Accidentally Engaged(94)

“Thank you for coming, and for this!” Reena said, taking the box from her aunt.

“Were we supposed to bring presents?” Shayne asked, walking in with Marley.

“I didn’t,” Amira said. “But I’ve only been home for three minutes since Friday morning. It’s kind of short notice for presents.”

“Not for me,” Saira added. “I got her the best present. I doubt anyone will top it.”

Reena laughed. Saira stealing the thunder only felt hilarious today.

Steve came into the room. “An enormously pregnant woman and a man with a lot of curly hair just wandered into the bar looking for you, Reena,” he said.

Saira beamed. “That’s my present!”

Happy tears and a huge grin erupted on Reena’s face as her big brother and his very pregnant wife came into the room. He laughed as he approached Reena and hugged her tightly.

“Khizar, you’re here!”

“We woke up at the crack of dawn to catch a flight to get here on time.” He hugged her again.

“I didn’t think you’d come when we talked yesterday. I can’t even believe it! I’m so happy to see you!”

He smiled and kissed her forehead. “My baby sister got married. Where else would I be?”

“I thought I was the baby sister,” Saira said.

“You’re both my baby sisters.” He opened his arms to get Saira into the group hug.

Reena hugged Nafissa next, and rubbed the belly containing her two baby nieces before introducing her new husband to her brother and sister-in-law.

Husband. She could not stop smiling to herself. How could she have possibly been so lucky?

“We have a gift, too,” Dad said, “and we’d like to give it to you now, before the party starts,” Dad said.

Reena looked around. Most of their guests had arrived, as well as the camera crew. Amira and Marley were helping people find seats. She smiled and looked at Mum and Dad, expecting them to pull out a box of wedding jewelry. Instead, Dad handed Nadim a slim envelope.

With a confused expression, he opened it. Inside, on her father’s company letterhead, was an offer of employment.

Reena blinked a few times. Was this real? Dad wanted to rehire Nadim? What about his father’s money?

She looked at her husband, who also looked confused. Then she looked at her father, who was smiling.

“Nadim, I hired you to work in my company because of your father’s investment. I didn’t expect you would end up being one of the best managers we have ever had. And when I wondered if you and Reena might be a good match, I could not have predicted just how right for each other you two are. Now that you are family, I hope you will let me help you the way I would help any of my children.” He paused, looking from Reena to Nadim. “I would be honored to have you continue to work for me. It is your decision, but should you choose, you can stay here, employed in the family business as general manager of the Diamond project, with the same ownership stake I agreed on with your father but without his investment. The work visa will continue, and we will all sponsor you to stay here with us. As family.”

Nadim’s eyes were wide as saucers. “Really?”

“Yes, really. This is a business decision. Half my construction team was in my office on Friday demanding I bring you back. I made some calls, and thanks to your outreach and professionalism, I have easily secured funding from other investors to keep the project going. And I, personally, would love to finally work with my family.”

Nadim laughed as he reached out to shake Dad’s hand. “Of course. Yes. I want to be where Reena is. And it would be an honor to continue learning from you, sir.”

Dad let go of Nadim’s hand and pulled him into a hug. “No more Sir. Dad. Welcome to the family.” He shook his head, smiling. “Heaven help you. You’ll need it.”

Dad then took Reena’s hands and recited a series of prayers for their happiness, health, and prosperity before pulling her into a hug. “Congratulations, Reena. I really wish you all the best.”

“Thank you, Dad. Seriously. Thank you so much for this.”

“No, I feel like we should be thanking you,” Dad said as he stepped back to put a hand on Mum’s shoulder. “Your mother is going to teach me to play cards. She says poker will help me in my business.”

Reena’s eyes widened. Her father? Poker?

“It will bring us closer, too,” Mum explained. “We must let each other into our lives.” Reena clutched Nadim’s arm, resting her head on his shoulder. She would never stop letting him into all the parts of her life.

“Imagine.” Mum looked at Dad, eyes dancing with joy. “Two children married, and the third engaged. We are very blessed.”

Dad seemed uncomfortable with all this familial joy, though, and started searching the room. “Did Saira speak to you?”

“No. About what?”

Dad frowned. “Saira? Come!”

Saira appeared, rolling her eyes. “Steve was just about to tell me what’s in the lentil soup…”

“Tell her what we talked about last night,” Dad ordered.

“Fine.” She turned to Reena. “Dad still hasn’t finalized a lease for the corner unit in the Diamond building. I proposed he rent it to me. To us, actually, if you’re willing.”