MaLuke

Chapter 31

I woke up very late the next day -at least according to dad. Definitely the wrong start to the day. Dad was a little disappointed with my sleeping schedule, though he refrained from mentioning it. I could see the unkempt look he shot me when I came out of the bedroom at exactly thirty-six past eight.

I breezed through the morning routine mindlessly. My thoughts were elsewhere. My thoughts were with Zayn. What did that mongrel do? Did he rat me out to his father? Did he defy him? My heart was jumping in my chest, and the heartbeats echoed throughout my body. I was so nervous. I took a sip of the coffee, and relished the taste. The coffee was from Papua New Guinea, Kongo Coffee. The taste gave me a sense of self-assurance.

"You ready?" Dad asked quietly. I grasped the counter top with both hands, willing the marble to bend to my will. I felt a small surge of calm. Dad was coming with me. And dad always solved problems. This is nothing, probably just a briefing or something.

Then a new fear settled in my heart. What if Wendy reported to her father about our bar brawl? Worse! What if she told the police? I was breathing quickly, and I felt nauseous. What if I went to jail? What if my scholarship was denied? What if they declined my application to the university of my dreams? All those thoughts came rushing to me like flood gates being open wide. I felt someone steady me from behind.9

"Easy Khaimon. It's only a meeting." Meghan reassured me. I sighed in defeat.

"Let's get this damn thing over with." I stated, mumbling a string of profanities after. My dad nodded as he slipped his feet into his dress shoes. Seeing him all dressed up in a tux, made me feel under-dressed in skinny jeans and a polo shirt. I looked down at myself. I shrugged, nobody gave us a dress code. And dad doesn't seem to mind. No need to dress like Kate Middleton.

We left the house at 9 o'clock, and drove on an almost one hour drive. We arrived in front of a twenty-two storey building. I looked at dad, he was too busy staring at the building. Obviously appreciating the architecture. I took the time to appreciate the fact that I'm still alive.

"Come on." He said enthusiastically. Where did he get the cheerfulness from? I guess it doesn't run in the family. Either that, or I've spent to much time around Meghan, the ultimate pessimist. I sighed once and killed the engine. We both got out, and I clicked the alarm tag.

"Do you know he's office?" I questioned dad. I wasn't about to go wandering in that building.

"We made an appointment right?" My dad rolled his eyes. I blinked awkwardly. Dad does that, rolling eyes? "We'll just ask at the receptionist's desk." Right. How stupid of me?

I nodded once -to myself- and followed after dad. We went through the automatic sliding doors, and into the lobby. Four elevators stood to the left, and the reception to the right. A small replica corvette stingray stood next to the glass doors, and two guards stood on either side of the door. A small, petite lady sat behind the reception desk. She had on a red dress, and red lipstick to match. Kind of like 'Devil wears Prada' to me.

Dad headed over to the desk immediately. And I followed blindly after. Gosh I felt so helpless. As we grew closer, she lifted her head from the screen and glanced at us. She hit a couple more keys and slid the laptop aside. A smile waited for us at the end of the desk, it made me even more scared than reassured.

"Good morning, welcome to the Corvette tower. How may I help you?" She had a non-British accent. I couldn't help but wonder.

"We're here to see Mr. Malik. I'm Smith Luke." She nodded and pulled her laptop back towards her. A few strokes on the keys and she smiled in approval.

"Ah yes. He's expecting you. Nineteenth floor, last door down the hall." She typed some more things in. "May I have your ID's? Company policy." I shrugged and gave her my license. Dad gave her his company ID and she gestured at the four elevators.