Chapter 20

Kareem's POV...

I flipped through the file Imran brought to me, my thoughts elsewhere.

' Tomorrow is Laila's birthday...'

"So, what do you think?" Imran's voice brought me out of my trance.

I sighed before closing the file. " What do you think I should get Laila for her birthday?" I asked. This question had been bothering me for a while, it was time I finally confided in Imran. I watched as his expression slowly changed, his brows arched as his eyes quickly scanned the room.

"What?" Imran asked in a way which sounded more like he was talking to himself. "I thought we were talking about the contract. The one you spoke with Jayden about ?" He said in a tone that sounded both annoyed and confused.

I sighed as I slowly rubbed the bridge of my nose. "We can talk about work later", I said as I pushed the file to one side. "Right now, I need to know what to give Laila for her birthday". I said sternly, observing Imran's facial expressions.

He looked a bit confused but just sighed before pulling his chair closer to my desk. "Okay, fine, let's do whatever you want", He said the last part a bit lower than the first. "So when's her birthday ?"

I ignored the annoyance in his voice. " Tomorrow, and I haven't thought of anything to give her".

"Why don't you take her to that bridge. You know, the one your mom used to take you to". He said in a somewhat bored tone.

I turned my attention to my clasped hands, thoughts running through my mind like crazy. What if she doesn't like the place? But I don't think she's that type of person.

" I don't know, would that be a good idea?"

He breathed a long sigh before looking up to see me. " Look. It doesn't matter if she likes it or not, I don't even know why you want to give her a gift, I mean, it's not like as though you like her or anything". He blurted out.

I sat there staring at my hands. I couldn't think of any logical reason as to why I wanted to get Laila a gift, I mean, she's no one special to me...right? I mean, she's just a contract wife and we barely ever speak, so why am I this bothered about her birthday?

"I should've known". I heard Imran say as he slowly pushed his chair back.

"Should've known what?" I asked knowing fully well I won't like his reply.

"That you like her or at least are catching some feelings for her", and I was right. "Because why else would you put in more effort into buying a gift for her than your sister?" He did have a point though...

"Because I'm a nice person and I can't just love with someone and ignore the fact that it's their birthday ", Most of that was a lie. Imran knew me well enough to know that I wouldn't have cared if it was her birthday or not. But that was a discussion I wasn't ready to have. I watched as he rolled his eyes before sighing. It was obvious he didn't believe a word I said. "Okay, let's get back to business. You were saying something?" I said as Imran pulled his chair closer to my desk.

...

I paced around the living room before stopping at the bottom of the stairs.

'Isn't she supposed to be ready by now?' I thought to myself before finally making my way towards the couch.

After the meeting I had with Imran yesterday, I did a bit of thinking and decided that taking her to the bridge won't be a bad idea. But just incase she doesn't like the view from the bridge, I bought a necklace with a crescent moon pendant for her as my second surprise.

I heard clicking of heels and my gaze flew towards the stairs. My heart beat faster upon seeing her slowly make her way down the stairs. I didn't know what caused me to feel this way or what caused me to feel so nervous about seeing her. I was just doing a good deed like I told Imran, there was nothing special about what was going on...right?

I watched as she slowly descended down the stairs, her dark purple dress flowing with each step she took. She looked beautiful... I couldn't help but think as her heels stopped at the bottom of the stairs. I watched as she walked closer to the couch and was soon standing at the foot of it. I looked away instantly, this was getting awkward, not awkward, weird.

I stood up facing the wall. I could hear the clicking of her heels slowly becoming distant. I turned, now facing the dining room.

"You look nice..." The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them but I didn't dare tear my gaze away from her. I watched as she turned to face me before slowly looking away, Imran's words taunting me somewhere at the back of my mind...'you like her, or at least ar catching some feelings for her...' Did I really like her? Is that why I've been feeling nervous around her lately?

I shook my head and sighed before making my way towards the table. It's not possible. There's no way I actually like her, I mean, I barely know anything about her and we've only known eachother for a month. I grabbed my keys from the table before making my way to the front door. Upon reaching there, I saw Laila also making her way towards the front door and I diverted my attention to the keys I was holding.

"Thank you". She said suddenly. I wasn't expecting her to be the one to break the awkward silence.

I flashed her a small smile before diverting my gaze to the door handle when a sudden question popped up.

"Don't you need a jacket or something?" Who knows, what if she's cold and then I'd have to sacrifice my jacket later or something.

"No, the material is thick enough". She said as she slightly pulled on the material of her sleeve.

I sighed before pushing open the door as we made our way outside.

...

I observed her as her gaze slowly shifted from eyeing the restaurant to the big window that sat besides us. I didn't want to break this comfortable silence between us, but I also didn't want us to just keep staring at each other until we leave the place.

Different questions that could make use as conversation starters flooded my mind, but only one seemed suitable.

"Uhm...so, what type of things do you like?" The words came out a lot less confidently than I anticipated. I watched as she slowly tore her gaze away from the window and landed it on me. My heart started beating a bit faster as I stared into her chocolate brown eyes.

"What?" She asked, a bit confused .

"Like, what are your hobbies? The things you like doing during your free time?" I observed her, she seemed a bit, clueless or probably lost.

"I like reading ?" Her tone made it sound more like a question. The thought of her walking into the library and sitting there for hours popped in my mind.

"Well I guess I noticed that a week after you moved in".

"Well, I guess I like the arts. Drawing?" I took in her words. So she really was interested in the arts, that's...okay . "What about you, what are your hobbies?" Her voice caught me off guard. Why would she want to know about my hobbies? I mean, there's nothing interesting I do during my free time.

" Well I don't really have any hobbies that are interesting". I said a bit embarrassed as I looked down at my hands.

"Well I'd still like to hear some of them". She insisted, I sighed inwardly before looking up to meet her gaze.

"Well, ugh, I like organising my things, uhm, comparing the profits and losses the company has made each month. Uhm, I also like watching the updated news on stock exchange". I said before diverting my attention back to my hands. Now she'd probably think I'm some boring businessman, which I am.

"Oh, well, ugh, do you play any sports?" At least she was trying to keep this conversation going. I thought back to my highschool days when I still used to be an athlete.

"Actually, I do, well I used to play archery". I said as I did a quick scan of the place.

"Why'd you stop though?" I saw the curiosity in her eyes, did she actually want to know more about me? Or was I thinking too far .

"I don't know, after highschool, I just didn't have the time to spare to play, so I just let go of the sport". I scratched my neck a little as I stole a quick glance at the window. I did kind of miss archery.

The waiter approached our table soon after with our food. "Ugh, thank you". I said to the waiter before he took his leave.

...

"What do you think?" I said as I let go of her hand. The familiar winter breeze and tiny dots of streetlights brought back a bunch of memories, some good and some bad.

"Wow", she said softly, her eyes still fixed on the view from the railing. "It looks amazing". She completed as I slowly made my way next to her.

"I know. That's why I chose this place at this specific time". I said as I took a lick of my ice-cream, my eyes still glued to the view in front of me. It all just seemed so surreal, one day she's sitting right next to us, and the next day she's gone...

"How'd you know about it?" I heard her say.

I sighed inwardly. " Well it was actually my mom that brought me here for the first time. She said it was her favourite place to be during winter sunsets". I couldn't help but remember those days when she'd surprise me with a visit to this place and we'd spend weekends taking walks on this same bridge.

"Well", her voice disrupted my thoughts as I looked down at her. "Why don't we dance?" She said as she began spinning around, her hands spread wide and her head thrown back. I finished the last bit of my ice cream and used a hand wipe to clean my hands.

"What?" I asked her as I stuffed my hands in my pockets. Was she being serious?

"You know, I've always loved the winter seasons and now with this amazing view, why don't we do a waltz?" She stood in front of me, her eyes boring holes into mine. If she really wanted to do this, then let's dance.

" What if I say I can't dance". I said as my hands made their way to her waist, pulling her closer. I felt her stiffen under my grasp.

"Well unfortunately you have no choice since it's my birthday and I get to make the rules". She said as she slowly placed her hands on my shoulders. I froze for a second, my heart beating faster than it should have. Was this really happening? Was I really dancing with her? I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my lips as she flashed a smile of her own.

"Really?" I asked as I took a step back whilst she took a step forward. I was really beginning to enjoy this.

"You took me to my grandma's house", she said as I moved my hand from my waist to my shoulder whilst she did the opposite. "And then to some fancy restaurant", she said as she took a step back whilst I took a step forward." And then you bought me ice cream", she said as we both stopped and clasped our hands together. I stared into her dark brown eyes, not wanting this moment to end, not wanting this day to end. "And now we're here". She completed as both of us put down our left hands and at the same time lifted our right hands. I spun her around, her head facing up, her eyes closed with a big smile plastered across her face.

...

We arrived home a while later and all I could think of was my second surprise for her.

"I'll go freshen up". She said once we were inside before making her way to the stairs and soon enough she was gone. I sighed before sitting down on one of the dining chairs.

' how am I supposed to give her the necklace?' I thought to myself before standing up and making my way towards the stairs.

I climbed it for a while before arriving upstairs and soon enough, in my room. I pushed open the door before making my way towards the dresser where I kept the box containing the necklace.

I thought for some time, wouldn't it be rude to just walk into her room? I sighed before making my way out of my room, the box containing the necklace in hand.

I made my way towards her room, every step I took towards her room making me more nervous. I closed my eyes and breathed a sigh before knocking on the door.

"You can come in". I heard her say after some time. I took a deep breath before slowly pushing the door.

I took a few steps into the room. The room looked a lot more occupied, with a few clothes neatly folded on the bed and a few more books on the dressers and then my eyes finally landed on her.

She had removed her hijab by now and had gone a long way in taking off her jewellery.

I walked up to her, a bit awkward by the fact that I was in her room. She looked up to see me standing not too far behind her.

"I came to give you this", I started as I opened the box in my hands and pulled out the necklace." May I put it on you?" I asked. I noticed her eyes were fixed on my reflection in the mirror.

"Yes". She said softly as she pulled her curly locks to the front. I awkwardly unhooked the necklace and placed the cold metal in front of her and slowly placed by her neck. I diverted my attention to the tiny hooks I had to pin together before they finally clicked. I smiled in satisfaction as my eyes slowly landed on her face, a big smile spread across her face too.

"Thank you". She said softly as she turned to look at me, my eyes staring directly into hers and that's when I thought to myself, ' maybe I was falling...'