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“Just don’t fire him if I sneak past him. I have free will Naseer and you can’t control me.”

“If you care about his livelihood, you won’t go out without him, I’m telling you right now I won’t have a second thought about firing him.”

“Fine, he stays,” I snap again, He’s won this round I don’t want to be the cause of the man losing his livelihood though I don’t know anything about him. I’ll be the cause and he will be the effect. That’s something I can’t handle.

“Jade, I can hear you analyzing. You are drilling a hole in both our brains. Just don’t go out without your driver and we’ll all be fine” he says walking out. I let out an exasperated sigh.

I’m certainly up for the challenge with Shay and Connor. I need to finish quickly and be out of his sight.

seventeen

Jade

I stepped out of the building early today because of my hair appointment, I rarely leave the building because I’m extensively trying to finish this project early and return to my children and be out of Mr Darabi’s corner of the world. Each time, I think of him. My mind replays the look on his that day in my dorm room. Shut him our Jade I mantra.

My hair needs a professional touch and the only time Yasemin has means I have to leave early. I let Lucy know where I’m going and would be heading home after that. I put the envelope Naseer gave me in my bag and off I went. I push through the revolving door pause to feel the sun and inhale the air.

The air feels crisp, I close my eyes to take a moment to enjoy the sun on my face. I open my eyes to see Rilwan in front of me.

I know he’s still with Naseer and I’ve only seen him once from afar since I returned to Rhanaz. He’s surely a welcome friendly face, one of the few I have in this country.

“Ms Bankole, a pleasure to see you,” he says, no smile but that’s Rilwan. As long as he’s not wearing a scowl, I know it’s a good thing.

Without thinking, I hugged him. He’s stiff at first before hugging me back.

“So nice to see you too, Rilwan,” I say excitedly as I pull back from him. “How have you been?”

“Pretty good but better now that you are back.”

“Glad to hear, you’re good. I’m only here for a few months I’ll soon finish my project with LaBelle.” He chuckles.

“You know he won’t let you leave him again right,” he says bluntly.

“I don’t have a choice or say in not leaving plus I choose to be alive. Where there’s a will there’s a way. I’ll find a way,” I respond calmly as I start to head for my car at a slow pace and he matches my steps.

“I warned him that he was underestimating, others need for him to wear the crown.” I pause and turn to him shocked, then again Rilwan is that silent person who knows everything even when you think you have hidden it all from him.

“I hear you have children. Congratulations,” he says to lighten the suddenly stiff air blowing our way.

“Yes, twins. Thank you,” I responded, smiling. “I was just thinking that I need to go and visit them soon.”

“Are they, his children?” My eyes shot up to his. “I won’t tell him; your secret is safe with me. Though I know he would have me locked up for life if he ever finds out that I know.” I remain quiet.

“Do you have a picture of them?” I reach in my purse and show pictures of them on my phone.” Not sure why I’m doing this knowing Rilwan is Naseer’s right-hand man, weirdly, I trust him.

“They are beautiful and no doubt they are his children.”

“I beg you, please don’t tell him,” I plead.

“I won’t, I know you didn’t leave him willingly. I don’t know who got to you, but I can only think of one person who visited the US around the time you left him, whose movement was a bit shady then you suddenly deposited a million dollars. That soon disappeared after you left. I don’t think he’s ready to hear all that news. I could have dug deeper and followed the money to find you, but I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t be compromising your safety” I nodded. Tears pooled in my eyes.

“Thank you, Ril,” I state as I pull back the tears. “How did you guess that they’re his children?”

“He told me the story you told him about the children’s father and the fact you refuse to let him see the children. The timeline didn’t add up to all I found out about you. Plus, I know you well enough. I just concluded but I can’t tell him because that would mean I’ve known all along about the person that visited you and the money.” I held back the tears pooling again.

“He never stopped loving you. I see how happy he is now.”

“I can’t stay. It’s more dangerous if you know ‘who’ finds out about the twins.”