TREASURES AND THORNS

Chapter Nineteen

OMNISCIENT

Brace yourselves guys...This chapter is a bit intense!

<Lurking danger>

UNEDITED

Rukkayya wore a brown and ash Ankara top and skirt while she tied her hair tie in ture ka tsiga 90's style although she tucked its edges neatly under the wrap. Her voluminizer held the head wrap in place while she draped her veil over it resting on the object. When she came downstairs, Ahmad couldn't help but stare at her. His wife had it all, a fact that was not even debatable. At that moment he wished she had his heart too.

Rukkayya felt exhilarated as they stepped in to Modibbo Architectural Firm headquarters, powerful even.  The air around him - that she had always found daunting - surrounded her too.  It felt like she was a piece of it too. The interesting thing was that she liked it. Being in that air around him, a part of his world.

Mustapha had - as usual - jogged down to meet his boss and his new bride. He regarded her in a manner almost the same as he did his boss. Although Mustapha was surprised when she bowed her head in the same fashion that he had greeted her. He was not one to jump to conclusions but he  felt she was a better match for his boss than the runaway bride.

Mustapha had collected his boss's bag while he tagged along behind them, he allowed the couple the privacy of the elevator while we waited back.

"Isn't he going to the same floor as we are?" Rukkayya asked.

Ahmad smiled. "He won't use the same elevator the first lady is in."

Rukkayya had never liked her 'first lady' title but coming from him, it didn't sound half as odd as it felt.

"Hmmm so that title is known around here too?" Rukkayya queried.

"The title is yours dimple, There is no escaping it!" Ahmad smiled revealing his immaculate white teeth.

Rukkayya's face broke in to a smile too. There was no denying the fact that she liked her husband. His warm spirit, friendly nature even the intimidating air around him.

The couple were greeted by several staff as they walked in to the eighth floor. The warm and neutral tones of the paint were professional and simple. Rukkayya liked that. She spotted some chairs adjacent the secretary's desk just beside the elevator door. For a moment she pictured herself sitting there, waiting for him to conclude meeting some clients.

When she came back to reality, she ignored the piercing gazes from the staff while she tagged  behind her husband. It was his world after all.
They walked down the hall to the last office there when Ahmad stopped abruptly and turned to face her.

"Dark or bright?"

"What?"

"Which do you think it'll be like in there?"

Rukkayya bit her lip as she always did when she was in deep thought.

"Somewhere in between."

A calming sound escaped his throat. "Ahh That is cheating!" Ahmad said before opening the door. Mustapha always arrived before him to inspect the office after which he would leave the door open for his boss.

The sight before Rukkayya was like nothing she had imagined. The office was large and spacious. A set of cushions were arranged by the right giving it a living room look. A big plasma TV was hung on the wall facing the cushions, although it was placed at an angle where it could be viewed from the executive chair. The table was placed by the extreme end of the room in front of the window. There were two brown chairs opposite the executive chair in front of the window.