I look around to see if anyone was paying attention to me and knocked on Nayel's office door once, walking in without waiting for a reply.
"Hi, do you want to" I stop myself when I notice a woman sitting beside him, oh shit did I just interrupt a meeting? Wait I'm his assistant and no one had an appointment for right now.
Nayel and the girl were laughing, they looked up from their conversation to see me. The woman looked around Nayel's age, maybe slightly older? She had beautiful black hair, tan skin, and grey eyes.
"I'm so sorry to interrupt you Mr. Nayel," I say clinking my teeth together, "I'll come back later" I look at Nayel apologetically.
"Is this her? Is this the Maria?" The woman turns her head to Nayel, smiling brightly.
Nayel rolls his eyes playfully, a smile appearing on his lips, "Yeah" He says lowly.
I furrow my eyebrows in confusion, who is this woman who knows about me?
"Oh my goodness" She exclaims getting out of the seat and walking toward me, "I have been dying to meet you for years!" She smiles at me.
I can't help but smile back, I glance back at Nayel wondering who she is.
Nayel gets up, his hands in his pockets, "Maria this is my older sister Ella" He tilts his head gesturing to her.
I didn't even know Nayel had a sister, suddenly I feel so bad and also like I know nothing about him.
"It's lovely to meet you!" I smile at her.
Ella smiles and looks back at Nayel shaking her head disapprovingly, "He's never mentioned me has he?"
I laugh awkwardly, "We didn't do much talking about our personal lives for 2 years" I shrug.
"And now we don't do a lot of talking most of the time," Nayel says lowly smirking mischievously making my eyes go wide but either Ella didn't hear his comment or simply choose to ignore it because she didn't make any remarks.
"Do you live in New York?" I ask making conversation.
"Oh no, I live in London with my family. I had a layover stop at New York and decided to stay a couple of hours to see my baby brother" Ella says, "and was hoping to run into you" She grins. She does not seem like Nayel's sister, she's so bubbly and the happy-going type.
"We should get lunch together" Ella suggests beaming.
"We are on lunch break right now," Nayel says, "Of course only if Maria wants to" He flashes me a look.
I smile, "I would love to I just don't know if people at work are going to say something if both of us are gone together" I shrug.
"Nayel can just tell them I'm a client, no one knows he's my brother" Ella suggests and Nayel nods agreeing with her. Oh, she's definitely Nayel's sister.
"Sure" I smile and Ella claps her hands excitedly.
"Relax" Nayel scowls at her.
"Sorry not all of us can be grumpy assholes all the time. You do realize being a dick is not a personality trait right?" Ella sasses Nayel and I giggle, she turns around to smile at me while Nayel looks at me betrayed and I simply shrug causing him to smile.
....
We settled on getting sushi for lunch at this really nice spot 20 minutes from the office. It's clear that Nayel is the introverted sibling because Ella talks so much, she's sort of like me which is very nice.
"Believe it or not, you're the first person Nayel has told us about in years. He never tells about any of his friends except the ones we've known since we were kids, he never dares to mention any neighbors or any people he works with but your name comes up more than you'd think" Ella simpers at me.
Nayel was sitting opposite her and I raise an eyebrow at him, smiling and he seems like he got really shy suddenly, "You're making me seem like I'm some obsessed freak"
"Are you going to pretend like you aren't obsessed with her?" Ella challenges turning to look him in the eyes.
Nayel scoffs, "Shut up" making me smile. At that very moment, we hear a phone going off, it was Nayel's. He looks at the screen and frowns, "Sorry ladies, I need to take this" He says getting up and walking outside the restaurant.
"I'm serious though, he's very smitten with you. My brother keeps his life very private from everyone. We don't know anyone, he's so secretive. He's been like that our whole life but with you, he can't seem to keep your name out of his mouth." I blush slightly as Ella smiles at me, "I'm serious Maria when you started working for him 2 years ago and he told dad he has a new assistant and told him your name and the type of person you were, our family practically had a heart attack. He has never mentioned anyone ever. Not even just by name in general he never does."
"I mean he basically tortured me for 2 years" I shrug, "He made it seem like he truly hated my guts"
Ella sighs, "He used to do that with girls he liked all throughout his childhood up until high school, I thought he would be better now" She shakes her head disapprovingly, "Men I tell you" She rolls her eyes taking a sip of her drink, "And we're the complicated ones okay" She scowls making me giggle.
"I know things between the two of you are very new so I'm trying not to overwhelm you" Ella looks over at me.
I chuckle, "Oh no, it's just all a bit unbelievable. Even though he's great with me now I just sometimes feel like oh is this real? Like he doesn't hate me anymore? Cool?" I frown in confusion and Ella laughs.
"I've never seen him look at someone the day he looks at you, his ever pleasant scowl disappears when you walk into the room. It's honestly impressive, I don't know what your secret is but now meeting you I understand why he's so in love with you and has been hooked on you since the day he met" Ella nods.
I shake my head and sigh, "I don't know about love" I pause, "But what did he use to tell you guys about me? I'm really curious"
Ella smiles, "He'd just find a way to bring you up in conversations he'd be like speaking of New York my assistant Maria made this really funny joke today, or if there was something you did to piss him off he'd go off about it randomly. He just loved talking about you mostly because I feel like he couldn't talk to you or anyone else really so since we didn't know you it was a perfect escape for him."
Ella smiles, her smile reaching her eyes, "I remember when he casually dropped that you and he were friends or on good terms, I haven't seen him smile like that in years. So thank you" Ella squeezes my hand.
I smile, "He's very amazing under the whole asshole act"
"He is" Ella nods. "He never actually mentioned you guys were seeing each other but the way he was so happy it was obvious, I always know when Nayel is in love. When you walked into the office today and I saw the way he looked at you I was glad to know my sisterly intuition was right. I sleep a lot better at night knowing someone is here looking after him." Ella smiles, I swear I could see her eyes watering.
"I don't-" I was cut off by Nayel walking over to the table.
"What are you guys talking about?" Nayel squints his eyes, eyeing us speculatively.
"Just embarrassing childhood stories" Ella grins at him, Nayel looks at me but I simply smile and shrug.
....
"I'm so bummed this was such a short trip but I loved meeting you, we need to keep in touch," Ella says pulling away from the hug.
"Of course, and likewise. You can take my number from Nayel" I smile at her.
"And you" She moves to Nayel wrapping her arms around his neck, "Take care of yourself okay?" Nayel smiles embracing her in his arms, "and of this angel too okay?" She points to me making me smile.
We say our final goodbyes as Ella steps inside her terminal for her flight.
Nayel and I get back into the car, immediately pulling out of the airport. Nayel places his hand on my thigh which at this point has become a reflex for him every time we're in a car alone.
I intertwine our fingers together and smile to myself, "Sorry about her, she can be a lot sometimes" Nayel chuckles lowly glancing at me.
I shake my head beaming, "No, she was so nice. I had a great time" I say.
Nayel smiles without looking over at me, he brings our intertwined hands to his mouth and places a kiss on my hand giving me butterflies.