Ameer (The Brothers Ali Book 5) Read online

  “Promise?”

  “Promise,” Siobhan swore.

  Things happened fast after that. Safiya dilated from eight to ten centimeters in less than an hour, and the room filled up with medical professionals and family, all ready to witness the gift of life.

  “Push, Safiya,” Dr. Carter encouraged.

  Tyrese was there, helping Safiya to hold her legs open. Mom was there with words of encouragement and silently whispered prayers. Dad didn’t want to be too close. He wasn’t accustomed to the familial concept of childbirth. He was worried. Siobhan could see it written all over her father’s face. But he wouldn’t allow his worry to keep him from praying, too. Siobhan stood next to her sister, wiping her brow, helping her breathe, and cheering her on.

  When Safiya cried out in pain, Siobhan felt it in her soul, symbiotically.

  “I see the head,” Dr. Carter said, encouraging Safiya to push again.

  “Uhmmmmmm,” she hummed. It hurt so bad and felt so good as she felt life moving through her.

  “You’re doing, good, babe,” Tyrese whispered against Safiya’s cheek.

  When she groaned louder, her body shaking, and her breath jagged, Siobhan found herself whispering a prayer too. Safiya was so close to her dreams coming true, Siobhan desperately wanted her sister to be fulfilled.

  “Ok, don’t push,” Dr. Carter warned. “I want to make sure the baby’s shoulders are clear. Okay, Safiya?”

  She couldn’t even formulate words as she felt a burning pain that didn’t seem to be subsiding. Pushing is what she wanted to do to stop the pain, but Safiya wouldn’t dare. If the doctor said don’t push, she wouldn’t push, pain or no pain.

  “Uh, uh, uh, it hurts, please,” Safiya begged, panting to stave off the worst of it.

  “Okay, Safiya, one more push,” Dr. Carter urged.

  “Push, Safiya, push,” Siobhan uttered as she watched the doctor closely.

  “Ah,” Dr. Carter exclaimed, as she cradled the newborn in her hands. “It’s a boy!”

  Safiya didn’t breathe until she heard her son cry. When he did, tears spilled from her eyes and flowed down her cheeks. Tyrese was in awe, not only of his son but of his amazing wife. Dr. Carter lifted the baby to her, placing their son on Safiya’s chest.

  “It’s a boy, sis,” Siobhan sighed when she saw her nephew for the first time. They were all thrilled. There were many tears shed, but they weren’t shed from sadness. The baby was beautiful, perfectly healthy, the answer to many prayed prayers, and a dream come true for Safiya.

  Chapter Ten

  Present Day

  Siobhan danced, reliving that moment, one of the happiest times in her life. All the worry and stress washed away. The only thing left was pure joy, and she relished at that moment, her reflection mirroring how good she felt, how light and free she felt.

  Siobhan danced.

  Ameer held the cellphone long after his conversation with Siobhan was over. There was something else that stayed the same as well – the smile he wore as a result. Though he had a full afternoon schedule of business calls and conference calls that required Ameer’s attention, his heart was not in it. One thing about Ameer, if he couldn’t give it one-hundred-percent, he’d rather not do it. Lifting his long frame from the chair, Ameer crossed the length of his expansive office to the door.

  “Ms. Young, please clear my afternoon,” he said as he stopped in front of her desk. “Reschedule for later in the week. Thanks.”

  Ameer didn’t give Shannon a chance to ask questions. He moved like a man on a mission as he exited the executive suite. She got busy handling what Mr. Ali instructed her to handle. Mr. Ali didn’t need to offer her an explanation. She worked for him, not the other way around. Once Shannon handled Mr. Ali’s calendar, she intended to figure out what happened before with the computer so she could keep it from happening again. Being in the secretarial pool at Ali International was fine. But working as an executive assistant, assigned to one of the Ali’s, was coveted. If and when the time came, Shannon wanted the opportunity to do so full time so she couldn’t afford to blow it with this Ali.

  When the elevator door opened, Ameer stepped inside, pushing the button for the lobby level of the building. It didn’t happen very often that he couldn’t concentrate on the business that paid him, but this was one of those times. Siobhan was the reason. He knew exactly what he needed. The door of the elevator opened, and Ameer stepped out into the marble-tiled lobby. He took a side hallway that led to the private workout room. With the swipe of a computerized key, Ameer entered the space, crossing the weight room to the dressing area in the back. Ameer approached his locker, spinning the combination, and opening it. The lockers were larger than customary ones, big enough to accommodate business attire with a rack for shoes and hangers for suits. Ameer’s workout gear was inside, and he undressed and redressed all the while considering Siobhan.

  “What’s good, Ameer?”

  He was so deep in his thoughts Ameer didn’t hear his brother Tareef enter the room.

  “What’s good, bro?” Ameer replied.

  “Trying to get a workout in,” Tareef answered.

  “Yeah, me, too,” Ameer agreed. “So why does it feel like skipping school?” He laughed.

  “I wouldn’t know,” Tareef smiled. “I never did that.”

  “Yeah, me either.”

  Neither of them had. Omar and Aziza wouldn’t tolerate such behavior.

  “I’ll catch up with you once I change,” Tareef suggested.

  “Cool. I’ll see you out there.”

  The workout room in Ali International was state of the art, housed with treadmills, elliptical machines, and stair climbers for cardio, weight benches, kettlebells, and medicine balls, and jump ropes, and balance balls for agility. There was also a sauna, steam showers, and a lap pool. Omar thought it was important for the family to have a place in-house where they could decompress and still maintain their health. There was also a facility in-house for staff. Health and wellness were not just reserved for the family but for all of Ali International staff.

  Grabbing a towel, Ameer walked over to the treadmill. He started with a fast walk on an incline to get his heart rate up. After a few moments, Tareef joined him. The brothers worked out in silence for a while, with the rhythm of their feet striking the machinery as the only noise. They were naturally competitive, and as Ameer started jogging, Tareef did, too. Before long, they were running, keeping pace step for step

  “Let’s go, bro, one minute,” Tareef encouraged. “Give it all you got.”

  Tareef didn’t need to say anything more. They shared a glance, with challenge in their eyes and ran, giving it all they had. The pound of their feet on the treadmill intensified. Beads of sweat appeared on their brow. The faster Ameer ran, the faster Tareef ran until they were both out of breath. Gradually, they slowed their pace until they were walking again.

  “What’s on your mind,” Tareef asked.

  “Nothing, bro, why do you ask?” Ameer replied, turning off the treadmill and stepping down. Tareef followed suit.

  “Ameer,” Tareef challenged.

  “I know,” Ameer smiled. “You know me.”

  “Better than you know yourself sometimes,” Tareef added.

  Ameer sat down on the weight bench. Tareef moved in position to spot him. He didn’t answer his brother immediately, just pumped iron until his chest burned.

  “Talk to me, Ameer.”

  “It’s nothing,” Ameer countered.

  “It’s a woman,” Tareef rebuffed.

  Ameer thought about denying it, but there was really no point. Tareef did know him. They’d been close their entire lives, being the youngest two brothers.

  “It’s a woman,” Ameer admitted. He sat up and grabbed his towel, wiping the sweat from his face and arms.

  “Tell me about her,” Tareef said, switching positions with Ameer.

  “It’s crazy because I’ve only just met her,” Ameer admitted.

  “Tha
t’s not crazy, bro,” Tareef replied. “Sometimes it’s like that.”

  “Was it that way for you and Naomi?” Ameer asked.

  “Hell naw,” Tareef chortled. “You know our story wasn’t anything like that.”

  “But you two found your way back to each other,” Ameer noted.

  “Because, even when I didn’t recognize it, she was the one for me.”

  “How did you know?” Ameer asked.

  “When I finally saw her for who she was, who she really was,” Tareef began, “how she made me feel, how I felt when she wasn’t around, I knew I couldn’t be my best self if she wasn’t in my life,” Tareef commented.

  “That’s history, though,” Ameer replied. “Like I said, I just met her.”

  “But you think about her constantly.”

  “True,” Ameer agreed. “Out of curiosity.”

  “Why are you curious?” Tareef inquired. “What is it about her that piqued your interest?”

  “Everything and nothing in particular,” Ameer reflected. “It’s just something about her.”

  “Well,” Tareef said, “find out what that something is.”

  “Advice from my much older, much wiser big brother?” Ameer challenged.

  “Advice from your now happily married big brother,” Tareef smiled.

  Ameer thought about what Tareef said as he rode the elevator back to the executive floor.

  “So, how’s everything going, Shannon,” Cheri asked, looming over the substitute’s desk, stirring a cup of hot coffee.

  “It’s going well,” Shannon replied, focusing on her work. She got a weird vibe from Cheri and refused to entertain her. “Is there something I can help you with, Ms. Jones?”

  Did that bitch just get snippy with me? Cheri mused, lasering her focus on the intruder. “Well, Ms. Young, since you want to be all formal and shit, I was only checking in with you, one executive secretary to another,” Cheri smiled, stirring the coffee faster.

  “Aren’t you a part of the general secretarial pool,” Shannon asked, turning her head, and inclining herself in Cheri’s direction.

  Cheri’s eyes were slits. She knew when a trick was trying to insult her.

  “The same one you’re a part of,” Cheri scoffed.

  “Is there something I can help you with? If not, please leave so I can get back to work.”

  “Oops,” Cheri uttered, spilling her coffee on the desk and keyboard. Reacting quickly, Shannon sprung from her seat, trying to avoid getting burned.

  “What in the world,” Shannon gasped, swiping at her wet skirt. She didn’t see the smile that pierced the corners of Cheri’s lips.

  Just then, the door to the executive suite opened. Ameer saw the commotion and strolled.

  “Ladies, is everything alright?” Ameer asked, seeing the mess on the desk. Cheri’s disposition shifted, hearing Mr. Ali’s velvet voice.

  “Everything is fine, Mr. Ali,” Shannon replied, reaching under the desk, and finding a roll of paper towels. She pulled some from the roll and started dabbing at the warm brown liquid that soaked the paperwork on her desk.

  “Oh, my goodness, Shannon. I am so sorry,” Cheri sputtered. “Let me help you clean that up.”

  “No thanks, Ms. Jones,” Shannon countered. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “Are you sure? I made the mess,” Cheri began, “I should be the one to correct my mistake.” Sitting her cup down, Cheri reached for the roll of paper towels Shannon still had in her hand. Instinctively, Shannon pulled back, keeping the roll out of reach. Cheri didn’t miss the opportunity to look surprised, trailing her eyes immediately to Ameer to see if he noticed the same thing.

  Shannon blinked, closing her eyes slowly and opening them, bringing Cheri into focus. She saw a mischievous glint in Cheri’s eyes that was unmistakable and quickly faded when Ameer looked her way. She saw past the façade she put on in Mr. Ali’s presence. But she was the new kid on the block. She knew the coffee spill was no accident, yet, she needed to remain professional despite that.

  “It’s fine, Ms. Jones,” Shannon forced a smile. “You never did say if there was something you came up for?”

  “Uhm, like I said before, Ms. Young,” Cheri feigned politeness, “I was simply checking to make sure you were doing okay. Geneva has big shoes to fill, right, Mr. Ali?”

  “Ms. Young is doing just fine,” Ameer smiled. He could see Shannon was flustered with the situation, and although it was a calculated risk, Ameer placed a gentle hand on the hand she was using to clean up the spill. He gained her eyes and nodded, hopefully conveying to Shannon that it was okay. When he saw her shoulders rise and fall and the beginnings of a smile ease across her lips, Ameer knew Shannon understood. Cheri didn’t miss their interchange; the care he showed this stranger, how she looked up at him with dreamy eyes. For the briefest moment, Ameer’s and Shannon’s attention returned to Cheri.

  She followed their line of sight.

  “Oh,” Cheri uttered, only then noticing the crushed Styrofoam cup in her hand. “I seem to be all thumbs today.” She was embarrassed, but that sentiment barely masked the contempt she felt for the woman who took her place.

  ‘It looks like you all have things well in hand,” Ameer interjected, before striding towards his office.

  Shannon looked over her shoulder and made sure Mr. Ali’s door was closed before returning her full, unfiltered attention to Cheri.

  “I know spilling your coffee was no accident,” Shannon whispered as she braced her hands on the desk, leaning forward into the space Cheri currently occupied.

  “Of course, it was,” Cheri defended with a smile that was too wide for her face. The two women sized each other up.

  “I’ll see you later, Ms. Young,” she continued. “Try to have a better rest of your day.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Siobhan hadn’t spoken to Ameer since their first phone call. Over the course of the past few days, she returned to that conversation often, mulling it over, remembering every nuance, every spoken word, and those inferred but not uttered. More than that, Siobhan remembered the way that singular conversation with Ameer made her feel. Pulling into the parking lot, she checked the clock on the dashboard. It was almost time for dismissal. It was almost time to see Ameer. She felt a swoon in her spirit and fluttering in her belly at the mere mention of his name.

  So ridiculous, Siobhan dismissed as she grabbed her purse and climbed out of the car. Yet, the physical manifestation of knowing she would soon come face to face with Ameer could not so easily be quashed. She started to ask herself why she was so nervous. But why ask a question she already knew the answer to? Ameer unnerved her. Siobhan’s responsiveness to Ameer unsettled her. The end of school bell sounded, ringing loudly inside the building. Within minutes the hallway was filled with middle schoolers and their backpacks. She sidestepped most of them on her way to the main office.

  “Good afternoon, Ms. Greer, how may I help you?”

  Ameer pulled up to Renaissance Elementary School, pulling the silver Land Rover into the parking lot. He was excited about the first meeting of Engineers on the Rise. The program was his baby and the way he gave back. His mother set a tremendous precedent for Ameer as a renowned mathematician and engineer, as his first teacher, fostering his love of discovery and problem-solving. But there were others who contributed to his love for learning. Ameer had incredible teachers who challenged his intellect and encouraged him to excel. Engineers on the Rise was created in homage to those remarkable educators. Admittedly, besides the nostalgia of the first meeting, it was the first time Ameer would see Siobhan since their conversation – the one where he openly flirted, which was so outside his character; the one where he didn’t stop smiling the entire time they talked; the one he couldn’t stop thinking about.

  As Ameer entered the building, he made sure to check in with the front office staff. The ladies behind the desk were always happy to see him. Although Ameer had perfectly capable mentors running the engineering program
at all three schools, he made it a point to be involved, not just fiscally, but physically.

  Just watching Messiah let Siobhan know she made the right decision in letting him participate in the program. He was enthusiastic about learning, and this was a way to engage his intellect in a way Messiah may not have otherwise experienced. It was good for him to be around other children and not just in a classroom setting. There hadn’t been very many extracurricular activities Messiah expressed interest in. But he seemed to be enjoying this one. Initially, Siobhan was concerned that because of his age, he might be too young for the program. Yet, watching her son, seeing how eagerly he answered questions correctly, as well as seeing other scholars Messiah’s age actively participating, it was confirmed, she made the right decision.

  When the door to the laboratory opened, Siobhan knew it was Ameer without looking back. His presence shifted the atmosphere. She felt it.

  “Mr. Ali, so glad you stopped by,” Jonah Matthews, Program Director, said, momentarily pausing his demonstration.

  “Glad to be here, Mr. Matthews,” Ameer replied. “Welcome, scholars.”

  The youth in the room greeted Ameer as well.

  “Don’t let me stop the learning,” Ameer smiled. “Carry on.”

  And they did, just as enthusiastically as they had before. Mr. Ali made a point of acknowledging the other parents in the room. The closer Ameer was to where Siobhan sat, the faster her heart pounded in her chest. Yet, he didn’t move to sit next to her; instead, opting to stand near the back of the room unobtrusively. But she knew he was there.

  Ameer knew she was there, too. He saw Siobhan the moment he walked into the room. He felt her presence as her aura filled more than just the space around her. Although Ameer would have liked to make his interest known and make an overt move in her direction, there was much to consider; most importantly, her son. Ameer thought a lot about Messiah from the moment he and Siobhan spoke. He wasn’t just talking to a beautiful woman he was interested in. Ameer was talking to a beautiful woman with a son. Not that Ameer was put off by it, he wasn’t. Yet, he was conscientious enough to know that any decision Siobhan made about who she allowed in her life, she also allowed in Messiah’s life.