Chapter 3. That Girl

Mahir held his left arm, which had completely healed, and grimaced. “Abba, you see, I still feel a little pain here,” he mouthed as he examined his arm.

Alhaji Adam looked up and shook his head. “Are you using your arm to speak? Or you’ve turned into a lefty? You’re such a spoiled brat, Mahir, and it’s your mother’s fault.”

He still didn’t give up and tilted his head, trying to plead with his father, but he wouldn’t budge.

Later in his office, after he was out of the meeting, he wanted to escape at first. He settled down in his mini living room with his PA, Musa.

“How…” Mahir heaved a sigh, massaging his temple. “How did you not get her information? This is a very simple task, Musa. How is it hard to get details of a person like her?” he screeched, shuffling on his feet. He always got his way with things, but this time, it was different and even difficult for him. He needed to find this girl.

“Sir, I tried everything I could, but I couldn’t get a hint of information from the hospital. They’re very strict about their rules and wouldn’t budge, not even after knowing who wanted her details-”

Mahir raised his hand, motioning him to keep shut. “I…I will handle it myself. You can go back to work,” he reluctantly said and dismissed Musa.

Anger curled hot and unstoppable in his gut, like a blazing inferno that wanted to burn his inside.

How could a regular girl be so hard to find? Why does she have to be so difficult to be located? Mahir hissed and got to his feet. He had to handle this situation by himself. He didn’t care what it took to find her – he was going to take any risk.

Later in the evening, Mahir linked up with his friend, Dr. Mansur, for the first time in months at their usual spot in Aldo’s restaurant. Mahir joined him on the rooftop. How he missed this place.

“Hey, do you know where I can get really good tiles and any house equipment?” Mansur asked without a glance at Mahir.

“You do know that’s one of the things we sell,” Mahir said.

Mansur looked up and gave him a mocking smile. “I know.”

Mahir rolled his eyes in annoyance.

A waiter walked by, and they stopped him to order.

“How are you?”

Mansur took his eyes off his phone to glance at his friend. It was unlike him to just sit there and say nothing. Mahir was the quiet type, but he always had something to say. Especially when they hadn’t hanged out in a while.

“What’s up with you?” he asked. He wanted to know as soon as possible.

Mahir was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t even notice Mansur talking to him until he threw a napkin at him, bringing him back to reality.

“Hmm?” He raised his brow.

“What’s up with you? You look restless.”

Mahir shrugged his shoulders. “I’m fine.”

“Well, you don’t seem like it. Speak, Mahir.”

Mahir smirked. He looked at Mansur. He was always in awe of how he was still friends with Mansur because he was the only person apart from his parents who could manipulate him into doing something against his will. Maybe because he had been there for him through thick and thin, never gave up on him no matter what pain in the neck he could be sometimes. Mansur was the only genuine friend he could trust with anything.

“If you don’t want to speak, then that’s fine.” Mansur put aside the conversation and changed the topic. “So mommy is making a huge renovation on her boutique, and she wants to handle everything to your dad’s company. Including the installment.”

Mahir smirked and nodded. “When is she coming to choose the products she wants?” he asked, and Mansur brushed it off.

“Next week, maybe?” It came out more like a question. “I don’t know. I’ll confirm when she’s ready and get back to you.

Their meal was served, and they dug in.

Mahir looked over to his friend, who was busy shoving a forkful of food into his mouth. He heaved a sigh and averted his gaze. He had to say something, but his ego and pride were trying to overpower him.

Mahir shook his head – whenever it came to something he wanted, he never let anything come his way. And he always got what he wanted. He smiled a smile of satisfaction at the fact that he had his way with anything he wanted. He just had to mention it, and it happened. He looked up again – Mansur was already done with his meal, and he wasn’t even halfway through his own.

“Now, do you want to talk about what’s bothering you, or we’re going to keep pretending?” He gently took a napkin and wiped his mouth with it.

Mahir dropped his fork and relaxed. “I want her information, Mansur. I want to know everything about her. I want to know why she helped me.”

Mansur looked up. He scooted forward in his seat. “Who are we talking about? The girl that donated blood to you, or…” he mouthed.

Mahir shook his head and rolled his eyes. “No, the girl daddy brought to my office this morning. Of course, I’m talking about that girl. Who else saved my life?” He was already frustrated by Mansur’s silly sarcasm. At the moment, it wasn’t funny.

“Oh.” Mansur relaxed back in his seat. “That girl. Well, as I told you months back, she donates blood to people who need it when she gets the chance. So, don’t feel special. And I doubt if she even knows you’re the one she helped because she left immediately after she was discharged by the doctors working that night. And about her information, Mahir, I wish I could help you with that, but I can’t.”

“Why?!” he snapped.

“Because I don’t even know her name. I just know she comes to the hospital once in a while, and I’ve seen her a couple of times.”

“You can get her details if you want to,” Mahir said sternly. He was irked by Mansur’s stubborn behavior.

Mansur chuckled as he got to his feet. “Even if I knew her that much, I wouldn’t disclose her information to you because you are so used to manipulating people and getting whatever you want that you tend to forget the difference between your employees and friends. So until you know how to talk and deserve it, you’ll stay in the dark.”

He patted Mahir’s shoulder and left.