The Translator

Chapter Sixteen

'Gracias.' (Thank you) Bela offers a small smile as he collects his items.

'No no. Gracias!' (No no. Thank you) Mr. Carlos shakes hands with Norman and heads towards the door.

'Mr. Jabir is-' the door is pushed open by Saif and in walks Talha surrounded by his men. 'Here.' Norman completes softly. Bela freezes, as she watches the Man lift his gaze to meet hers. She can't even breathe. The room is dead silent, even Mr. Carlos appears to look extremely nervous, looks like I'm not the only one who's dreading to meet him.

'Is this meeting over?' He asks Bela directly and she nods. He spares a glance at Mr. Carlos who grins and is currently hunched over in a humble position. Why on earth would someone do that? To this Man especially! Talha shakes his hand and nods at him with a professional smile. Mr. Carlos is thrilled and almost dazed. 'Saif.' His bodyguard instantly escorts the client outside. 'Meet me in my office.' He orders Bela and marches outside again. She lets out a deep breath and almost collapses in her chair.

'Oh come on Bela, it wasn't that bad.'

'Yeah easy for you to say Norms.'

'He didn't even yell.'

'I'd rather have him yell than stay a second longer in his presence.' She mutters as she grabs her bag and file. The old man laughs with a shake of his head.

'Have fun.' She rolls her eyes and drags her feet toward the door. 'You forgot something.' He calls out.

'What?' She turns to find him holding her savior. She rushes back to retrieve it.

'Thank you!' She says and bites into her half eaten KitKat.

---

Talha removes his coat, folds his shirt up to his elbows and loosens his tie. His father scolded him for accompanying him to the hospital. He wanted Talha to stay at the office. His son refused up until his father forced him to leave.

'Talha, adhhab.' (Talha, go)

'Baba-' he held onto his father's hand pleading with him to let him stay.

'La! You can't stay here. You must go. I want you to go.' (No) Jabir frowned at him and pointed at the door stubbornly. He didn't want his son sitting her watching him while he was being treated.

'They can carry on without me-'

'No no. They need you. Zeena, akhbarh.' (Zeena, tell him) His wife looked at their son with a helpless look on her face.

'Habibi, leave your father.' She'd been on the verge of tears.

'Mama please. I want to be here with you.' He looked at his father with desperation. Jabir stared at his wife. He couldn't have his son watch him like this.

'Talha please.' Zeena said again. Their son grabbed his things and left without another word. As he crept outside he overheard the words, 'he has enough to worry about. I don't want to be a name on that long list.' Of course his father meant it in a way where Talha has a whole company on his shoulders and the last place he should be at is at a hospital worrying over his father. Talha runs a hand through his curls. His chain of thoughts come to an end when he hears a knock at his door.

'Come in.' Bela walks in and shuts the door behind her. The sight of her almost calms him. Almost. Silence envelopes them. This is how it always is. Two fiery individuals loaded with emotion in one room.

'How's your father?' Bela decides to break the ice.

'Better. AlhamdhuliAllah.' He responds.

'Will he be staying at the hospital?' Her eyes look concerned, Talha is touched. The woman cares. More so for my father than this job.

'Yes for a few days but I will make it to work. Speaking of which, how were the meetings?' Bela notices the shift in topic and decides to go with the flow.

'Good. I sealed both deals.' Talha crosses his arms across his chest.

'Really?' He conceals the smile threatening to make its way onto his handsome face as he watches Bela push her glasses up her nose. Her words and actions make him want to laugh. The woman is... Innocent.

'Yes. You're welcome.' Too late, he's smiling. He chuckles lowly and keeps his eyes on his desk. Bela watches the man reveal his true self. Is he smiling? Am I seeing this? Is this real? She wants to comment on it.

'Are you thrilled at the fact that you managed all of this on your own?'

'Uh duh! I can't believe you do this almost everyday!' She exclaims and places her hands on her hips. Talha grits his teeth, she shouldn't get too comfortable. The Man doesn't want to let his guard down lest she write him off as someone who's weak.

'It's not always like this. You just happened to apply during a time when everyone wants to invest and place their orders.' Bela sighs.

'Still. It's never ending.' She comments lightly. 'I can't believe you love it.' She watches his expression. His eyebrows morph into a frown. He's adorable. Bela no! No! He's your boss! A non Mahram. Think of...

'It's business. I love business. I don't like people.' Bela giggles and covers her mouth in shock.

'How blunt.'

'It's true.'

'It's funny really. I thought Carlos was about to kiss your shoes.' She giggles again and leans against the leather chair beside her.

'A voluntary showcase of humility has nothing to do with me.' Talha is enjoying her reaction. The woman is actually talking to him on a personal level.

'Oh but it does! You claim to dislike people yet you show them every ounce of respect and affection.'

'Within a certain boundary and it's not like I despise the human race! I just don't like the concept of being a people pleaser.' This verbal banter is refreshing, Talha's suppressed smile says it all. Even Bela seems to loosen up before him. Crazily enough, this is what Talha wants. To just talk.

'Isn't business all about pleasing people?' She raises an eyebrow.

'To an extent.'

'So you love business but hate it at the same time.' She gestures with her fingers and Talha can't help but shake his head with an undefeated smile.

'You're twisting my words to prove your point.' He says whilst walking over to where she is. He stays a good three feet away and slips his hands into his pockets.

'Is it working?' She continues unfazed.

'Not quite.' They both laugh softly and once again the room is laced with silence. Each one trying to digest what just happened. There's a question that Talha is itching to ask. He's unsure of whether to do it or not but decides to go for it. 'How was your family event yesterday?' He notices the change in her face almost instantly. Bela swallows hard as she thinks of what to say.

'It was alright.' She's lying. There's more to it. Drop it. Talha decides to leave it there. He can almost see the mixed emotions in her eyes. He nods as if he believes her.

'You can leave if you want. We're done for the day.' He tilts his head in the direction of the door.

'Are you sure? Nicole said we have three meetings.'

'The last one cancelled. Don't you want the rest of the day off?' He smirks slightly.

'Don't flatter yourself, I was just asking.' She rolls her eyes. He chuckles lightly, Bela really likes seeing him like this. Laid back and care free.

'Be here at 10 tomorrow. We have a long day.' He states firmly as she heads for the door. He watches her depart and sighs heavily. Did I just say all of that to her? He stalks over to his glass window and places a palm over it. The city lights fill the sky. He stares down at the many sky scrapers that prick the sky. His dark soul aches in a weird way. 'I can't stay this way. I need to change. I need...' Her.

---

Dun. Dun. Dun. Two chapters in one day? Wuttt :O haha. I hope you all enjoyed this. Please check out my new book 'The Ambassador's Son.' I plan to update that soon iA. Anyways, please vote, comment and share! Peace- Zai x