Choosing Him

9

She woke up in the morning and got ready as fast as lightening because as usual she was running late. Later than usual though. It was not her fault though as she had forgotten to press 'okay' on her alarm last night so she woke up at quater to eight. Without even taking a shower, she threw on the first dress she saw. She had no time for breakfast or leaving a message for her mother so she just left.

Scolding herself in being stupid, she got into her car and drove to office like a maniac.

She got there at 8:15. But well who cares, she was gonna get fired anyway.

Shrugging her thoughts she took the elevator to her bosses office. Once she got there she politely knocked.

"Late again, Miss Areesha? " her boss said as a way of greeting.

"Uh yes sir, actually last night I forgot to press the 'ok' on my alarm so-"

"I have no time to hear your memoir," he said to her sternly,"but make sure this doesn't happen again or you are fired. Understand?"

"What you aren't firing me already?!" She asked surprised.

"Why were you hoping to get fired?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No of course not sir."

"Thats more like it. We have a meeting with the Mehmood company in fifteen minutes so get ready. You have to give the presentation as well so you better look through it now."

"What? Me? A presentation in fifteen minutes?"

"Yes. That's exactly what I said. It's not my fault you are late. And by the way, your time is running out," he said with a smirk pointing towards his watch.

"You are seriously out of your mind!" She said shaking his head at him.

"This is the last time I am saying this: Go get prepared." He said to her with a tone of finality.

Ooh looks like its a new challenge, she thought. It felt like Mr. Ali thought that she would mess it up.

She would show him who he was dealing with. Ha!

She quickly took out her laptop and found the presentation that was emailed to her. She printed out a hard copy and skimmed through it. She highlighted the main points pacing around the room, a habit she had when she got nervous. It felt like she was back in high-school doing some last minute cramming for a test. The only difference was that this was practical life and if she messed it up it would cost her her job.

She quickly rehearsed the presentation imagining the audience was sitting in front of her. She was so nervous! What if she messed up?

Outside Fawad was watching her with amusement. He knew he was being mean but he was just testing her if she was really capable of this job. He almost let out a laugh seeing the gestures she made with her hands as if the audience was in front of her. He was sure she'd mess it up.

Calm down, relax she told herself as she made her way towards the meeting room after going through it in ten minutes.

"Good Morning ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to F.Ali company. I am the Mr. Ali's secretary Areesha Aftab. As you all know this presentation is ...."

***

"I must say I am impressed. For the time you were given to prepare this was quite incredible." They were sitting in his office after the presentation.

"Thanks. Lets just hope we get the contract then." She said with a polite smile. At first Areesha had felt very nervous but after a few minutes of speaking it became natural to her and the speech flowed..

"I'm sorry." Mr Ali suddenly said.

"No its fine, the presentation was fine wasn't it?" She said to him a little surprised about his apology.

"No, no not about that. I-I feel responsible about your broken engagement- "

"Oh that. Well no worries. It was written in my destiny. It was meant to happen. It would have happened one way or another." She said with a tight smile. It hurt to think about him again when she had so successfully avoided it.

"I'm glad you think that way. It's a pity he didn't trust you-"

"No its not. Now if you please excuse me I need to use the restroom." Without waiting for a reply she rushed out of the office and went to the restroom. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks as she thought of Amir. When she was younger and she saw her friends crying over breakups she scoffed at them, but here she was doing the same thing.

She opened the tap and cupping some water in her hands she splashed it in her face to calm herself down.

Suddenly she heard her phone vibrating in her pocket. Drying her hands on her clothes she took out her phone and saw it was Zayan.

She slid her finger across the phone to answer the call and put it on her ear walking out of the restroom to her cabin.

"Where are you Areesha?" Her brothers angry voice asked her.

"Well hello to you Zayan!"

"You didn't answer me. Where. Are. You?"

"I'm at office.  Sorry I was running late so I didn't inform anyone."

"What office?" She could hear the frown in his voice and let out a groan.

"Um I have a job I forgot to tell you about it." She said sheepishly.

"Come home this instant Areesha. Quit the job, now I'm here, you don't need to work." 

"No. I'm not quitting under any circumstances." She retorted.

"We will talk about that once you get home. I'm waiting for you." 

"I'll be home around 4-ish. So you can wait for me." She said cheekily.

"No. Get your ass home this instant."

"Not happening. Ok gotta go. Allah Hafiz!" With that she cut the call not waiting for his response as she saw Mr. Ali coming towards her.

"I thought you had to use the toilet? But here you are on the phone." He said to her leaning on the cabin door.

"Wel I was, but then this call came and I had to pick it. It was kinda important."

"Ok. Come inside my office. " he said leaving her cabin and Areesha followed him silently.

"First off, another worker made notes of the important meetings while you were absent so those need to be typed out. They are on your table. Second, you need send the email regarding this to our accounts department so that they can check the budget, Third, tell the driver to get the contract form from the Ansari Co. and you need to get it signed by me. Once all that is done, you may leave." She quickly jotted everything down on her notepad and headed out.

If she had to do all of this she was probably leaving this place tomorrow she thought. 

She sent the emails first and then rang up the driver. Then she sat down and started typing.

The whole cabin was filled with the sound of rattling keys as her long, thin fingers skillfully moved overthe key board.  

After a while she got up and streched and then went back to her work.

All the hunger forgotten from earlier, she just focused on her work. She messaged her brother that she might be late today.

It was already past office hours but she needed to make up her abscence. When she was working she heard her intercom beep. She looked through the glass window at her boss who beckoned her to come inside. 

She got up and streched and tiredly dragged her feet to his office. 

"Yes?" She said stifling a yawn as she entered the office.

"Its already past the usual office hours how muchof your work is left?"

"I-" ahe was about to reply to him, but suddenly she felt the office spinning. She tightly gripped the chair in front of her as she saw black dots clouding her vision. It felt like she was going to faint. 

Her head was spinning very badly and she couldn't make out her surroundings. Her knees were giving up and soon she fell to the ground with a thud.

Her boss rushed to her worriedly and wondered whatever was wrong with her.

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