Chapter 33:

'I'd go with the red one, if I were you. It's so dazzling and screams elegant."
Bushra stands before the two dresses she plans to wear one for the night. She loved the pink dress but it looked more like a prom dress not a business dinner dress. 'I think you're right," Bushra said to Madina through the phone. 'Ha! I knew you'd pick my choice. Now do your makeup and dress up before he comes looking for you. Don't forget to have fun and tell me everything tomorrow, okay?"
Bushra smiled and nodded. She ends the video call and tosses her phone across the bed. She took a shower first before getting ready. She had only few cosmetics with her hence it didn't take her long to do her makeup and get dressed.
She moved to the full-length mirror in her room and stared at herself in the mirror. A smiled sneaked it's way to her face—she loves what she was seeing. She did a twirl, feeling as though she was a princess going to a ball dance. This was the rare days Bushra always looked forward to.
She took her matching purse and heads to the door. 'Oh, geez!" She gasped, holding her stomach by the way it dropped due to how scared she was. 'Can you please stop doing that?" She breaths in and out to calm the panic.
'I knocked before coming in, I swear. You were so occupied with admiring yourself. And I don't blame you for that." He takes in her dress. The red long chiffon dress was covered in crystal. It fits flawlessly; the dress molded her torso beautifully, complementing her feminine shape.
He looks up at her face as he smiled, contented. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked but he needn't to make things more complicating. Not after the kiss they shared a week ago. They haven't spoken about it yet—they should, but it seemed like she was avoiding the talk and he didn't push her to. He'd give her time until she was ready to. He prayed it was soon—before he loses control and do sometime more than just a kiss.
Bushra cleared her throat—her cheeks heating up. 'Can we leave now?" She asks, avoiding to droll over him. He was wearing a dark blue suit with white long sleeve shirt. He looked so dashing—almost too good to be true.
She has been avoiding anything that'd make her attracted to him. She had noticed how he has been wanting to talk to her and she knew what he had in mind. It was about the kiss—their first kiss. It was the first time she had ever kissed a man. She never knew how powerful a single two minutes kiss could do to you. How it would complete change your entire thinking and way of life.
Whenever she closes her eyes, she remembers the night they first kissed. How his lips way so soft and gentle on her lips. How he wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged to hold her from falling. It was like fire within her bones. Like her soul has returned to the water. Like every part of her that came from a dead star was alive again.
It wasn't that long. But, the memory would last forever. She had so much to remember; like how he hugged her in his arms and made her feel safe. Still, she could feel his heartbeats and her shivering. Her hand on his face was like an ice on a flame. For a moment, all stopped when she felt his lips on hers. She'll never forget that moment no matter how hard she'd try.
The doors to the dinner party opens and almost everyone in the room avert their gaze to them. Bushra shifted uncomfortably and he sensed it—he loops his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to his body. 'It's going to be fine, just relax and smile. You'll capture their hearts in no time," he whispered to her. Her heart warms up and she smiled—not because he told her to, but his sweet gesture and thoughtful words.
They walked further into the room as Mahir changed pleasantries with the people he knew there, and introduced Bushra. 'This is Rashid Haruna; he's one of our very loyal customers at the company. Mr. Haruna, meet my wife Bushra."
Bushra looks at the man. He looked slightly older than Mahir. He had a beautiful face and a fit body. He had a black tuxedo on that made him even more richer and ampler. But he was nothing compared to Mahir.
'Finally, I'm meeting the famous Mrs. Mahir. Pleased to meet you ma'am." He offered her a smile and Bushra returned one. 'Nice to meet you too," she said graciously. He seemed like a talkative, she thought. He reminded her of Madina. Imagine if they meet each other—a earsplitting house it would have been.
'I have heard, well… about you because your husband is somewhat an introvert. And he loves keeping things to himself." Rashid smirked at Mahir that was busy wandering his eyes around the room.
'Why would I want to expose my beautiful wife to you guys? I don't want men swooning over her beauty. So, I must keep her away from you guys," Mahir said flippantly and Rashid laughs. 'I agree with you. You have to keep her safe and private as much as you can. And I wish you the best and may Allah bless your union."
Mahir nodded as he mouthed Ameen. Bushra couldn't distillate, left alone speak after what Mahir had said. He had called her beautiful for the second or third time that night. Could it get any better?
They part ways with Rashid and went further to change pleasantries with more of Mahir's clients and business partners. The room was filled with rich business men and women with their spouses.
It was the first time Bushra have ever been to that kind of event where she'd meet and even speak to rich people she had heard of or seen on TV and internet. This was how it feels like be married to a rich man that'll make you feel among?
It wasn't something to be head over heels about but Bushra finds it exciting to be among them despite she couldn't communicate the way they did. All they discuss is money, business plans, new company or new car or house—a jet! Very new and exhilarating for Bushra.
She got tired out by smiling and acting like she really wanted to feel among. She finds it amusing by how they live their life. It was exhausting.
After successfully escaping from Mahir, she roams around looking for a balcony to get some air and clear her mind. Luckily, she did and heads out.
She met a couple making their way back into the room while she heads out. She heaves a sigh of relieve, knowing she was the only one out and she could few minutes of peace before someone barges out and take her alone-time away.
She looks up the sky, a large crack echoed across as the lightning returned the thunder's call. She breaths out and held the rails. It wasn't a loud thunderstorm, she mused to herself. Thunderstorms were the last thing Bushra liked. Whenever she sees a lightning, she immediately covers her ears, knowing the loud thunder that'll come next.
She looks up again—the stars and moon were hidden under the clouds as a rising growl from the distant sky came down like violence upon her soul. She briskly walks back, almost knocking herself down when she stepped on her dress, but luckily got caught before she hits the ground.
'Are you alright?" He asked her as he help her stay on her feet. She nods her head, trying to catch her breath. Maybe it was a bad idea coming out. If she had known the thunderstorms were that flamboyant and forceful, she would've stayed it. It was very chilly out here, on balance.
'I was looking for you all over the place and someone told me they saw your coming out here," He said to her, raising his head to look at the sky—the rain was going to fall any moment. 'We should head back to our suite now, it's getting late." He returned his gaze to her and found out that she couldn't look him in the eye for some reason. She ducked her head as she nodded—the air was bitter and cruel against her flushed cheeks.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders as he guided them back in and slipped out before anyone could notice. He needn't to have someone convincing them to stay till after midnight. They've spent two hours there; it was more than enough for him and tiring for Bushra.
Not up to two minutes, Bushra found herself in the elevator, together with Mahir. They both stood in awkward silence, waiting for the door to ding open. Anxiety began to build in her stomach when Mahir faced. 'We need to talk," he began and she did as though she didn't hear him. She looked everywhere but his way.
Soon, the doors open and there were back in their floor. She walks out and made her way to their suite. Knowing that he had the access card to the door with him, she kept a great distance from the door and waited for him to catch up and open the door.
He walked past her to the door and unlocked it. She followed him in and strolled to her room. Before she could think of doing anything, he was in her room. She swiftly swings around when she heard the door close behind him.
'I think you must've entered the wrong room," she pointed out but he shoulder-shrugged and approached her.
'I told you we need to talk but it's like you didn't hear me the first time," he told her, taking off his blazer and tossing it on her bed. She looked at the blazer as her heart drop to her tummy.
'What do you want?" She asked, folding her arms over her chest. She knew he was going to perceptibly talk about the kiss—she wasn't ready to. She still hasn't recuperated from it yet. Whenever she remembers, a strange feeling come hurtling in her stomach and she couldn't control it.
'About the other night… we really need to talk about it…"
'What about it?" She cuts in, furrowing her brows. 'We went over the boundaries, Bushra." He didn't even know why he thought it was a good idea to talk to her about it. He should've pretended as if nothing happened and keep ignoring each other like they always did.
They rain poured down from the sky and met the roof with a calm noise. But sooner than expected, the drizzling turned into a heavy downpour with loud thunderstorms.
'There is nothing to talk about here. We both made a mistake, yes. The only thing we could do is avoid it from happening again, and one of the ways to do that is not talking about it. We should keep out distance until it's time for the contract to expire. And we only have less than nine months to that. So, keep your distance, alright?"
Mahir slightly nodded. He was uncertain at first, as though it wasn't what he wanted. She could see the dispute written all over his face but she didn't care. She made her way to her bathroom to avoid herself from jumping into his arms because it was all she needed at the moment. But she had just made it clear to him that they should stay away from each other to avoid that incident from happening again.
Was she happy with the decision she had made? No!
She wanted it to happen again. She wanted to be in his arms again because it makes her feel safe. It feels like no one would hurt her—under his warm embrace. Feeling his muscles around her waist, her body being pulled closer to his. The feeling was incredible. When they say it's the best feeling ever, they weren't kidding. Because in that moment, when you're sharing body heat, there isn't a place you'd rather be or a single thought that crosses your mind that doesn't involve him.
By the time she returned to her room, he has left but his blazer was still there. She walks to her bed and picked it up. She held it closer to her face and took a long sniff of it. It smelt so good, felt so good. As if he was there with her.
'Oh, uhmm…"
Her heart suddenly dropped to the floor when she heard his voice behind her. She was too mortified to look at him and too frightened to speak.
'I forgot my blazer," he said to her. She didn't speak nor looked at him. He walked to her and stood before her. She still had it hugged to her chest. She stares at him adamant as he waited for her to speak or hand him the blazer.
When she finally recovered from the shock and awkwardness, she handed him the blazer but couldn't move an inch. He didn't move either—he stared at her for brief minutes. And then he kissed her. without warning, without permission. Without even deciding to do it, but simply because he couldn't have done anything else. He needed that breath she was holding. It belonged to him and he wanted it back.
In that split second before his touch, every nerve in her body and brain was electrified. Every kiss had a raw intensity breathing fast, heart rates faster. Then before they knew how it happened, they were naked in bed and their skin was moving softly together, like the finest of silk.
She knew it was late to backout. It was late to stop him from doing what they both had in mind—she wouldn't want him to stop and he didn't.
In that rainy night, they became one, one mind with one goal and purpose, each extremely eager have their desires pleased.