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A Movie Parcel

“But when did he come back, Sulaiman?” He asked as he stood up, compiling the documents he knew he had to present to him. As much as he didn’t want to go there, he knew he had no other choice.

“I don’t know either, but he comes to the company today. You have to do quick and meet him at his office, he requested to see you.” He nodded his head as if Sulaiman could see him and didn’t voice another word out when he ended the call and looked at Jalilah that was so immersed in her work. She looked so calm and collected that he envied her for a moment.

“I have to go to the CEO’s office, if I have guests, ask them to wait for me until I'm back. I won’t stay long.” He said, and she looked up from the screen of her laptop.

“Okay, I'll tell them that.” She nodded her head in affirmation and fixed her eyes on him until he walked out of her sight.

Yazeed heaved a sigh which wasn't out of relief but rather, the feeling of angst that was eating away every courage he had built for the past month he had been away. He didn’t know what had happened this time, because Alhaji hardly ever requested to see him personally unless it was something. And that something was always connected with Hajia.

He knocked softly and entered when he heard the some he made which emanated that he should come in. Yazeed had his eyes fixed onto the floor as he walked to the table and sat on the chair. “Good morning, Alhaji.”

There was no answer, and even though Yazeed wasn’t expecting one, he felt hurt. He looked up and their eyes met while he placed down the files he had compiled for the duration. “There are the files, and if there is something that needs to be rectified or clarified, I'll receive a call from your secretary.” He knew it was all about work, and he had to go straight to the point. Because he didn't have the kind of father that would ask him how he had been, whether he was fine or not.

And to him, he had no father to ask how he had been too. It was all business for them. Alhaji collected the files and briskly went through them before he looked up at him, “I heard there's a girl that works for you?” He had always heard of one’s heart losing a beat, he had never thought it was real until now. His heart lost a beat, and he didn’t know what Alhaji had heard and what he had to say about that.

But still, he masked up his expression and pulled over his confident skin, “She doesn’t work for me, she works for the company. But we work together at some point, she isn’t an employee, she came here for her NYSC.”

Alhaji’s face became even harder than it was and Yazeed felt as his insides churned, “I’ve heard things about you and her, don’t even try making any mistake this time, Yazeed. And for your information, I won’t admit for something to happen like it did in the past, understood?” His voice was so cold and sharp that Yazeed felt it cutting his insides, but he didn’t have to show that to him. Because even if he did, he wouldn’t care. But he enjoyed it when it was only the two of them, because that way, he could be able to tell him all that he had buckled up, but if Hajia was there, he felt as if he was tongue-tied.

“I don’t think if I want to do something with my life I'd have to wait for your approval now, Alhaji. I have amazing uncles that can do whatever I want for me, uncles that cared for me, even though one is no more but the other is here, I’m sure I'd lack nothing if he's by my side.” He looked away from his face because he hated it whenever he spoke harshly to his father, but sometimes he knew he had to be a bit rude for his father to understand what he was trying to pass across.

“Are you telling me this because of a girl?” There wasn't surprise on his tone, because he knew Yazeed was capable this and more whenever he put himself to it.

“I’m not saying this because of her, I thought we were done talking about her because I made it clear, she’s just here for her service and nothing more. And in case you speak to Hajia about this, if anyone hurt this girl, I won’t hesitate to do whatever comes to my mind. If that’s all I'd take my leave.” He stood up and stared at his father, who had a mischievous smile on his lips that unnerved Yazeed but he masked everything up with a hard stare.

“If you say so, you can take your leave.” Even as he walked back to his office, Yazeed knew this conversation hadn’t ended. And he was so afraid of what would happen. He walked directly to Sulaiman's office because that was the only place he was certain about finding a solution to whatever bothered him.

He knocked softly and entered, Sulaiman looked at him with an inquisitive look and motioned for him to have a sit, which he did. “What happened? You don’t look yourself, Yazeed.” Sulaiman voiced out, and he heaved a sigh before he shrugged off his shoulders and decided to get it out of his chest.

“He asked me about that girl, I don’t even know who told him we worked together, Sulaiman.” There was a certain heaviness to his tone, he didn't know what to feel.

“Oh my god! And what did he say about her? Was it bad?”

Yazeed shook his head, “It wasn’t bad enough, but I think I made it worse.” He told him everything that transpired between him and Alhajia and all Sulaiman did was shook his head.

“That’s so bad, I think Hajia had placed enough surveillance on you in this company, if not, how could he know about this? And I don’t think it’s something to even think about, you told him what she was and why she was here. But you shouldn't have laid that warning, he’d think that you care about her and they would want to hurt her for you to feel miserable.”

“I said that for him to know that I know everything, and I know what they were capable of doing. Or rather, what she was capable of doing because she said and he acted upon it.” He palmed his face and sighed again. “What do you think I should do? I think being close with her, like I know we aren’t that close but we’re pretty good, right?”

Sulaiman smiled softly and nodded his head, “Yes, you two are pretty good, and you give a lot of impressions when you’re together.”

He nodded his head and spoke again, “I don’t know what to do to keep her safe, advice me. Because I feel like the more Hajia’s surveil sees us together, the more it’s not safe for her.”

“I don’t think that will be a problem, you told him who she is. please don’t keep that in your mind, I assure you she won’t hurt her unless you make it so clear, it’ll be fine. But wait, why are you so persistent in keeping her safe?” There was a teasing smile on Sulaiman’s lips that Yazeed wished he could punch it right back into his cheeks.

“Because I'd feel bad if something happens to her on my wake, there, isn’t what you wanted to hear, right?” He glared at him and when Sulaiman threw his head back and laughed, Yazeed eased off a bit. It wasn’t as bad as he thought after all. Because if it was bad, there was no way Sulaiman could be laughing without finding him a solution first. “When are we expecting the baby?” He asked and changed the diversion of their conversation because he was sure if Sulaiman was going to reply to him, he would utter words which he was sure would be carved into his mind all night long.

“This week, but the highest it can get will be in two weeks. And man, please get married and expect a baby, Ilham is hell-bent on making me bankrupt, not that I’m complaining though. Anything for Yazeed Jr.” he had said it times without number, but Yazeed had never believed him.

“I couldn’t remember complaining about going bankrupt.” He glared at him and smiled afterwards, “And are you sure about naming him Yazeed, Sulaiman? Because I don’t want to put my mind into it and then be heartbroken all over.”

“That’s the only thing I like about Alhaji, sorry to say. But as much as you’ll try to go bankrupt, you can’t do that. He has filled you in every way possible, even though it’s sadly not only what you need. And about Yazeed Jr, I'm sure. Ilham loves the name too, you know she likes you a lot. So, get ready to be a godfather in a week or two.”

“What if it’s a girl?” As much as he would want the baby to be a boy, he knew there was a higher tendency of the baby being a girl, and they should speak about it sooner than later.

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