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“I’ve changed, Chess,” he insisted. “I’m not the same person I was when you left me.”
“I beg to differ.” She folded her arms over her chest. “You’re still the kind of boy who flirts with anything that has a pulse. You’re a walking ‘beware’ sign. I bet you can’t even go a week without sex. You’ve changed? Please! Tell me another lie.”
Her words made it clear that she thought he was a feckless Casanova. At one point in time, her assertions might’ve been true, but they weren’t anymore. He could certainly go without sex for a week, weeks, months, or even years. Her leaving him had proved that; he’d gone two years plus some without touching a woman because he just couldn’t get over Chess. And even afterward, he’d become pickier with his choices.
Quietly, he said, “I can go without sex.”
She scoffed. “Sure thing, buddy.”
“I’m serious.” He met her eyes. “Do you want me to prove it?”
“Tazeem, please!” Her lips kicked up in a sardonic smile. “Your little spoilt dick would fall off if you denied yourself.”
That cut deep, and on the spur of the moment, he offered “Why don’t we make a bet then?”
She guffawed. “I’m not betting with you.”
“If I can keep my dick in my pants for the next six months while we’re working with each other,” he proposed, “then you’ll forgive me for eight years ago.”
She burst into bellyfuls of laughter that shook her shoulders. That laughter is even more hurtful than the cold disdain she’d displayed earlier, and it only made him want to prove her wrong more.
“That’s a ridiculous bet!” Chess chuckled. “You’ll never win it. You? Be celibate for six months? Hah! And pigs will fly.”
“Bet I can.” He dared her, “But if you think that I’m so pussy-whipped that I can’t go without for a couple of months, then put your money where your mouth is. Bet me!”
She watched him in silence for quite some time, and it looked like she wasn’t going to play ball. But then she shrugged. “Bring it on, Buster. I’ll take that bet, and because I know you can’t win it, I’ll even sweeten the pot. If you can be celibate for the duration of this project, not only will I forgive you, but I’ll even date you.”
Her amused tone made it clear that she thought that would never happen.
“But,” she continued, “if you fail, then you have to walk away.” Her gaze hardened. “Don’t ever try to contact me again or wedge yourself into my life. Just disappear. Forever.”
She was driving a hard bargain. But Tazeem was confident enough in himself to take the deal.
“Okay.” He smiled and held out his hand. “We have a bet.”
She looked at his stretched hand but didn’t take it. “How can I be sure that you won’t just sleep with someone then claim you haven’t?”
“You know me, Chess.” He added, “I’m a lot of things, but a liar is not one of them.”
She watched him for a second then nodded. “We have a bet.”
8
C
OULD TAZEEM GO SIX MONTHS without sex? Sure, and horses could quack. This was going to be the easiest bet Chess had ever won. His audacity to even make such a bet when everyone knew his history was astounding and laughable.
Though Chess was certain that his celibacy wouldn’t last long, his confidence annoyed her so much that she decided to throw some thorns in his path. She spent the next few days letting everyone in the office know that Tazeem was single and ready to mingle. Soon, he had quite a few admirers waiting for him whenever he came to Synovent for a meeting.
The ladies of Synovent were a persistent bunch. Skirts had got tighter and heels higher whenever there were rumors that Chess’s team was having a meeting. The more diligent ladies (including a few attached ones) had even reached out to him outside the confines of their company.
However, almost three weeks later, Tazeem was still going strong.
But Chess wasn’t worried. She was certain that he’d break soon.
“I sent him a message on Instagram yesterday,” Donna confided to Chess while they were in the break-room having their lunch. “He hasn’t responded yet.”
“He’s probably busy,” Chess soothed. “But I’m sure he saw it and can’t wait to hear more from you.”
