QAIS

Chapter 36: Rotten

Waliyuddin Khan's silvering brows knitted in chagrin. He didn't have the patience nor the time for this.

"Put your guns down." He ordered his men, mindful of the public's eyes around them.

"You too." He glared at Usman, the frontman of Qais's security team. "There's innocent patients and children around us. You're scaring them."

Reluctantly he put his gun down and the rest of the henchmen soon followed but their guns were still clutched tight in hands, ready for the slightest of provocation. Regardless, they refused to deter from spot, still blocking their path.

"Now, out of my way."

"I apologize, sir, but only registered patients and visitors are allowed beyond this point." He guard spoke dauntlessly. They were under strict rules from Pasha not to let anyone near Qais. Not even the King himself let alone the Advisor.

Waliyuddin's dark eyes pierced into him. "That wasn't a question, young man. That was a warning."

The guard lowered his head in respect but refused to move despite knowing they were pissing off the official. Qais's men were as stubborn as Qais himself.

Before Waliyuddin could order their forceful removal Yasmin marched out of the elevator towards them, likely notified by the reception.

"Advisor." She looked cautious of the tension around the place. She had seen him during gatherings and she knew he was Qais's father but she had never met in that pretext. Qais never allowed it.

"What brings you here?" She feigned ignorance albeit knowing there was no other reason for the Advisor to be there with such entourage except that he's heard of Qais's health.

Waliyuddin perused her briefly, already aware of who she was. He had kept tabs on his son all those years. His gaze was of that of a military commander distinguishing a conman from an innocent. To judge her motives. In their world there was no one that didn't hold an ulterior motive, especially people surrounding the azure-eyed lord.

"Where is Qais?" He asked curtly.

Yasmin gauged his demeanor to see what his reason of visit was. Regardless, the first question should've been how is Qais not where he is.

"I'm afraid I can't disclose that until I know who is visiting him." She trailed off meaningfully, "Is it is the King's Advisor or..."

Waliyuddin's brows cleared, understanding her dual meaning well. "His father has come to visit him."

Yasmin's features softened. Maybe it was her own wishful thinking projecting but she was elated that Qais's estranged family wasn't so estranged after all. At least one of them still had people that cared about them.

She turned to the henchmen, admonishing, "I'll take it from here."

"But Pasha sir has strictly ordered-"

"And I am ordering you to retreat. You've already caused enough of a scene."

The guard was put in a dilemma. They answered direct to Pasha. But they were also aware of Yasmin's close relation to Qais. If she was alright with it surely Pasha must be as well. And so he acquiesced reluctantly.

Waliyuddin too let it slip for now as Yasmin led him and his security towards Qais's floor.

"May I ask what took you so long?" Yasmin questioned in the elevator, glancing at the two armed guards behind him. It had been a week since the fire, and Waliyuddin was only coming just now.

The advisor seemed displeased by her question but answered after a while, a little tentatively "It's hard to keep up with him. Someone has been getting rid of our spies."