Chapter 25: The Meeting.

Confidently, she walked across the scanty hallway and made her way to her office. She heaved a sigh, sensing the hot glare and faint murmurs as she walked past her colleagues and other workers. She had her head up and straight – she owed no one an explanation, knowing why they were gossiping and giving her a hypercritical look.
She got married to one of her clients – whom she denied having a relationship with. Now she's married to him and went on three-weeks holiday. Some say they went on a honeymoon while some gossiped that Mahir ordered her boss to give her that long holiday as he is her boss's boss.
Bushra didn't care much – they were all ridiculous, she affirmed. There were better things to gossip about other than her affair. Like one of her colleagues getting harassed by her sugar daddy's wife at the office – it was a great show that day even though she almost lost her job. But Bushra was entertained, and to her, it was a better show to gossip about than her being married to her client. It was something that happens often – where two business partners fall in love and decide to finalize it. At least that's what some of them believe – while most of them believe Bushra lured him and tricked him into marrying her for his wealth and good-looks. Why would she do that? It was ridiculous, she mused to herself.
If only they knew the actual truth behind the marriage.
She found her office same as she left it, a week to her wedding. She smiled, a quick and bright one. It felt good to be back on deck and stress herself with work till her whole body was sore and a splitting headache. She never looked forward to that side of her day, but she loved her job, no matter what.
She powered her computer and moved to the coffee machine to make her usual.
Her phone chimed from her bag and fetched it out. She grimaced at the phone screen – it was Mahir. Why was he calling her when he knew she was at work? What would he possibly need from her at that time of the morning?
She answered the call and placed the phone on her ear.
'Where are you?" He asked. He clearly sounded like he was pissed.
'At work," she retorted brusquely.
'I told you about the driver I hired for you, didn't I? So, why didn't you let him drive you to work?" He bellowed angrily.
Bushra hastily took the phone from her ear to see if it was really Mahir talking to her that way. Since when did her whereabouts become part of his worries? She was going to work – he knew that. And he saw her earlier that morning before she left home. Why was he making it such a big issue because she drove herself to work? Didn't she survive taking herself to work before she could afford to get herself a car, before she even got married to him?
'I can't be driving around with a fully-grown man as a driver. I never asked you for one, So—"
'You're going to listen to me and abide by my rules because I am the man of the house, I am your husband and I have the right to tell you what to do!" The booming sound of his voice made her to shift uncomfortably. It sounded like his voice got even deeper than usual.
'Since when do I have to abide by your policies or refer to you as my husband? Or have you forgotten what kind of marriage this is?" She dared to ask. She knew it would be wrong of her to defy him as he is her husband and she has to obey him as long as it's not against her religion – but she wasn't going to let him manipulate her by using the title of being ‘the man of the house' or ‘her husband' as he claims.
She dropped her phone on the desk when she grasped it—he ended the call. She settled down on her chair, massaging her temple. That feeling in her stomach was back again – same as yesterday evening before they head out to his parent's house.
He met her in her closet, wearing only her see-through underwear. He didn't seem to care that she wasn't dressed – instead, he took in her appearance and walked past her like he didn't just admire her well-shaped body.
He chose her outfit for the evening and sat till she got dressed. He had his eyes on her the whole time even though she insisted he gives her privacy. He didn't leave – he watched her get ready and they headed out together. He enjoyed the little show. If he wouldn't touch her – at any rate, he deserves a display to watch. He wasn't made of woods anyway.
Her coffee maker made a pinged, indicating the coffee was ready. She looked at the machine for a moment and shrugged. She had suddenly lost the appetite of it and it would get cold before she even attempts to take it.
She moved to her computer to check her schedule for the day. She had a meeting with a new client after office meeting by 8:30am to 9:30am, at 10am to 11:30 or 12noon – depending on how early and quick they make it. Her break by 12noon to 1pm. And then a meeting with who she least expected – Dan-Musa Global Trust by 2pm.
Bushra rested her back against the chair as she groaned out lightly. How could she possibly forget today's date? Her monthly meeting with the CEO or COO Dan-Musa's company every end of the month.
How was she supposed to act when he comes? Professional? As though they weren't married? She grimaced at the thought of how her colleagues would react to them being in the same room as an employee and a client.
She hissed softly and rose to her feet. She picked up her phone and head out to the workers meeting hall for their daily morning meeting before they start working for the day.
Hours later, Bushra was in her office, pacing back and forth while she answered Madina's call.
'Madina, it's not funny. I didn't tell you this just so you could laugh. I mean, it doesn't make sense. What should I say to him? How do I address him? How do I even look at him?"
Madina cackled again. She finds it funny how Bushra was panicking over nothing. 'Oh please, you hug and kiss him. He's your husband, so show it," Madina said jokingly. She tried to suppress her laughter but failed.
Bushra rolled her eyes and stomped her feet on the ground. 'Madina," she called out sternly. She cleared her throat and trying to control her glee. 'You're stressing yourself over nothing, to be honest. If he notices that you're nervous, believe me, he's going to use that against you. Just act like you always did before you got married. And if you can't handle it, you can decide to ask your manager to change his company's account manager, khalas!"
Bushra let's out a long, slow breath – she slumps on the couch and closed her eyes. If she could do that, she would've done it a long time ago. At the moment, she was the only one that could handle Dan-Musa Global Trust, as at the moment all her other colleagues were already engaged with lots of clients.
'I wish I could, Madina. I wish I could – I must go now. The meeting is starting in 15 minutes, though he hasn't arrived yet but I have to get ready. Bye, I'll talk to you later." She ends the call and tossed the phone across the couch.
If she could be granted one wish, she would wish for the day to end and she'd be in the comforts of her bed. Oh, her soft bed – how she missed laying in it for hours, doing absolutely nothing but reading a book or scrolling through her phone. Maybe she would've wished for the year to end instead – by that time, she has found the righteous man for herself and the contract would end, and she'd be with the one she genuinely chose to spend her life with. The thought of looking for a partner, like they both agreed to after they got married –it didn't come to her mind. How was she just going to meet someone and pretend as though she wasn't married? It didn't make sense to her, but she brought the idea up– it would be so much easier for him to find a wife. But in her case, she felt mortified – it felt wrong to do that. Why did she even agree to that?
So many unanswered questions glide into her head that she should've done months back – not when it's too late and she has already signed a contract and gotten herself into the mess. What if she doesn't find anyone and the contract expires? Was she going to ask him for a renewal? She doubts if he'd agree to that – not when she was sure by that time, he has found his MRS. Right.
With that alarming thought, Bushra left her office to the meeting hall.
He walks into the meeting room an hour late – she scoffed at the sight of him. Their eyes met and his gaze bore into hers. A smirk appeared on his face – he did it on purpose? He arrived late to provoke her, possibly. And he knew they had no choice but to wait for him until he shows up or calls to cancel the meeting.
He sits on a chair, adjacent to hers and cleared his throat. 'Good Evening everyone, I apologize for the slight delay. We shall begin." He said snappily. Slight delay, she mused to herself as she took a glimpse of him. He calls an hour late a slight delay? What does he take them as? His servants that have all day to waste? She felt the urge to hiss and roll her eyes at him – she was beyond annoyed with him, and it hasn't even reached up to two-minutes since he arrived.
'Mrs. Mansur, the company wants to invest and have a merger with a next-door company, Haffar Industrial Company Limited. In your own research and observation, what do you think? Is the company going to benefit from it? What will be the rate of our income if we work with this company?"
Her entire body jerked to a halt unexpectedly. Her stomach sunk as her the muscles of her heart tighten with incredible force – he just referred to her as Mrs. It was her titled, but she never expected to hear it from him. It strangely sounded wholesome and she wanted to hear him say it again.
She glances across the room, the rest of her colleagues looked at them in awe. What was appalling about him referring her the accurate way he's likely to? What were they assuming? They didn't believe she actually got married? Or it was more shocking that he's her husband and he called her that? They expected him to refer to her as darling, honey or sweetheart?
Bushra cleared her throat and opened the file that was sitting on the table in front of her. She opened to a precise page and kept it before him. He handpicked it up and scan through it as she began to speak.
'Umm… in my belief, merging your company with Haffar is a great idea and a huge step up for Dan-Musa Global Trust. And the best type of merger for this will be Market Extension Merger. Because the two companies will access a larger market and larger customer base. You'll gain larger market share and go ahead in the competitions."
She looks at him for a moment – she couldn't tell whether he was listening to her or reading what she has given him. He had his eyes glued to the file she gave him. She heaved a soft sigh and looked away. Nevertheless, whatever she had said now was already in the document.
'How do we avoid prices from raising?" He inquired, his eyes on the document as he deliberately swayed the executive office chair he was sitting on.
'Since the both companies produce similar products, you may merge to avoid duplication and eliminate competition. That's how it results in reduced prices for the customers."
He finally raised his head up and settled his eyes on her. He couldn't help himself – he smiled and nodded. She's very brilliant in multiple ways especially when it comes to her working field, that was what impressed him more.
'Any objections? Or addition to what she had presented?" He looked across the room. It was the first time he looked at the anyone other than Bushra.
She looks around the room as some lowered their head while some murmured a ‘no'.
Mahir shrugged, he needn't to hear anybody's presentation but Bushras'. She was his company's account manager and he sees no reason why he'd seek their advice as they don't know much about the company's financial status.
The meeting ended sooner – Bushra couldn't be more happier about it. She went back to her office immediately to pack up her things and head home. It was weird how she was heading home but it wasn't the home she was used to. This was her marital home – it was the first time she was leaving work and head to Maitama District, not Wuse, where her parents live.
Bushra exhaled, how she missed her parents – particularly Aunty. She only saw them once ever since she was taken to her new home. She wished she could just go there instead of going back to that huge castle that doesn't feel anything like home to her.
She picked up her bag and turned to leave. She gasped and stepped back immediately. 'Ya Rabb! You scared the hell out of me," she mouthed, her eyes closed. She placed a hand on her chest to calm the terror.
'Good. Where are you going?" He asked, observing her. She was wearing a black Abaya with a matching veil. Her face slightly looks pale – she seemed tired.
'Home, of course." She retorted, looking at him. If he wasn't standing by the door, she would've walked past him and left.
'You did good today, let's go grab something to eat before we head home. I made reservations," He said unflappably and coolly checks his phone.
Who told him she was going home together with him? And why would she want to have a date with him when she could do that at home? 'That's not necessary, I'll eat when I get home." If he could only step out of the way.
He gently shoots his head up and fixed his eyes on her. 'I wasn't asking for your opinion," he spoke in a dense and domineering way.
Bushra blinked in awe. She couldn't help herself. Her jaw dropped to the floor as her eyebrows shot towards the ceiling. 'What—"
'I'll be waiting for you out in the car, else I'll pick you up and take you out to the car myself. I give you five minutes." He walks out of her office after that. He's so nonchalant; he acts as if he didn't just stun her into silence.
She glared at his retreating back and scoffed when he left. Anger curled hot and unstoppable in her guts, like a blazing inferno that wanted to burn her from the inside out. She stomped her feet on the marbled tiles and headed out.
She knew he was capable of doing what he intends to. And if she wastes more time, he'd come back, and the last thing she'd want was Mahir carrying her across the busy lobby – in front of the workers and customers. She'd definitely not show up to work the next day.