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Julia had hardly heard him. He was so beautiful that he should have been shadowed by security simply in the interests of preserving such a superior specimen of humanity. Pretending an interest in a conversation with Georgie and Andrew, she'd studied him covertly all evening, from beneath her lashes, until finally, while she was replenishing her champagne from the bar, he'd completely surprised her by singling her out.
"I have been watching you all night," he had whispered against her cheek, as he'd kissed her by way of introduction.
Her eyes had flown to his face in surprise. "Not possible, or you would have seen me staring at you."
Her honesty had drawn a broad smile from him. "I did see you staring, and it was all I could do not to beat a path through the room and take you outside where we could speak privately."
She had shrugged, impressing herself with how cool she seemed. "Let's go now."
Zayn had frowned a little. "I didn't intend to take you from your friends. And it is your father's party; I do not wish to show him disrespect."
Julia had waved a hand in the air. "Don't be silly. My friends are on their way to being so sloshed they won't notice I'm gone. As for dad, if I'm happy, he's happy."
Zayn had stared at her thoughtfully for a long time. So long that she thought he might change his mind. But then, he had pressed a hand to the small of her back and gently guided her from the room. The rest, had been history. The most breathtakingly beautiful romance of Julia's life, that had burned out as disastrously as it had begun magnificently.
Out of nowhere, an image of the first woman he'd been with after her came to mind. Buxom, easy, slutty; and in the photo Georgie had reluctantly shown Julia, the woman looked like she'd just rolled out of Zayn's king-size bed. Slutty Big Boobs had been just the first in a long line of women Zayn had moved onto. And though there had now been dozens and dozens, the pain had never become easier to bear. If anything, Julia felt her sense of betrayal growing in proportion to her confusion. Why? She had thought he loved her, and then all of a sudden, it was over, and he'd moved on quicker than she could say, "But you broke my heart!".
"I mean it, Zayn. You're just someone I thought I knew, years ago. I really don't want to spend another minute in your company." She pinned him with her angry glare. "Why would you even want to buy daddy's business? He deals in spice imports. Hardly your usual line of work."
"No. I will certainly either on-sell it or arrange for a manager to handle it." His tone was dismissive. He reached down and picked up a crystal glass that looked half-full of sparkling water. He lifted it to his lips and drunk it one mouthful. "It was not the business so much as the assets that come with it that attracted my interest."
Julia thought of her father's company with a mind that was slow to focus. There was the warehouse in Hammersmith, and the transportation vehicles, but other than that, it was a relatively asset poor company. She implored him with her eyes to continue.
He was more than willing. "You see, Julia, your father's business is in a lot of trouble."
Julia shook her head to deny it, but his words formed a little bridge in her mind and memory. Various pieces of knowledge suddenly slotted into place. Her father's stress, the long times between lavish holidays that had once been frequent, the downsizing of his lifestyle, and the slowly diminishing collection of antiquities every time she returned to Howard Manor.
Still, she refused to believe it. "His business is excellent. He is always picking up new contracts." She tried to think of the last time he'd said as much to her, and drew a blank.
"No, habibte. He i
s in a lot of debt. He has no new contracts. I made sure of that."
"You... you... what do you mean?"
"I had to be sure the incentive would be sufficient enough to guarantee your acceptance."
Julia glared at him, but she couldn't quite understand what he was saying. "What incentive? Accept what? Jeez, Zayn, stop beating about the bush and tell me what the hell you want from me."
"I have offered to buy your father's business. What Colin doesn't know is that I will only go through with the sale if you agree to marry me."
