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With an exasperated sigh she spoke. “No, I’m just trying to mitigate disaster at the workplace.”
He scoffed. “Is that really what you think, Shala?”
She shrugged. “I think it doesn’t matter what I think.” He hadn’t cared when he shouted that he didn’t like her and he didn’t give a damn that she’d seen him after he’d had sex with another woman. He didn’t care about her or what she thought.
He came closer, suppressing his anger that she wouldn’t look at him. “You know that isn’t true.”
Her stiff posture weakened and her shoulders slumped. “What do you want Zadir? We have nothing to talk about.”
Grasping her upper arm he spun her around. “We have plenty to talk about. You left Italy without a word.”
“Of course I did!” Her teeth clenched and she balled her fists as anger rolled off her in waves.
“You are an employee of Alzari Holdings,” he began with that smarmy smile that he used when he needed to get his way. “And as such,”
She cut him off. “Fine, Zadir, I quit. Have a nice life!” She yanked out of his grasp and walked around her car—finally!—and slid in.
Zadir grabbed the door handle. “I don’t think so, Shala. It’s time we had that talk.” He ducked low to look her in her eyes. “So either come back inside or I’m coming in.”
Shala rolled her eyes. “I’m not going back inside. If you want to talk, meet me at the edge of the driveway or don’t. I don’t care.” She put the car in gear and drove to the end of the long drive, hoping he’d decided she wasn’t worth it and rejoined the party.
Her hopes were soon dashed. “Shala, I’m sorry, okay?”
She nodded, squeezing her teeth against a small strip of skin inside her mouth to keep from responding. “Okay, apology accepted.”
“Is that it?” Fingers tunneled through his hair in anger and frustration and defeat.
“What would you like me to say? I’ve accepted your apology, do I need to massage your ego too?”
“Unbelievable! I guess you really don’t care.” He crossed his arms over his chest and frowned down at her.
“I guess that makes two of us.” Her head tilted defiantly.
“I don’t believe this!” He began to pace just a few feet in front of her. “Here I am, thinking we were on the same page and you…you!” He was speechless.
“I heard you.” He continued to rant and Shala’s anger was starting to show. “I heard you,” she said again, this time with more force until she got his attention. “I heard you say you didn’t even like me, and a day later you slept with someone else.” She turned and stepped into the car. “Goodbye, Zadir.”
“I didn’t sleep with her.” Shala’s look was incredulous. “I didn’t. She tried to…we almost…but I couldn’t. Shala, I couldn’t.”
“Is that supposed to impress me? Why are you making this into something it isn’t? You got what you wanted, sex while you were away from home and your company back. Congratulations.”
“I love you.”
She slammed on her brakes and looked up at him with watery eyes. “What?”
“I love you, Shala.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I do. That’s why I left the morning after we first made love, because I didn’t know what it meant to you or if I could fulfill your expectations. I don’t know if you know this, but that’s not exactly my strong suit.” He knelt down inside her door so they were eye to eye. “I do love you, though Shala. Your smile, those killer curves and your crazy sense of humor. You drive me crazy and you’re the first person I want to tell when something good happens.”
She didn’t know what to say. The sincerity shining in his sparkling green eyes touched her in a way she couldn’t describe. Her heart opened like a flower in bloom and it began to warm. “You mean that?”
“I do. Please put me out of my misery and tell me that you love me to.”
She smiled. “I love you too, Zadir.”
His body visibly relaxed and he laid his head in her lap, arms banded tight around her. “I’m so glad to hear that.” He leaned forward and kissed her mouth long and hard, until they both leaned across the front seats, his body pressed tightly against hers. “Oh, Shala, I love you so damn much. I can’t wait to make you my wife.”
