Chapter 13: Potential. 

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"There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests gets together to work toward the same goals."

-Idowu Koyenikan: Wealth for All: Living a Life of Success at the Edge of Your Ability-

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As soon as they were back at the estate, Safwah requested to talk to Vardah immediately. At this, Zamaairah nodded reassuringly at him before leaving. Sahl followed the two to the gardens at the back of the estate.

"What is it?" Vardah asked as she took a seat on the large wooden swing hanging from the tree. Sahl stood beside her, pushing the strings lightly so it moved.

Safwah stood opposite her with his arms crossed.

"I have a proposal." One you'd be interested in.

"Which is?" Vardah asked, pulling up her legs on the swing. Safwah raised an eyebrow at her. She looks like a little child sitting on a swing; Anabelle to be specific.

"I accept your offer with a few conditions of mine." He watched Vardah's face for any changes but there were none. She expected this.

"And?"

"I know Zama is part of your confidential clients and if I join, her security is on me." He stated and Vardah nodded thoughtfully.

"What else?" She's not going to rebut?

"I am in therapy right now for lord knows what-" he rolled his eyes at this. "But I am sure you know," he then glanced at Sahl, "so I cannot be part of the field right now."

"That's fine. I told you, we need you to train our recruits."

"Great. When can I get the contract?"

"I'll tell the chief and you can talk to him directly." She stated.

"As for my investigation, I want to continue it." Safwah told her and she nodded at him with a grin.

"Let's meet when everything is finalized. Then we can discuss all the data collected all over." Vardah stated and Safwah nodded. He held out his hand and Vardah looked up to Sahl who shook it instead of her. Safwah smirked.

"Now that that's out of the way, what's going on between you two?"

"Nothing." Replied Vardah, placing her feet firmly on the ground. Sahl stopped pushing the swing and she stood up.

"I'll see you both around." With that she walked away.

"You have an appointment with Dr. Xin tomorrow. Be there." With that, Sahl left too. Safwah sighed and set on the vacated swing. He heaved another sigh and looked up at the over bearing trees.

"Must be nice to be a tree." He muttered before closing his eyes and inhaling a deep breath. Fresh scent of nature filled his lungs and he hoped they'd fill his veins too. The flashes from his past were something that haunted him each day, without doubt. They were dark and he wished to let them go more than anything. But the human mind has always been a mess.

"You tired?" he tilted his head to the right to see Zamaairah standing there with a soft expression. At least she makes things better.

"Yes." He muttered before holding his hand out. Zamaairah looked around the place and when she saw no one, she handed hers to him. He pulled her over and she stood directly in front of him. He leaned onto her arms and she carded her fingers through his messy long hair, soothing his scalp.

"It'll be fine." She whispered and he nodded, eyes still closed. He shifted and Zamaairah set beside him on the swing.

"I missed you." He muttered and she nodded in return. They set in silence, occupied with their thoughts but in peace. Safwah felt at ease with her beside him. She feels so peaceful.

Their peaceful time was disturbed when his phone began ringing. He shifted and took it out of his pocket, seeing Karmaan's name flash on the screen. With a groan, he answered.

"We are going to the playground in the afternoon. Join us." He said and Safwah frowned, turning to Zamaairah. She raised her eyebrows at him.

"Playground in the afternoon?" Zamaairah nodded excitedly at his question. At least someone wants to go.

"Sure." He told Karmaan who, without a word, hung up. Talk about rude manners. He turned to Zamaairah who was humming silently now.

"Let's head in. Its time for Zhur." He told her and she nodded, getting off the swing. The two of them walked back to the west wing of the house and parted ways at the main door.

Safwah headed to his room and took a quick shower. He knew he made the right decision to join Vardah's agency but there was a restless feeling still. He shook it off as he showered and changed into a pair of fresh clothes.

He dried his hair and headed downstairs for prayers. The men of the house, whoever was there at the moment, gathered to pray in the main house with the prayer being led by Kayan.

After prayer, Sahl headed outside and Safwah excused himself and followed.

"Where are we going?" he questioned the older twin who was walking at a furious velocity.

"No where." he replied, abruptly halting. Safwah halted behind him with raised eyebrows. He lying. 

"What is it? Spit it out." Sahl contemplated for a moment before heaving a deep sigh. 

"There is a lead on the person we caught at the party. I am heading to the unit now." at this Safwah's posture went into alert mode. His back went straight and his eyes got clearer, it was as if his neurons were firing at a rapid rate (which they probably were considering the rush of adrenaline he felt at that moment). 

"Let me go with you." he told Sahl who shrugged. The two headed to the garage and got into Sahl's current vehicle, the gray Toyota Hilux. The playground plans can wait.

***

The ACE office was relatively quiet with little to no one around. The sound of the air conditioning could be heard over the silence that fell through the entrance of the building. 

The brothers walked upstairs to the main office of Vardah Siddique's team. After a quick knock, Sahl entered and Safwah followed, taking in the place as he did. He was impressed with the stark difference in the outside and inside of the building. While the outside was rugged and dusty, the inside was modernly furnished. 

Vardah set at the end of the room, behind a desk with her eyes glued to the computer. 

"I am glad you made it, albeit with a circus cat." she commented without looking up. Safwah snarled at her before shaking his head and gathering his emotions. This woman and I will never be on the same page. How I am glad she isn't going to marry into my family. He thought the last bit while glancing at Sahl and praying with all his heart he was right. 

Sahl didn't notice his look. Instead, he walked over to where Vardah set staring at the screen. He tilted his head while watching the screen with a frown. Safwah caught this and walked over to them. The screen was showing a list of potential suspects and Safwah happened to recognize a few of them. 

"Know any?" Vardah questioned him, glancing at him. 

"Yes. A few of them actually," he muttered, bending down to take a closer look. He was blocked by his brothers larger frame between Vardah and him. 

"Who all and how are you related to them?" Vardah asked as she pushed her chair back and stood up. She stretched like a cat and cracking a few bones of her arms and back with an audible sound. 

"Old lady." Safwah muttered as he went through the list. Vardah wanted to slap his head but refrained. 

As Safwah scrolled through, he found quiet a lot of people he knew; mainly diplomats, a few crooks he met along the way, etc but a particular one stood out. 

"This person." he pointed on the screen, calling out to Vardah and Sahl's attention. Vardah raised an eyebrow. 

The picture on the screen was of a man, probably in his late 40's. He had a black mustache and a graying hair on his head. His eyes were evenly spaced and he had a smile on his face. He didn't look like a preparator at all. 

Sahl looked at Vardah for answers who smiled back at him. 

"This is Amar Bin Omar. He is currently the CEO of the Azar Empire and is Zamaairah's paternal uncle. He is her fathers younger brother, the same one who was not allowed in the family business after he was caught in financial fraud." Vardah told Sahl and Safwah nodded at her. 

"So why is he on the list?" the question was legit. Why was he there? Safwah knew the circumstances of their marriage in USA. 

"That, only Safwah can explain." Vardah replied, taking a seat opposite the desk. Safwah took a seat on the chair behind the desk as Sahl gave them both a glass of water. Thanking him, he drank it. Much needed considering this is tiring to re-explain. 

"When her father was in the ICU, they wanted her to marry Zyed who is Farah's godson. Apparently after Zama married him, they'd have her assassinated and well, unalive so that they can take over the business and property. Look, it sounds fictional but trust me, these people don't play when it comes to property, money and power.

"Amar hated the guts of Zamaairah's father and hence began their rivalry. A speculation was going on when I was in their mansion, about Amar and Farah working together. It was a speculation and no evidences were around. Because Farah cannot part take in this herself, she has others doing the work for her." 

Safwah's explanation didn't sit well with Sahl. He felt they were missing something. He glanced at Vardah who nodded at him. We are missing something, they agreed in silence. 

"Who else?" Safwah listed out the other potential people he knew could be helpful to the case. Once he was done, Vardah stood up. 

"Thank you. I'll have my team run a thorough investigation on these people and get back to you."

"No no. You are not doing this without me, V." Safwah told her, standing up too. He stood tall and firm and at that moment, Vardah knew she was not winning from him. 

"Fine. You help but do not interfere. There may be others who are a potential threat to you." 

"Deal."

"Deal."

***

Update! :) 

I hope everyone is doing okay! 

| R - C - V |

xx,

-Aalihha.