the lover agreement // zauren

TWO.

"Mr. Malik!" Someone hollered behind him.

Zayn stopped, turning around before he could reach his car. Henry was chasing after him, clad in a mundane sweater-vest and a hat that the wind nearly blew off his head. He held it down with a firm, hairy hand.

"What is it?" Zayn asked, annoyed his valuable time was being wasted.

Henry panted, resting his hands on his knees as he fought for breath. "I just wanted to talk to you about Miss Lauren."

Zayn's eyebrows met in confusion. "Who?" The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't narrow down a face. He met so many people, it was impossible to remember everyone.

"The pretty, young woman you evicted, sir." Henry straightened himself out, hand rooted on his cramping side.

Ah, the rang a loud bell. Zayn smirked, remembering the green eyed tenant who crashed into him, dropped his coffee and called him dickhead all at once. What a morning...

"If this is about withdrawing the eviction, you know I can't do that. What will the other tenants think of me if I turn back on my word?"

Henry nodded, understanding where he was coming from. "That's not what I wanted to ask, sir. If you can, spare her a few days to move out. She just graduated medical school and she's busy with work. There's no way she can move out tomorrow."

Zayn made a distressed face. To him, that sounded the same as cancelling the eviction notice.

"I don't care how busy she is. She has to move out tomorrow. If she can't bring everything of hers, that's not my problem," he heartlessly concluded.

Since he was a business man with a reputation to uphold, he couldn't be so forgiving and lenient. Yes, he felt bad for the poor girl, but what good would his word become if he allows a favour? He was much too proud to surrender.

Henry exhaled deeply, deep wrinkles embedded onto his forehead. "Well, I tried," he murmured in disappointment to himself. "Sorry for taking your time. Have a nice evening, Mr. Malik." He took off his hat, revealing his bald head and bowed before returning to the building behind them.

There was something lonely about his retreating figure that pricked needles into Zayn's heart. He and Henry go way back, back when Zayn's father, Yaser, was still the CEO. Out of all the superintendents under his company, Henry was a favourite.

"Hey, old man!" He shouted, a hand surrounding his mouth to carry out his voice better.

As the wind blew his name through his ears, Henry turned. "Yes, sir?"

"Tell that girl she has until Sunday to move out. If she hasn't by then, all her possessions will be forfeited to the building!"

Gratitude overtook Henry's face, removing the age that withered him. "Thank you, Mr. Malik! I will!"

Ever since the influx of engagement announcements during dinner parties, Zayn grew wary when he was invited to another. Sure, he was happy for the freshly engaged couple, but every time someone flashed their shiny diamond ring, his aunts would close in on him like hungry, laughing hyenas to their prey.

When are you going to get married? Do you have a girlfriend yet? What's the point of all that money without a family to spoil it on? And so and so forth. Despite the regular harassment he was subjected to on a weekly basis, he still wasn't used to it. He wished everyone would just shut up and keep their noses out of his personal life. It was his life; he would do what he pleased with it.

"Ahem, may I have everyone's attention." Abdan, his second cousin on his father's side, stood, clanking a spoon against a glass.

Uh-oh, Zayn thought. This couldn't be good.