AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Two
Nothing felt better than being at work in her office. At least not to Charla. She’d spent one night in the hospital after refusing to let Rabiya babysit her to check for a concussion. The last thing she needed was to have her friend’s grumpy ass brother hovering in case she tried to make off with the family silver. Twirling in her chair, she turned to look at the sight that had captured her heart the moment she’d arrived in the city. The Rocky Mountains. This time of year, so late in the summer, the peaks were capped with very little snow. She would bet anything that the mountain runoff was still deliciously cold to drink. Come winter she would get to see snow capped mountains in all their glory.
The city had healed something inside of her, something she hadn’t realized was broken until it had begun to heal. It was here she’d used her inheritance from the father she’d never known to start a new life and a career. Anger and guilt weighed heavily on her during those first few years, using the money of a man who clearly hadn’t wanted her, to better her circumstances. Over time Charla realized it was the absolute least he could do, since he’d helped create her.
Now her life was perfect.
Is it,a cynical voice in her head asked. “Yes, it damn sure is!”
“Talking to yourself again Charla?”
She spun her chair around, smiling at Rabiya and her infectious smile. “Of course, who else can I talk to for sound advice?”
Brown eyes narrowed and glared at her. “I’m going to let that pass because I want something.”
She held her breath, waiting for the bomb Rabi would drop. After two and a half years of friendship, Charla knew Rabi’s favors could be anything. A co-conspirator for a weekend jaunt to Vegas, help learning to fry chicken for some frat boy or buying up goodies from the local dispensaries and testing them out together. The girl had a penchant for trouble but it never stuck to her.
Charla wondered what her trick was. “I’m listening.”
With a shaky smile she took a seat and smoothed down her straight black hair. “I’m finally launching my event planning business.”
“Congratulations Rabi! That’s so great, I’m thrilled for you.”
“Thank you Charla. I couldn’t have done it without your help and I want you to know I fully plan to pay you back. I promise.”
“I know,” she said quietly, uncomfortable with her effusive praise. She’d loaned her the money to get her business started because Rabiya was terrified her family wouldn’t approve or help. It was no big deal. “What do you need?”
Her smile was full of mischief and Charla was instantly on alert. “I just wanted to make sure you would be there. It’s New Year’s Eve at Hilltop, the nightclub inside the mountain at Kasim’s resort. Before you ask, no I didn’t get the job because of my brother. Tristan made the decision to give me a shot. But I’m sure he’s hoping to garner favor with Kasim.” Her smile was innocent and defiant all at once, reminding Charla why she’d befriended the young woman in the first place.
“I never thought that, but hell the reason doesn’t matter. If you get a chance to make your dreams come true, you take it. The why doesn’t matter Rabi, only what you do with it.”
Those exotic almond shaped eyes sparkled with tears. “Thank you for believing in me, Char. It means more than you could know.”
Since no one had ever believed in her, she knew she would never understand how her friend felt in this moment. “That’s what friends do. And you know I’ll be there, and I might even get a new dress.”
In a flash the tears were dry and a new look fell over Rabiya’s face. “Make that two dresses. I’m having a dinner party on Friday and I want you to come.”
Charla shook her head. The last thing she wanted to do was pretend she belonged around a bunch of rich people who liked caviar and traveled to the South of France. She’d never been out of the country and caviar was too salty for her tastes. “I’m not really the dinner party type, Rabi. Invite someone else.” Please.
“Nonsense. You are exactly the type, interesting and not cookie cutter, and beautiful. You’ll be the hit of the party!” She clapped excitedly, smiling until Charla relented and agreed.
“I’ll be there but only if you promise to stop matchmaking.”
“Cross my heart.”
“That was easy. Too easy.” Charla knew that look in Rabiya’s eyes and knew who she should expect to see on Friday night.
* * *
“You said this was just a small dinner.” Kasim grunted at his sister, unhappy she had insisted on his presence tonight. It was a Friday night and he’d much rather be entertaining a beautiful woman in one of the suites at his resort.
Rabiya lifted a shoulder and let it drop casually. “It is small, just nine guests and me. How much smaller do you want it?”
“The two of us would have been just fine.”
She rolled her eyes at him and placed a hand on her hip. “Well not everything is about you Kasim. This is important to me and your presence will help. Is that too much to ask?”
Feeling properly chastened, he nodded and grabbed the glass of wine she offered and sipped. “This is good. Really good.”
