“But-” He continues.
“But?”
“There will be conditions.”
I roll my eyes. “Obviously. I mean, I haven’t forgotten that you’re up against my client.”
He shakes his head, and starts walking towards the building gate. “That really isn’t the problem for me. But I’d like to discuss it, yes.”
I follow after him, entering the building.
Small tube lights illuminated the long path splitting into two different ones at its end, one sliding into the underground parking lot, the other leading to the elevators.
I walk to the elevators with Khizer.
“Don’t worry. We’ll discuss everything before making the contract.”
He frowns in confusion, pushing the button to call the elevator. “Contract?”
I nod. “What, you expected me to marry and come live with you just because you gave me your word?”
“No. But I didn’t expect a contract either.”
Truth be told, neither did I.
I just found out we were having one when the words left my lips.
But I know it’s the right move, even in my sleep deprived state.
“I’m a lawyer remember?”
“A criminal lawyer.” He says pointedly.
The way he says it reminds me of something.
The note.
I was so busy these past two days that I completely forgot to read the threat note.
The lift arrives and we both get in.
Pressing the third floor button, I open the black handbag swinging from my shoulder, and start searching for it.
I might as well read it now and get it over with before I forget again.
It wasn’t the right place or time to read a threat someone wrote you two days ago, but really, who cares.
I should get this out of the way so I can focus on other, more important, things.
Like kicking the sender of this notes butt.
I rumage impatiently through my bag, making a mental note to clean it later, since it was filled with useless stuff.
I finally find the note and take it out.
The smooth paper was now creased over, the edges a bit torn as well.
Ignoring the familiar queasy feeling in my stomach, I open it.
‘Now I feel like you’re just seeking attention.
Run that little mouth of yours again at the
next hearing
And I’ll see to it personally that you get it.’
My heart clenches.
They’re empty words, I remind myself.
“Everything alright?”
I look up at Khizer’s voice.
He’s looking at me, brows furrowed in concern.
I inwardly curse myself for not covering up my expressions.
“Yeah.” I say.
Although this was the fourth note they’d sent me, to celebrate me kicking their ass for the fourth time in a row, they still hadn’t followed up their words with action.
But it still made me uneasy.
But not enough to abate my anger.
When the lift stops at the third floor, I mutter a quick goodbye to a frowning khizer and scurry out.
Forget going to bed, I was going to stay up all night and make sure I kicked this bastards ass harder then ever at the next hearing.
×————×
Khizer’s POV:
I watch her leave, noting the change in her careless attitude, her expression now stone cold.
And I just knew it had something to do with the note she was reading.
Shrugging the thought of for now, I get out of the lift on the fourth floor and walk to the only apartment there, ringing the doorbell.
The door opens immediately, and I come face to face with Mansha’s uncle.
“What took you so long?” Mr. Jalal asks, letting me in.
After we had dinner, Mr. Jalal had asked if I wanted to join him downstairs for a smoke.
“Sugra doesn’t know that I restarted smoking, and I have no intention of telling her anytime soon.” He’d said in a whisper.
I’d have refused, but the overbearing attention his wife was giving me made me crave a cigarette myself.
I could understand why he started smoking again.
He was asking me about my business when Mansha so graciously interrupted us.
“I was held up.” I say, giving him a small smile, as I take a seat across from Granny on a single seat couch.
Mr. Jalal nods, taking a seat on the one besides mine. “By the way, I must apologise for the rude interruption we encountered downstairs.”
I raise my eyebrows questioningly.
“By that lady. She’s my niece you see.” He clarifies.
I just nod.
“She is just very outspoken.” Mrs. Jalal adds in.
“Frank.” Mr. Jalal corrects.
I hold back my amusement. Mansha’s position in this house was clearly controversial. I wonder what she’d have to say on this.
“Who are we talking about?” Trust Granny to always wanna know everything.
“My niece. Remember the one who was with me in the parking lot?” Mrs. Jalal asks.
“Oh.” Granny nods. “She lives here too?”
“This is our family building. My parents and their siblings along with my siblings and cousins all live here with their families.” Mr. Jalal says proudly. “Mansha is my cousins daughter.”
I could see from Grannys expression that she was impressed. She loves families that live close together.
The conversation then strays from topic to topic, with Granny being extra sweet to Sara and continuously trying to connect all her hobbies and interests to mine, while Mrs. Jalal laughs and agrees with her in the background.
And although Mr. Jalal is keeping me quiet entertained with his long list of reasons as to why the stock market has dropped so low, my mind still replays the conversation I had with Mansha downstairs.
I was angry at her. Not because she made an extremely insulting comment, but because she was so sure of it. So sure that it was the man who corrupted this world.
So blind to the sins of woman.
All I had wanted was for her to know, to realize her mistake.
But instead the dumbass proposed to me.
And here I was, sitting in her Aunts house, with my Grandma wanting me to marry her cousin, oblivious to the fact that not twenty minutes ago her grandson had finally agreed to marry someone else.
“Khizer, would you like some tea?”
I look at Mrs. Jalal, smile and shake my head.
“Are you sure? How about coffee? Or something sweet to eat? You missed desert after all.”
Peace of mind would be great, thanks, I think.
“No, thank you, we should get going actually.” I say politely.
“Already? Stay a bit!”
It was almost midnight.
“We should leave.” I say again.
Despite being sure of my decision, I needed time to think.
Obviously.
Marrying Mansha meant us living together while remaining far apart, and although this was perfect for my situation, I still needed to plan it all out, so everything goes like it’s supposed to.
And in order to do that, I needed to cuddle with Cat.