That night, I go home early, taking the days work home with me.
The meeting with Mr. Ahmed took longer then I expected, and after it was over, I had little energy to keep working.
Sighing, I plop down on the couch besides mom.
“Hey mom.” I say tiredly.
“Hey. How was your day?”
“Great.” I say dryly.
“How’d it go with your aunt?”
“Awful. She took so long, and then I had this fight with this guy and she just came up and tried to introduce him to Sara.” Mom snorts.
“That’s your aunt alright. But the guy must’ve been something if she introduced Sara just like that.” Her brow furrows in thought.
“Anything but. Almost got late for my hearing because of him.”
“How’d that go anyway?”
“Great. I think I’ll win this one.” She nods.”Speaking of which, I got a new case today.”
“That’s great dear, but… how about taking a break?”
I give mom a look. “Why?”
She takes a deep breath.
I knew my mother very well, and the expression on her face right now told me she’d been planning this conversation for a while now, and she intended to win.
“Alright, what is it?” I prod.
She sets her jaw. “Look for the past year now you’ve been working like crazy. Taking case after case, you’re barely even home!” She pauses, contemplating her next words. “And so, I think you should take a break.”
“A break?” I say doubtfully. “But I just started my career! I’m at my peak mom, I can’t stop now.”
“Of course you can! I’m not telling you to retire you know. You have your entire life to work and solve cases. You’ll be working and rising for the rest of your life, but honey, you’re 25 only once. The things you can do now, you don’t have the option to do later.”
“Like what?” I pretend to not know.
“Like marriage.” She says softly.
I shake my head no. “No mom. We’ve talked about this before.”
“Yes, but your father and I think-”
“No!” I say incredulously. “How many times have I told you tha-”
“Many times.” She snaps, her expression growing harsh. “But we’re not asking this time. We’re telling you.” She stands up. “You will take a break. And you will take it soon.”
“Are you serious?” I was growing frustrated now. “You’re acting as if I’m some teenager you can just order around.”
She shoots me a look. “Don’t give me that attitude. As your mother it’s my duty to find you a good life partner, and that too before you start growing white hair instead of black!”
“If you can find me someone who is not an insecure asshole that needs a woman under him to feel powerful, then you’re welcome to. But I WILL NOT sit around the house waiting for him at the expense of my career.”
Mothers eyes flare with anger. “You’re 25! Woman your age already have two children! Why don’t you understand Mansha?” The last sentence is a plead, but it falls on deaf ears.
“If you wanna get me married mom, then get me married. But please don’t expect, not even for a second, that I’ll give up my career to wait for him, or to marry him.” I try to put it as calmly as possible, then leave the room.
I know it’s hard for mom. I’ve heard enough taunts from my family to know how harsh and painful they can be. Especially for a mother who see’s girls her daughter’s age getting married, going on honeymoons and giving birth while her daughter spends her time fighting and writing.
I know what kind of taunts she receives from other mothers. How they mockingly console her, tell her that there is nothing wrong with me, that it’s not my fault. It’s the guy’s, they just prefer younger girls.
But what mom believes to be a happy lifestyle is what I call a prison.
And I’m not ready to go to jail yet.
×———×
I leave the house early the next day, going to Mr. Ahmeds company headquarters, from where we both sit in his car and head to KM Constructions, the company we’re up against.
Yesterday he briefed me about the case, and I also stayed up all night reviewing the case file.
Apparently KMC wants to buy Mr. Ahmeds company and land sites, Skyline Construction Services, and he’s ready to sell it, because the alternative is KMC leaking false information about him and his company to the media, which will lead to immediate bankruptcy.
All Mr. Ahmed wants me to do is find a loophole in the situation, review the contract KMC wants him to sign, stall for time and find a weakness, so he can gamble more money from them, since KMC isn’t offering enough.
Now I’m not dumb enough to believe Mr. Ahmed is an innocent soul, but i know how this game works. And I intend to play it well.
When I get out of the car at our arrival, I admire how huge and beautifully built the KMC headquarters is. They definitely designed it to represent their work.
When we enter the building, a secretary waiting at the reception recieves us with a smile, and leads us to a conference room on the eighth floor.
Mr. Ahmed was murmuring instructions and points in my ear all the while, and didn’t stop until we reached the conference room.
After a short knock, the secretary opens the door for us, and ushers us in.
The room is huge, more then half of it filled by a wide oval table, surrounded by chairs.
At the head of the table sits a man in a black suit, and he looks up when we enter.
I stop in my tracks, eyes going wide.
It’s the guy from the parking lot