HIM

c h a p t e r 59: The Pawn

————

Zayyad

My hands are sweaty when I get to the library entrance door and slowly push it open. "As-salamu alaikum," I greet when I step into his favourite part of the house.

My father loves the library so much he set up an office here. He loves to read, and I despise reading. I wouldn't even read a newspaper, he noticed that about me when I was younger and he'd lock me in this library and make me read a book and write a report on it, as punishment for always getting into trouble. That even made me hate reading more. I don't know if he thought that was gonna help me...

He's currently sitting on his rotating chair behind the desk in the set-up office, and his face, which reminds me of Hamza, is fully visible, his kufi is on his head full of greyer hair prior to the last time I saw him, he's clad in his infamous olive coloured kaftan which leaves him with his never-changing charming aura.

The library is bright because of the big glass window which allows sunlight into it and gives a view of the lake with beautiful white swans chilling on it, and swimming towards each other, outside.

"Wa alaikum salaam," He replies with a smile that reaches the eyes.

I smile back, occupying one out of the two vacant seats opposite him, "Happy birthday," I say, placing a fancy wrapped box on his desk. Inside the box is a custom-made Bvlgari wristwatch, but he'll have to open it to find out.

"Thank you. How are you?" He asks.

"I'm alright,"

"Have you grown taller, you this palm tree?"

I laugh, "Mama said the same thing but I don't think I have,"

"I think you have," He chuckles, a yawn, following.

"Kai, Baba, you need sleep. Have you had any at all?"

"I haven't, but my company wouldn't run itself, I have to do things,"

"But Hamza's running the company fine,"

"He's not running it as well as you would have,"

I sigh. "I think he's doing an amazing job,"

"I would have taken a step down from the company two years ago, but this stubborn son of mine–" he makes a swift hand gesture at me, "–decided to go off,"

"You can still take a step down, Hamza's doing very well and you know it,"

"Two sons are better than one," He says and I lightly laugh, picking up a Rubik's cube, tossing it in the air, and catching it just to distract myself from this conversation. "How's your company coming in by the way? I saw the pictures you sent me via emails... they're phenomenal,"

"Na gode, Baba. You know I designed them?"

"I know, all that schooling in England showed," He laughs and I join him. "So, are investment slots open now?"

"Um, I'm working on it, I'm looking forward to doing that on the opening day of both the cocoa and apartment company,"

"Impressive. Any clients for the apartments?"

"Lots of clients. I already have six apartments out of the market, the cocoa company is coming up real good, I spoke to Uncle Sadiq and we're working on something massive for the chocolate launch,"

He nods, "I'm very impressed,"

"Na gode, na gode," I continually repeat with a grin, "I told you I was going to triple whatever you gav–"