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“I can assure you, that I have documentation and evidence that says otherwise.”

“She has never mentioned you.” He sneers, no surprise there, Nate and Bosun didn’t know about me either.

“I’m not surprised that she didn’t mention me but believe me, we are epic.”

“I can see that, but the reality is, she accepted my proposal, and we plan to get married soon. She was yours but not anymore.” I laughed at his words.

“Something Mariam and I are not.” I air quote. “Is the word “was.”

“She was mine, she’s still mine and will always be mine, that I know with every fiber of my being. I already took her to the altar and I’ve no intention of breaking our vows or granting a divorce.” I smirk. He gives a sad chuckle, this guy has no idea, who I am and what I am capable of when it comes to Jade.

“You’re not important is why she didn’t mention you at all. I’m okay with not knowing about you.” I smirk at his naïve response.

“Au contraire, if she mentions me, you just might realize, that you don’t stand a chance even in your wildest dreams.” I reply confidently. “The fact is, I’m not threatened by your ring, but you should be threatened by the power of our passion for each other. I’m not the guy she forgets or runs from, I’m the guy she marries and lives forever with and she did marry me.” I want to send this guy packing but Jade has been fighting me lately, she doesn’t like my methods and stupid Chloe didn’t make it easy. I’ll play nice for a little while, if he doesn’t leave then he will leave me no choice but to unleash on him.

“Guess, there’s only one thing left to say. May the best man win.”

“I’ll raise you a glass to that, be aware, I don’t take challenges lightly. You should ask her how we met. It was a challenge that put me in the state I was in and I’m still standing as you can see. Hope you are aware that I’m a man that wins even when staring death in the eye.” I stared him down just to drive my point home.

He leaves without responding.

Before I could down the drink, Nadra was next to me. Linking her arms with mine. Almost as if Nadra called out, Jade looks my way and her eyes zooms into the linked arm before looking away and I see her smiling at Knox, who gets to her wrapping his arms around her. I look away.

“Can we leave now?” Nadra says.

“You can leave. I have a few people I need to speak with.”

“Will you be coming over to my place tonight?” she asks subtly. I want to tell her what she already knows that I won’t be coming over because I stopped coming over since we broke up years ago but it’s futile because that would just make her linger, instead I respond.

“Maybe if work doesn’t take the entire night.”

“Naseer, you know you don’t need to work this hard.”

“That I know but I happen to enjoy working and making deals.” I look towards Jade and notice she’s leaving with Knox.

“I see Mariam is happy with that guy Knox, he’s a good-looking guy. She certainly looks happy” I’m not sure who she’s trying to convince, me or herself. I choose not to respond, and she continues, “I didn’t believe her at first when she told me that she’s engaged, I thought she was still after you.” Now she has my attention.

“When did Mariam tell you about Knox?” Realization clicks, she had opened the box I told her never to open. She tries to look away. “Nadra, when did you and Mariam talk?” I asked sternly. I’m not joking with her. I warned her after the last time she slapped Jade to never speak with her. I didn’t say anything to Nadra after I found out she visited Jade in college because Rilwan said Jade stood her ground, now she has gone too far.

“In the ladies’ room tonight,” she lies.

“Try again, Nadra, I happen to know Mariam hasn’t left this room alone tonight. The only time she left was when she went on that terrace with Knox so tell me again when you spoke with her alone,” I snap, startling her.

“Fine, last time I stopped at LaBelle,” she says sheepishly. “We ran into each other” she spits out like it’s obvious, batting her eyes.

“Nadra, I told you, never to speak to Mariam. I know she won’t go out of her way to even say hello to you, what did you say to her?” before she could tell another lie “Remember I can ask her.” Her looks changed immediately.

“Fine,” she retorts. “After you left, I went to her office and asked her why she was back in Rhanaz. She said she was here for work. I didn’t believe her because I knew she was still after you and she’s the one thing that blocks your vision, she then told me she’s engaged and has no interest in you, she will be leaving once her work is done. Ken came in and she left for her meeting. What do you see in her anyway?” Annoyed, I drag her out of possible earshot to a corner of the grand room.

“Nadra, listen carefully because I won’t repeat myself, don’t you ever in your life speak to Mariam again. I don’t joke when it comes to Mariam. I forgave you the last time you slapped her, and I didn’t say anything when you went to her school.” her brows shoot up “Because she didn’t mention it, going forward if you so much as look at her funny, I will come after you with everything I have.” I pause, rein my anger in after lashing out.

“If you look down from your stuck-up persona with a baseball bat upright in your ass, you will realize that all this time, I’m the one chasing after Mariam, not the other way around. The last five years when I didn’t see her or know her whereabouts, I didn’t touch you or any woman for that matter. If she leaves tomorrow, I still won’t come running to your door, what we had was over long before Mariam showed up.

I have grown, and I know you have grown too. I know you are a smart woman; don’t you think it’s time we both face reality? I know for a fact; that your eager body hasn’t been waiting dormant for me,” I state staring her down with what’s obvious between us. We both know, she has been sleeping with other men. Why she won’t settle down with one of them is baffling to me unless. Like a deer in a headlight moment, reality stares me in the face.

“I love you, Naseer,” she says causing me to stagger back in laughter.

“You and I both know you don’t love me, just the title I carry.” I laugh again. “That’s one of the differences between you and Mariam. Title or not she loves me, you didn’t love me when we dated and you were the first to run when you thought I was dying or would live a life less manly for you, and right into the arms of that British guy, you didn’t look back but the moment you heard I was walking again, you showed up like nothing happened. I saw your face the first time you saw my scarred body, it was disgusting to you. Mariam never saw the before me, I know for a fact she’s not disgusted with what it is now. She kisses my scars every time.” I give a sad chuckle. “Nadra, do not even love yourself.”