He flicked his cigarette and softly placed his glass down. He laid back and blew out the rest of the smoke boiling within him, creating a thick grey cloud.
A deep smile planted upon his lips as he heard heels echoing in the large hallway of the law firm.
"Ah...Miss. Farooqi..."
Zoya Farooqi entered her office, and snapped her eyes to look at the man who seemed too comfortable in her office.
"Excuse me Mr. Khan, but I'd rather not have any pollution inside my firm and most importantly, my office" said the bittersweet voice.
Asad Ahmed Khan put his cigarette out and lay back on the leather chair.
"Miss. Farooqi, I appreciate the fact that you took some time out of your busy schedule to meet me" said Asad with his dark brown eyes flickering in her direction.
Her beautiful dark eyes pierced into his soul , making their way into the deepest pits of his heart. Her red lips seemed to curve into a small grin.
"Mr. Khan, I am utterly shocked you chose to join Farooqi and Associates" said Zoya as she layback on her chair and bore into his handsome face.
"You're an excellent lawyer Miss. Farooqi and your firm is one of the most prestigious firms in NYC... and that showed through your victory through your last case" replied Asad.
Zoya smirked, " Mr. Khan, what is the actual reason you wish beg for a job?"
"You know me very well Miss. Farooqi" replied Asad. He stood up and she looked up at him amusingly, " I've had too many men trying to do what you did Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan" .
"What do you think I would do Miss. Farooqi?" asked Asad as he slowly made his way to her.
Zoya stood up slowly and straightened her skirt. She folded her arms and smiled, "I had no doubt that a man like you would have something up his sleeve"
" Sweety, listen...I don't have time for little boys like you so you might as well tell me what you want"
"Boys to men...do you know that group of singers?" asked Asad as he spoke closely into her ear.
She took a deep breath and replied, " Frankly, you've never grown up Asad Ahmed Khan... you've always been a jackass."
"Ahh...so I'm letting the lioness out of her cage..." replied Asad as he chuckled to himself.
Zoya put her hands on his chest and smirked. She dangerously and seductively spoke against his ear,
" Asad Ahmed Khan... letting me out the cage only means you'll be ripped to shards and you know what?"
"What?" smirked Asad as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
"You'll be the first one ripped into tiny shards and so much so that your family won't be able to recognize you," hissed Zoya.
She stared him straight in the eyes and slowly took his arms off of her waist.
"Oh wait...who am I kidding? You have no family," chucked Zoya as she rolled her eyes.
"You've just rejected Asad Ahmed Khan Zoya...you'll regret it," whispered Asad.
Zoya laughed and replied, " The only thing I regret is wasting my breath on a man like you"
"We both know too much about each other Zoya...let go of it," replied Asad as he put his hands into his pockets.
Zoya looked at him with amusement and shook her head. She walked to the window and looked out, " Repeating and looking at the past means that you're still stuck in it..."
"Past...? Zoya we had a future," replied Asad.
"That you destroyed with your own hands Mr. Khan," said Zoya.
Asad went quiet and Zoya turned around, " The day you left me alone whilst being pregnant...I damn well have the right to reject you"
"I went weak," replied Asad as he looked away trying to dodge emotions as usual.
"No Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan, you completely killed the old Zoya and replaced her with the biggest b*tch alive," said Zoya with her voice stronger than ever.
Asad looked at Zoya with almost surprised eyes. The Zoya he knew wouldn't ever speak to him like that, nor would she use such harsh words.
But Zoya had Asad had a long history behind them. They went to law school together and became great friends. They shortly got married and that time, Asad was at his all time high and opened up his large firm. Through those 2 years, Asad became the top corporate lawyer in NYC. Sooner and sooner, Asad changed entirely and even Zoya couldn't recognize the man she was married to. She would often find out that he was cheating on her and she would forgive him every time.
And during that time, Zoya found out she was pregnant. The day she was going to tell him about her pregnancy, was the day he left her. He locked her out of the apartment and humiliated her in front of the entire staff of his firm. She was left pregnant and she had no other option but to seek refuge at her sister's house until her delivery. Zoya was broken, but her son, Hamza was the only reason she was living and breathing.
She began working and from then on , it had been 5 years and Zoya managed to become one of the top corporate lawyers in NYC.
His firm, Khan & Associates had been the top firm in NYC, but Zoya, in a number of years managed to make her firm better than his. Slowly but surely, his firm lost business and he was forced to shut the his down and now his only way to maintain his image was to be hired as a lawyer at Zoya's law firm.
"Listen Zoya, I came here for a favor...for a chance...please give me a chance" said Asad with his voice slightly becoming serious.
"A favor? A chance?...do you mean you want pity money?" said Zoya with a smirk.
"No, I want a place in your firm ," said Asad.
"Forget about it Mr. Khan" said Zoya as she turned around and flashed a cruel smile.
"Look...I've lost my apartment...I need this," said Asad.
"Even better..." said Zoya with one eyebrow up and an even larger smile.
"Zoya..listen...I want to-" began Asad.
"I hate you Asad...get lost" said Zoya as her voice snapped.
Asad went dead quiet. He saw the fury in her eyes as she said the word hate and applied it to him.
"I hate you..." repeated Zoya.
She pulled one of her arms out and pointed to the door, " And that is your final destination Mr.Khan, please don't ever walk through my doors ever again."
Suddenly, Zoya's legal assistant knocked at her door. Zoya changed her facial expression and replied, " Yes Marilyn?"
"Zoya...Your sister just dropped Hamza off and he's with me right now" said Marilyn. Zoya's eyes calmed and her demeanour changed.
Asad frowned and he looked at Zoya who threw looks in his direction. Zoya opened the door of her office and looked down at the handsome young boy standing with his backpack, smiling at her.
"Mama!" said Hamza with a large smile.
Zoya bent down and hugged her son. Asad noticed the change on her face as she hugged this boy.
"How are you jaanu?" said Zoya. Marilyn smiled and left Hamza with Zoya.
"Im fine mama...I did lots at school today!" chirped Hamza.
"Really? Like what?" said Zoya.
"I did painting of a big train" replied Hamza. Zoya's smile widened and her eyes shined, " Really?"
Hamza was about to reply to her until he looked up scrunched his nose, " Who is that mama?"
Zoya looked down and then to her son again. She met his questioning and confused eyes. His eyes reminded her of Asad's eyes when he would ask her a question.
She bit her lip and then turned around to see Asad who had the same look of confusion spreading across his eyes.
"He's no one..." replied Zoya with a grave tone.
Hamza looked down and thought for a second and then looked up. He shrugged and said, " Mama, I'll be back okay?"
Zoya frowned, " Where are you going?"
Hamza raised his pinky and smiled, " washroom!"
Zoya laughed and kissed her son on the cheek, " Okay go..." Hamza ran off towards the washroom. Zoya stood up and crossed her arms.
"Why was he calling you mama? Who is he?" asked Asad.
"Hamza...my son" said Zoya.
"Who is the-" began Asad.
Zoya threw him a look of disgust, " And what is it to you?"
Asad's eyes evoked fury and he walked upto her violently grabbing her arms, " Who is
it?!"
"ASAD!" roared Zoya.
She pushed him back and heaved in anger, " How dare you touch me? Kis Haq se tum mujhe chooh rahe ho?"
"who is the father dammit!" roared Asad.
" YOU," roared Zoya.
Asad went dead quiet and his eyes widened. He looked at Zoya who had little tears brimming in her eyes.
"He's...he's.. " said Asad with utter shock.
"He's MY son...GOT IT?" hissed Zoya. She pointed directly to the door, " GET LOST NOW...ASAD"
"But Zoya...-" began Asad as his throat suddenly went dry.
"GET LOST!" screamed Zoya. Suddenly, Marilyn and other staff opened her door wide and worriedly asked, " Zoya is everything okay?"
"Escort Mr. Khan out of here NOW..." roared Zoya. The staff, including Marilyn had never seen Zoya so angry before. She was the most calmest and cool person in the entire firm. They all shook in fear as she was shaking violently in anger.
Marilyn snapped a look at Asad, " Please leave Mr. Khan...before I ask the authorities to escort you out of here"
Suddenly, Hamza came running into Zoya's office and stood beside Zoya.
Zoya hid Hamza behind her and her voice went back to being cold and cruel, " Leave..."
Asad's facial expression changed and he looked down. He felt as if the entire world had given up on him and the last person he thought would've taken him back, rejected him...humiliated him in front of everyone.
"This game is over Asad...get lost," said Zoya.
Asad looked at Hamzah who was utterly puzzled of what was happening around him. He looked at his son ,a symbol of what him and Zoya used to be.
Most of Hamza was exactly like him. His eyes...His nose... but his hair was jet black like Zoya's. He was a tall boy for his age and quite healthy. His smile reminded him o f Zoya's when she would be up to doing something mischevious to bug him.
Asad turned around for a second, but he turned on his heels and look to Zoya's eyes which were full of fury.Tables had turned and Zoya was happy in her own world with her son. He knew that he didn't have the right to be called Hamza's father.
He looked at his son one last time and looked away.
Meanwhile, Zoya wiped her tears and then said, " You may all get back to your work..."
Marilyn looked at Zoya, " Zoya...are you sure?"
"I'm sure...Im fine...just go" said Zoya as she forced a smile. Marilyn sighed and nodded. Everyone went back to work and Zoya sat herself down on her chair.
"Mama...why are you crying?" asked Hamza.
"Nothing jaanu...mama just missed you," said Zoya as she put her hands on Hamza's cheek.
Hamza nodded and smiled. He gave Zoya a big hug and Zoya wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"I love you..." said Zoya with a large smile.
Hamzah sighed, " Mama...I don't want you to embarrass me in front of Carlos and Jamison, so I'm hugging you now"
Zoya erupted into laughter and there, she packed her stuff and exited her office and head home, where she found solace and love.
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