Chapter 20: The CEO.

*

"His tears 

made my heart clench.

His pain

felt like my own. 

His vulnerability 

hurt me like a storm. 

His heart

felt like home."

-2am-

*

Nahal waited for him to speak. She watched him pace his office and heaved a sigh, before checking her watch. It was almost 6pm. She reached here at around 5:15pm and since then, he has been pacing the floors.

"Can you speak already please? It is almost 6pm!" she muttered. I have work, unlike you. He halted and turned to face her.

"Look, I do not know how I am supposed to explain this" he started and she held her hands up, stopping him immediately. She tilted her head to the man in black, standing at the corner by the doors. Man in black. Hahahhahaa.

"Him?" the question reached him pretty easily and Nahal was surprised. She usually had to explain people what she was talking about.

"That's Eamon, my bodyguard. Don't worry, I trust him. Anyway, as I was saying-" he started and Nahal nodded, taking a seat on the chair in front of the CEO desk.

"-Mom knows about Aanabia and I am not as oblivious as Yazdan. I know she likes him but I don't get why. I seriously don't. Look, my mom and I- lets just say we don't share a close relationship. I....... I was....... Arhg this is hard" he muttered and Nahal turned to face him with a small smile.

"Take a seat" she told him and he looked at her with confusion. She nodded, gesturing to the seat in front of her. He walked over and took a seat, before leaning onto the chair and waiting for her to speak.

"Calm?" she asked him and he nodded. I have never seen him like that. "Now tell me"

He stayed silent. Maybe it is something he feels too awkward talking about? Or too hurt? Hurt? What hurt Yahyah Rashad?

"What hurt you?" the question was simple, said in the softest tone. Yahyah heard it clearly. He lifted his head to see her looking at him with emotions. It was not pity or sympathy,that he usually saw on people's faces. It was somewhat sad, like she felt what he felt and she was trying to hide it. And for the first time since the death of his father, he found himself willingly trust someone.

Nahal smiled at him. His eyes were glistened with unshed tears and it filled up suddenly. She prayed whatever hurt him, to leave him alone. Oh Allah, I am not the best believer but I am asking you for this. Oh Allah, whatever is hurting Yahyah, let it leave. Let the pain go away and grant him Sabr. The little prayer in her heart startled her for she was never to think or say such things. Not one of the times that she knew of anyway. She tilted her head slightly in confusion.

"My father died a few months ago before I shifted here" his statement and the emotions lacing it made Nahal shudder. His father passed away. Didn't Zaiha say she was divorced?

"Mom and abba got divorced when I started high school at Royal Academy in Canberra, Australia. Zul was small so he opted to stay with mom while I opted to stay with abba. He taught me everything. To be a gentleman, to drive, to draw, to fix trucks, to learn and appreciate. He taught me how to walk. He was my role model and now he's...." gone. He stopped his words. Nahal watched him swallow back something and heave a deep sigh. She knew it was hurting him to talk.

"You don't have to, you know. You could just tell me about the phone conversation and that will be it" she said and he looked up to her. She saw, for the first time, vulnerability in his eyes. "Or go on, if you want" she added quietly.

"Abba always told me to look after mom. He wanted me to live with mom but I didn't want to leave him. I visited mom back and forth but never stayed with mom for too long. She understood this. When dad passed away, his business was handed down to me. I worked with him from the start but always in the garage. I didn't understand why he would choose that day to make me start working in the office. Turns out, he would leave me in a few months time. The doctors said there was nothing they could do. We called up the best of the best cardiologists but they all had the same answer. Plus Abba didn't want much hassle over it, much to my displeasure.

"Mom didn't know about this so I told her that he was hospitalized for having minor heart attack. She visited him and allowed Zul to see him. It hit me hard when he passed away. At the hospital, he prepared me for his death. Told me to never let the past get to me and to work hard. He told me I had Yazdan by my side and I could do anything since we are the powerful duo. He asked me to stay with mom and take care of her. He made me promise to never let mom cry. Even if mom left him, I realized he loved her the same." Nahal was speechless. She didn't know whether it was the family history of Yahyah Rashad that rendered her speechless or was it the fact that he was crying in front of her. He was a mess, but such a beautiful mess he was.

"I did what he said. After he passed away, I settled down work and since mom was already here, I shifted here." He said, looking up to meet her eyes. She watched him flinch and wipe away the stray tears on his face. The one tanned and bright face was now red and flushed. He has been strong for too long, hasn't he?

"I don't get along with mom that much. I was only here because Abba said so and because my business was here. So believe me when I say, I have no idea what mom is planning. She was talking to Yazdan about Saher the other day and I was there. I know he doesn't like Saher, but I do not know to what extent he likes Aanabia. Mom setting Saher and Yazdan up was something I had no idea about. After she talked to Yazdan, I talked to her that night. I asked her about it and she admitted that she knew Aanabia liked Yazdan. And that I should probably leave the entire thing onto her." Ah right, the phone conversation.

Nahal listened to him quietly. She had nothing to say. Her mind was a mess and she felt like her chest was tightening and would burst any second. Why does it feel this way? Why am I- am I crying? Her hands moved over her face and she felt hot tears. She was crying. But why?

"Nahal, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry" said Yahyah, shoving the tissue box in front of her face. She let out a small chuckle when she realized, he realized she was crying.

"I am fine. I didn't know Yahyah Rashad had so much going on for himself" she said and Yahyah shrugged.

"Sometimes, the best do fall and the strongest do cry" he told her and she snorted, looking away. Best and strong, that he was.

"Sometimes, the best do quit and the strongest do leave" she told him and he shrugged.

"It's all about the perspective, isn't it" he told her and she shrugged.

"Anyway, that's what I wanted to tell you. Now please don't go avoiding me again" he said and she turned to him with wide eyes. He noticed? I thought I was sleek like a ninja?

"Yes I noticed and no, you are not so sleek like a ninja" he told her, as if he were reading her thoughts. It took her some time to realize she had said those things out loud. She glared at him and he smiled back at her.

"Why does it make a difference if I avoid you or not?" she questioned him and he raised an eyebrow. Maybe he wants me to know something. But what exactly?

"Of course Nahal, I tell my life history to every second person I find" he sassed her and she frowned.

"Maybe you do?" she said and his eyes narrowed. She knew it was not true, but she said it just to irk him. 

"You think?" he questioned back and she shrugged.

"Why would you tell me? I mean nothing to you, as far as I know" he probably dislikes me. I slapped him when I first met him anyway.

She watched his expressions change and his flicker. Before she could speak, Yahyah Rashad's face was really close to her but not touching her in any way. How does he do this?!

Not the right time, Nahal. Not the right- Oh god. He smells so goo- never mind that. Harraaam. What is going on in my mind? Is this a short circuit or something? Oh Allah. I am going to-

"I lend my shirt to you, I don't get angry when you annoy me and I tell you what is bothering me. Now tell me, dearest Nahal. Why would a man do such things for a woman?"

Oh shit. 

*****

Salaam guys. How's you all? 

Long due update. But in my defence, I have sem end exams coming up. Hahaa.

Thank you so much to all of you for sending me beautiful covers. In sha Allah, I would put it up at the end of the book. That is, if I remember. 😂😂 Jks. I would do. ❤😘

| R - C - V |

XX,

-aalihha-