The Translator

Chapter Seven

***

'Finally! Where are you?!' Nicole asks, exasperated.

'I'm on my way Nicki.' Bela rolls her eyes as she steers left. Nicole is always early to work, if she's required to be there at ten, she leaves home an hour early. Bela is somewhat on the same side but as of lately she's been bending the rules a little.

'No, you don't understand! Mr. Jabir is losing his mind!' Bela stops at the red light and stares at her phone as if it has shrunk before her eyes. This cannot be good.

'What are you talking about?'

'His schedule got all mixed up which means he's missed a couple of appointments and meetings which means he has to reschedule all of them which means that he has to go out of his way to please them which means that he's mad!' She completes in one breath. The poor girl wants to yell.

'Mia Dio! How did this happen? How mad is he?' Bela is fueled by adrenaline now; she steps on the pedal and not for the first time races alongside other cars to get to work.

'It's my entire fault and a bit of Norman's as well but mainly mine and on a scale from one to ten, a frickin' 100! Get yourself here now!'

'Wh-what am I supposed to do?'

'You'll serve as a distraction!'

'What so he can take it out on me?' She's annoyed. I'm not some punching bag! Seriously who do you people take me for?

'Yes! Duh!' With that the secretary hangs up leaving Bela baffled. She can't think straight, of all the people to get trapped with. She reaches her destination in record time, parks the car as skillfully as she can and hops out with all her items in hand. As she pokes the elevator button, she feels her nerves buzz at the uncertainty of the predicament. If life couldn't get more complicated than this, then it just did. Bela reaches her designated floor and gets off with a sigh. How she's going to deal with the monstrous man is beyond her. All she hopes for is the strength and courage to get through it. She notices that everyone on the same floor is looking towards His office and to one another. They look a little frightened and confused.

'Tell her not to!'

'No you tell her.'

'She'll get it big time.'

'Isn't she like dating him?'

'Someone stop her!'

'Let her find out for herself.'

'Man, this ain't good.' Bela hears a rainbow of "whispers'" but approaches the Man's office anyway. She wills herself to calm down. Breathe Bela, just take a deep breath and head in there. You can do it. Before she could raise her hand, the door is tugged forward revealing red faced Norman and Nicole. They rush out not sparing her a glance. Bela realizes the gravity of the situation and a dam of anger shoots through her veins as a result. She marches into the office and looks around to find the cause of her misery. She finds him flipping through a book hastily. He doesn't acknowledge her presence and so she clears her throat.

'Get ready.' Talha orders. He looks thoroughly annoyed; his hair an unusual mess, his coat strewn over his big leather chair, his tie swings to and fro as he's bent over his desk and the tone of his voice is anything but friendly, be smart Bela. You don't want to crush the tiger's tail and expect an apology to suffice.

'For what?'

'A lunch meeting at Hilton.' He stops and gazes at a page intently. Bela bites her lip anxiously expecting a verbal explosion any minute. 'Dammit!' He slams his hand against the desk angrily; she jolts back as if she's been electrocuted. She watches him press a button and grit his teeth impatiently. Instantly a man leading three others barge in behind her. Bela turns to find four strong men head towards their boss without a glance in her direction. They're donned in suits; ear pieces clipped to their collars' and buffed muscles to scare off anyone. They're obviously his bodyguards because there's no way someone who has money to burn has the right to walk out without one. 'Take care of Norman.' Talha orders. The leader nods his head once obediently. Norman? What? Why?! What did poor Norman do? This doesn't make any sense.

'Why Norman?' Bela blurts, they all turn to face her except Talha who just shuts his book and grabs his coat in clear frustration.

'The car.' He gives the second guy a look.

'Done, Sir.' Do all of them speak with disyllables?

Bela is confused and annoyed now. It's like everyone's speaking in codes! Can't they be normal? Like this isn't the set of mission impossible you dorks! 'Oh and the secretary.' He gazes at the leader once again. 'The woman really got on my nerves this time.' An arrogant sigh puffs itself out. Again he nods. 'Let's go.' He finally wears his coat and walks out with his head held high. The four men file out behind him. Like, they're in an army camp, how sad. Bela wills her legs to follow them. As they stand in the elevator, Bela is in awe. She can't deny the attention this man is given, his hair is a mess but somehow he looks refreshed, his posture is rigid yet it oozes strength, his expression is unreadable but handsome at the same time. As they walk outside, the breeze engulfs their frames. Talha tugs his coat closer and speaks to Saif. Bela strains to hear him.

'I want them gone... see that they... Nicole... don't let them... I'm warning you Saif... Norman needs...' Bela is dumbfounded, she can barely make sense of the words but she understands that he wants to fire them. How could he do something like that? What did they do? This is all because of his stupid schedule! How dare he?! She's overtaken by anger now.

'No! You can't!' She interrupts them. Talha narrows his eyes at her.

'Saif.'

'Yes, Sir.' The bodyguard walks towards a black SUV and hops in.

'You can't do this.' She tries not to stare into his black orbs.

'Why not?'

'They didn't do anything wrong. It was just a schedule mess up! Come on you can't fire them for it!'

'I don't take orders from you-'

'I know! But please, they're innocent.'

'Get in the car.' Talha dismisses her completely. People throw them a few stares and curios frowns. It's not everyday you witness the head of a company reasoning with a woman.

'You're so unfair! Norman didn't do anything and Nicole made a mistake!' She breathes heavily; she's close to tearing up.

'I'm done talking about this, get in the car.' He says each word as calmly as possible.

'How could you be so heartless?!' Her Hijab flows daintily with the wind, she looks like a warrior fighting the tyrant who will inevitably win. Talha walks a few steps away from her, pulls at his chaotic hair as if trying to gather himself together, her words stabbing at his chest. Heartless. Heartless. Heartless. A repetitive chant. He faces her again, looks her dead in the eye then creeps toward her almost leaving no gap between them. Anyone from afar would misinterpret this situation.

'Get in the car.' His voice, low and emotionless. Bela hangs her head forward in frustration. You tried Bela, you really did. Just listen to him now. That's exactly what she did. She listened.

Salam Alaykum! :) So this chapter is a little shorter than my usual ones but I like it and I hope you do too. Lot of drama coming your way ;) and that nasheed is awesome :O I had people wonder if I'm pakistani, lol! I'm not but I love the language :) It's beautiful! Please vote, comment and share! Peace- Zai