Fauziyyah
The past week has been a roller coaster of emotions. The atmosphere of the house has been anything but comfortable and welcoming. Ilham was still keeping to herself and I really don't blame her because I had no idea what she was going through.
There was nothing new going on in Smart Minds. Just the usuals, people coming from different parts of the world to invest or collaborate in bringing a new project to life.
Your attention is needed in the meeting room. Be there in five!
I looked down to the message that just popped up on my phone screen while I was typing away on my laptop. I put my laptop to sleep and took one last sip from my blue water bottle. James, Sadiq and Muhsin were already at the door so I walked behind them.
"Good morning to the one of the most hardworking team in Smart Minds. I realized that we haven't attended a conference in a while so I acquired five tickets for a particular one coming up next week. The four of you: Sadiq, James, Muhsin and Fauziyyah have been chosen for this one " Mr Anas paused to let us process the information he just passed through.
We nodded our heads in understanding before he carried on
"If God wills, I'll attend it with you guys. But if I happen to be unavailable, my PA here," he pointed to Mr Ibrahim, " would gladly be with you."
"Gladly, my foot." Mr Ibrahim grumbled not so lowly, we heard him clearly. We all laughed at his comment and his scrunched up face.
"Are you trying to tell us it's going be boring as beans?" Sadiq, who always kept to himself asked.
Mr Ibrahim cleared his throat and took his right hand to his nape, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Mr Anas playfully glared at him and then turned his attention back to us
"Boring or not, it's compulsory on you all to attend."
"Yes sir!"
"Dismissed" We pulled back our chairs and I waited for a bit so the guys can clear up and give way for me to pass.
"Fauzeeyah?" Mr CEO called out, his hands tucked in the pockets of his trouser.
"Sir?"
"Meet me in my office please."
"Anything wrong, Sir?" I enquired after I closed the door behind me.
I watched as he rounded the table and fell backwards into his chair. He sighed exhaustively then lifted both his legs to the table and crossed them at the ankles.
"Coffee danAllah." His eyes were closed and I moved closer to his desk. I noticed he had very long and full eyebrows. They were extremely black too. I mentally pictured mine and how almost invisible they were. I shrugged off the thought before keeping my phone on his desk.
"I wasn't hired for this, you know?" I wasn't saying it out of annoyance. I just wanted to get the silence out of the way.
"It's not too late."
"Why are you speaking so casually to me today?"
"Because you make really good coffee. Let's be friends." I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped my throat.
"Try again. That's a lame reason." I decided to play around.
" You're good at what you do...?" his reply came out as a question and I think he meant it that way.
"What is it that I do?" The coffee was ready so I dropped it on his desk after clearing the few papers there.
He dropped his legs and took a long sip
"Good coffee." We both laughed at his answer.
"You're welcome again, Mr CEO. I'll get going now." I turned on my heels after picking up my phone.
"Thank you!"
~|~
"I'm never doing this again sir." Muhsin answered Mr Anas' question about the conference while we were all settled at a restaurant.
The conference lasted two hours. Unlike others, I found it really enlightening. They brushed through a lot of new coding techniques that made me doubt if I could go on without getting couched by an expert. I just pray I don't lose my job because of inexperience.
"I liked it. I look forward to doing this again." I said my thoughts out loud.
Mr Anas gave me a thumbs up with a big smile on his face, " That's the spirit!"
My colleagues all shot me a look that screamed ' you're joking right?' but I shrugged it off.
They ordered for their launch and I watched them eat. As for me, I didn't order because I'm too shy to eat there. Thankfully, no one mocked me about it.
Few minutes later, their plates were all cleared up. Muhsin, James and Sadiq bade us goodbye.
"Come, I'll drop you off." Mr Anas rose from his seat after a long minute of using his phone.
"Okay" I stood up too with a small smile.
"This is where you say: no thanks, that isn't necessary." He playfully glared at me and I laughed hard at that.
"But I don't mind." I didn't know what was wrong with me but I felt my mouth form into a pout.
I'm getting too comfortable with my boss.
I noticed Mr Anas stare at my face, my lips in particular for a few seconds before he cleared his throat.
"You need help. We should....get going right?"
"Okay."
The restaurant was a bit far so the ride to Bappa Sadu's house was long. Throughout the ride, I kept wondering how Mr Anas and I became comfortable with each other. I couldn't exactly pinpoint how or when.
" The black gate over there." I pointed at the gate that was few feet away. He hummed in reply and stepped on the break when he was directly in front of it.
"Thank you for the ride Sir" I unbuckled my seatbelt and dropped off.
He lifted his right palm and waved
"See you on Monday, Fauzeeyah."
I waited until he reversed the car and zoomed off before stepping into the house.
"You've gotten a new boyfriend koh?" Ilham's voice startled me. She was on the doorstep with her evil smile that I never got used to.
"A'a kin manta sugar daddy" I hissed and pushed her to the side in order to enter the house. Deep down though, I was glad she was back to her normal self.
~â¢â¢â¢~
Eid Mubarak!ð¥³
I hope you made the most out of the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijja
See you in a bitð¤