“Me?” Saira looked shocked.
Dad shook his head. “No. I sold nobody. But yes, I was thinking of Saira. She also needed to clean up her image. The gossip about your sister was disgusting—people were saying she had an open relationship. Incest. Cheating…I wanted to connect her with a good family to counteract that filth.”
Saira nodded, chuckling. “The gossip wasn’t completely wrong, but I appreciate the effort. Anyway, I have Ashraf now.”
“I know”—he smiled fondly at Saira—“but you didn’t then. I thought I was helping. Your mother didn’t agree. This is why she was angry about the deal—she said you were too hurt for a new relationship and needed to heal. She was right, of course. And when the visa came through and Nadim finally arrived, I realized two things. First, even though I agreed to bring him here reluctantly, I was the winner in this arrangement. Nadim has been an asset to the company. And second, it was not a problem that Saira had found Ashraf, because Nadim was much better suited to Reena. That is why I moved him to the building with you. There was a spark in him that your mother and I both saw. Reena and Nadim were a perfect match.” He smiled at Reena. “You two are the most food-obsessed people we have ever met. We have a good track record for matches, you know. Your mother was the one who encouraged Nafissa and your brother.”
Reena blinked. This was unreal. That wasn’t even true, and Dad knew it. Nafissa and Khizar hardly needed anyone’s encouragement to fall in love. Plus, her parents set her up with Nadim because they were both foodies? Really?
But it still didn’t add up. “If Nadim’s telling the truth, why are the Shahs lying about this engagement?” she asked.
Dad shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t trust Salim, though. I believe Nadim. I didn’t fire him, Reena.”
The room was silent for several long seconds until a sound of relief escaped Reena’s lips. She had no idea how tense she’d been holding herself until that moment. Dad trusted him.
He shook his head. “But Nadim’s father doesn’t believe him. He is convinced that Nadim has been in secret contact with Jasmine. And he won’t listen to his son.” Dad looked straight at Reena. “You should have told us you had taken up with the boy. It’s not right, keeping secrets from family.”
Reena nearly snorted in outrage. Saira, on the other hand, found no reason to hold in her disbelief and laughed loudly.
“Saira! Be kind to your sister!”
They were all silent for a bit longer, each digesting the fragile honesty they’d shown in this weird space that somehow gave the Manjis an almost normal family dynamic.
Finally, Reena spoke. “If you didn’t fire him, maybe that means we can finish the contest?” She couldn’t make herself think about saving their relationship now, but maybe she could salvage something of her life?
Dad frowned. “What contest?”
“Nadim and I were pretending to be engaged for a national cooking contest on FoodTV. We find out tomorrow if we made the finals, and they’ll film it in two weeks.”
Saira raised a brow. “I thought you told us all your secrets?”
Reena shrugged. “I forgot one.”
Dad frowned, then shook his head. “I may not have fired him, but his father pulled his investment in the Diamond project and forced Nadim to resign. He has been summoned home to Tanzania.”
Reena swallowed a lump in her throat. “When does he leave?”
“His last day working for me will be Friday, and he’ll be on a plane next week.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
After the drive home, Saira pulled up in front of Reena’s building and grinned widely. “That was actually kind of fun. We should do Mum next.”
“Do what to Mum?”
“You know, ambush. Confront. Although let’s not do it when we see her tomorrow. I don’t want to risk her not paying for my wedding sari.”
“We’re seeing Mum tomorrow?” The last thing she wanted was a second parent interrogation. Even if she was the one doing the interrogating.
“Reena! We’re going shopping, remember? For bridal clothes? We planned it last Sunday! You’re still coming, right?”
Of course. With her life falling apart and all, she’d forgotten about the sari-shopping date with Mum. Ugh. Maybe she should try to get out of it?
She looked at her sister’s hopeful face. No. it was time for Reena to move past her own self-absorption and be there for her sister. Her sister, who had been there for Reena every day since she’d found out about Nadim’s secret maybe-fiancée.
“Of course I’m coming, Saira.”
“Great. We’ll pick you up in the morning. I’ll text you before I leave.”
