Nothing Is As It Seems 10

Part 10

The next day was no exception, all four had to go to work. Ok maybe not all 4, one particular person got to go to work whenever he felt like it and some days he would go to work just to annoy Shaikha. That is what she got for working for 7sian.

Shaikha was in her office as usual going through some accounting papers. When Fatima walked in with 2 cups of coffee

Fatima: you will be needing this

Shaikha: you know me too well

Fatima: ok then ill be getting to work

She walked to the office to find it empty

Fatima: 'I guess he still hasn’t come to work yet, much better. She took her seat

and started working. She was engrossed in her work she didn’t sense bader walking

in'

A few moments later...

Bader: mn el9b7 intii ehnii?

Fatima was shocked so she jumped in her seat.

Fatima: you scared me

Bader just laughed at her.

Fatima: don’t speak im working

Bader: el7emdillah wishkir

She just ignored him and kept on working. He was still in the office

Fatima: ‘uff again with the kandoora, does he own anything else, it even changes color cz of the construction sites he visits them in’

She was too into her work that hours passed by without her noticing. As she

worked the room was getting hotter and hotter and bader was not in the office at

that moment. She started to look for the remote control since it wasn’t where it suppose to be hanging up the wall beside the light switches. The room was neat,

not as messy as she thought a guy office would be like. Since she works in a design company not many guys are to be seen. The frustration was getting to her as she couldn’t find the remote so she finally decided to go on top of the table and switch the AC on manually, old style. Boy was she determined. A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do, I am right? Bader was too busy to walk in any second so what was the harm in getting some air into this stuffy office. Well her expectation where not what she thought would be since bader was right there to witness her climbing up the chair with her pumps on, on the table trying to reach the AC.

Bader: intii sho etsaween?

Fatima was shocked at his presence. She really didn’t want him there and certainly

not there to see her doing what she was doing at the moment.

Fatima: why do you keep on scaring me?

She was about to go off the table when she lost her balance. She just had to go on that stinking table with her pumps. The first thing she did was close her eyes. Not the best choice of response. Her body hit a hard surface which she guessed was the floor. The hit was not as hard as she thought it would be and certainly not as painful. That is when she opened her eyes to see bader’s face right in front of her and she seemed to be lying right on top of him with his arms around her. That was the first time she looked into his eyes. It was her first time to see how caring his eyes were. She was lost in them. For a moment she forgot why she hated him. He on the other hand just stared at her back not knowing what to do. Something about her made him wonder. Being a gentleman everyone would expect this from him but this time it was different. Could it be? He stared at her taking his time and so did she. His cologne was one of her favorite men colognes. He just had to wear that cologne which she wished he never did.

Bader: no one told you to get on that table with your heels on

That was the first time he spoke in English. And boy was it fluent with the perfect

accent. A full sentence in English which she never thought he would say to her. He

impressed her intentionally, knowing that would turn her on. Yet they remained on

the floor staring into each other’s eyes until he spoke again

Bader: nawya etgomeen 3ani?

That is when it got registered in her mind to stand up and let go of the guy that

just saved her life. ok maybe not her life but prevented her from having an injury.

They shared a moment that she never expected to share with anyone. Especially

not bader! Standing up after a long time, she avoided looking in his eyes and went

back to her station pretending nothing just happened.

Bader walked to his desk, opened his drawer and took out the remote out.

Bader: this is what you where looking for

He handed it to her and went out of the office. He had a smile on as he left. Just another day at the office.

Nothing Is As It Seems 9

Part 9

She went into the office, finally working on her own project independently and getting paid for it. It was always what she wanted but never had the courage to do so. She spotted shaikha in her own office surrounded by papers and an Indian guy standing by her side.

Fatima: im guessing 7sain is not here as usual

Shaikha: that stupid man!

Fatima: so where do I start working?

Shaikha had the tech install Mac computers for more efficiency. But due to some delays bader’s office was the first to have a Mac computer. Since he just moved into his renovated office.

Shaikha: john ill be right back

She started walking with Fatima taking her to bader’s office.

Shaikha: this is where you will be working, everything you need in on this computer

Fatima: whos office is this?

Shaikha: ohh its bader’s don’t worry he wont be working in his office a lot and he rarely uses the computer

She walked out leaving Fatima all alone. This Fatima didn’t see coming. She ended up working in a place where she was going to see the face of a man that she disliked more like despised.

Fatima: ‘he is an engineer, what are the odds that he would spend more time in his office’

Bader was a civil engineer so he was busy visiting construction sites. She got seated working on the computer looking at the pictures that she could work with. She sensed someone standing beside the door watching her work.

Bader: ‘6ay3a?

Fatima: la mob ‘6ay3a, shaikha galatlii asht’3il ehnii

Bader: galawlii 7ad byii ‘didn’t expect to see her anywhere, especially not here’

Fatima: a6la3 ya3nii?

Bader: ha, intii taraach ehnii shonsawii!

Fatima: ‘jerk, he cant even say something nice or atleast say hello like a normal person’

She continued working and sketching some designs on her note pad while he sat there in his desk looking into some blueprints. She was seated in front of computer that was right in front of him. He could see how serious she looked. He didn’t see her as a hard worker.

Bader: ‘who knew she worked for a living’

Bader brushed the thought away and just didn’t want to think about her anymore.

She is too much baggage to get into. After fighting with himself he excused himself just to change his view. 2 straight hours looking at nothing and the moment he raised his head he saw her. It didn’t mean anything to him but he couldn’t stand in being on the same room as her.

Fatima: ‘finally I thought he would never leave’

Her head didn’t move for 2 hours just at the screen and her note pad. It felt like hell. She didn’t expect him to show up.

She took off her pumps and walked around the room a little. She went back to her seat when she saw bader from afar walking towards the office. She cursed under her breath at his scenery. He walked in and sat right in his desk examining more blue prints.

Bader: ‘she took off her shoes, she sure is getting comfortable’

She was getting into his head that he just wanted to get it out there.

Bader: merta7a achoofch

Fatima noticed that she hadn’t put her shoes back on. She was used to working in a comfortable environment and taking of her shoes was more comfortable for her, it helped her think.

Fatima: haih merta7a

Bader: cheh? yalsa fi baitkm?

Fatima: eskt eshway, 9ootk wayid emsaweelii 9daa3

Bader: o ba3ad wayid tetshari6ain

She ignored him and just went back to work. That is how they became closer by spatting at eachother’s throat. Exactly what they both needed someone they both couldn’t stand seeing early in the morning and the whole time throughout the day! 

Nothing Is As It Seems 8

PART 8

She walked out without even listening to what he was saying. She started to have a temper all because of working for him and now she needed anger management sessions. She arrived at the office building and made her way to the meeting hall to make sure it was prepared since their guests would be arriving anytime now. 7sain finally decided to show up.

Shaikha: sharaft!

7sain: feenii ergaad

Shaikha: I would slap you right now but we have a meeting to attend to

The guests have arrived and the company where in their best behavior to make sure everything is good. The meeting was smooth and surprisingly 7sain was on a role. His charm works for everyone except for shaikha. He would put no effort in what he is doing and everything turned out good for him. Shaikha watched him speak as if this morning never happened. The sponsors left the building and finally shaikha took a deep breath.

7sain: and that is how you do business

Shaikha: business my ass!

Flashback (3 years ago)

Chairman: do you know why I called you in here?

Shaikha: no I don’t

Chairman: have a seat lets talk

Shaikha: 3ami fi shay mestiwii?

He let out a slight laugh, he saw shaikha as if she was his daughter.

Chairman: la mafia shay ela el3afia, mashallah 3alaich shaikha ma9agartii wiyana fil sharika, bs sina wi7da o sawaitii kila hatha

Shaikha: swait eli 3alay 3ami

Chairman: sawaitii akthar mn el 3alaich, wallah ana achoofch mthl bntii o ta3alii 3ndii meta tbain, ana mawjood

Shaikha: inshallah

Chairman: ana a7een shayabt o kbart, eldawaam thgeel 3alai o el7erma matebanii

adawem, fa 7sian beykoon fi mkaanii

Shaikha: aha

Chairman: intii et3arfeen wildii 7sain, o meshta’3la wiya km mn mara 9a7?

Shaikha: haih na3am

Chairman: zain, fa abaach etkooneen wiyah daiman o etsa3deena, o 6ab3an el

ma9roof a3la, abaach etchofeen wara 7sain

…

Those where the words that came out of 7sain’s dad before he retired. Shaikha would never forget them. Wa9aha 3ala elsharika and she would never let him down. That what was making her endure all the crap that 7sain pulls. She knew exactly how he could be and his dad knew that she was the right person to deal with him.