Qaya's soft voice pulled him from his reverie.
"How long does the President want you to be here?" she asked.
Hamir shrugged. "A few weeks should suffice."
"If it is just to ascertain whether I am leaving Colossus or not, you can rest easy. I have no intention of betraying your father," she said quietly. "If there is anything I can do to assure you and the President of my loyalty, I am happy to do so immediately."
This time, Hamir could clearly hear the tinge of hurt and desolation in her cold voice. The icewoman was not entirely made of ice, Hamir thought suddenly. The thought that Papa was doubting her after hearing those rumours had affected her quite a bit. He could see the sadness and despair looming up behind her like a shadow, even though she struggled to maintain the cold mask of "CEO Stone" on her face. Hamir had always been exceptionally good at recognising the emotions of his patients, and while he felt a tinge of admiration at Qaya's control – he was certain that no more than one person out of a hundred would be able to look past her cold face to the turmoil within – he also felt a tinge of satisfaction that he was able to detect her true feelings.
After all, this young woman was quite dear to his Papa, and whatever debt she felt she owed to Papa had probably been paid several times over by her dedicated service at Colossus, he thought. President Goldstein valued her, and this meant that Hamir was obligated to help her out in any way he could.
Hamir suddenly remembered Maze telling him that CEO Stone had no friends and no family, just a while ago. He had even joked that she lived for the company – and now it seemed that it really was true.
An uncomfortable feeling bubbled up in his chest.
"Papa said you might be in trouble," Hamir said quietly. "If you are, I am here to help in whatever way I can." He met her gaze evenly. "Papa has full faith in you," he said seriously, and observed her carefully. He could see the dark despair recede from her bit by bit as soon as she heard his words.
Then, of course, her eyes widened in shock, and there was even a hint of panic in her dark eyes.
Hamir sat back in his chair and observed her silently.
Qaya stared at him, relieved and shocked in equal measures. She was happy and grateful that the President didn't doubt her loyalty, and she was touched that he had even sent his own son to her to help out. Because she was in trouble – deeply. But how had the President known? She had done her best to act normal when he had visited him after his heart attack. She shook her head. Her troubles were her own, and she would not allow anyone to besmirch the name of Colossus or her association with it. She would rather die than permit any harm to come to the man who had been more like a father to her than her own biological parent. The President had not only saved her life and sanity, he had given meaning to her life. She owed everything to him. How could she embroil that person's treasured son in the filthy depths of her dark past? How could she let that person's business empire to suffer or their good name be tainted because of her? No, he had saved her – so many times and in so many ways – and this time, she would be the one to protect Colossus and Hamir, both.
She smiled tightly, determined to keep her chin up. "I am very grateful for your offer, but please, do not worry. It will be handled. Tell the President that I will keep my promise to him. No harm will come to Colossus while I live."
Hamir smiled slightly. "You really are quite fond of drama, aren't you?" he teased in a light tone.
Qaya blinked. A hasty review of her words showed her he was right. What was wrong with her? She was not one to make such grandiose, sweeping statements…and yet here she was, uttering words of fealty and vows and life-debts.
"Apologies," she muttered, staring at her expensive new stilettoes. It was only ten in the morning and her feet hurt like hell already. She should never have bought them, she thought angrily. She should not have bought them no matter how good they looked and no matter what her stylist said.
"Why?" a soft voice asked and Qaya looked up.
Hamir's bewildered stare grated on her nerves. Qaya didn't like her feelings to fluctuate – and she had already faced more emotional turmoil in the last thirty minutes than she had faced in the last thirty days put together.
She frowned.
Hamir sighed and asked, "Why are you apologising?"
Qaya suddenly didn't want to entertain him any longer.
"If that is all, it might be best if you returned to Z Country immediately," she said sharply.
That brought Hamir out of his thoughts with a jerk. He shook his head. "Papa also said that I ought to learn from you, and that no one knows this business better than you." He smiled beatifically. "So, please, Qaya, teach me."
Infuriating, Qaya thought. "And you always do what Papa says, of course," she snapped. "What about your own work? You're a cardiologist, aren't you? And a damn good one, too, if online search results are to be believed."
Hamir's smile faded. "Papa can't handle everything by himself anymore. I will support him to the best of my abilities."
"At the cost of your own happiness, your work, your future?"
"There is no other option," he declared, his eyes blazing again. "I refuse to let Papa work himself to death. I cannot be happy at the cost of my father's life."
Qaya smiled, fascinated. "It seems you are not particularly averse to drama either, Dr. Goldstein."
Hamir stared at her, astonished, and then dissolved into peals of laughter. Qaya found herself laughing as well.
Outside Qaya's cabin, the employees of Colossus froze in shock. The iceowman CEO Stone was laughing – laughing! As word spread to the entire office building thanks to digital media, a collective prayer from the workforce was made to every god they could name that the new boy would stay on and make the icewoman human again.