EID-AL-ADHA!🎊

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Jannah and I have a surprise for you lots! We're releasing our new book! Yipppeeee!🎊

KANO STATE, NIGERIA.

A lilt added to her steps, Amirah made it back to the office while panting hard. He gave a call to the receptionist right before she left the building and told her she should be back in just forty minutes! How the heck is she supposed to do that if she is going to buy the lunch and then take it to the palace and come back? She's got a mild headache already from all the stress under thirty minutes. Her brain is close to capitulating and it will be on his head.

"I'm back, Sir." She forced a small smile across her lips not to show him how exhausted she is but he's noticed the hefty spoonfuls of mayhem merged to her words.

His attention narrowed back to his laptop dismissing her mayhem and hateful glares hidden behind those eyes. "Good. You can proofread the files I just sent you now, Ms. Adam."

"Okay." Came her insouciant reply.

There is no sir which means he succeeded on getting under her skin and in no time his plan is going to work out. Ha, he knew her like the back of his hands and even after three years, she is still the same woman just not the one he's been with. Just not the person he fell for. Not the one he hopelessly doted for in the past, changed one. Not the adolescent one filled with aspartame. Not the one he got to the top of her aficionados.

Time for lunch rolled but Amirah is still proofreading and editing the files he's sent, they are bulky and have more than ninety pages. She just flipped through the thirty sixth when the sound of her name halted her next move. A sigh escaped her lips since her stomach also grumbled in that wicked growl that everyone could hear. She mentally smelled ambrosia. She is sure Imad did too since his move on the laptop terminated for a nanosecond enough to prove he did.

She licked her lips, minding her business by deleting a sentence she shouldn't have, she had to bring it back whilst distracted. Won't he ask her to go have lunch or is he punishing her for something? She can't remember doing anything other than coming a little late, not enough for him to be mad at her and punish her for it. This isn't highschool or some boarding school that people get punished unnecessarily. She didn't eat anything in the morning too, zilch.

Annihilating the past brushing up the surface, she went back to thirty seventh page in an inebriated state and stellar of hunger.

He wanted to look away and allow her to wallow in her hunger but he couldn't, she should not get a whiff of his plan. If he acts like he doesn't care, she'd think he is already living in the past when the game just begun. "You can go bring my lunch and get yours, Ms. Adam."

Amirah beamed behind her laptop before she permit it to slip off her face then stood up just before a knock rap against the door and the person didn't wait for permission before barging inside making Amirah's heart to drop to her legs. No, it is not the sound of the knock or the door jolting open with graceful move that took off her breath. That is not what made Amirah's eyes round and the urge to sprint miles away from the office. The reason behind her sudden jolt is none other than;

The princess of Kano, her royal highness Falak Muhammad Ingawah wife to the crowned prince of Kano, Shaddad Sunusi Lamido.

"Do I need permission to walk in now, Imad?" Falak gave saccharine smile, her eyes falling on her younger brother while she strutted in looking awfully beautiful like always.

No one would've thought she gave birth to five children looking this young and beautiful, like she hasn't aged a bit since the last time she's seen her three years ago. The successful doctor now married to an equally successful doctor and crowned prince is featuring another famous designer and pulled it off like no other model out there. Her pulchritude always blew Amirah away time and time again. No matter how many times she'd see her, she still won't stop herself from drooling and taking a second glance.

She is wearing straight pecan dress pants ironed and made to perfection, tawny button up shirt then a long brunette coat closed the whole outfit which she is sure should've been a frost lab coat in the hospital. Her feet are clasped in nude spool heels while her head is closed with matching veil classically wrapped flawlessly. Her face is makeup free, going for that natural killer look that she is sure knocked so many men off their feet that day.

Not only does she have high echelon in her field of work, she is a connoisseur when it comes to fashion. No one would ever believe she was from some unknown village unknown to the map. They'd harangue the mere thought and title the person cuckoo.

Imad stopped himself last minute from rolling his eyes at his sister's unexpected visit to come harry him again. She's taken her time, long enough. He thought she would come way sooner than now but she surprised him and this is unexpected. His secretary wasn't even given the chance to warn him about her intrusion and now she will see Amirah then give that stinky eye that will make sure to make the younger lady pee her pants. He'll try stopping that, she hasn't noticed her yet.

"Not that you would have followed the protocols, your royal Highness." He gave back same smile albeit sarcastic, she only glared at him for that. Nothing is semantic when it comes to her, it is gargantuan.

"Of course I won't. Who do you think I am?" She placed her nude doctor's bag on his table and crossed her leg, totally dismissing Amirah's presence in the room. She hasn't seen her, yet.

"Go get the lunch, Ms. Adam." He directed his gaze back to his sister and question hoping she won't has around to see the said Ms. Adam. "Or do you want something?" He shouldn't have made that move, he should've just gestured for Amirah to leave the room but then, she'd think he is enshrouding her from the past again.

Whoa, this is freaking harder than he thought.

Falak meandered around to see the so called Ms. Adam she didn't notice when she walked in. Her eyes dropped open in a huge round then she brought it back to it's normal size and hid a smile. She's always focus her gaze on minutiae but this slipped. What the heck! If she thinks her love story is something everyone should read, then Imad and Amirah's should be understood. What on earth is happening in these two people's lives again?!

"No, I don't need anything, Ms. Adam. Go ahead." She yawed her attention back to Imad, eyes filled with questions. He knows how recalcitrant she is and can be so he bowed down and continue to type rubbish in his laptop.

He knew Amirah is disturbed with the fact that his older sister is there, they had their history which she wouldn't tell him about. When he was abroad for his first year in Chicago and had his first fight with Amirah, he told his sister to go check on her and something happened between them which none of them wanted to tell him about. His sister can be quite mean or rephrase that to surfeit.

He cleared his throat after hearing the sound of door closing behind Amirah but didn't raise his head aloof. "So where are your children? You are supposed to be with them or in the hospital?"

"I'm not their nanny and I left the hospital since I don't have work to do now. Is it a crime to want to see my baby brother? Not to forget, the one who seems to have forgotten about his entire whole family?" She propped her arms on the table dramatically. He should've known, she is a drama queen and he used to enjoy her dramas but not when he is in the spotlight. When his older brother and her husband is, Shaddad.

"Not with that topic please. I need space that is why." He gave a tight lipped smile that is raising the flag and red light that she should drop that topic of their lives. Like a mutinous little kid.

"Whatever, I'm trying to understand what space someone would need from his family. You are not with Amirah, we know that. Why, we don't know. You work with her, yes. When, we don't know. What else is it you are hiding now? You two are having an affair?" She raised a perfect dark brow up, her eyes ever so sharp and hypercritically staring at him.

"Can we please not talk about this? Anything else but this and I'm not having any affair." He scowled, not liking where her head is going with him and Amirah. Affair? Ha, that is for freaking weaklings and not him.

She visibly faltered, leaning back against the chair then surveyed the office with her keen eyes taking in how brownish everything looks and dark. Her baby brother never liked brown much, it's always sargia and spruce, same colour of his chamber because of Amirah. There is no tinge bit of any of that colour except the sargia penholders placed on Amirah's desk, she caught a glimpse of it when she was trying to exercise herself and monitor her expression.

She brought her gaze back to his then huffed out a sigh. "Mom is really disappointed. After yelling at your older brothers in the dining room, you disappeared without apologizing to no one and never looked for her again. Don't think because she is acting strong now that she does not miss her son. Your brothers on the other hand, they plan on not talking to you ever again. So get your shits together before you ruin everything in your life. Because of a failed relationship that is eclectic, you won't cut ties off with everyone. Even I am here for the last time to look for you, Imad. If you value your family and respect your parents, then do what is right. Your time is getting emaciated." With that, she stood up and took her bag off the table watching a speechless Imad.

"If you do what is right, you might be able to see your nieces and nephews but if you chose to keep being an a-hole, then be my guest. You will wake up in something more than nadir. Goodbye!" She strutted out of the office without a good glance at him.

She stopped outside the door when Amirah almost bumped into her because she looks spaced out with Imad's lunch in her hands. Amirah swallowed hard, eyes dropping to the floor immediately to keep her mouth off rambling everything to Falak because with those scrutinizing nitpick eyes, you can ramble out all your life's secret without knowing. She almost did that once upon a time but learned how to control things herself, she is doing so.

She is holding the reigns on her mavericks.

She badly wants to say something to her ex-sister in-law but there are no words. They don't want to get discharged except the big foam of guilt that tangled her tongue. Her heart is beating wildly in her chest, waiting for Falak's next move which totally surprised her when it came.

"You don't need to hide your face from me, Amirah. You are no longer Imad's wife but his personal assistant and I'm not going to judge you when I don't know the story behind your failed marriage. Just know that if you are the reason behind this new..." Falak stopped to point at the closed door she walked out from where Imad is then invaded her personal space to intimidate her further. "Imad, I won't spare you. Have a good day." Her words were mellifluous, filled with equivocation too.

Amirah's hands on the tray trembled for a few seconds before taking deep breaths and finally steadied it. She licked her chapped lips, the pace her heart is rushing to is becoming hard for her to bear.

If she is not careful, she'd go through a rough panic attack right in front Imad's office so she forced herself to calm down and take good gulps of breaths. Eyes closed to stop the traitorous tears from rolling down, she exhaled.

That wasn't even the parley she's expected the next time she'd meet the princess neither had she gotten the tirade she's soaked in her head. For goodness sake, she should calm the heck down. They don't know anything so far and she hopes they never do, she'd be sentenced to felony and the jurisdictions will be theirs.

"Who was that fine woman?" Amirah got startled at the sound of Lateefa watching where Falak just disappeared into, an elevator.

Making sure her expression is schooled and don't look like she's seen a wraith, she whispered. "That's Imad's older sister, Falak."

"Oh, the one that got married to the crowned prince?" When Amirah nodded, Lateefa made her mouth in moue. "I would love to have a selfie with her, she is too beautiful and marrying his highness? That was the best news I've heard since last three years. She still looks super young, don't you think?"

"Yeah, like she didn't give birth to five children in a span of three years." Amirah mumbled almost enviously because look at her, she looks ten times her age after suffering financially for three years. That woman went through hell of giving birth to triplets -denouncing cesarean section- then twins but still looks fit enough to stand beside the future king.

Lateefa's eyes rounded in astonishment then her mouth gob out. "What? Five already? I think I've stopped keeping tabs on their lives after they got married. How's that possible though? How do you know so much about them despite being apart with Imad?"

Amirah sighed like talking to Lateefa at that moment is like going to hell and coming back. "Yes, five children. Triplets and twins. It is possible since she gave birth and it happened. I know so much about them since I work in the palace." She scoffed the last part because that is something Lateefa should engrave in her head.

"Oh, right. Triplets and twins? Aw, that's happy family goals. Lemme go search them up on Google while you serve your master, ex-husband and boss." Lateefa ran away without waiting to see the glare Amirah shot her way, enough to quell her excitement about the royals.

Amirah entered inside the bureau, placed the tray on the table for him and quietly left without uttering a word. She does not have anything to say, she might as well spill out their past in front of him if he'd asked her to do something. Why is her past mingling around her professional work? Why is her resolve falling so miserably when she wants it to work the other way around?

"You look pale and out of place, what's up?" Kamilah inquired, her face etched with concern and tinge bit of worry. This makes Amirah's chest clench, it feels so good to have someone other than your family concerned about you.

"Nothing, just work and stress. Working two places as two different persons is hard." She pushed more chips inside her mouth to avoid talking some more and that was the end of their conversation before they all made their way back to where they work.

Amirah left alone in the elevator, lean back and kept thinking when it jolted to a harsh stop and a man entered. Since she is in her train of thoughts, her head leaned against the mirror walls of the elevator, she didn't notice him watching her curiously. Three sighs escaped her lips in less than a minute so the man decided to talk to her like a good Samaritan.

In that chauvinism way he's been complimented on time and time again, he greeted. "Hello, ma'am."

Amirah blinked thrice then crane her neck to watch the ridiculously tall pretty man standing beside her. When did he get in without her noticing and which floor is she? Her eyes snapped to the green numbers moving up only to find out they have five more floors until Imad's office which means she cannot escape answering the man.

"Hi." She meekly replied, adjusting her veil and rocking on her heels.

"You look a bit out of it so I wanted to check whether you are okay?" He let out a full blown smile, showing his very well brushed pearls. She would like to compliment his dentist, really.

"Oh, I'm really okay. Just tired from work I guess."

"You work here?" She nodded, twisting her feet inside her boat loafers, "Which department?"

"Finance." He looks too interested so she opt for ambiguous replies, he should leave her alone since she told him she is fine.

"Oh, wow. You work for Mr. Lamido then?" She nodded again, cutting the conversation off since he has already reached his floor and he got off with, "See you around."

"I hope not." Amirah grumbled underneath her breath after the doors close.