#NotEdited

Nayal and Sean. Happy times.... *sigh*

Nayal

"You either won a £200,000 lottery or you have given me the ultimate reason to fire you." Without looking up from the forensic report, I snarled at Taylor.

In the next few minutes I realized that my words made no dent on her as she stood beside my chair smiling brightly and occasionally squealing.

"Taylor....." I warned her in a low voice.

"You went on a date!"

"It wasn't a date!" I challenged in the same tone.

"Still! What'd she wear? Where did you guys go? Brighton Pier? Hyde Park?" I turned around 180° glancing at my assistant who was acting more like my annoying sister.

"Tell tell, sir!"

I'm so going to kill Sean for hiring practically a teen!

"A girl needs her gossips! You know what people in this office think of you?" I raised a brow at her, signalling her to continue. "They think that...." She cocked her head around nervously.

"Speak up!" Well, it might surprise me.

"Thatyouaregayandhaven'tcameout." Before I could grasp her words she disappeared from the room and I was happy enough not to say a word.

"This was dropped off for you. There's an urgent stamp on it too." Her professional tone was restored when she came back fifteen minutes later.

There was nagging feeling as I eyed the brown document bag, maybe because I didn't pray Fajr today. Reciting Astaghfirullah, I removed the seal pulling out a single sheet. My pupils contracted and expanded at the same time as I squinted and widened my eyes at the same time. In a fraction of second I dashed towards the elevator, stopping myself from jumping down the 20th floor.

Damn the downtown morning traffic!

Punching the wheel with all the energy in me gained a few glances from the neighbouring cars. This explains everything. Every effing thing that happened in the past months.

"Can I get off early?" I focused on the watch hugging my wrist.

"It's five right now." Sean never asked for nights off.

"Yeah. Maybe six-ish?" From the doorway I could see tiny drops of sweat glistening on his forehead.

"Sure. But your with Zeeniya tomorrow. 8 to 12." I could recite her witness protection duties in my sleep.

"I'll be there." I nodded blindly putting my trust in him.

"I owe you one, bud." He was too nervous. He was silently cracking his knuckles. Smiling a bit too much. Shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

~*~

"Nayal?"

"I won't die in the shower, you know." I shouted through the water noise.

"Can I get Rick's number from your phone? I need a car."

"No!"

Rick's an old friend who owes me big time and happens to own a hotshot car business.

"I'll do your grocery for next month." Now that sounds tempting.

"My phone is in the gym bag."

~*~

"I can't come over tonight."

"There is no 'mystery girl'. You're delusional."

"Maybe there is someone but we're just....it's complicated."

Stopping in the no parking zone, I didn't feel an ounce of guilty and galloped towards the Jessica's flat.

Wanting to knock down the door, my palm crashed on it repeatedly.

"I'm coming! Jesus!" The door was ajar revealing an irritated Jessica. My eyes blazed in anger I saw Sean leaning against the countertop. From there appearances it was clear what happened last night. Without any invitation, I barged in grabbing Sean by his collar. He was taken by more than just surprise as he opened his mouth but my fist collided with it.

"Nayal!" Jessica yelped behind me but I paid her no heed.

I continued showering my blessings on him not sparing a glance over my helpless sister.

I didn't realize that she called someone but when I heard Zeeniya come in, for the first time in my life I didn't look at her.

"Jessica stay the f*ck away!" I yelled for the hundredth time, landing a kick in Sean's gut who looked like he was going pass the next moment.

Jessica stood in a corner crying helplessly as I landed another punch. 

In the flash of a second, Zeeniya was in between me and that scum. Pushing Sean away she took hold of my hands. I saw Sean landing on the wood, if it wasn't under any other circumstances I would've jumped for his help.

"F*ck off Zeeniya!" I couldn't control myself. All the stress from work and the case had built up a wall inside me that just came crashing down.

"Take him to my house. Zayd'll patch him up." Zeeniya butted in as she tried keeping my hands under control and somehow managed but it wasn't easy. With a tug, my hands were out of her soft grip.

But then she did something I never expected in a lifetime.

She touched my jaw. Tracing her fingers on the light beard and recited something I recognized as Ayat al Kursi. I stopped struggling, falling into her daze. She was surprised of her actions just like I was. But she calmed me, she always did. She was close to me. Like never before. So near that I could sense her peppermint breathe. Her eyes were swollen with dark bags underneath. I was so lost in her that I nearly missed her shouting.

"Hurry!" Jessica was supporting that son of a gun, leading him to the door.

"Step away!" This was not the end.

"You'll kill him."

"The hell I will!" Before I could chase them, she locked the door.

"Stay right here Nayal!" She yelled on the equal level.

"He was having an affair with my sister! That son of a b**ch!" I felt my throat tightening.

I yelled and cursed and punched the wall of Jessica's flat. I needed it. I needed in fudging bad!

"You knew, didn't you?" I remembered the envelope that laid undisturbed on the couch.

There was a picture of Jessica and that douche making out in his car with a small note on the back.

'Even after everything that happened last night, she didn't trust you. Tsk tsk tsk. Sad.'

"You fu*king knew! How can miss it! Of course you knew!" It all made sense now.

"Yes I knew!" There wasn't any remorse in her eyes.

"You should have told me!" You should've.

"It wasn't my secret to tell!" She wasn't scared of me. She never was.

"After everything that happened last night, I thought...I thought we were going somewhere."

There was something about last night. I never wanted her to meet my father or to know about my mother but I guess things have a way to get around Zeeniya Tahan.

"After everything happened last night?" She repeated my words. "Last night was nothing! It was just two friends having a good time! Wait.... Shit! You thought that I was leading you on? You're pathetic!" Her hands found their way to her hair and she crouched on her knees.

Don't say things you don't mean.

"I'm pathetic! Don't turn this on me! You betrayed my trust!" Just great.

"I never signed a commitment! God! Is this what you think of me? That after some dinner and coffee and deep talk I led you on? You are nothing more than a friend to me! Now I think it's time to reconsider it!"

"I thought you were different." I mumbled softly.

"Me too." I said in the smallest voice. "But guess what? You're just like every other guy down the hall! Some sweet talk and you think any girl will be swept off her feet! What you need to do is focus on you job description rather than flirting around and waiting for some fun!" She poked a finger in my chest building up a wave of anger.

"Don't you dare... Zeeniya! Don't you fu*king dare go there." I held her hands and brought her close to me.

Her body was trembling as she bore her icy blue gaze through my hazel ones.

"We're done!" For a moment she stayed rooted there, before turning towards the door and storming out.

~*~
Zeeniya

"Adam!" A gasp escape my mouth and I channeled all of my energy to stop myself from falling on my knees.

I ran towards the old Ford that was supporting my bruised and battered best friend. A few splatters of blood tainted the car but the floor was covered in dried redness. Shifting my gaze at him, I felt my heart bursting into pieces.

To hell with not being emotional!

Whoever did this should pray for their freaking life. His breathing was ragged and it surprised me that in this condition, his lungs were supporting. Half of his face was blue and from the look his left ankle seemed fractured. Kneeling down, I traced my trembling fingers on his forehead which had glass pieces pierced in. A long gash began from his right temple to the base of the ear and was covered in blood. All of a sudden my throat felt like Sahara and all I wanted to do was run away from the garage. Pretending I never saw my best friend lying there like a corp.

"Now don't start crying." He smiled nervously as a stream of blood came out following a series of cough. I quickly supported his burning body wiping the gore with my sweater's sleeves.

"I need a name." I continued stroking the thick fabric on his rough beard.

"I need a fu*king name."

~*~

"How's Sean?" Was the first question I shot picking up Zayd's call.

It was a little past noon and I was finally able to patch Adam up. It wasn't my great job but under the circumstances I did good. He didn't drop any details on the matter nor did I force him. Fortunately Clark was out if city for his wife's treatment, leaving the garage to Adam. Loading him into his car, I drove him to our residence where with the help of the housekeeper I placed him in his room. I was beyond frazzled, running around the house for the first aid kit when it was placed neatly in the kitchen cabinet. Or when I broke two glasses as my hands trembled taking the water to his room.

Removing his shirt as carefully as ever, I dipped the towel in warm water cleaning his torso. None of us dared to utter a word not even when the antiseptic stung in his deep gashes. Or when I wrapped the bandage tightly around his wrist. Not even when I removed the glass pieces from his forehead and arm. After having a sleeping pill with milk, he was fast asleep. The blood has stopped but his ankle still worried me. And his coughs.

"He had a concussion along with a hairline fracture in eighth rib."
I could hear the worry and distress in her voice.

It was too late when they arrived at my house and Zayd already left for work. Compelling them to go to the hospital, much to Sean's grumpiness.

"I wish I was there earlier." I bit my nail, ripping off the skin.

"Shush! You are a life saviour, baby! That monster would've killed him." I winced at her tone but I guess he deserved it.

All this fiasco led me to the state where I never wanted to hear his name or even cross my mind. There wasn't any time to recall our conversation neither I wished.

"I'll come visit in the evening." Once I make sure Adam is breathing.

"Be strong." I spoke softly, even surprising myself.

By words were onion to her eyes and she started wailing like a lost baby. I stayed on the other side, idly, as she confessed the hate towards her brother. Sniffling, she bade goodbye as I perched on the stairs with the bouquet of red roses in my hands. There was a tiny yet disturbing card attached to it.

'Poor Addy came crying to the big sister? I told you to watch out, Zeeny.'

I wanted to call Nayal, tell him that these twerks were sending hideous flowers and disgusting letters. My calls were recorded emails ere scanned, house was patrolled but the post... Why didn't they think of it. But I can't. I won't. I would never call that kameena for anything else in my life. Never ever. I walked out on him and never intended on going back.

The irony of it was that the one I thought was selfless turned out to be the most selfish person. He came in like a bulldozer, crashing down my walls without causing an ounce of discomfort.

A wave if nausea hit me like a wrecking ball and I ran to the toilet emptying my stomach.

A horrendous thought came in my mind and I calk Dani as swiftly I could.

"Hamdan where are you?"

"You ran a marathon?" He joked.

"Tell me." I pressed as my was beating louder.

"I'm just putting away my things. What bout you?" He was safe.

"Nothing...just. I have to go. Stay safe." Please.

The line went off making my nerves calm.

What am I gonna do?

It's so hard writing these days! Uff!

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Signing off,
James Bond.