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*
"Habibti, why don't you let me take care of this while you get ready for work. Or do you wanna get late again? " Mum glares at me with the Conner of her eyes reaching for the sponge in my hand.
" Mum, don't worry. I won't get scolded by my boss, besides these little monkeys can be so silly when it comes to bathing. They'll give you a very hard time. " I pinch azrah's tiny nose and shift my face from her reach before she can pinch me back. She whines and grabs my pajama pants in an attempt to pull me into the bathtub, her blue eyes shining with mischief. " No no azrah, stay still and let Mama wash you" Azrah gave me a smiles and tries to repeat what I said.
"Okay then, suite yourself. But don't say I didn't warn you when you get fired" mum says sarcastically closing the door behind her.
My mother can be so amusing when she wants to be. She will be laughing and joking and in a second her mood will change to a serious and scary one.
She picks her words carefully though.
You can never take back what you say.
Just when Azrah starts to behave, getting distracted by the yellow rubber duck. Ajwad starts whining from the room, wanting me to come pick him up from the bed. "Coming baby" I try calming him down but his whines only get louder. After rinsing the soup off Azrah, I wrap her in her pink towel and placed her on the bed before picking a whining ajwad who still feels sleepy and aggressively rubbing his eyes. His blond hair standing up in all directions making me laugh.
In half an hour, I take the twins to the kitchen so mum can feed them their breakfast. Feeding the kids is always chore. She never let's anyone do it for her. After all, she's been looking after them since they were born.
Getting ready for work isn't a big deal for me. I barely put any make up on when going out. In half an hour, I left my room and had my breakfast with mum eyeing me every second and occasionally telling me to eat faster.
I finish all my morning routine and drive out of our parking lot before mum will drag me out by my hair.
***
I rush into the building like a tornado and I forgot I was supposed to present our idea to the sagirs and the elevator isn't helping.
Jogging to the conference room, I breath in and out to calm my heart that's trying to break my rib cage. I don't know how Mr Elliot will react to my lateness today. I was supposed to be the first person to get here.
Reciting a 'Bismillah' I open the black wooden door and walk in shamefully. But to my surprise mercy is standing in front of our clients and doing a good job with the presentation. The sagirs seem to be very impressed with the idea.
I quietly walke to my seat beside Mr Elliot and notice him glaring at me and I give him one of my not so innocent smiles.
By the time mercy finishes the presentation, her cheeks has turned red from nervousness. I felt sorry for her. I'm pretty sure she wasn't at all prepared for this.
Mercy walks to her seat that's just beside mine so that I was between her and Mr Elliot.
"Girl...you are in big trouble" she says and pinched my arm.
"Ouch! So sorry...the twin..." I try to use them as an excuse.
"Oh shut up" mercy says and rolls her eyes.
The Arab man who seems to be our client begins telling us how good our idea is as he watches all our happy expressions. We clap as he finished and our eyes meet. Meeting each others eyes isn't the problem. The big deal is that he is shocked and confused to see me.
He just stares and frowns at me as if we had met before. But I don't remember seeing him.
This man lived all his life in Dubai and I've never been there before.
Oh well, maybe its not what I'm thinking. And that look isn't a friendly one.
"Sir... Why's he looking at me like that? Did he know I was supposed to give the presentation?" I lean closer to Mr Elliot and ask.
" well... You did wasted a little of their time" he replies looking at the Arab man with one Conner of the eye.
"So Mr sagir..." Mr Elliot begins but the man cut him off.
"Afaan sagir" he says getting his eyes off me and looks at my boss with a less sensitive stare.
"Yes Mr Afaan, if you are okay with the idea we should start the procedures right away. You won't regret working with us" says Mr Elliot. Trying to be as humble as possible.
"Mr Elliot, please give us some time to decide. We'll get back to you tomorrow but the idea is impressive, I'm sure my brother will like it" the Arab man replies and stands up. He leaves with his accomplishes behind him.
Who knew he would spare me one last look before walking out.
***
" I almost fainted in there. I was speechless." Mercy complains fanning her face with her hand.
" I'm so sorry guys. I was so busy,i didn't check the time but you have every right to be mad at me." I plead with my team.
" hey it's okay...Mercy's just overreacting" Gerard said and mercy huffed.
Mercy is funny but not very friendly. We don't get along too well and I'm sure she's gonna get back at me for this
"Anyway, did you see how that man was looking at you?" Gerard asks me and I shrug.
" yes but...I don't get why." I reply a little worried.
"Girl, i think he's head over heels for you... I think it was a love at first sight." Gerard says crossing his hands over his chest.
"Oh please... It wasn't even a friendly look" mercy says and though she said it in a nasty way, I think she's right.
I just hope that whatever it is won't get in the way of our business or Mercy's so gonna hate me.
***
"Mum?"
"Yes habibti" my mum replies as we arrange dinner on the dining table.
" you didn't ask me how the presentation went" I begin to whine but she snapped it out of me.
"You were late right?" She asks and looks up to glare at me when I didn't reply.
" yes mum...but there's something else."
"What is it"
" Our client gave me these chills. He seemed really shocked to see me."
My mum's face turns cold.
" who was it....I mean your client. Did you recognise him?"
" It was an Arab man mum"
"An Arab man?"
" yes mum. From Dubai. What's his name again?"
"Don't force yourself to remember my dear"
" oh! Afaan"
"Okay? I don't think I know him"
"Afaan sagir. Son of the owner of the sagir's building company"
I almost yell.
"Stop thinking about silly things dear. Eat your meal before it gets cold." She said.
"Mum...do you know him?"
"How would I know a man that lives in Dubai. I've only gone there to visit your uncle" she replies angrily.
"Okay mum, chilll. I was just asking" I said and went to my room.
***
Its Saturday morning. Special Cleaning day. I'm so exhausted and mum wouldn't let me go to sleep until we finish.
"Weekends are for resting you know mum. Its called a weekend for a reason" I said as I laid on the new couch my dad bought yesterday.
"Hmm. If we rest all weekends and go to our working places in the weekdays then our house will be filthy my dear. Weekends are the only days we have to clean the house" my mum said with a raised eyebrow.
"Okay mum. Is there anything else we need to do before lunch?"
"Yes, I need you to get some things from the mall. I'll give you a list"
"Okay mum"
I went upstairs and took a bath. Wore a black skinny jeans and a black top and selected a red dress jacket from the closet and quickly put on a black booth and wore a black shayla and then ran downstairs because it was already noon and its important that we finish cooking before dad gets back, knowing that he'd be hungry at that time.
"I'm ready to go"
I collected the list and dad's credit card, took a bottle of water from the fridge and kicked the door close.
"As usual" mum said and I raised an eyebrow in question.
"You always did that when you were younger" she said and Laughed, making me Laugh as well.
"I'll be back soon"
I said and went out.
I have to come back before the kids wake up or mum will have to deal with them while managing the house alone.