5 5 - End of Day

"Closing time?" Hamir asked, knocking on the glass door marked "CEO Stone". The day had passed by faster than he had expected, and while most of his time had been spent in being shown around the office and being familiarised with the people and things, he had also gotten to see the infamous CEO Stone in action. Qaya had not given him any specific responsibilities for the day, and had simply asked him to take a look at everything and everyone. The real work would probably start tomorrow.

Hamir glanced at his watch with a sigh. It was already "tomorrow" – technically speaking. Most employees had gone home a long time ago, and the last one, barring him and Qaya, had left over three hours ago.

The woman was a workaholic – as bad, if not worse, than his own Papa, he thought to himself.

Qaya blinked in surprise when she saw him, clearly not expecting him to still be around. She nodded silently and swivelled in her chair, dropping her phone into her bag, almost ready to leave for the day.

"Are you driving home?" Hamir asked.

Qaya shook her head. "My driver is on leave for a couple of weeks and we didn't have any outdoor meetings today, so I walked," she replied.

"Don't tell me you intend to walk home in those heels," Hamir remarked, glaring at her feet. "I know you have been in pain all day."

Qaya flushed, not expecting anyone to have noticed. "I live close by. I can manage," she mumbled awkwardly.

Hamir sighed and dropped to the floor. He held her left foot with the gentle but firm grip of a doctor and eased off the offending shoe. He hissed at the sight of her damaged foot and quickly removed the other shoe as well.

Qaya's protests were cut short by the brewing storm in his eyes.

"Are you trying to damage your feet permanently? Do you want to be lame?" he demanded furiously. "For such a smart woman, you sure are dumb! Do you not have a spare pair of sensible shoes?"

Qaya shook her head. "I have one in the car, but…"

Hamir dug into the gym bag he was carrying and pulled out a pair of running shoes and a pair of thick sports socks.

"Don't worry, they are clean," he muttered, amused at her horrified look.

"I can't go out in that," Qaya said.

"It is 3:15 AM. You and I are the only ones left in the building. We are going down to the parking lot and I am driving you home. No one will see your shoes." He shook his head, exasperated. "Seriously, would you risk permanent damage to salvage your vanity?"

Qaya's eyes flashed. "I don't care if I'm wearing a body bag, but CEO Stone of Colossus must be seen appropriately dressed at all times," she retorted.

Hamir dismissed her words with a casual wave of his elegant hand. "Yes, yes, I know you live for the company and all, but seriously – what will Papa do if his protégé damages herself over something as stupid as shoes? Why on earth did you even buy these monsters? For the interview?"

Qaya nodded guiltily.

Hamir sighed. "Give me a few minutes; I'll fetch the first-aid kit."

Embarrassed, Qaya opened her mouth to refuse, but Hamir held up a hand. "You are my superior in business, and I will defer to you in those matters. However, right now, I am your doctor and I will not let you go without treatment."

"You're a cardiologist," Qaya muttered, blushing, unsure whether the heat on her face was due to embarrassment, annoyance or something else altogether. Her doctor…? Wasn't that rather presumptuous of the man who had known her for less than twenty four hours?!

"This is basic medicine," Hamir snapped. "Stay here."

He stormed off.

Qaya stared at her bruised and bloodied feet, appalled at the warm glow in the pit of her stomach. She didn't understand why Hamir was so furious; the pain was perfectly tolerable. If such small injuries had slowed her down, she would never have reached where she was now. Besides, why was she suddenly feeling happy just because another human was fussing over her? No one had ever comforted her in her entire life, and other than the President, she had barely known any kindness in the company of humans.

"Kind and caring, even to strangers," she said to herself. "He really is his father's son."

She realised she had said the words out loud when a soft voice said, "I am glad to hear that." Qaya looked up at Hamir's beautiful face and flushed. She looked away immediately, not noticing his equally red ears.

Hamir worked quickly and efficiently. In under ten minutes, Qaya's feet were neatly bandaged and the pain was all but gone.

"Can you walk or should I carry you?" Hamir asked.

"Of course I can walk!" Qaya cried. She would never live it down if she had to be carried at this age, and for such a minor injury, at that. "Really, it is very kind of you to be concerned over such a small thing, but I am perfectly all right now," she said quickly.

Hamir frowned at her. "I'd like you to get an x-ray. Your right foot is slightly sprained."

"If it still hurts tomorrow, I will," Qaya told him. Of course, she had no intention of going for an x-ray at all. She'd had far worse injuries in her life, and she had healed perfectly well on her own!

Hamir's frown deepened, perhaps sensing her intentions, but he didn't say anything. He silently picked up his own bags as well as hers and offered her an arm. "Shall we?"

Resisting an urge to giggle, Qaya took his arm and they walked to the elevator. The thick socks and comfortable shoes, although a bit too big for her, made her sigh in relief.

"Thank you," she said softly. "You have been very kind. I am sorry you had to stay back so late on your first day."