THE VOW

CHAPTER THREE

A life insurance broker is Naji Sorensen. In 1997, he wed Lana Yusuf, and they have been together ever since. Despite their many arguments, they managed to coexist. Lana adored her husband and would sacrifice anything for him. They didn't have kids, which seemed to be fine with both of them. Lana yearned to have children, but she supported her husband's choice to hold off until his business took off. While Lana had a separate business as an event planner, he was in a partnership with his two brothers, Ralph and Earl.

He arrived at work early that morning to finish up before leaving for the weekend on business to New Mexico. In the middle of Las Vegas, he had a little office in a run-down strip mall. A reception desk with a chatterbox by the name of Sabah was located in the tiny lobby. A narrow hallway leading to two offices on either side with file cabinets that never seem to be filled might be found after passing the chatterbox.

Ken had an office at the end of the hallway that was slightly larger than the others and that he always kept organized and pristine.

A picture of him and Lana on their wedding day sat on his desk.

Since they were so young and such total opposites, it baffled most people why they chose to get married. There was a tiny antique photograph of the Sorensen brothers with a lake in the background that was no older than fifteen. It was taken during a camping trip in the summer of 1989 when he and his brothers vowed to work together and made the decision to open their own company someday.

On the phone all the time, Naji shouted and occasionally laughed. He resembled a used car salesperson in many respects rather than a knowledgeable insurance broker. Even though he would claim to have received a comprehensive education from the top universities in the nation, he dropped out of junior college after being married to Lana and began his firm in 2001. He would claim that it was all due to investors who believed in him even though no one knew where he acquired the money for it.

His door was pounded by Sabah, a small redhead with a porcelain complexion and cherry-red lips who was announcing something.

As she spoke, her large, blue eyes danced. Alexander is in your presence to visit you.

"Thanks, Sabah. " Naji remarked as he started to clean up his desk. Please allow him entry.

To shake the man's hand, he set down his Grande Café Americano and stood. Dr Alexander, or Huey to his pals, was a tall, slender guy who stood at roughly six feet four inches. At age five-nine, Sorensen looked up to make eye contact. The doctor appeared older than his actual age of 49 because of his carefully coiffed blonde hair to one side and his sad-looking brown eyes. He was dressed in what Naji thought was an old grey suit with slacks that were an inch too short and crumpled at the thighs.

Naji extended an invitation to his friend to sit across from him.

"Sabah!" Naji yelled.

Later, she showed up. "Yes?"

"For the remainder of the day, I won't be seeing any more clients. Please take a break and avoid disruptions when you return.

Sabah gave a nod before leaving the office and locking the door behind her.

Naji got up from his chair and approached Huell from behind his desk. He faced the physician as he sat in the desk's corner.

Naji positioned his arms across his chest and questioned, "What happened?"

"All done," said Huell with a smile on his face as he reclined on the chair.

Naji refused to smile back. "Any signs?"

"None. At 12:23 p.m., she was brought to the hospital and later declared dead.

Naji grinned as he glanced at his timepiece. Did anybody notice you? He spoke.

"No. I verified.

Naji now broke out in a smile. "Perfect."

When Huell put the envelope in the inside pocket of his jacket and prepared to leave, Naji walked back behind his desk, grabbed it from the top drawer, and tossed it to him.

Naji questioned, "Aren't you going to count it?"

No need. It's all there, I'm sure, boss.

Huell left the office after they exchanged another handshake.

Naji sat in his pricey chair once more, drank from it for a second time, and then threw the empty cup in the recycling. As he reclined back in his chair, he took out his phone and placed a call.

"Hello."

Naji asked, "My love, how are you?" in a soothing tone.

Hello, Naji. I was just considering giving you a call. What took place?"

He grinned and continued, "I think you will be pleased. How about lunch?"

"Sure, yes. usual location?

He terminated the call with, "Yes, see you there in a bit."

He finished organizing his desk, shut down his computer, and left the room.

Sabah was working on paperwork in Ralph's office while chewing gum and singing off tunes to Lorde's Royals.

"Sabah!" She was startled by Ken's yell.

"Yes?"

I'm going to leave for the day. After lunch, Ralph will be in; would you kindly make sure his office is tidy by then?

Ken walked out of the building as she nodded.

His workplace was in an undesirable location, and he had long ago made himself a vow that it would only be temporary. He stepped into his red Accord, turned the key, and accelerated out of the parking lot, going north on Las Vegas Blvd.

He had spent twenty years living in Las Vegas and was intimately familiar with its streets. He took a fifteen-minute drive to Reds' Grill, a place he had frequented for more than ten years and where the proprietor knew and respected him.

He entered a parking place and looked around to make sure no one was watching him. That had always given him the creeps.

Had he ever felt secure? Perhaps when I relocate to Texas, he pondered. In the meantime, he would keep watching the area for any odd activity. He got out of his automobile once he was confident that everything was clear.

When he walked into the establishment, Redd himself greeted him right away. He was a big, ruddy man wearing his signature Hawaiian shirt and a long, white beard. He was wearing a black one with brilliant yellow suns today.

"Mister Sorensen! He greeted Naji and said, "Good to see you, my friend. Please lead me to my favourite table."

The theme of the restaurant was Baja. The speakers above blared mariachi music and the sound of the ocean.

Redd hung fishing nets and hammocks from the ceiling, and artificial palm trees were used to decorate the entire room. Additionally, there were pictures of Redd in his sailboat with all kinds and sizes of fish.

There were three areas, including a bar that offered fast food during the lunch rush and happy hour in the evening. Families favoured the huge area to the left with the tables and the modest salad bar.

The smoking zone was his favourite even though he didn't smoke. The office was quiet as secretaries, salespeople, office nerds, and businessmen returned from lunch to their cubicles to finish their work and call the week.

"Good afternoon!" she practically shrieked, "Can I get you started with a beverage? ", as his server, a gorgeous brunette with gorgeous breasts and a beautiful birthmark under her overdone left eye, walked over to him.

He grinned at her too-friendly demeanour.

"Rum and Coke, please, and I'm waiting for someone, so please take your time."

Saying "Coming up!"

Oma showed up shortly after. She turned away as soon as he kissed her on the lips while standing to greet her. Naji asked her to sit across from him after making sure no one else witnessed the awkward situation.

The waitress quickly came back with his drink.

She announced, "Rum and Coke," set the beverage down on a coaster in front of him, and then started taking their order.

She handed them their menus and said, "May I interest you in our special of the day?"

Naji asked for two club sandwiches and two side salads.

Oma said, "I'll have what he's having, please."

With their order, the pleasant waitress departed.

Oma asked, "So, what news do you have?"

Naji grinned maliciously.

He leaned forward, "Mission accomplished," he said.

He took her hand and kissed her knuckles while saying, "You're three for three, my dear."

"Really?" Oma smiled.

While sipping his beverage, Naji tapped his watch. The death occurred at 12:23 p.m. I find it surprising that he hasn't called you yet.

The woman examined her watch. 15:45 was the time. Ken was true; she hadn't heard from her husband. She questioned if he had heard the news yet, not that he ever did during the day.

When the waitress came back with her beverage, Oma grinned and said, "To our wonderful plan."

Naji added with that wicked grin, "Cheers." He loved Oma dearly, so he was thrilled when she asked him to do her a favour.