Page 13

“Mariam, Kelan said to give him ten minutes, he’s on the phone.” The intercom buzzes. She pushes at my chest and slides out of my reach, panting. She may lie but her body tells me she wants me to.

“Thank you, Lucy,” she responds. I try to pull her back to me and kiss her neck, but she pulls away.

“Naseer, I have a meeting with Kelan.”

“Fine, just don’t let me find him touching my wife.”

“Not every guy is interested in me sexually,” she retorts.

“I beg to defer; see you later.” I leave without a backward glance. I’d come to see her and plan dinner, everything changed with a phone call. Hey, I got a kiss instead. I find myself grinning like a schoolboy who has just had his first kiss. I’ve missed Jade. Being this close to her and not able to sink myself in her is driving me crazy. I head towards my office, smiling.

My smile is zapped when Nadra stands before me. Why can’t I get rid of this woman? Irony of life … the one I want is pushing me away, and the one I don’t want is chasing after me, making herself too available.

One thing I learned from the past is that Nadra and Jade do not mix, they’re a true case of oil and water on fire. I need to get her out of here. How Nadra always knows my whereabouts is alarming. I’ve done everything short of yelling at her publicly, but she won’t listen. Doesn’t help that my dad favors her, he didn’t blink when I told him Jade broke up with me. Yet he keeps making a case for Nadra. If only he knows Nadra is just a perfect outward image with a decaying inward self.

“Naseer, I was coming to find you,” she eagerly states.

First, I need to get her out of this building. Without responding to her, I head towards the elevator, and she follows.

On our ride down, I texted Rilwan that I am on my way down and to be ready. My car pulls up right as we step out of the building. “I’m heading to my uncle; did you need to see me about something?” I ask, after our silent ride.

“I came to have lunch with you. I was surprised to find out you moved your office from the palace to LaBelle,” she says it like it's a senseless act

“You should always call first ... I’m busy today. I have no idea when the King and I would be done,” I respond, not offering the reason for my move to LaBelle. Which makes perfect sense to me.

“I called, Naseer, you didn’t answer my call.”

“Just means I’m busy and would have returned your call when I’m less busy.”

“Fine, Naseer, I’ll leave and call you later.” I watched her leave and get into her car.

I get in my car; I exhaled the moment her car left. I don’t have to meet with my uncle. I just needed to get Nadra out of the building away from Jade. I tell Radek to circle the building. I don’t trust Nadra not to return.

Why the beautiful woman keeps chasing after me always has me pondering but I can’t be mean to her. The Kingdom of Rhanaz is in a business partnership with her father, King Jodra. Tarnishing that relationship is bad for Rhanaz. After circling, I return to my office.

I check on Jade first who is deep in work. I don’t interrupt her. Lucy gives me that strange look. She doesn’t like me and acts like a wall of Beijing to keep Jade from me. If only she knew, no one could keep me and Jade apart. Bigger people have tried and lost. Her little self is certainly not a match, but I admire her grit in trying.

twelve

Jade

After I met with Kelan and completed a few tasks, my computer chimes for a meeting with Josh. I grab my laptop and head towards his office. On my walk, I have a moment to think about what came over me when I hungrily kissed Naseer. I’d tried to block it out with work now it’s all rushing back. Right now, he’s the enemy and distance is the word I should always associate with him.

I thought he would show up at my place yesterday, knowing how he doesn’t care about boundaries, but when he didn’t show, I realized the old rule still applies; he wouldn’t like to be seen in my house. So, my house is my safe sanctuary from him.

I step into Josh’s well-designed office once his PA says, “Please go in Ms Diaz.” The room had a woman’s touch. The view behind him is the Bashira white sandy beach. His family pictures are displayed with glass-sculpted elephants on the table. You can tell when he turns to view the beach the first thing he sees, is his family.

The oak table has a picture of just his wife. She’s a beautiful woman no doubt. Two chairs with armrests face the desk and the beach. Behind the chairs to the left is the sitting area with two dark brown leather love seats facing and an oak center table. The table matches his desk. On the table are jewelry magazines and a tea set. Next to the chair backing the wall is the five-piece crystal decanter set on a matching coffee table.

All the colors are brought together in a seamless blend. “Good afternoon, Josh, you asked to see me.”

“Yes, please come in Mariam.” He rises to his full six feet height, and his cropped dark hair gives him an edgy look, even when he doesn’t break from his professional look. He gestures for me to take a seat. I do, taking one of the armrest chairs. The cushion is soft on my derriere. I place my laptop on the second chair. I brought it, just in case. I doubt he wants to discuss work, but I have no idea what’s on his mind.

“Mariam, I won’t beat about the bush. I know you and Naseer have a history. I’m not about to get involved or ask about your history. I just need to know honestly from you, will his presence affect your work and are you thinking of reneging on the contract?” I sigh.

“Prince Naseer’s presence here will not affect my work, and I have no intention of breaching the contract.”

“Good, that’s all I need to know but if at some point you have an issue with his presence do not hesitate to let me know.”