He was dressed in brown dress shirt and a beige colored coat above it with a beige tie decorated with brown colored polka dots. He looked pretty handsome for the ladies around the other circular tables in that party.
Busy in his phone, he was talking to Minha, who was excitedly explaining how the meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Maclean went and how she was excited to paint the daisy in their daughter's luxurious room. A smirk on his face was welcoming the ladies around thinking he would certainly opt for one that night. But he was too busy chatting with his friend, that he forgot he was to be in his business face/mood. Rather he was smiling. When people around started taking pictures and camera's flashes brought him back, he looked around and then kept the phone back in his pocket, straightening his face.
A girl dressed in a long white Maxi revealing her shoulders and neck, her honey hair swirled in curls and playing around her neck. She walked like a princess. She was wearing a beautiful, vital, silver crown above her head and she was walking in with her arm in the arm of another lady. She looked about 40s. Dressed in a light purple maxi which laired in multiple layers. Fancy stars stitched on it with perfection. Her ears and neck sparkling with the most valuable jewels someone had ever seen.
After staying in Minha's company for a long time and looking at her wear causal, and fully dressed, he was disliking these ladies.
"Oh my, Tae, I wasn't sure you'd come. It's an honor, dear son." And she came forward to hug him, but he didn't stood up in the same honor. Everyone was looking at them.
"Hello, everybody, this is my son. Not my very own, but I do love him as my very own." Taimur rolled his eyes. "And I am proud to introduce him." everyone clapped
"Meet Sophia. She is your first cousin, daughter of my sister. She is highly qualified in architecture. The interior and designing of her house in Luxemburg. She had done her hairdo herself and she loves grooming. She is ethical and the most honored child of our family." She was saying with her fake voice. No one knew that better than Taimur. The voice of her step mother. He knew why she was introducing her to him in the public.
"Hi, Taimur. It such a rectitude to meet you." She said, princess style. Her cheekbones were lifted and her jawline was sharpened as if drawn by a ruler. Her neckline was embraced out and it did qualified a title of 'beauty bone'. She was slim. Her waist was small and she seemed to have a good dressing sense. She was indeed a lot beautiful. But for Taimur Ibrahim, beautiful meant natural. He jerked his head and brought a smile on his face.
Standing up, he took Sophia's hand and lifted it up to his lips, kissing on her hands. Lifting her face, he saw Sophia smiling and looking at him. She was beautiful. And he could see, even with the fat layers of artificial powders, she was beautiful. She didn't seem like all the other girls.
"It's an honor to meet you too, Princess." He said. But she didn't blushed, she stood there smiling and looking at him, in the eye.
"Oh My Lord, you two look just perfect together, isn't it?" she asked herself and everyone clapped again.
"It would be an honor if you have dinner with me, princess." He said, maintaining the eye contact. "It would be my pleasure, Mr. Taimur." Instead of saying my prince in return, she called him by his name. This girl was really something. He thought and they settled down on the most deluxe table in the hall.
She supported her chin above her palm. Her beautiful face examining the assertive face of Taimur. "So, Taimur, what do you plan to do in the future? Carry on with your business or join you father?" She asked with a constant tone. He Hm-ed, "I don't have to carry on with my father's work. I am going to bring success to my own business." He said. His hair fined with gel, slacked back.
"Impressive. So, where do you live in Munch?" she asked out of blue. Did she knew that Taimur had a small house in Munich with a huge basement? How could she? He calmed himself. "I mostly live in Pakistan, Islamabad or Karachi. In Munich, I am usually staying in my dad's hotel." He said. He was a manager, not to forget.
"Pronounced. Though, you don't attend as many occasional parties and events as your parents do." She said with authority and power.
"Indeed, I am busy with my very own meetings. I am reluctant to my work the way my parents are to theirs." He spoke with much certainty. Princess Sophia nodded.
"Verily, I agree with your opinions regarding work. I am sure you are aware of the alternative principle of the industry. They are holding leaders for underworking sectors. And to maintain the discipline and peace, our company and your- dad's company has decided to work together to enlarge the product manufacturing." She said with dignity. However, Taimur's gut was punched with the power of bolt. He straighten up, making sure Sophia doesn't see his change in expressions.
"Are you sure about what you are saying, Miss Sophia?" he asked. If they were planning to cooperate, then his plan would fail. Instead of bringing his dad's company down, he would be celebrating the upright success.
"Yes, Mr. Taimur. They are planning to work together. Recently, Peter Johnson has been temporarily removed from the company and his money transfer news would be turned into a rumor and we will get him back. He was supposed to make amends with the American companies to help us in our business." She spoke, calmly and steadily. Her every word was well understood and he was confused as hell. What was going on? His small game was turning to him.
He looked up at Sophia. "And what makes it more complicated is the fact our two families are planning to unite us." And the words bounced back and slapped him on the face. His fake smile immediately disappeared and his eyebrows came together. "Do you mean, our engagement?" he nearly whispered. Everyone else was busy in their own chitchats and laughter's. No one was paying attention to them. He looked around for his parents. His mom wasn't there and his dad was drinking soda among his business companions. No one was attentive towards them.
"And what do you suggest, honored princess? Are you on the same pace with them?" he asked. The calm face of Sophia registered the same alternative.
"I am not grateful to say this, but this unity is going to bring a real success to our family and our company. Our business will gain a lot of stat." she said, and he saw her smile vanish. She swirled her fingers around the delicate diamond ring in her ring finger. Taimur felt something wrong.
"What's the problem? Are you engaged, already?" he asked. Sophia looked not more than 17.
"No. I am not engaged. Mr. Taimur-"she looked up at him and her beautiful honey eyes were sad, "they are killing numerous people to get to this stage. I am not your first cousin. I am daughter of the wealthiest merchant in the town and they adopted me after my father died so they may get share of my father's wealth after I turn 18. I am going to be 18 in a few weeks or months. I don't remember. But they are willing to marry me to you so their power isn't endangered by my wealth. I am enough packed with money that I can make them slaves them for years with the greed of money and they won't know. But they have killed a lot of people. The money they have earned, the luxuries they can afford, is just because they have been involved in an illegal trade. They sell girls. They kill black people. They killed my friends telling me they were bad people when I was young." She was stressed but her calm tone remained same.
"But I don't want to be the route to their success. I don't want them to use me. My money is mine. I know they killed my father to snatch the money away. I know they killed a lot of black people who were advancing and could be danger to their reign. I have seen it all and it kills me inside knowing that I might be the one delivering this to them one day. I am not a generous person, but honestly, I want to get away from this."
Taimur was speechless. A powerful weapon, after all. He thought. He could use her. Or she could help him. She knew everything and even staying among those people hadn't made her selfish enough to kill innocent people to stay overpowered.
"And what do you think is the solution to this problem?" he gulped down the saliva.
"You live in that small house of yours in Munich. You are interested in a Muslim girl. You are planning to go against these people. And the one thing we have in common is our goal. To bring down this company so they may stop using people. "She was saying. Her proud face welcomed back.
"I have plans." Coming closer she whispered in his ears. Her long silver earing swinging in the air. Her silver crown glistening and the red roses on the table listening to their plans quietly.
Mrs. Ibrahim was putting on some concealer under her eyes and powdering some blush on her cheeks. She looked like snow white's mother. Putting some maroon lipstick on her lips, she pressed both of them against each other until they were looking attractive.
Someone knocked on the door. It wasn't a usual knock. "Yes?" she spoke loudly, still looking at her reflection in the mirror. A head peaked in. "May I come in, Mother?" he said. His usual low and charming voice. The voice, his mother introduced in the group of beautiful Munich ladies.
"Oh, dear son. Sure, sure. Come in!" she motioned with her hands for him to come in already. He buttoned his coat and cleared his throat.
"So, how was the dinner? Your father arranged all of it." She told him, proudly. He nodded. "Well managed and superb, as always." He repeated the thousandth statement that was never less to make his mother enthusiastic and open for all deals.
"And how about your cousin? Princess Sophia? You guys were together the whole time." She exclaimed with joy and he nodded again like an obeying child.
"She is exactly the mirror of what you told me about her. The most ethical and genius girl I have ever met. I was way too impressed by her style. How old is she, by the way?" he asked, looking totally normal.
"Oh, she is just 17. About to turn 18. We were planning a big party for her 18th birthday." She clasped her hands together. She seemed excited for the bigger event. Her eyes were sparkling like they always did when she was up to something. Taimur smirked. "But, I was planning to take her with me around the world. I am most certain she would like it. A one month trip. I am already looking out for the guides and offers." He told her with the same excitement. And the step mother, whose whole existence was engraved with anticipation, drowned in a second.
"What do you mean? We want her with us. It's her special day!" she insisted trying to defend her plans.
"But I want to know her. I kind of- feel something for her. She is enchanting," he licked his lips, "and overwhelmingly beautiful." Biting his lower lip, he presented his thoughts. His mother who was upset a few seconds ago seemed to be running wheels in her mind.
"I need to think. You have proposed such a great favor." She said. Taimur surveyed her body language. She was confused.
"Well, okay! I give you time. Think about it. But I am deadly sure you are going to accept my request, dear Mother." He said leaving the room. He knew he had left his mother in a very deep decision. A decision she would very much like to take herself. He felt relieved for a moment in that night.