Accidentally Engaged(77)

She placed her hand on the bottle, mouth watering in anticipation of the burn that would numb this, when she stilled. Sliding her hand down the smooth glass, she rested it on the bottle for about three seconds when she heard a thump outside her door.

Nadim was home.

Without taking a second to think, she rushed out her front door in three long strides.

He was in his regular work clothes and carrying a stack of cardboard. His shoulders fell the second he saw her. “Reena.”

Seeing that face again felt like a blow to her chest. She had been in love with that face. She didn’t know what to say. After staring for several agonizing seconds, she went with that. “I have no idea what to say to you.”

He sighed, dropping the cardboard heavily to the floor. “Then don’t say anything. There is nothing you can say that’s worse than what your father said to me yesterday. Or my own father.”

“So, it’s true then?”

“What’s true?”

“You’re engaged to that woman?” She couldn’t say her name. She was frankly amazed she could say anything at all.

“I was. But not anymore. Not for a while.”

“I saw a Facebook post that said otherwise.”

“I know.”

“From her father. And Jasmine said it on Instagram.”

He exhaled deeply. “I know that, too. But we’re not engaged.”

“Who, me and you? Or you and her?”

He sighed. Reena watched his face. Dark puffy eyes. Crease between the brows. Corners of his lips down turned. He looked miserable.

Good.

“You’ve been lying to me for weeks,” Reena said. “You told me you’d always wanted to work in real-estate development, when apparently you already had. Hell, you even told me that Egypt was on your bucket list, when apparently you were there looking at properties for a new development!”

“I said the Pyramids were on my bucket list. I never got to see them when I was there.”

“Jesus Christ, you’re going with loopholes and caveats now? When we were getting to know each other you never once mentioned a fiancée. Ex, or otherwise.”

Eyes cast downward, he answered, “I’m sorry.”

“Why would Salim Shah post that he was looking forward to your wedding if you’re not getting married?” Fuck. Her voice cracked. She couldn’t hide her pain.

“I don’t know why he said that.” He barely looked at her.

“What was the point of this?” She gestured between them. “Were you here to run business intrigue for Salim Shah? Cozy up to Aziz Manji’s daughter to get his trade secrets?”

“Reena, no. This wasn’t fake. I—”

She put her hands up to stop him. “Did you forget about the ring? It was fake. Pretending to be engaged for the contest. Pretending not to be together to our parents. None of it was real, and I hate myself for thinking it was.” Her voice cracked again.

He took a step toward her and reached for her arm, while she took a step back, hitting her back on her door. She couldn’t handle physical contact now. His arms dropped to his sides. He looked at her, eyes blank, brows tightly knit together.

“I wish I could defend myself,” he said, meeting her eyes. “But…I’m sorry.” He looked down at the stack of cardboard at his feet. “I’ll be leaving very soon. You can pretend none of this happened. I really…I didn’t want you to get hurt.” His eyes were so dejected that it weakened her resolve. He finally resembled the Nadim more familiar to her. The one from the hotel who told her for the second time that his soul knew when he was home.

He’d been playing her the whole time.

She turned and faced her door.

“Wait, Reena, one thing,” he said. She stilled but did not turn.

“I wasn’t using you. Or your dad. I know you have no reason to believe me, but you were the only real thing in my life for years. I’m sorry I made such a mess of this.” His voice trailed to nothing.

She stared at her closed door. He sounded sincere, but what did she know? She’d heard enough in those damn videos to know he could sound convincing. Her eyes welled with tears as her hand touched her doorknob. She didn’t move until she heard his door open and his footsteps disappear inside his apartment.

*



Reena stood in the hallway. Part of her wanted to knock on his door and throw herself in his arms, again. Apologize for not believing him and beg him to just go back to the way things were. She wanted to feel him around her, smell his soap in his neck, his hands on her waist. And she probably would have done it, if Marley hadn’t come racing down the stairs then.

“What is going on down here?” Marley asked.

“Nothing.”

Shayne was close behind Marley. “We heard you yelling. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you yell.”

Marley looked at Reena carefully. No doubt taking in Reena’s red, puffy eyes. “You okay, Reena? Come upstairs for a drink.”

A drink. Her shoulders slumped. “I, um…”

Marley put her hand on Reena’s forearm. “Come. Talk to us.”

Reena was pretty sure her parents wouldn’t want her to mention the business problems outside the immediate family, but she wasn’t much in the mood to do what her parents wanted. “Sure. I’d love some of that oolong tea, if you still have it.” She followed them upstairs.