9~Q&A
"I'm coming..."
Still half asleep, Hanan dragged herself out of bed after hearing a gentle knock on the door.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she unlocked it without bothering to see who was outside.
A soft tap landed on her shoulder.
She turned around.
The sleep instantly disappeared from her eyes.
"Oh..."
Her breath caught in her throat.
Standing before her was Faruk's mother.
The elegant woman silently looked her up and down.
Only then did Hanan realize what she was wearing.
Her satin nightdress was slightly short, it stopped just above her knees.
Embarrassed, she hurriedly tugged at the hem, wishing it would somehow become longer.
"Good morning, ma." She greeted with an awkward smile.
Faruk's mother returned the smile, though her eyes still lingered on Hanan.
She couldn't help the questions racing through her mind.
Why was a young woman in her son's apartment this early?
Did she spent the night here?
Were they dating?
She wanted to ask...
But she held herself back.
"Good morning, dear." She replied warmly. "Is Faruk home?"
"Yes, ma. Please come in."
Hanan stepped aside to let her in before rushing toward the couch.
"Faruk..." She whispered, gently shaking him.
"Mmm..."
He buried his face deeper into the pillow.
"Five more minutes..."
"I barely slept."
His mother chuckled.
"Leave him. He must be exhausted."
She turned toward the door.
"When he wakes up, tell him I stopped by."
"Mom?!"
Faruk's eyes flew open.
He shot upright in disbelief.
"Mom? You're here?"
"I wanted to surprise you." She smiled. "Since someone has been too busy to visit his own mother."
Faruk scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
"It's not what it looks like."
"I've just been drowning in work lately."
He quickly walked over giving her a light hug. "Good morning mom."
"Morning dear." She hugged him back.
"I will be leaving now." She smiled before glancing back at Hanan.
"What did you say your name was?"
"Hanan, ma."
"Hanan..." She repeated the name with a gentle smile.
"It was lovely meeting you."
"You too, ma."
"I hope we'll meet again."
"I hope so too."
She waved before leaving with Faruk.
The moment the door shut...
Hanan released the breath she had been holding.
"Oh my goodness..."
She placed a hand over her chest.
"I thought I was going to die from embarrassment."
She laughed nervously.
"That was the longest five minutes of my life."
Shaking her head, she hurried to pack her belongings.
After taking a quick shower and changing into fresh clothes, she picked up her phone.
Her screen was flooded with missed calls and messages.
Abdul.
Nanny Ann.
Message after message asking where she was.
Her thumb hovered over the keyboard.
She wanted to reply.
She really did.
But not yet.
Not until she had a job.
Not until she had somewhere to live.
She was done depending on anyone.
The bathroom door opened.
Faruk stepped out, drying his hair with a towel.
"You're already dressed?"
"Yep."
She slung her handbag over her shoulder.
"I only needed somewhere to sleep."
"It's barely seven." He glanced at the wall clock.
"At least have breakfast before we leave."
"Can we eat at the office instead?"
He noticed the impatience in her voice and nodded.
"Sure."
After a brief silence, he sighed.
"I'm sorry about this morning."
She looked at him.
"My mom showing up unexpectedly must've made you uncomfortable."
"It's okay."
She smiled faintly.
"I just want to get over today."
"I need to pass this interview..."
"...and find somewhere to stay."
"You will." He smiled reassuringly.
"Everything will work out."
"I hope so."
She bent down to lift her suitcase. "I'll take these to the car."
"Go ahead."
He watched her leave before reaching for his phone.
A small smile spread across his face as he dialed a number.
He waited for the call to connect.
"I hope everything is ready..."
Once Hanan finished loading her suitcases into the trunk, she decided to wait in the car instead of returning to the apartment.
Just the thought of running into Faruk's mother again made her cringe.
Those five awkward minutes had been enough embarrassment for one lifetime.
To distract herself, she pulled out her phone and immersed herself in her favourite game of Candy Crush until Faruk finally joined her.
As soon as he settled into the driver's seat, he tossed a paper bag onto her lap.
"Eat."
She looked inside curiously.
"What's this?"
"Breakfast."
He fastened his seatbelt before glancing at her.
"You shouldn't start your day on an empty stomach."
A smile crept onto her face. "Thank you."
She pulled out a freshly made toast and took a small bite.
"Mmm... this is good."
"So finish it."
She shook her head. "I'll save the rest for later. I'm still full."
"Suit yourself."
He started the engine.
"Now... let's go get you employed."
Barely ten minutes later, they pulled into the company's parking lot.
Hanan looked from the building to Faruk in disbelief.
"Your house is this close to the office?"
He nodded. "About a ten minutes drive."
"That's practically a walking distance."
"It is." He laughed as they walked into the building.
The moment they stepped inside, employees greeted Faruk respectfully.
"Good morning, sir."
"Morning."
"Welcome, sir."
Hanan quietly observed everything around her.
The sleek interior...
The professionalism...
The atmosphere...
A small smile spread across her face.
For the first time in a long while...
She genuinely felt excited.
Maybe today really would mark the beginning of a new chapter.
Faruk led her toward a waiting area packed with applicants dressed for interviews.
The sight instantly made her stomach tighten.
"I'm suddenly nervous..." She whispered.
Faruk heard her.
Without saying a word, he gently squeezed her hand.
"Don't be."
He smiled reassuringly.
"Leave everything to me."
"I'll be back in a minute."
She nodded.
As she walked toward the empty seats, she quietly encouraged herself.
Why am I nervous?
It's just an interview.
You've faced worse.
You're stronger than this.
She was about to sit when a neatly dressed woman wearing a secretary's ID stopped her.
"I'm sorry, miss."
She smiled apologetically.
"We've already reached today's interview limit."
Hanan blinked. "But I was asked to join the queue."
"Who asked you?"
"I'm the one." Faruk's voice echoed across the room.
Instantly, whispers spread among the applicants.
"The Vice President..."
"He knows her?"
The secretary immediately straightened.
"Sir, HR instructed us not to accept..."
"She's an exception."
He turned toward Hanan.
"Come with me."
Without another word, he walked away.
Confused but curious, Hanan followed him into an office labeled: Vice President
The moment she stepped inside, her eyes widened.
The office was elegant.
Minimalist.
And unsurprisingly...
Most things were white.
"Sit."
Faruk gestured toward a couch before walking to the mini fridge.
He returned with a chilled can of Coke and handed it to her.
"So..."
She looked around again.
"This is your office?"
"Yep."
He grinned.
"You like what you see?"
"I do." She smiled. "It screams Faruk."
He laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment."
She placed the drink on the table.
"So...Why am I here instead of the interview room?"
He sat opposite her. "Because I'm conducting your interview."
She stared. "You?"
He nodded.
"Why?"
Instead of answering, he slid a brown envelope across the table.
"I only have one question."
She frowned. "One?"
"If you answer honestly... the job is yours."
She couldn't help laughing.
"Is this even an interview?"
"You don't need my CV?"
"I already know your qualifications."
He smiled.
"I know exactly what you're capable of."
"So there's nothing left for me to evaluate."
She leaned back.."Well... I'm flattered."
"So go ahead and ask, I'm listening."
Faruk took a slow breath.
His expression turned serious.
He held her gaze for several seconds before finally speaking.
"Why do you want revenge?"
The smile vanished from her face immediately. "What?"
"What exactly did Najib do... that made you hate him this much?"
Her fingers tightened around her arms.
"Why are you asking me that?"
"It has nothing to do with this job."
"It has everything to do with what I promised you." He answered calmly.
"Last night, I told you I would help."
"And I meant it."
"But I can't fight without knowing what I'm fighting."
Silence.
He continued.
"If you're planning to take Najib down alone..."
"I'm telling you now..."
"...it's impossible."
She frowned. "You think I'm too weak?"
"I think you're up against someone far bigger than you realize." He sighed.
"Najib has influence."
"He has money."
"He has connections."
"And he has people willing to protect him."
He leaned forward.
"If you want justice..."
"You'll need someone standing beside you."
"I can be that person."
"But only if you trust me."
She lowered her eyes. "I did have someone."
She whispered. "Until Abdul betrayed me."
"So that's why you left home?"
She nodded. "Partly."
He remained silent.
Then asked softly,
"So..."
"What exactly did Najib do?"
A long silence followed.
Hanan inhaled shakily.
Her voice barely rose above a whisper.
"Murder..."
She slowly lifted her eyes to meet his.
"Three years ago..."
.
.
.
***
A/N