As he left, I stepped into my office, my thoughts still lingering on our conversation. Moments later, Sana entered my cabin, her face calm and professional, carrying a file with all the details I had requested.
I tried to push the distractions aside, knowing I had to focus on the upcoming meeting with the foreign client from the UK. It was a big deal, one I couldn’t afford to mess up.
“Sana, is everything set for the meeting with Mr. Carter?” I asked, my tone more serious now.
“Yes, ma’am. He’s scheduled to arrive at 10 a.m. The presentation is ready, and the team has been briefed,” she responded confidently.
“Perfect. Make sure nothing goes wrong,” I said, trying to ground myself in work. This meeting could change everything for the company. There was no room for mistakes.
At exactly 10 a.m., Mr. Carter walked in a tall, sharply dressed man with an air of confidence. He greeted me with a firm handshake and a polite smile.
“Ms. Izel, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person,” he said in a crisp British accent.
“The pleasure is mine, Mr. Carter. We’re excited to discuss how we can collaborate,” I replied, “I’m sorry, Mr. Carter. It’s a cultural practice of mine not to shake hands,” I said calmly, hoping my professionalism came through.
He seemed to understand immediately, lowering his hand without missing a beat. “No problem at all, Ms. Izel. I appreciate the respect.” With that, I gestured towards the seat at the head of the table, and the meeting began smoothly
As we settled into the meeting, I dove into the presentation, outlining our company’s strengths and how our vision aligned with what they were looking for. Mr. Carter listened intently, occasionally nodding or asking pointed questions.
Halfway through, he leaned forward, his fingers lightly tapping the table. “Everything sounds impressive, but what sets your company apart from the competition?”
“What sets us apart is our commitment to innovation and personalization. We don’t offer a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, we tailor our services to each client’s specific needs, ensuring long-term success. We’ve already identified key areas where your company can benefit.” I replied.
Mr. Carter’s eyes lit up with interest, and I could see I had struck a chord.
“That’s exactly what we need,” Mr. Carter said. “Shall we proceed with the next steps?”
A wave of relief washed over me, but I kept my composure. “Absolutely. We can start by outlining the framework of our collaboration.”
As Mr. Carter stood to leave, he nodded appreciatively. “I look forward to working together, Izel. This seems like the beginning of a promising partnership.”
“Likewise, Mr. Carter,” I replied, feeling a rush of excitement about what lay ahead.
I watched Mr. Carter exit the room, a sense of triumph swelling within me. The meeting had gone better than I had hoped, and I could already envision the positive impact this partnership could bring.
Once he was gone, I turned to my team, who exchanged relieved and excited glances.
“Great job, everyone!” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “We nailed it! Your preparation really shone through.”
Sana stepped forward, a proud smile on her face. “You handled everything perfectly, Izel. We made a strong first impression.”
“Thanks, Sana,” I replied.
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As I wrapped up the meeting and felt a wave of accomplishment wash over me, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. I glanced at the screen and saw it was Irfaz.
Curiosity piqued, I swiped to answer.
“Yooo,” I greeted casually.
“Yooo, begum,” Irfaz replied, and I couldn’t help but giggle. “Meeting khatam begum ki?” he asked.
“Haan ji, khatam hui abhi just,” I said, relaxing into the conversation.
“Main kab aau lene apko?” he asked.
I decided to pull a little prank on him. “Main aarhi hoon tumhare office ke reception pe. Wait karna,” I said, trying to keep a straight tone.
“Yes, boss!” he replied eagerly and hung up, leaving me stifling my laughter.
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I went to my cabin and was surprised to see Seher sitting there.
“Chudail!” I screamed.
She got up from the chair and hugged me. “Kaisi hain, Kutti?” she asked, her face lighting up.
“Ek dum mast. Tu suna, yaha kaise aayi bina bataye? Mein toh aaj hi office aayi hoon; agar mein nahi hoti toh kya karti?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
“Relax, I called Sana before coming here. Orphanage case ke bare mein baat karni thi kuch, toh aagayi,” she explained, her tone casual.
We chatted about the case, discussing important details. As we wrapped up our professionalism,
[I realized I hadn’t introduced her yet. “Oh, I forgot to introduce her to you. She is Seher Malik, from the story Mafia’s Delicate Rose. We met in my orphanage house. She’s a lawyer handling my orphanage case. For more on our story, check out Mafia’s Delicate Rose. Hehe!“]
“Yaar, itne din baad milna ho raha hai apna,” Seher said, a smile on her face.
“Arey, puch mat! Mera life kisi Star Plus serial se kam nahi hai. Mera dulha badal gaya. Dulha mera collab partner nikla! Starting mein nikkah karke liya, itna bura bartab kiya, ab pura din jaan, begum karke ghoomta hai. Bipolar kahega!” I filled her in on my chaotic life.
“Waah, aur maine itni badiya serial miss kar di,” she pouted, clearly amused. “Chal, free hain toh aaj day out pe chalte hain!”
“Wait, let me ask him first. Bohot drama ho raha hai life mein, bataungi sukoon se,” I said, picking up my phone to dial Irfaz’s number.
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He picked up after just one ring.
“pouch gyi begum?” he asked.
I replied casually, “I’m at your reception, waiting for you.”
“Really? I’ll be right down!” he said, sounding excited.
I barely contained my laughter as I imagined him rushing downstairs. A few minutes later, my phone rang again. It was Irfaz.
“Where are you?” he asked, slightly out of breath.
“Turn around!” I instructed, trying to stifle my giggles.
He paused for a moment, then said, “No, the other way!”
I could hear him shifting, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “No, try turning around again!”
He kept turning, clearly confused. “Izel, this isn’t funny! Where are you?”
I decided to give him a hint. “Okay, look up!”
There was a brief silence before he finally said, “Wait, are you in the office building?”
“Bingo!” I replied, unable to hold back my laughter any longer. “I’m in my office. Gotcha!”
He let out an exasperated laugh. “You little prankster! I almost sprinted down here for nothing.”
“But imagining you spinning around looking for me was too funny to resist,” I admitted, still giggling. ” I should’ve seen your face!”
“Next time, I’m getting you back for this,” he said, his tone playful. “Just wait. Revenge is a dish best served cold!”
“Achha, listen!” I grabbed his attention.
“Haan, G?” he replied, sounding so cute.
“Hmm... actually...” I started jumbling my words, feeling a little nervous.
“Jo bolna hai, sidha bolo. Baaton ko ghumane ki koshish mat karo, tumse hoga nahi. Ulta khud ghoom jaoge apne hi baaton mein. Speak your heart,” he encouraged, making me feel relieved.
“Hmm, actually, Seher aayi hui hai office pe... toh hum meet kar rahe hain after a long time. So...” Before I could finish my whole sentence, he interrupted.
“You can go out with her. Just remember to call me if something happens, and I’ll pick you up after my work. So enjoy your day, BIWI.”
“Thank you so, so, so much, Husband!” I jumped in excitement, and for a moment, I could hear silence on the other end.
“Call that again,” he demanded playfully. I paused, realizing what I had just said.
(Izel, itna bhi excited nahi hona tha ki usko kidney mein heart dila de.)
“Thank you, Husband,” I said, feeling shy. “Call me if you need something.”
“Bina need ke nahi kar sakta?” he teased.
“Kar sakte ho, maine kab mana kiya?” I replied, trying to play it cool, even though my heart was racing.
“MISS ME, JAAN!” he said, and I cut the call uske muh pe kiu ki or cherdta mujhe woh, But I knew he would be giggling like an idiot.
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“Chal, permission mil gaya!” I said to Seher.
“Good job!” she gave me a thumbs up. “Toh kya karein ab?”
“Shopping chalte hain, chal!” I suggested, but it was more than a suggestion. I dragged her along; waise bhi, itni si hai woh.
“Arey,aram se!” Seher laughed as I pulled her out of the office.
“Shopping mein toh maza hi maza hai!” I said, my excitement bubbling over. As we headed out, I felt lighter, ready to embrace the day with my best friend by my side.
**************
Shopping story @angel_writs (Mafia’s Delicate Rose.) ke book mein pardh lena hehehe
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