BREATHE ✓ ⇢ [EDITING]

Twilight

Hans Hayder felt passion as he knocked on the door of the Hayek family.

He could hear the quick bustle of movement as the second eldest Hayek daughter opened the door. "Maj lives next door." She was about to close the door just as Hans placed his hand against it. "I actually came to speak to Mr. Hayek." Hans stated smoothly, and he heard his family close the doors to his father's car.

She nodded, and invited him inside, barely waiting for him to sit down before he watched her dash up the stairs, calling, "Papa!"
Taking the opportunity, Hans rushed to get his family, standing behind his father just as the man of the Hayek house arrived at the living room.

"Ah, Mr. Hayder. What a pleasant surprise." Isa Hayek shook hands with the notorious Nicah Hayder, his trembling hands on display.

"Of course. These are my two sons, Reen and Hans. Reen has a three year old son and Hans has gotten lucky today." Nicah smiled as he inclined his head for his sons to sit.

"That's rather fortunate of you, Mr. Hayder." Isa plastered on a small smile, though it did his shaking hands no good. His mind wandered to why a wealthy man like Nicah Hayder would sit on the sofa of a middle class carpenter like himself.

"And you, Mr. Hayek? How many children do you have?" Nicah Hayder never asked questions he knew the answers to. He had done his research and had contacted everyone who had ever known the Hayeks.

"I have four daughters, Mr. Hayder: Tanya, Mala, Becca, and Zara. Tanya has a son and lives with her husband on the other side of town." Isa replied politely.

"Ah. You see, I have come here to discuss one of your daughters in particular." Nicah Hayder folded his hands as he leaned forward.

"Mala recently finished her B.A., Mr. Haider. If you could give us a few weeks-" Isa was ungracefully interrupted by Nicah's booming voice. "My son wants Becca Hayek to be his wife, Mr. Hayek. I'm sure it can be done?"

"My Becca just turned eighteen, Mr. Hayder-" Isa protested lamely, but to no success.

"Eighteen is exactly the age we're looking for, Mr. Hayek. Our Hans is twenty-one, which is fair enough an age to marry. I take it that the wedding will be in two days?" Isa closed his eyes and breathed in for a moment before nodding.

"Congratulations, Mr. Hayek. I shall send dressmakers and designers over tomorrow. We'll have a grand dinner tonight to celebrate right here. Is that alright?" Nicah's pointed look only terrified Isa more than he already was, and Isa couldn't help but nod once again.

"Wonderful. Have Becca dressed lavishly tonight, will you, Mr. Hayek?" Nicah Hayder smiled widely at Isa Hayek, who nodded in acknowledgement.

"Then I shall see you in a few hours. Best of luck." And just as quickly as the Hayders had appeared, they had just as quickly disappeared.

Isa sat on the sofa with his head buried in his hands, wondering about how on Earth he was going to get his daughter to agree to this marriage.