IMADE AND JAMAL novel Chapter 14

JAMAL.

She stared back at me with a confused expression as if trying to process my presence. I didn't think I would be courageous enough to actually come here but after thinking about it all day, I came to a conclusion that paying her a visit might not be a terrible idea.

"I don't mean to sound rude or anything but, may I ask what you are doing here? How did you even get to know my place?" She asks, with a hint of irritation in her tone.

"Trust me, I would not be here if it wasn't important. Can we please just talk? I promise, I won't take your time." I request politely.

"It's actually not a problem, I just thought I needed to ask but anyways, you'll have to give me a few minutes to dress probably. It's way too cold out here." She replies, swiftly shutting the door in my face and it almost felt like she did that on purpose.

I couldn't possibly say I didn't deserve it though. I'm not even supposed to be here after everything but I suddenly felt the urge to get to her personally and talk calmly, hoping she will understand and comply with my decision.

"Jamal?" Her voice calls out, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"You're good now?" I ask.

"Yes, I am. Can we talk here though? I mean, I would be prefer we go downstairs cause I don't want the neighbours eavesdropping and misunderstanding." She says and I shrug nonchalantly whilst she leads the way down.

She stops suddenly by a bench side and takes a sit, immediately offering a sit to me but I'm reluctant to sit.

"What? You can sit here? Does it look to dirty for your highness?" She drawls with so much sarcasm and after what seemed like hours of contemplation, I finally sit beside her on the bench.

"What is it you want to talk about? Does it have anything to do with your girlfriend cause if it does, I'm not interested at all." She spits out with so much venom and I immediately knew Natasha had crossed the line with her.

"Firstly, she's not my girlfriend, she's a friend and no, I'm not here to talk about her but I got your sister's message and I'm here to address it and also offer you a solution to it but only if, you will agree to it." I explain and she tilts her head a bit before replying.

"I'm skeptical about this sudden solution cause like you said, she is your friend. You might see no wrong in her actions towards me and the solution you propose may not be favourable to me." She replies, earning a light chuckle from me.

"I highly doubt, I would bother coming here if what I had to say wasn't going to favour you in any way. As you already know, I can be very ignorant but I know how Natasha is when she gets silly ideas in her head and I can't let you take the heat for her insecurities." I tell her.

"Hmm, okay o. Let's hear this solution you have in mind. I'm honestly fine with anything as long as the harassment stops." She says with a snappy tone that indicated how quickly she wanted this to be over.

"It's simple Imade. I have spoken to the director at one of my dad's construction companies and I have gotten a permanent job for you with three times the pay you earn here. All you have to do now is quit here and by next week you resume work over there." I say to her and her facial expression switches.

She stays quiet for a while as if trying to soak in what I had just explained to her.

"I'm sorry to ask but why are you offering this to me just like that? You could have just fired me and saved yourself the stress but why would you transfer me and even worse, give me such a promotion?" She asks with so much doubt in her tone and I heave a frustrated sigh.

"Is it that hard to take the job? I mean, I don't necessarily need a motive but if you must know the motive, take it as a consolation for whatever Tasha has done to you."

"I honestly wasn't even aware that she had transferred you to work under her and I'm deeply sorry for whatever you've gone through." I apologise sincerely and her doubtful expression eases a little.

"She's the one who has to apologise but I will accept your apology since she's been this way because of you. The only thing I'm asking of you is that you please, keep her away from me when I get transferred. Knowing how jealous she is, she won't like the fact that her man is helping me out and she might look for other ways to get to me." She says but I assure her otherwise.

"Tasha only has power at the real estate company. Anywhere else, I'm fully in charge. So you don't have to worry about anything and if something pops up, let me know. Please." I reply and her previously stiff expression softens.

The dim light from the neighbouring house was all I could use to make out the features of her face and I must admit, she is beautiful. Even more beautiful than she was ten years ago, although I could tell by the endless stress lines on her face and eye bags under her eyes that she had being through a lot over the years.

"I don't trust you but I have no other choice but to take your word for it." She says with an adorable pout and I chuckle a little as I remembered just how childish she could be at times.