ESTELLE
“Hey.” I went downstairs to look for Linden when I found the side of the bed empty. After turning me down last night, I realized that no matter how much he liked me, we could only be friends without the benefits. It was a disappointment, really, but maybe it was good for us.
“Good morning.” He met me at the bottom of the stairs, still wearing the same smile.
“Where have you been?” After that question came out of my mouth, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry. Forget that I asked.”
“Breakfast?”
“I called Qamar. He’s on his way, but do you have tea?”
His brows knitted. “What’s with you with not drinking coffee and wine?”
“Let’s just say my life is a little complicated right now. I can’t pump myself up with alcohol and caffeine.” I followed him to the kitchen.
“Are you sure you can’t wait till I make breakfast?”
“Maybe you can come by later. Let’s say dinner at my house.”
“Alright.” He boiled water and grabbed a teacup. “Do you prefer green?”
“Any.”
“Green then.” He put the teabag on the cup and then looked at me, really looking at me, making me almost feel self-conscious. “What is your plan, Estelle?”
I shook my head. “Honestly, I don’t know, but if I could just pause my life for a while, I would love that. I want to take a breath without thinking of what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
He came close to me to trace his thumb on my cheek. “I promise you that everything will be okay. I can’t guarantee a perfect day today or tomorrow, but things will be better.”
“Thanks. It means a lot coming from you.”
After he poured hot water into the cup, he placed it before me. “Will you call me if you need anything? I mean anything, Estelle.”
I smiled. “You’re the first person I will call.”
“Good.”
When I got home, I was surprised to see my father in my house. He didn’t usually come unannounced, but judging by the look on his face as if he was about to spit fire, this visit wasn’t out of courtesy.
“Hey, Dad. What are you doing here?”
“I just received a threat from your ex.”
My eyebrow shot up. “My ex? Why would he threaten you?”
“I know you were seeing Gabe Linden.” What the hell? But what confused me was why Linden would do something so reckless when I made it clear to stay away. Unless he knew something, he wasn’t telling me.
“Wait a second. What did he say?”
“He really should know where he stands. He’s not good for you, Estelle, and doesn’t—”
“He doesn’t belong in our circle? Well, Dad. So as Klayton. What does he know about running a business? Does he even have a dream for himself? Who is he without his father? At least, Gabriel has ambitions. He works hard to be where he is right now—”
“And where is he exactly?” His eyes bore into mine. His expression turned thunderous. “He is nothing but a low life in a suit carrying guns. Stay away from that man.”
“Or what? You will do what exactly? What else can you do worse than what you already did? You can have the Star but can’t control an adult woman like me. So do what you do best, but don’t ever call Gabriel a low life because he served this country. He saved a lot of lives. He puts food on the table for many employees, treats them as his equals despite running a multi-million dollar company, and remains grounded despite that. If someone is a low life, that’s you, Dad. You can’t even live alone without your so-called friend like Tyrion Weston. You may be rich, but you are miserable, and I don’t wanna end up like you—”
“That’s enough!” He roared. I noticed Qamar come beside me in stance alert.
“I’m not done. You made me sign that contract because you said to me that’s what is best for me. Now don’t blame me if I disobey you. And you know what? I went to see Klayton in his penthouse. I thought I just went to the wrong door because, from what I saw, it was a sex club to me. He had a woman with him. Do you think he will ever change? I don’t think so.”
“This is the last time we talk about this topic again. Your engagement is moved to next week. If you are planning to run away again, don’t. Unless you wanna lose Star. I will call a board meeting and tell them that you are not capable of running the company anymore. Do you understand me?” I didn’t know if I understood everything he said, but I understood perfectly that my life was over.
I couldn’t answer him because I didn’t want to. I ran away from him and went upstairs. I couldn’t see that man without the hate and disgust in my heart.
And he didn’t know that I was carrying another man’s child. I was terrified that he would force me to do something I couldn’t fathom doing if he found out I was pregnant with Linden’s child.
I found myself in the bathroom under the shower, still fully dressed. I didn’t know what to do anymore. Linden was right. I should stop thinking of others. I should be selfish sometimes, and I should be because I wasn’t alone anymore.
A soft knock on the bathroom door startled me. “Ms. Bladwyn?” Thank God it was Qamar. “Is everything okay?”
“I’ll be there in a minute.” I wiped my tears, mixing them with water, but I knew I was crying. I got up and turned the water off. After shredding my clothes, I wrapped the towel around me before I got into the bedroom.
Qamar was not looking in my direction. “I’m sorry, but I have to check up on you. Do you need anything?”
“I’m good, Qamar, and I’m decent. Where’s my father?”
“He left about five minutes ago. He said to keep an eye on you and to report to him if you make some plans.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Are you going to tell him?”
“Of course not. You’re my employer, not him.”
“Thanks. What should I do now?”
“Get dressed, dry your hair, and have ice cream in bed.”
I smiled. “Perfect.”
“I’m going to the kitchen to get you ice cream.”
“Do you even know what I like?”
“Strawberry cheesecake and butter pecan.”
“Can you give me both?”
“Yes, of course. And don’t forget to take your vitamins, ma’am.”
I stared at him in shock.
“I’m very observant, but you can trust me. One of my job descriptions is to keep my client’s secret stays secret. Your secret is safe with me. I’ll be right back, ma’am.”
After putting on a shirt and jeans, I brushed my hair, and Qamar just came with a tray of two ice cream tubs, a bowl, and spoons.
“I wanna eat on the lounge.”
He went to my lounge area adjacent to my bedroom.
“Sit with me,” I told him before he could flee.
“I can for a while.”
“You have nothing to do. I’m here in the house. You don’t have any excuses, Qamar.”
“Okay then, Miss Bladwyn.”
“You can call me Estelle. Even Sax and Kye call me Estelle. What’s the meaning of your name? It sounds pretty.” I put two scoops in the bowl and offered it to him while I wanted to eat from the tub.
“It’s funny you asked. My name in English is the moon, and yours is a star.”
“Wow. Really?” I ate the ice cream while I listened to him.
“In Arabic, Qamar is short of an endearment like yah Qamar, meaning, oh moon.”
“That’s beautiful.”
“It is. Can I say something?”
“Of course.”
“Your father is —”
“A jerk.”
“Greedy. I’m sorry. I know it’s none of my business, but I swore an oath to protect you. Even if he’s your father, I won’t hesitate to stop him if he raises his hand on you. I’m telling you now.”
“Don’t hurt him.”
“I won’t, of course. Only if he hurt you.” After he ate his ice cream, he stood up. “Thank you. That was good. I’ll be right outside. Call me if you need me.”
I nodded. After he left, I went to grab my phone and dialed Linden.
“I’m hoping this would be often.”
I smiled. “Do you have a minute?”
“It’s Saturday. Yes. Did you change your mind on dinner?”
“You have Tacos Saturday. I forgot.”
“London doesn’t mind. Trust me.”
“You threatened my father?”
I heard him blow a breath. “He told you?”
“Personally. What were you thinking, Gabriel? I told you this is a family matter. I don’t want you getting involved.”
“Bite me.”
“Very mature. I’m serious.”
“So do I.”
“You don’t understand. Now because of what you did, he just moved the engagement to next week.”
“What the fuck, Estelle? Are you really going to marry that jerk? Tell me you’re not considering it.”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
“Not this time.”
“Give me five days.”
“What are you gonna do?” I frowned. I felt like he was planning something dangerous.
“Just trust me, okay?”
“Don’t I?”
He did that deep sigh again. “You won’t marry that piece of shit, Estelle. With every fiber of my being.”