Chapter 24: Chapter 24
Dashtan again picked up Rakia when she got home from work, even though she didn’t ask for it but Dashtan also wanted to go to her house to convey his birthday invitation tomorrow night to her parents. When Rakia had just come out of the building through the main door Dashtan saw the woman with Liam, without making time with a furious expression he reached for his cellphone that he kept in his jeans pocket and contacted Rakia who was currently walking towards a car with Liam. And fortunately the woman stopped to answer his phone call.
“Hello, Ash, what’s up?” asked Rakia.
“Nine o’clock,” Dashtan said which initially confused Rakia but the woman soon followed Dashtan’s directions. And finally they looked at each other from a considerable distance. Rakia who was surprised reflexively hung up the phone and approached Dashtan, for some reason her brain ordered her to prefer the man over Liam who was currently staring in surprise at Rakia who turned around.
“You came here? Why?” asked Rakia again matter-of-factly.
“I wanted to pick you up while I went to your house to deliver my invitation to your parents for tomorrow night’s event,” Dashtan replied, this time without any spice to the answer. Rakia nodded with her mouth slightly open.
“Alright, I’ll go home with you,” Rakia broke off. Dashtan smiled with satisfaction at having successfully thwarted his future wife from going home with another man.
“Do you have to do this every time I get in the car?” Rakia looked at Dashtan curiously. The man smiled and nodded.
“I like treating you like this, you deserve it.” Dashtan said honestly, it made Rakia blush then she quickly got into the car to hide her blushing face. Dashtan smiled as she noticed the change in Rakia’s expression which he found interesting.
Rakia invited Dashtan into her mother’s house then brought the man together with her mother to deliver the invitation. Adeline was very happy with Dashtan’s invitation and promised to come tomorrow with Pedro and also Rakia.
“Don’t you want to come to dinner with us?” asked Adeline to which Rakia responded with momentary surprise. Adeline looked at her daughter for a moment to give a brief signal not to make that face. But Rakia did not agree with her mother’s actions which Dashtan seemed enthusiastic about.
“Maybe next time, ma’am, I still have to prepare something for tomorrow’s party,” Dashtan refused with a reasonable and completely honest excuse. He did still have to take care of a lot of things regarding the party he was throwing tomorrow. Rakia instantly put on a relieved expression at Dashtan’s refusal. The man took his leave with Rakia in tow.
“See you tomorrow,” Dashtan said once he was in the car in the later seat while Rakia stood on one of the porch steps. The woman gave a small nod with a straight-line smile. She followed Dashtan’s departure with her gaze until the car was out of sight.
“Why did you reject mom’s idea? It would be nice if he had dinner here first, while I want to ask questions about you guys and to what extent he wants to be serious with you.” Adeline babbled as soon as Rakia returned from dropping Dashtan off.
“You can talk to him tomorrow, that's enough, I want to change clothes, eat then sleep. While I’m home early I want to finish tomorrow’s news material.” Rakia immediately went from Adeline’s presence to her room. She was not in the mood to discuss Dashtan further with her mother. She still wanted to give herself time to accept the man who would soon become part of her life even though their marriage was not purely based on mutual liking let alone love.
While she was busy with her work after eating and bathing, Dashtan sent her their contract documents via email, after which she received a message from Dashtan.
[You should also keep a copy. Don’t forget to come tomorrow].
Rakia stared at the message with a flat face. Thinking about that guy and all his stuff made her dizzy so she only opened the email from Dashtan without opening the document sent to her. She also didn’t reply to his message instead to distract her mind, she busied herself with her work.
After Dashtan rechecked his reservation at the Lighthouse, he stopped by a well-known brand of jewelry store. He was greeted by a friendly female employee who stood behind a glass display case that served as a showcase for the jewelry she sold. Dashtan gazed for a moment at the wide selection of rings displayed in the display case then settled on a ring with a small blue diamond in the center in white gold.
“Good choice, sir,” complimented the employee with a smile. Dashtan smiled back and waited for the ring to be handed to him after he was first asked about the size he would take, Dashtan just estimated and he hoped his guess this time would not be off. The ring was elegantly stored in a small square box lined with black velvet with gold edging. After buying the jewelry, he rushed back to his house after finishing all the arrangements for his birthday party tomorrow.
Classical music plays in the background as people chat in an Italian restaurant that offers a panoramic view of Singapore from the top floor of a high-rise building. Some people are enjoying their meals at their tables, while others are taking their meals at a long table in the center of the room. These are the people invited to a celebration party for the son of a Dubai MP who is also the CEO of a company in the cutting-edge technology industry called Proxima Industry, Dashtan Al Ghani.
Dashtan greeted and welcomed his newly arrived guests in a friendly manner. He chatted a bit and then directed them to the table. Truth be told, he was waiting for his special guest who had yet to arrive. A female journalist at the Daily Singapore, Rakia Adeline. He waited for her arrival like waiting for a miracle from the sky, expectantly. His hopes were soon dashed when Dashtan saw Adeline and Doctor Pedro coming out of the elevator, but when the couple approached him, he did not see Rakia with them.
“Happy birthday, Handsome boy,” Adeline said earnestly and enthusiastically with a bright smile on her face. Dashtan kissed the back of her hand gracefully and gently as a sign of respect since she would soon become his second mother.
“Thank you, ma’am, where’s Rakia?” asked Dashtan who momentarily shifted his gaze to search for the woman.
“She'll be here in a minute, she went to the toilet earlier,” Adeline said and Dashtan invited the couple to enter the party area and enjoy the banquet. Dashtan was still standing by the entrance, waiting for Rakia. He looked into the restaurant area and saw that everyone had arrived, only the woman was not here. Restless, he moved to look for Rakia’s whereabouts. Stepping into the elevator to go down to the ground floor, but when the door opened Rakia was also there. They stared for a few seconds, Dashtan observed Rakia’s appearance briefly and quickly, he also held the elevator door open but could not stay too long, finally Dashtan entered the elevator with Rakia. He pressed the button for the lowest floor to give them time.
“Where are you from?” asked Dashtan who slowly approached Rakia.
“Restroom,” Rakia replied shortly. She started to get nervous as Dashtan approached her cornering her to one side of the metal box. The man confined her with his arms which she stacked against the wall. The scent of the man’s musk slowly intruded on her mind which instantly conjured up thoughts of nonsense.
Wasting no time, Dashtan attacked Rakia’s lips with hers, deepening the kiss until Rakia could not move. Both his arms swiftly moved to Rakia’s body, embracing the woman’s slender waist and shortening the distance between them. Rakia was so carried away by the passionate kiss that she automatically wrapped her arms around Dashtan’s sturdy neck.
Dashtan’s hands went to work following his manly instincts. He caressed Rakia’s inner thighs which were covered by the bottom of a rather fluffy dress, Rakia shuddered at the sensation she got from the man’s hands on her inner thighs. Dashtan raised Rakia’s thigh that she caressed to her pelvis as well as the other thigh so that Rakia seemed to be carried on his front. The sound of their kisses interspersed with tongue play echoed in every corner of the metal box.
Rakia closed her eyes and looked up to give Dashtan easier access to her neck. Dashtan was lulled by the scent of the woman’s body which further shot his arousal up to his erection. Rakia’s fair skin was so radiant and seductive in the red dress under the bright elevator lights. The dress’s rather low cleavage became Dashtan’s next easy target, Rakia trembled inside her, her blood began to sing in her veins, singing the slowly awakening desire.
“Aaahh... Ash....” sighed the sexy Rakia as Dashtan licked her breasts that were still covered by her dress. Dashtan was getting excited at the sexy sigh.
“Ah! Shit!” cursed Dashtan as he gave a pause to him licking action on Rakia. He stared at the woman in a whirlwind of passion.
“Tell me if you want to stop.” Dashtan gave Rakia a sharp look, while Rakia sighed as she opened her eyes. She quickly regained her sanity.
“Put me down,” Rakia said, which Dashtan obeyed. She wobbled as her feet hit the elevator floor but she quickly leaned her body against the elevator wall. Dashtan sighed then turned around as he adjusted his hair, he approached the elevator button and pressed the floor number where his birthday party was being celebrated. Only silence stretched between them until the elevator stopped at their destination floor. Dashtan tidied up his appearance before exiting the elevator, as did Rakia. Dashtan walked first while Rakia left a considerable distance between them.