.

"The so-called witness, Jamie. His mother has cancer and is currently admitted to her family's hospital. Her medical expenses are footed by Hope Foundation, a charity organization the O'Conners run because his family is not well off. His father, coincidentally enough, is an oncologist, a very well-respected one at that. He's currently pouring everything he can into his research to save his wife."

"Let me guess, she threatened to discontinue his mother's treatment?"

"Not only that, his father's research is being funded by the hospital. She thoroughly had a handle over him, there was no way he could refuse."

"That heartless bitch," I sneered.

Abir arched a brow. "You're angry?"

"What kind of animal is she?" I spat out in reply.

"A good fuck?" He questioned in mock seriousness.

I gave him the middle finger.

He chuckled. "I thought you always knew she was a trashy slut. Why are you so angry?"

I wasn't angry.

"Angry is too strong a word for what I'm feeling."

"Then, upset? Because she tried to sabotage your woman?"

"I wouldn't care if she had her gunned down," I sneered.

"You didn't deny her being yours though," he arched a brow.