It's his Lips, Everytime

chapter 2

As Khadija cautiously opened the door, anticipating her mother's arrival to alleviate the embarrassment, she was met with the sight of a tall, fair-haired woman in her early twenties. The young lady possessed an hourglass figure, mesmerising blue eyes, and pale lips adorned with gloss—a sight that even Khadija found captivating. Despite her shock, Khadija managed to maintain a professional demeanour, asking, "How can I help you?" in a mild tone.

However, to her surprise, the blonde woman walked past her without so much as a nod, leaving Khadija taken aback by her brazen disregard. Khadija, accustomed to the world of professionalism and career success, had never encountered such audacious ignorance before. With a bewildered expression, she watched as the woman approached Taner with a coy smile, prompting Khadija to mutter under her breath, "What the hell?"

Feeling a mix of confusion and frustration, Khadija retreated back into her room without saying another word, leaving the unexpected guests to their own devices."Who was that? What was with her attitude?" Khadija mumbled to herself as she adjusted her curtains while opening her window. Startled by the ringing of her phone, she quickly answered the call.

"Ms. Khadija, our plan has encountered some legal problems. Please come to the office as soon as possible. The project director is turning the office upside down," the voice on the other end informed her.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Khadija acknowledged the message. "Okay, today is not my day. Brace yourself, Khadija," she muttered to herself as she charged her phone and began to get ready. Twenty minutes later, she applied her mascara after her deep blue shimmer eyeliner when Taner knocked on her door.

"Khadija? Hey? Your soup is getting cold," he called out, knocking persistently for another thirty seconds. Khadija finished her makeup, grabbed her purse, and opened the door, lifting her head slightly to look at him.

"Mr. Taner, I will keep this formal even though you are younger than me by many years. You can use that room," she pointed to the room in the left corner, opposite to her study room and away from her room. Taner glanced in the direction she indicated before returning his gaze to her.

"We can discuss your business and necessary details for the next two months when I come back home. Thanks for the food. Bye," Khadija abruptly ended the conversation, not giving him a chance to respond. Khadhija hurriedly rushed out, taking her car keys in one hand and buckling up her shoe with the other.

As Khadija left, Taner sighed, watching her departure with a sense of resignation.

Aa khadija is driving her car to her office, she gets a call from one of the lawyers from the legal team.

**Khadija**: Hello, this is Khadija speaking.

**Lawyer**: Good morning, Ms. Khadija. This is James from the legal team. We need some clarification regarding the government water plant project your company is involved in.

**Khadija**: Of course, James. What specific details do you need?

**Lawyer**: We're reviewing the contracts and noticed some discrepancies in the scope of work outlined. Can you confirm the exact parameters of the project?

**Khadija**: Certainly. The project involves the construction of a new water treatment facility to serve the surrounding communities. Our scope includes site preparation, installation of filtration systems, and infrastructure development for distribution.

**Lawyer**: And what about the environmental impact assessments? Have those been completed?

**Khadija**: Yes, environmental impact assessments were conducted prior to project commencement. Our team ensured compliance with all regulations and obtained necessary permits.

**Lawyer**: That's reassuring. We'll need copies of those assessments for our records. Also, have there been any changes to the project timeline or budget?

**Khadija**: No, the timeline and budget remain unchanged from the initial proposal. We've been diligent in monitoring progress and adhering to the agreed-upon schedule.

**Lawyer**: Excellent. We'll continue our review and keep you updated on any further questions or issues. Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Khadija.

**Khadija**: You're welcome, James. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything else.

Khadija ended the call with a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of the impending legal review adding to her stress. As she arrived at her office building, her headache intensified. Stepping out of the elevator, she made her way to the tenth floor and entered the project director room without bothering to knock, the urgency of the situation overriding any formalities.

**Khadija :** What a morning. Headache's pounding like a jackhammer.

**Director:** Stress levels off the charts, huh?

**Khadija:** You got that right. And now these legal complications with the water plant project. Just what I needed.

**DirectorH:** Deep breaths, Khadija. We've faced tough situations before. Let's tackle this one step at a time.

**Khadija:** Right. First, we need to ensure all documentation is in order. Environmental impact assessments, permits, everything. I'll have the team gather and review them ASAP.

**Director:** Good plan. Next?

**Khadija:** We need to address the discrepancies in the scope of work. I'll schedule a meeting with the project team to clarify and document everything properly.

**Director:** And the timeline and budget issues?

**Khadija:** I'll review the original proposal and contracts thoroughly. If any adjustments are needed, I'll negotiate with the stakeholders to ensure we stay on track.

**Director:** Sounds like a solid strategy. Anything else on your mind?

**Khadija:** Just the pressure to get it all done without any missteps. But we've got this, Head. Together, we'll find solutions and navigate through this challenge.

**Director:** That's the spirit, Khadija. One step at a time, we'll overcome this hurdle and emerge stronger than ever.

**Khadija:** Thanks, Head. Let's get to work.

Khadija returned to her seat, feeling the weight of her unease. The combination of hunger, hangover headache, and mental stress weighed heavily on her. Despite her inner turmoil, her demeanour maintained its characteristic charm with a touch of icy resolve. Rolling around the department to collect the necessary documents, she pushed through the discomfort, skipping both breakfast and lunch in the process. As her stomach grumbled and ached, she realised she had forgotten to bring her medication for the day.

"Shoot! I forgot to bring my medication today. I don't want to go home early to see that guy at all," she muttered, her frown deepening with frustration.

Reflecting on the events of the previous night, she found herself unable to recall anything. "What happened last night though? I can't remember anything," she pondered, feeling a sense of disquiet.