Eating with the emotional post traumatic Nana was the worst decision I made!
Not for a single moment she spared my poor nerves and ears from hearing how the hit on Ines's head could have been much more dangerous if it landed on her nose, her eyes, her mouth or her temporal bone.
When i logically asked her what the hell was this temporal bone she replied:
_" the doctor said it's the part of the skull around the ear area, it's very fragile, she could have had a concussion!"
I bet the doctor was so idle that he explained the whole freaking human head anatomy for them! It is either this or that the poor him was actually forced to explain the human anatomy because Nana and my mother in-law fought at the hospital and got him involved and stuck in the middle between them.
She spoke for a very long time, although I initially was hungry, I became full without eating much just hearing her exaggerated point of view, as for the reason I still kept her company against my heart's wish to leave, it was because even if I left she would follow me to my room and still finish what she had to say, if I shamelessly just closed the door on her face she would find the chance in the following days and she would finish what she had to say.
Even if I straightforward informed her:
_"Nana, I don't want to hear any of this, you already know my case is particular, I really don't want you to say anything more!"
She would say she understands, but would continue speaking in the same subject until she freaking finish what she had to say!
Since there was absolutely no escape, it was better to get rid of this situation sooner.
While I was being tortured, Eliyas suddenly appeared in the dining room, he walked straight towards me under my surprised watchful eyes, then he stood right behind my seat, forcing me to stretch my neck quite uncomfortably to see him.
_"Why did you come down? your dinner is already in the room" i asked.
He smiled weirdly and refused to answer, he looked at Nana instead then said:
_"excuse me Nana, I will take Noursine now, bon appétit."
He gently patted on my shoulders and signaled for me to follow him, I felt so confused with this sudden weird behavior of his.
Assuming that the matter must have been urgent, I looked at the food I barely ate with a burdened heart then stood up and decided to follow him.
Before leaving, I wanted to wish Nana a good night, when I looked at her though, her face was as red as the soup she was eating!! She was blushing and burying her head in her plate not to make eye contact with us.
What dirty thoughts was that old woman having!!
Eliyas was too tired to do any of what she obviously had in head to begin with, probably he just wanted to apologize for forgetting about me for hours.
When we reached our room though, I figured out Nana indeed knew her grandson much better than I did, that man barely closed the door when he already started the naughty business, since I was both surprised and very tired I resisted him and tried to move away.
He still insisted to keep hugging me tightly, and lightly kissed my cheeks.
I didn't need to read a book in the science of Eliyas Filladi to understand he was just being overwhelmed by happiness, although I couldn't see his face clearly since someone was in such hurry that he forgot to turn on the lights, when I held his face between my palms in a desperate attempt to stop his kisses, his lips were smiling widely.
_"Did something happen?" I asked curiously.
He hugged me even tighter after hearing my question, then he finally spoke.
_"Thank you" he said.
It's very rare for him to be happy, and to show his happiness, knowing that he's in such good mood made me smile like a fool as well!
You see, love is such a weird thing, such a strong and powerful bond, this is the only explanation I can find for the extreme happiness I was feeling in my husband's embrace although there was no logical reason for me to be happy.
_"what are you thanking me for?" I asked while circling my arms around him too and resting my head on his chest.
He took a deep breath, then explained to me with a sound that vibrated in my ears through his chest:
_" those papers in the safe are so important, I was worried about them ever since Akrem told me he dropped them in the hall, when he came back to collect them he didn't find them, we asked the butler and the protection team leader, they both didn't know were they were, we assumed father took them since he was absent in the hospital so we were already discussing the possible damage that we will face, all the worst case scenarios and alternatives.. Not in a single second I thought of the possibility that you could have taken them instead!"
Well, he spoke quite excitedly and everything so I felt a bit embarrassed with the only question I had in mind, I still decided to ask it though.
_"Who is Akrem??"
He sighed in helplessness, then answered:
_"Akrem Houdil, The VP, how come you not know him even when you've been working at Filladi for months now? Plus, you both often met, he was with me at the garden today when you came to speak with me."
Once he finished introducing Mr Houdil in his high and mighty way I felt so displeased, you see, when you walk inside the Filladi company they don't give you a catalogue with all the names and pictures of workers inside!
In fact, the administrative stuff is constantly changing figures that I never felt the need to familiarize my self with any of them.
As for the position of vise president, I met the previous vise president three years ago, he was a very old man who spoke only in French and the few Arabic words he intermittently injected in his speech sounded like if they were coming from the mouth of a foreigner, As for the reason I remember his 'linguistic situation', it's because I did an interview with him! And since I had to write my article in Arabic, I had to translate every word he said, even his freaking Arabic injections because they were not correct!
I had no idea he was replaced, I always thought Mr Houdil was some kind of an administrative assistant, that's all.
Eliyas's words made it seem like I was a careless employee although it isn't the case at all, since I'm a very righteous person I decided to not only stand for my self, but for every average employee in the company who knew nothing more than the task he is assigned and the identity of his direct manager.
So I said:
_" in case you don't know, even 'you' are an unknown figure in your own company! Many employees never had the chance to see you so how do you expect me to know the VP who is even more low key than you are! I'm just an average employee working for you Mr CEO, I need to at least be promoted to a department manager for me to meet the higher ups in your company."
After I finished speaking, Eliyas stopped hugging me, he pecked my forehead then stepped towards the door to switch on the lights.
_"you will not get a promotion Noursine, you don't have the necessary qualifications for it." He bossily informed me the moment the room was brightly lit.
When did I say I wanted a promotion??!
I felt so angry with his arrogant words that I yelled:
_"what do I need a promotion for? I will quit pretty soon then have a job where I will use my qualifications."
He nodded in agreement although it was written right on his face: this will happen only in my dreams.
Speaking about dreams, after I finished the whole food that was originally served for Eliyas all by my self without giving him not even a sip of water, I made him sleep on the sofa and I slept alone on the bed.
The reason was: He didn't have enough 'qualifications' to both eat and sleep beside me, no objections allowed!
Waking up the next morning, the first thing my eyes noticed was the empty sofa, and the empty room.
I drowsily walked to the window, then opened the curtains to let the sunshine light the room.
As I went to the bathroom next and found it empty as well I realized my husband strangely left the room in my sleep.
Such event is of course very weird and very unusual, because Eliyas daily waits for me to wake up no matter how late I do that, I even remember once waking up at 11 am, which is the utter sign of laziness in my husband's eyes, although he scolded me until there was no words left to say, he still waited for me after all until that late!
It's barely 8:30 am now and my husband is already amiss!
Being the journalist that I am, I quickly washed my self, put my clothes on then I went out of the room to look for him.
When I was walking across the corridor I met a group of servants doing their chores, so I asked them whether they saw my "missing" husband.
_" Master Eliyas is the guest's hall." One among them replied.
I looked at her quite pensively, then I asked again:
_"Do we have any guests?"
_"Yes, Mr Houdil is here to see Master Eliyas."
_"thank you" I quickly replied then headed straight towards them.
I was thinking that my husband maybe summoned the poor Mr Houdil to the villa this early in morning to severely punish him for his mistake, since I absolutely didn't want that to happen (especially that I haven't found out yet what were his true motives) I decided to go see them both and try to do something about this.
When I reached the guest's hall though, the scenery my eyes fell on didn't correspond with a boss cruelly firing his employee or even punishing him. On the contrary, the table in front of them was full of fresh fruits, sweets and coffee while the two men looked so busy working like if nothing happened.
Mr Houdil was the first one to notice me standing at the door dumbfounded and staring at them, although he seemed quite troubled with the expression I had on my face he still gentlemanly stood up and greeted me.
Then he said:
_" I'm really thankful for your help mrs.Filladi, your smart intervention spared us a lot of trouble."
I just nodded my head not sure what else to say, I mean, I prepared a full speech beforehand in my head, but it was all about saving Mr. houdil from the punishment, I didn't imagine encountering such scenario.
Eliyas who finally decided to look at me immediately requested Mr.Houdil :
_" Akrem, can you leave us alone for a bit."
Once the latter left, Eliyas said:
_" in few minutes, I'll be going to the hospital to see Ines, if she's discharged today, is it alright if I bring her here in the villa to rest for few days?"
_" Will mother come along too?" I mattered.
He shook his head, then confirmed to me:
_" certainly not."
It was of course out of the question that I refuse, no matter how bad my relationship with Ines was, Eliyas is still her brother and if he thinks that bringing her to the villa in such insecure situation that we're living then it's probably the right thing to do in an aspect I can't see.
Plus, my mother in-law is not coming along, so it's going to be just "half hell" for me.
However, this wasn't my husband's only surprise for me this morning, because he suddenly added:
_" Akrem is going to stay in the villa too for the few next days, it's for his own safety and for the benefit of Filladi, we have extra work to do together."
I knew it right at that moment, things were going to be so interesting.