Amina
"Morning to y'all" I cheerfully remarked waving at Cindy and Fareeda. Fareeda was in a standing position. By the looks of it, she came not long ago.
"Morning Amina. How was your weekend?," her eyes grew small as she stares at me. "Let me see... Looking at your expression, your weekend went smoothly. I mean very smooth" she added. To be honest, I don't know why, but I woke up feeling excited like I'm going to get my pay or visit my mom. Yet, none was the case. The excitement just decided to come to me.
"I won't say my weekend went smooth. However, I woke up smooth" I answered back setting my bag on my desk and adjust my wrap veil. Cindy only smile and went back to her work. I turned to Fareeda, passed her a small smile, and also went on to start my required work.
When it was 9:30 am, time to take Ahmad's coffee and his schedule, I rushed out to the kitchen. I was barely one step towards it when I heard Fareeda's voice from behind me which almost startled me.
"God! Fareeda. Are you a ghost? Why must you scare me like that" I let out continuing my walk.
"I think I know the reason why you're all smiling this early morning," she said walking together with me.
"You knew?"
"Yes. You know last week I saw you together with the guy who used to drop you. And you're all smiling to him. Is he your boyfriend?" her question caught me off guard. I avert my hand from the kitchen door handle.
"Boyfriend?" I repeated. If she's referring to Nabil then she must be joking. I never thought of seeing myself as his girlfriend. Though I enjoy his company and whenever I'm with him, I feel comfortable. That should not be considered as anything or will it be? Her words brought me back from my small thought.
"Is that not it?" she asked. Her sole focus was on me. Apart from her troubles, I didn't know she has a gossip side to her. Clearing out my throat, I pushed the door open and we got in.
"To kill your curiosity, he's just a friend. Just like I'm working for Mr.Ahmad, he's also doing the same. So don't get any misunderstanding in your head" I took out the teacup and waited for the water to get boiled.
"Are you sure? That day you were smiling brightly. A smile I have never seen you do in the office" Okay. I'm being to be fed up with her interrogation.
"I told you he's just a friend. Can't I smile with a friend?" I snapped. She made her lips in a thin line while leaning her back on the counter.
"Okay," She said. "But who knows, a friend can turn to a lover" my ears were quick to catch her word. One little glare from me, she raised her hand in surrender. When the kettle made a sound, I didn't waste time in making the coffee. Fareeda went back to the office, while I made my way to Mr. Ahmad's office.
Balling my knuckles into a fist, I knocked on the door. "Come in" Came his straight voice. The room was cool as usual. I'm still not used to the chillness. I wonder how he copes with the cold.
"Good morning sir. Here's your coffee" I said. I know I greeted him at home but since we're at work, I will just go by the flow.
"Morning" I gently placed the mug beside him and the schedule file in front of him. My hands were secured at my side as I waited for him to finish going through the file. "Cancel the meeting with the tractor company. I've already spoken to him last night. And..." he trailed off, tracing his pen through the page.
"For the site checkup, I won't be able to make it. I have some other important work to do. You should go together with Fareeda. She knows everything so it won't be that hard for you and besides, you know most of the things by now. That's it for now." he passed the file back to me.
"Okay sir"
I turned around to leave when he ushered again. "Amina, what happened to your cell phone?" shoot! I knew he won't forget about it. Yet, I have forgotten.
"Nothing sir. The battery was low yesterday that's why you couldn't reach me" I pray he would buy my not so true answer.
His eyes were calculating for a while before he masked it up by forming his lips in a thin line. "Alright. But make sure you always have a backup in case of emergency"
"Okay, sir. Thank you, sir"
Closing the door behind me, I snapped my eyes and opened them again. It's all Nabil's fault. God saved him, he gave me back the phone yesterday. Talking of yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking about what Nabil told me about his family. He's living each and everyday day of his life on revenge. How hard it must be for him to see the family in wealth and happiness. This is something I will never wish to happen to me. To work under the people who caused the downfall of my family.
**
"When will we reach the place?" I said to Fareeda who was leading us into an enormous spacious place. We've been walking for like ten minutes, passing by workers who were busy doing their required jobs. "Hold on a bit. We'll be there in less than three minutes" I only heaved out a sigh because a matter of fact, I was exhausted already. Looking at the surrounding, the project Is indeed an important one for him. Considering how he works day and night.
"And here we are" She cheered flinging her hands up. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her actions. My eyes scanned the large hall. The floor was barely cemented. The roof above us was unexpectedly tall and high.
"Wow is this really a Mall?" I asked no one in particular.
"You could say is this really Mr.Ahmad's mall"
My head snapped towards her. "Mr.Ahmad's Mall?" I repeated.
"Yes. I don't know why he kept it a secret but I heard Cindy discussing with him earlier. And by the looks of it, this is his Mall."
My brows flew in confusion as I try to take in her words. "Then what about the mall we've been working on for Mr., " I asked while we continue our journey towards an office.
"You could say he's using that to cover up his project. I don't know his reasons for hiding the truth but maybe he wants it to be a surprise."
"The-" my words got caught short as the door in front of me was pulled open. Out a middle-age made who I immediately recognized as Mr. Adewale. Since the first day he took me up to the office, I haven't seen him until today.
"Good afternoon Mr. Adewale." Fareeda greeted. I followed her heed with a small greeting
"Afternoon ladies. Mr.Ahmad had already spoken to me about your arrival. Here please" he ushered with his hands towards the door we came through in
Mr.Adewale gave us a tour of the surrounding. All the while, I was with my small notebook jotting out some things, asking Fareeda whatever I don't understand. We spent almost closed to fifteen minutes roaming around the place. And a matter of fact, I learned a lot of things though I know it will take time for me to master everything. Yet, that's the job for me
"Thank you Sir" I commenced after slipping the notebook inside my bag. We're done with the checkout, the measurement, and all
"It was my pleasure. I know this project will be a hit. Mr.Ahmad is a diligent man. Managing three big projects at a time is not an easy task" Both me and Fareeda glanced at each other
We didn't say anything more to what he just uttered. "We will now take our leave" Fareeda chirped taking a hold of my arm. The man nodded his head. And we turn around and lef
"Do-"
"Can you -"
We both laugh at our curiosity. I couldn't imagine both of us having the same thoughts in our heads. "You go first," I sai
She glanced at her surrounding, making sure they were no prying eyes before she scooted closer, keeping her voice low. "Did I just hear Mr.Adewale said three projects?"
"That's what I heard too. Apart from the one we know and the one we came to know about, does that mean he has another project on ground?"
She flips her palms over her mouth."Could there be some secret behind it? I don't seem to understand why he had to hide it. Besides, won't that be a great achievement, if people know about it"
Now that fareeda voiced out her thoughts, something seems fishy. This project that we came to know about and on the other hand the flashes of our meeting back in my state. Maybe I will be able to find something from Nabil
"Do you think Cindy will tell us if we ask her?" Fareeda said again beside me. We were already close to the entrance gate
"I don't think so. Considering how we didn't know about it, as his staffs. Me being his secretary"
He might have his reasons for keeping it low key. Yet, it baffles me knowing I'm not aware of the project, due to the fact that I'm his secretary