Zamiel sensed Zarin's presence long before he knocked on the door. Someone else was with him and upon hearing a female voice, Zamiel guessed it was Zarin's sister, Gina. He was glad to know that Zarin had chosen to go back home.
Zamiel had wanted to meet Gina for a long time now to apologize. He had wanted Heaven to make them meet and not just go over to her house. Now that she was here, he would take the chance to apologize to her.
With a wave of his hand, he opened the door, then waited for them to come inside. Gina was walking right next to her brother as they came into the hall. Zarin looked wary, while his sister looked excited. When she laid eyes on him, she lifted her eyebrows as if surprised. Zamiel was sure that she had seen him in his normal state once before.
"Welcome." He said, walking up to them.
Ignoring Zarin, he looked at his sister. "You must be Gina." He reached his hand out, and without hesitating, she placed her hand in his. Then he kissed her knuckles, and a blush crept to her face.
Zamiel could see Zarin rolling his eyes.
"From a close distance you look even more beautiful," she blurted.
Zarin gave his sister a hard glare, and Zamiel smiled. Heaven had already told him that her friend was bold and spoke her mind.
"Your beauty is seen from a long distance." He told her.
She nodded approvingly. "Charming too," she said, turning to her brother. "Watch and learn."
"Please come." Zamiel said, still holding her hand. He led her to the parlour and motioned for her to sit.
"Thank you." She smiled.
Zarin followed them, looking as if he wanted to murder his sister. He sat next to her on the sofa.
Once Zamiel sat down, he asked them what they wanted to drink. Gina liked tea just like him and Zarin liked nothing, so he just ordered tea as well.
"I am sure you have met Heaven by now." He began.
"Yes. Thank you for bringing her back." She said. "And don't let her go again. I know she is stubborn."
He nodded with a smile. "I have been wanting to apologize to you. Things didn't start well between us."
"Oh, no." She held her hand out and waved. "Things started very well. It was a thrilling experience that led to this." She smiled.
Zamiel had to admit that she was interesting and he could tell that behind her playful personality there was a clever woman.
"Heaven told me you are in the trading business," she changed topic.
"Yes."
"I want to open my own trading market in the near future. Hopefully, we can be partners." She told him.
"It depends on what you have to offer." He said.
"I am learning from the best. I am sure you know my grandfather."
"I do. He is a great businessman. You are a woman. You will have to work twice as hard if not more." He told her.
She nodded knowingly. "I have no plan to fail." She said.
"Good. I would like to see a woman doing well in the trading world."
With Heaven wanting to become the first female ruler, it would be good to have a woman known in the trading world as well. Zamiel would like to support her if she was willing to work hard.
Zarin sat silent the whole time, confused by where the topic went. Helen came with the tea and served them and Gina and Zamiel went on to talk about trading and Heaven. She was also curious about Irene, but he couldn't disclose any details since he wasn't sure himself. He just assured her that everything would be alright.
"It was nice meeting you, Lord Zamiel." She said, standing up at last. Zamiel stood up as well. "I am sure we will see each other more but I'll leave you alone with my brother now."
She was enjoying her brother's misery.
"It was nice meeting you too." He took her hand again and kissed her knuckles. She gave a nod and then disappeared.
Zamiel was left with Heaven's less interesting friend now. He already knew why he was here, so he sat down to see if the boy had turned into a man.
Hopefully, he wouldn't disappoint. Having a tough sister and parents and Heaven as his friend, he must be better than this. Zamiel wanted to believe that he had only been lost for a moment.
"So, what brings you here?" He asked.
Zarin took a deep breath. His shoulders rose, then fell before he spoke. "I came to apologize and thank you."
Zamiel nodded and let him continue. Zarin's eyes darted and he didn't know where to begin. His thoughts were a mess, but he decided to just say whatever came to his mind at last.
"It is people I envy that I hate. People I envy have qualities I don't have but want to have." He paused and looked at him to see if he understood, but Zamiel pretended to be clueless.
"What I am trying to say is I like you and that is why I hate you." He shook his head thinking that his words made no sense but Zamiel understood what he meant perfectly. "Heaven was also changing and becoming someone independent, and that is why I hated that change. I hated everything good because it made me realize where I was lacking and I didn't want to admit it or change."
Zamiel remained quiet to see how far Zarin would take his apology.
"I said very hurtful things and did unforgivable things. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me."
Now Zamiel was impressed. The boy knew how to speak. Or shall he say the man now? He was speaking like his father.
"I forgive you." He said.
Zarin let out a deep breath. "Thank you."
Zamiel could see that this was still difficult for him. Apologizing wasn't something he was used to, but at least he was trying.
An awkward silence followed the apology, and Zarin sipped his tea in the eerie silence. When he put his cup down, he gazed at him, looking a little nervous.
"Would you like to go out for a drink?" He asked.