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Chapter 1

Monday, 15 June (three months later)

Dan-Musa Global Trust building

With each footstep, the entire workers cleared the hallway as they followed him with greetings, notwithstanding that he didn't spare them a glance, left alone to return their greetings. He paused when he reached the receptionist's table. Her breath hitched as she lowered her head. It was unlike him to talk to her, and when he does, it always ends up badly.

Beads of sweats rolled down her temples as she tried to concentrate. Mahir approached her, just as he glance above her-- 'is your air conditioner not working?" He had a deep voice, the kind that anchors your soul a single moment in time.

She briskly bowed and shook her head. 'Mary, could stop acting like I'm ripping your organs out and focus, please." His temper and voice were both rising but he still tried to maintain. She shifted and nodded her head. 'Good Morning, sir. I've already sent in your schedule for the day and you have a--"

'That's good. Clear all my schedule for the afternoon. I'm leaving early." He spoke in a dominant way. 'But sir, you have a meeting with your father and-"

'Just tell him I left sick and the VP Marketing can represent me." He commanded walking away without turning around. Mary heaved a sigh and responded to his instruction. He had a habit of cutting off people before they get to finish their sentence.

His personal guards followed him up to his office and positioned themselves by his door, just as they do everyday. His P.A followed him into his office.

Amused, Mahir approached his portable living room where he gets away from work for few minutes or even an hour. He examined the young lady sitting comfortably on his arm chair, watching TV and sipping some steaming coffee. She smiled, keeping the mug on the brown french table before her.

'Good morning, Mahir. I've been waiting for you." She said, offering him a kind smile that he never returned. 'Who are you? Who is she and who gave her access to my office?" He turned, waiting for his P.A, Musa to answer.

'Uncle Adam sent me," she answered cheerfully. He scoffed, not amused anymore. How could he not remember his father's trick of sending girls to his office all the time in the name of searching for a wife. 'That was what Mary wanted to tell you before you interrupted her, sir." Musa whispered close to him. He stared at the girl, unable to speak for a moment.

She shifted uncomfortably-- why did she even agree to this plan? She shouldn't have come to his office, thinking he'd accept her that way. 'So my father sent you? Are you applying for a job or...?" He was solemn when he asked her the question. She raised her head and found that she couldn't meet his eyes. 'No... of course not. You obviously know why I'm here. He thinks that we could be a match if we give it a try. And I am willing to." She spoke, sincerely. Mahir glanced back over his shoulder to look at Musa for confirmation. Musa nodded.

'You knew?" He whispered through gritting teeth. Mahir was tired of his father's silly matchmaking. That was the fifth time; if Mahir was correct. 'I'm so sorry, sir. I wanted to tell you-" Musa paused when Mahir shifted his attention back to the young lady. His brown eyes flashed with annoyance. 'What's your name?" He questioned as he stared at her quizzically. She was beautiful and looked well mannered-- he had to admit.

'Zainab Ibrahim Maikano." She looked up, her soft brown eyes remained glassy for a moment. Mahir managed to smile and settled down on the sofa, adjacent to her. 'Look, Miss. Zainab. By Allah you're very beautiful." She smiled at the complement. 'But, I am really not interested in this... whole arrangement. I apologize, but you're not my type. I prefer to chase my woman not her to show up in my office unannounced. You can see yourself out." He got to his feet and walked over to his desk.

He just resumed that day and it started off in an unexpected way. Zainab scrambled up, looking at his retreating back in disbelief. 'Did you just reject me?" She dared to ask. Mahir ignored. He powered his Mac to check what he had missed over the past three months he was absent. He rubbed the bridge of his nose when he noticed her approaching his desk. 'May you never find peace and happiness with any woman you chose to be with in your life." She cursed, making Mahir to snap his head up. He intensely stared at her, his eyes darkened. 'Musa, help her out please." He spoke calmly.

Musa did as he was told while Mahir went on with his business. It wasn't the first time a girl had said that to me, and it probably won't be the last. Mahir was respected by many, but loved by some.

Musa walked in shortly. 'Sir, your father asked to see you-- in his office. Right now." He spoke with a hint of urge. Mahir heaved a sigh and got to his feet. He ambled towards the door, murmuring under his breath. He hasn't even had his morning coffee but he was already being stressed out.

He saunters into his father's office, looking around as though he hadn't been in the office before. He smiled; the office elegance impressed him. It was the only room better than his in the whole company. 'Mahir what sort of inhuman act was that? Do you know what you have just caused, not only for me but for you also." His voice was so loud, so thunderous that he count concentrate on what he said.

Mahir breathed out. He adjusted his blazer and shoved his hands in his pockets. 'Good Morning, Abba. And what inhuman act have I done this time?" He spoke, nonchalantly. 'We would've gotten a merger with her father's company if you've at least given her a chance. Mahir this is the sixth time you're rejecting every girl I send to you---" It was the sixth time. And he thought it was actually the fifth.

Mahir settled down on the chair against his father's desk. 'Abba, please listen to me. I will bring home my parter whenever I get one or when the right time comes. But, for now--- please, Abba enough with the girls coming into my office as though I am a lady-killer. Please." Unhappy lines on his face etched deeply.

Alhaji Adam looked at him for a moment and sighed in frustration. 'Mahir, you're so stubborn and spoiled. You have said this to me, not ones or twice. When is the time coming?" He questioned, tiredly. 'Abba, very soon. I promise, before you retire." His grin grew wider.

'Do you even know why I want you to get married?" His father asked and Mahir shrugged. 'Easy. You want the business to keep moving forward by building mergers with other companies. And also because I'm thirty-four." He spoke, directly. 'By Allah, if not because you're too far from me, I would've knocked your head." Alhaji Adam spoke, jokingly. Mahir smiled at his father.

'My reason is; you see-- I will retire in approximately eleven months. And I will hand over the Chief Executive Officer office to you. So don't you think you'd get more respect when not just your business partners but also your employees know that you're married. And marriage is highly valued and regarded as being half of one's faith-- you do know that. And I'm not getting any younger, mahir. I want to see my grand children." Mahir scratched the back of his head as he smiled sheepishly. He also wanted to see his children. There was a special place in his heart fo children. Imagine if he had his own. 'Abba just give me half a year, I promise to bring a wife home. I won't let you down."

Alhaji Adam nodded. 'Six months?"

Mahir nodded. 'I promise." He assure his father.

'Ok then. Now go get ready, we are having meeting in less than two hours." Alhaji Adam turned his attention back to his work. Mahir held his left arm that has completely healed and grimaced. 'Abba, you see-- I still feel a little pain here." He mouthed as he examined his arm. Alhaji Adam looked up and shook his head. 'Are you using your arm to speak? Or you've turned to a lefty? Wallahi Aisha ta bata ka dayawa months din da suka wuce. You're such a spoilt brat, Mahir and it's your mother's fault." He still didn't give up and tilted his head, trying to plead with his father but he wouldn't budge.

Later in his office, after he was out of the meeting he wanted to escape at first. He settled down in his mini living room with his P. A, Musa.

'How--" mahir heaved a sigh, massaging his temple. 'How did you not get her information? This is a very simple tax, Musa. How is it hard to get details of a person like her." He screeched, shuffling on his feet. He always got his way with things but this time, it was different and even difficult for him. He needed to find this girl.

'Sir, I tried everything I could but I couldn't get a hint of information from the hospital. They're very strict about their rules and wouldn't budge, not even after knowing who wanted her details..." Mahir raised his hand, motioning him to keep shut. 'I-- I will handle it myself. You can go back to work." He reluctantly spoke and dismissed Musa.

Anger curled hot and unstoppable in his gut, like a blazing inferno that wanted to burn from the inside out.

How could a regular girl be so hard to find? Why does she have to be so difficult to be located? Mahir hissed and got to his feet. He had to handle this situation by himself. He didn't care what it takes to find her -- he was going to take any risk.

Later in the evening, Mahir links up with his friend, Dr. Mansur for the first time in months at their usual spot in Aldo's restaurant. Mahir joins him at the roof top. The rooftop was equipped with rare plans which invite him to relax. How have he missed this place.

'Hey do you know where I can get really good tiles and any house equipments?" Mansur asked without a glance at Mahir. 'You do know that's one of the things we sell at Dan-Musa Global Trust." Mahir said. Mansur looked up and gave him a mocking smile. 'I know." Mahir rolled his eyes in annoyance.

A waiter walked by and they stopped him to order.

'How are you feeling?" Mansur asked and he shrugged his shoulders. 'Good."

Mansur took his eyes off his phone to glance at his friend. It was unlike him to just sit there and say nothing. Mahir was the quiet type but he always had something to say. Especially when they haven't hanged out in a while. 'What's up with you?" He asked. He wanted to know as soon as possible.

Mahir was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even notice mansur talking to him until he threw a napkin at him, bringing him back to reality. 'Hmm?" He raised his brows.

'What's up with you? You look restless."

Mahir shrugged his shoulders. 'I'm fine."

'Well you don't seem like it. Speak, Mahir."

Mahir smirked as he scoffed. He looked at mansur. He's always in awe of how he was still friends with Mansur because he was the only person apart from his parents that could manipulate him into doing something against his will. Maybe because he has been there for him through thick and thin, never gave up on him no matter how a pain in the neck he could be sometimes. Mansur was is his only genuine friend he could trust with anything.

'If you don't want to speak--- then, that's fine. Your call." Mansur put aside the conversation and changed it. 'So mommy is making a huge renovation on her boutique and she wants to handle everything to your dad's company. Including the instalment." Mahir smirked and nodded. 'When is she coming in to choose the products she wants?" He asked and mansur brushed it off. 'Next week, maybe?" It came out more like a question. 'I don't know. I'll confirm when she's ready and get back to you.

Their meal was served and they dig in.

Mahir looked over to his friend whom was busy shoving forkful of food into his mouth. He heaved a sigh and averted his gaze. He had to say something but his ego and pride were trying to overpower him.

Mahir shook his head-- whenever it comes to something he wanted, he never let's anything come his way. And he always gets what he wanted. He smiled -- a smile of satisfaction at the fact that he has his ways with anything he wanted. He just had to mention it and it happens. He looked up again, mansur was already done with his meal and he wasn't even halfway his own.

'Now, do you want to talk about what's bothering you or we're going to keep pretending?" He gently took a napkin and wiped his mouth with it. Mahir dropped his fork and relaxed back. 'I want her information, Mansur. I want to know everything about her. I want to know why she helped me."

Mansur looked up. He scooted forward in his seat. 'Who are we talking about? The girl that donated blood to you, or..." He mouthed. Mahir shook his head as he rolled his eyes. 'No, the girl daddy brought to my office this morning... of course I'm talking about that girl. Who else saved my life?" He was already frustrated by mansur's silly sarcasm. At the moment, it wasn't funny.

'Oh." He relaxed back on his seat. 'That girl. Well... like I have told you months back. She donates blood to people who needs it when she gets the chance. So, don't feel special. And I doubt if she even knows you're the one she helped because she left immediately she was discharged by the doctors working that night. And about her information, mahir I wish I could help you with that. but I can't."

'Why?!" He snapped.

'Because I don't even know her name. I just know she comes to the hospital once in a while and I've seen her a couple of times."

'You can get her details if you wanted to," mahir spoke sternly. He was irked by Mansur's stubborn behaviour.

Mansur chuckled as he got to his feet. 'Even if I knew her that much, I wouldn't disclose her information to you because you are so used to manipulating people and getting whatever you wanted that you tend to forget the difference between your employees and friends. So until you know how to talk and deserve it, you stay in the dark." He patted his shoulder and left.

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