16~Important guest
"Wow, you've got a beautiful home." Hanan admired her surroundings as her eyes wandered over every corner of the luxurious house they just walked into.
Faruk smiled. "Not mine. It belongs to my dad." He smiled taking her hand as they further walked in.
"Right... your dad's." Hanan corrected herself with a small smile.
Almost instantly, anxiety crept in.
She forced a smile, hoping it would hide the nervousness bubbling inside her, but Faruk noticed anyway.
He stopped walking and turned to her.
"Your hand is sweaty." He frowned lightly. "Are you okay? Is the fever acting up again?"
"I'm fine." She quickly shook her head before looking down at her outfit. "Do I... look decent enough to meet your family?"
Faruk couldn't help laughing.
"Hey." He smiled warmly, gently pulling her a little closer. "Relax. I can practically hear your heart racing."
She let out an embarrassed sigh.
"You look beautiful, Hanan. Trust me."
His reassurance eased her nerves a little, but not completely.
She had been eager to meet his parents earlier, yet now that she was standing at their doorstep, she suddenly wanted to turn around and run home.
Why was she so nervous?
"Come on." Faruk gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I've got you."
Just then, a middle aged man approached them with a broad smile.
The resemblance between him and Faruk was strikingly bold.
No one needed to introduce him.
He was practically an older version of Faruk.
"Good evening, Dad." Faruk greeted respectfully with a slight bow of his head.
His father merely smiled as he walked straight toward Hanan.
"Good evening, sir." She smiled nervously. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
"The pleasure is mine, dear." He returned her smile warmly. "You're most welcome. Please, come in."
"Thank you, sir."
"Mom around?" Faruk asked as they walked farther into the house.
"She's in the kitchen, as usual, making sure dinner is perfect." His father chuckled.
A few moments later, they stepped into an elegant dining room filled with mouthwatering aroma of different dishes beautifully arranged across the table.
Hanan's stomach growled almost immediately.
Everything smells amazing.
Her eyes wandered around the room.
The dining area was magnificent, decorated with quiet luxury that reflected years of success.
She looked around again.
They were alone.
Where are the other employees?
Isn't this a company dinner?
Weren't they invited too?
Her thoughts were interrupted.
"Please, have a seat." Faruk's father said, pulling out a chair for her.
"Thank you, sir."
She sat down while Faruk disappeared upstairs, leaving her alone with his father.
An awkward silence settled between them.
Hanan folded her hands on her lap, unsure of what to say.
She could feel Fatuk's dad studying her quietly.
Trying to ease the tension, she spoke first.
"You have a lovely home, sir."
He smiled proudly.
"Thank you. Years of hard work at the firm made all of this possible."
"It truly shows." She nodded sincerely. "And... thank you for giving me the opportunity to work at your company."
He smiled. "You should thank my son instead. He's the one who insisted on bringing you into the firm."
"I'll always be grateful for that."
"Oh, I'm sure you will."
His gaze lingered on her for another moment before he murmured almost to himself...
"So... this is the girl."
"I'm sorry, sir?" Hanan blinked.
"Oh, nothing." He rose to his feet. "Let me check on those two. I don't know what's keeping them."
Before he could leave, Faruk returned with his mother, who carried a tray filled with bowls of homemade ice cream.
She looked just as elegant and graceful as Hanan remembered.
Hanan immediately stood up.
"Please, let me help you."
"Oh no, dear." She smiled kindly. "I've got it."
"Good evening, ma. It's nice seeing you again."
"And it's lovely seeing you too." She beamed. "Now sit down before everything gets cold. I made today's dinner with extra love."
"It already looks delicious."
She laughed.
"Wait until you taste it."
Everyone smiled.
As they settled around the table, Hanan quietly observed the family.
There was warmth in the way they teased eachother.
There was comfort.
There was peace which made me wonder why his parents are divorced.
But she shoved the thoughts away quickly with a small smile.
Just as she reached for her spoon, Faruk gently switched their plates.
"Start with Mom's special marinated grilled chicken." He said. "It's illegal to leave this house without tasting it."
Hanan laughed softly. "Thank you."
Before anyone could begin eating, Faruk's father cleared his throat.
"If you all don't mind, let's wait just five more minutes."
Faruk looked up.
"Why? Are we expecting someone?"
His father smiled mysteriously.
"Yes."
"Who?"
"An important guest..."
He paused.
"Or rather, an important member of this family."
Faruk exchanged a confused look with his mother.
"You didn't tell me anyone else was coming."
She shook her head. "I have no idea who your father is talking about."
Just then, the sound of a car horn echoed through the compound.
Faruk's father smiled.
"That must be him."
He quickly excused himself and headed for the entrance.
Silence settled over the dining room.
Faruk frowned. "Mom... any guesses?"
She smiled helplessly. "None at all."
Outside, a car door slammed shut.
A few seconds later, footsteps echoed through the hallway.
Slow.
Steady.
Drawing closer to the dining room with every passing second.
For reasons she couldn't explain, Hanan's fingers tightened around her spoon.
Her heartbeat quickened.
A strange feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.
Something about tonight suddenly didn't feel right.
"Welcome, son. Come in."
Faruk's father smiled warmly as everyone instinctively turned toward the entrance.
The moment the man stepped inside, both Hanan and Faruk froze.
Their expressions mirrored each other.
Shock.
Utter disbelief.
The spoon in Hanan's hand slipped and crashed onto the tiled floor, drawing everyone's attention to her.
Her heart dropped.
What the heck is he doing here?
She looked at Faruk speechlessly.
"I... I had no idea." He muttered under his breath, though the annoyance written across his face said otherwise.
Najib's eyes never left Hanan.
"Najib!" Faruk's mother exclaimed happily as she walked over to embrace him. "I had no idea you were the one joining us tonight. Welcome dear."
He smiled politely.
"Thank you, Aunt. It's good to see you again." His gaze briefly shifted to Faruk. "Though... I don't think my cousin shares the same excitement."
Faruk's mother laughed awkwardly.
"Faruk, what are you waiting for? Come welcome your brother."
Faruk had no choice.
Suppressing every ounce of irritation inside him, he stood and walked over.
"Welcome."
Najib extended his hand.
"It's good to see you again."
They shook hands.
Both smiling.
A fake smile forced on their faces.
"Now." Faruk's father said cheerfully, "Everyone, let's eat. I also have someone special I would like to introduce to you, Najib."
He guided Najib to the only empty chair at the table.
Directly opposite Hanan.
The moment he sat down, Hanan lowered her gaze to her plate.
If she looked into his eyes for another second, she feared she would lose control.
She picked up her cutlery and forced herself to focus on the food instead.
Beside her, Faruk noticed how stiff she became.
He gently patted her shoulder before leaning closer.
"Relax." He whispered softly. "Don't let his presence get to you."
Before he could say another word, Najib interrupted.
"I must say..." His eyes settled on Hanan. "She isn't just a treasure... she's a rare gem."
Silence settled around the table.
"It's a pleasure seeing you again."
He stretched his hand across the table for a handshake.
Hanan stared at it.
Then she laughed.
A quiet, bitter laugh.
The audacity.
After everything...
After all the pain...
After destroying her life...
After taking away their child...
He had the nerve to pretend they were strangers meeting for the first time?
Her lips curled into a cold smile.
Ignoring his outstretched hand completely, she simply replied,
"Thank you."
An awkward silence followed.
Faruk's father, completely oblivious to the tension, smiled proudly.
"Najib, meet Miss Hanan."
He gestured toward her.
"She's the treasure I wanted to introduce to you."
Hanan frowned.
"She'll be your new personal assistant at the new branch we'll be launching together soon."
The dining room immediately fell silent.
Hanan slowly turned to Faruk recalling the radio broadcast she heard earlier while her eyes silently screamed...
What the hell is really going on?
Faruk looked just as stunned.
He clearly didn't know about the partnership his father was talking about.
Lost in disbelief, Hanan absentmindedly brought the knife in her hand down.
Instead of cutting the chicken in her plate.
She sliced her finger.
"Ouch..."
Blood instantly trickled down her finger.
"Hanan!" Najib shot up from his chair.
Without thinking, he reached across the table and caught her injured hand.
For a split second...
Everything stood still.
Then Faruk quickly pulled her hand away from Najib's grasp.
"It's okay." He grabbed a napkin and wrapped it firmly around her bleeding finger.
Faruk's mother gasped.
"Oh dear! Are you alright?"
She hurried over.
"How did you manage to cut yourself with such a blunt knife?"
Hanan forced a smile despite the pain.
"I... got distracted."
She stood abruptly.
"Please excuse me. I need to use the bathroom."
"Of course, dear."
Before Faruk could volunteer to accompany her, his mother called one of the maids.
"Please show Miss Hanan to the guest bathroom."
"Yes, ma."
The maid led Hanan away.
Faruk watched her disappear down the hallway.
Inside him, he was boiling in rage.
He was rarely the type to lose his temper.
But tonight...