The latte I’m drinking is too sweet.
“-of some complications, we’d like to ask you to reduce the due date for the completion of the contract.”
I frown. “How much?”
Nasir Sultan’s eyes flick to his colleague once. “By two months.”
I chew my tongue as I look at him, unimpressed. “You’re saying you want me to build twenty fifteen floor apartment buildings within six months?”
He nods. “Yes.”
I sit back in my seat. “At the amount you’re offering, no.”
He nods again. “Yes, we do know that. It would be stupid if you didn’t ask for compensation for such huge changes made at such short notice.”
“It’s not only that. You’ve reduced the time within which you need the project completed. That means KMC will have to increase the number of labor working on it, and will be utilizing more assets and even the double of it for the project.” Usman, my lawyer, says. “So, since we’ll be doubling our efforts and workforce, you too, will have to give the double of what you were previously offering for the eight month project.”
“We’re reducing the due date by two months. Not four. You can’t ask for double the amount. You will be increasing your workforce, yes, but not doubling it.” Nasir’s lawyer replies quickly.
I tilt my head to the side. “Have you ever built estates Mr. Nasir?” He shakes his head. “I thought not. It takes not only a lot of labor, but also a lot of ???????? to build. Cement, marble, stone, paint and the like. KMC has contracts with other companies for that. And we’ve prepared them to provide us with the required amount in the span of eight months, not six. They too, will be asking for more money when we change our order requirements at such short notice.”
Usman nods. “You’ll have to compensate us for the last minute changes, the limited time being given for such a huge project, and the cost that’ll rise because of it. All of it equals to the double of what you’re offering- feel free to calculate.”
“So a hundred million dollars.” I nod in affirmation. “Excuse me while I discuss it with my lawyer then.” I nod again.
Usman turns to me, as those two talk in hushed voices. “What do you think? Will they accept?”
“Do they have a choice? No other company will accept them at such short notice. No one is that desperate or stupid.” I frown thoughtfully. “Well, maybe nobody but Skyline Constructions.”
Even my boring ass lawyer cracks a smile at that.
Skyline belongs to Mohammed Ahmed, my dearest uncle and a businessman who’ll soon be hitting rock bottom.
“For the mediation tomorrow…” Usman says after a while.
“What about it?”
“He’s just stalling us. Mediation doesn’t work, even a child knows that. And apparently his new lawyer does too.”
I raise an eye brow. “Is that so?”
He nods. “Instead of trying to make amends with our contractual terms, like Ahmed’s last two lawyers did, she’s making one of her own.” He scratches his forehead. “She’s a hot blooded woman. Fresh out of university and out there to change the world.” A subtle sneer mixes with his monotonous tone. “She’ll probably ask Ahmed to bring those terms to the table tomorrow.”
Don’t think she’ll be doing that, no. “Let’s talk about that after we’re done with this.” I nod towards the man still murmuring to each other.
“Yes.” Usman remains silent for a while. “By the way, Mr. Malik?”
“Hm?”
“You’re acting very…. unusual today.” I raise a questioning eye brow. “Less talkative.” He clarifies.
I open my mouth to tell him it’s because a vampire sucked my blood, but Nasir interrupts my retort.
“Mr. Malik?”
“Have you decided?” I turn to the group of two man instead.
“Yes.” His lawyer takes out a folder and hands it to me. “Here’s the contract. Feel free to take your time reviewing it.” I give the papers to Usman, and he gets to work.
“While we wait, mind telling me why you’ve reduced the deadline?”
-××××××-
“Will you be coming to the office tomorrow? We can celebrate the contract signing.” Ahsan asks on our way back.
I think for a while. It was the biggest contract I’ve signed yet. But we didn’t have time either.
“I will, but we don’t have time. We have to start working on this immediately. But maybe I’ll give you all a bonus, what do you think Saleem?”
“Can I answer that after I’ve eaten?” He asks beseechingly. I grin.
We’re silent the rest of the way to the house. The coffee was very sweet, so I didn’t drink it and that was not helping with my headache. I close my eyes against the soft thumping in my head, exhausted.
When my phone buzzes in my pocket, I realise I haven’t checked it since morning. I’ll check it once I’ve gotten something to eat and made sure Mansha’s ok. Pretty sure it’s full of Granny’s missed calls and texts anyway.
When we get back to the house, I make my way to Mansha’s room, Ahsan and Saleem at my heels, bags of food in hand.
I enter the room, only to see Dr. Asif wrapping up Mansha’s wrist.
Mansha’s reluctant gaze leaves Dr. Asif’s face and trails over to me. For a while, she just stares, then a glint of recognition flashes through her eyes.
She opens her mouth, but no sound comes out.
“She’s been conscious for ten minutes now, but won’t drink water.”
I walk towards her bed, relief flooding by body. “Hey.” I murmur softly.
As expected, she doesn’t reply. I pour water in a glass and look at Dr. Asif questioningly.
“Tip her head up to help her drink. I’ve turned her on her back, but she shouldn’t be moving yet.” I nod and bend down.
Nudging a hand beneath her head, I carefully tip it upwards, touching the glass to her lips.
She starts gulping.
-××××××-
After about two hours, Mansha has recovered even more, and I finally relax when she starts talking normally. Or at least as normally as a person who got stabbed today morning can speak.
“Do you want to eat something?” I ask, watching her as she stares at the ceiling. She shakes her head. “You need anything else?”
“Instant healing would be great, thank you.” She murmurs.
“Dr. Asif said it’ll only take a week before you can start walking again.”
“Anything fatal?” She asks slowly.
I bite my lip, then shake my head, even though she can’t see. “No. Nothing severe. Your operation took a little while, and we had to give you some blood, but no organ was damaged by the knife.”
“Where’d you get the blood?”
“The doctor had a resource.”
She doesn’t speak for a while. I hear her take a shaky breath. “Why am I not in a hospital?”
“If you were, you would be dead by now.” My voice sounds cold, even to my own ears. “Ever heard the saying ‘choose your friends wisely’?” She doesn’t reply, but I know she’s listening. “Well, you should choose your enemies even more wisely then your friends. You’ve messed with the wrong people Mansha. And I will not always be a phone call away to save you from them.”
“I did not ask you to save me.” She says bitterly. “You could’ve ignored everything and gone about your day for all I care.”
I frown. “Well, I’m sorry I didn’t leave you out to die.”
“Apology not accepted.” Now she’s just being petty.
I bite back a retort. She just woke up and probably has a million questions and is still in shock. I can fight her when she’s back on her feet.
“Call me if you need anything.” I mumble before leaving the room.
She doesn’t reply.