about to comment on that when she suddenly remembered a pressing issue that she wanted to ask him about.
“Basil, you met my grandmother at the country club?” she asked him. All of a sudden he had a mischievous look on his face.
“Nice lady,” he said.
“You’re not seriously going to go for dinner, right?”
“Why not?”
“Just why would you go? You barely know her.”
“She was very polite to invite me, why would I not go?”
Emily narrowed her gaze. “She wouldn’t take no for answer, would she?” she asked him.
“No,” said Basil. Emily knew her grandmother would be like that.
“But why were you at the country club?” she asked him.
“Meeting with the board members of Natural Gasses Limited.”
“At the country club?”
“I am not cut out for the office.”
Emily knew that to be true. He could barely stay in the office for more than four hours in a day.
“After all of this, and especially because of the result of this meeting, I am considering the methane business,” he said.
“Eh?” Emily was shocked. “You, working?”
“Have some faith in me, woman!”
Emily started laughing. “So what you are saying is that working with me got you interested. I inspired you?” she said.
“No,” he replied. Sadly she was right. Seeing how hard she worked and seeing her results inspired him. When they had started working together, he looked into her educational background and all the work she had done at their company. He wanted to know who he was working with, since there was a lot at stake for him. Since he found out that she was good at her job, he did not mind leaving her to do everything and just slacking off. That was how it started, and then he slowly got interested.
The fact that they had successfully negotiated the contract and achieved all their goals despite a few mishaps exhilarated Basil. It made him want to do it again.
“Deny it all you want,” Emily said cheekily.
“Emily, don’t flatter yourself.”
Emily laughed. “Well, in the end everything worked out all thanks to you.” She pushed him playfully. “So you will be starting here or what?” she asked as she placed her hands on her hips.
“I will buy Natural Gasses Limited.”
“What? You want to buy it?”
“Yes.” He had not thought too much about it. All he knew was that he wanted to buy it. He had a history of being too impulsive and that did not always work in his favor.
“That is a risky move,” she said.
“You don’t think I should?”
“No, I think you should.” Emily was seeing a different side to him, a more mature and responsible one. “But before you should, you should check out the wells first. Don’t buy something that will not benefit you or the company in the future. Find out as much information as you can about their wells,” she continued. Basil nodded.
“I will,” he said. As he was standing with Emily, he realized that she had been with him every step of the way. Though she nagged him, disliked him, refused to make him coffee, she had helped him a lot. He had also found himself opening up to her so easily. He never usually opened up to people. It was odd that with Emily it was easy.
“But won’t you return to Al-Bisha where your bride is waiting?” Emily asked before she started giggling. Basil narrowed his eyes. There was the sarcasm and the goofiness too. He stroked her cheek with his index finger.
“Aren’t you too interested in my love life?” he asked her. She whacked his hand away.
“Who is interested?”
“Last time you accused me of having multiple lovers.”
“Well, you must have multiple lovers. Otherwise who were you always messaging on your phone?”
“See, you are interested.”
“Goodbye,” she said. She tried to walk out but Basil blocked her path. “What are you doing? I have work to