“-but Mr. Malik is asking if you’d like to have lunch with him tomorrow?
I bite my lip.
” Sure. But I pick where.”
“Yes, he told me to let you.”
After telling her the place and time, I cut the call.
Standing up, I stretch, my muscles cramped up after hours of sitting.
I’d rather have preferred I met him tonight, since I’m barely free tomorrow and the curiosity is killing me.
He must’ve thought up all kinds of things to torture me with, by now.
I stretch out, then walk to the small window in my office, that looks out on the main street, pulling up the blinds to look out.
I, for one, might as well have forgotten I’m supposedly about to get engaged until tonight.
Mom’s call about the break was a good reminder.
She’d begun by asking if I’d had dinner, and ended by reminding me that this was supposed to be my last week at work.
That’s one way to get your daughter to marry a stranger.
Though, in fairness to her, I’m choosing to marry a stranger myself.
Never mind that it’s because of her.
Thunder cracks loudly in the sky, the sparkling bolt of light lighting up the dark road momentarily.
My eyes automatically zoom in on the black car standing across the road, windows pulled up, just standing there like it was in the morning.
Like it was all day.
My fists clench.
It was clear what this was.
They were keeping an eye on me, an open threat.
It was a step ahead from the notes, and the realisation that they may no longer be empty threats was starting to dawn on me.
We have another hearing next week, and its clear I’m winning.
It isn’t that hard since the victim is right there, with pictures and test reports that prove sexual assault.
They are scared.
Desperate enough to come after me, since the victim and her family are under police protection.
Another lightning bolt cracks the dark sky, and I watch as the drivers window rolls down, and a mans silhouette comes into view, shadowed by darkness.
He brings out an arm, holding up two fingers.
Then he drives away.
Two days.
I have two days to quit.
I let the blinds fall back into place, then walk back to my desk.
It was a mess, a mess I made to prepare for the hearing next week.
I had two hearings next week, but the other case was just beginning, and for some reason, this case had become more of a priority for me, ever since the threats started last month.
The world was an unfair place.
The predator roams free, goes and does whatever he wants, while his victim is hiding from him in a small house somewhere, scared for her life even after she told everyone what he did.
Why?
Because he’s got the cash, the power, and she doesn’t.
Because she’s weak and isn’t influential.
Because she’s a GIRL, and no one wants to mess with a politicians son for someone as insignificant as her.
But I’ll be damned if I step back like the rest of them, and let the little boy play his little games at the expanse of innocent girls.
I start stacking up the strewn papers, and despite knowing what it meant, I make up my mind.
I will not quit.
×———-×
I walk into the cafe the next day, out of breath.
I’m thirty minutes late.
I was having a meeting with a potential client, and he just wouldn’t leave.
Hell, the guy asked more questions then mom.
“I could’ve waited a couple more hours.”
I whirl to my right, where the familiar voice came from, eyes immediately meeting Khizers.
He raises an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side. “I’m assuming my beauty isn’t what knocked you breathless?”
I try to catch my breath as I sit down opposite him. “I was held up.”
“By what.”
I shoot him a look, grabbing the water bottle on the table and pouring it into a glass. “I assure you it’s non of your business.”
“Yes, why you made me wait for you for hours before showing up is definitely not my business.”
I take a huge sip. “Half an hour.”
He just stares at me.
I huff. “If you must know, I was with a client.”
‘If YOU must know, Ms. Mansha, I’m your client too, and really, your tardiness isn’t convincing me to hire you.”
“Hire me?!” I say incredulously.
“Aren’t lawyers hired?” He tilts his head, grey eyes scanning my face. “Or is this the other way around?” He leans in, arms folded on the table. “Are you hiring me?” He squints mockingly.
I roll my eyes. “We’re entering a partnership, no one is being hired.”
His lips tip up into a smile. “Is that so?”
“Yes, we must maintain equality.”
“Now, how will we do that with you being bossy every other second?”
I scowl. “I’m not bossy!”
He sniggers.
Huffing, I call the waiter over.
“I’ll have a mint lemonade.” I tell him.
Despite having downed half the water bottle, I was still very thirsty, for some reason.
My stomach rumbles.
And apparently hungry too.
I’d planned not to eat anything, but oh well.
I scan the menu.
“And a jalapeno cheese steak sandwich with a double fries serving, and…” I look back down at the desert section in the menu. “And a choc-”
Feeling his gaze on me, I look up sharply at Khizer.
“What?”
He shrugs. “Nothing.”
I frown. “And a chocolate ice cream sundae for desert please.” I say, turning back to the waiter.
He nods, then turns to Khizer. “Will you have something Sir?”
Khizer stares at the menu. “I’ll have another coffee. And a croissant, thanks.”
I turn to Khizer after the waiter leaves. “Another coffee?”
He leans back in his seat. “I’ve already had one.”
I frown.
Why?
However, I don’t ask.
It’s non of my business.
“You certainly have an appetite though.” He adds.
I scowl. “Did we come here to discuss my appetite?”
He shakes his head incredulously. “Don’t be a grump, I was merely observing.”
My scowl deepens. “Don’t.”
“See, grump!”
I huff. “Am not! You’re just annoying is all.”
He tilts his head to the side, observing me.
“Nope.” He says after a while, purposefully popping the ‘p’. “Definitely a grump.”
The audacity this man has.
“Whatever, can we get to work now?”
“Ofcourse grump.” He says, smirking.
I can’t help it.
I glare.
If it weren’t for Mom and her stupid demands, I wouldn’t have to bear with this men right now.
Even now, I can barely stop myself from punching that cocky look right out of his face.
Asshole.