Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Since their conversation about Dalilah three days ago, both Dashtan and Rakia had been busy with their respective jobs. Not that Dashtan had simply ignored Dalilah’s request for help, he was still thinking of the best way to help the woman without having to make Rakia like a lion being awakened from her deep sleep. However, just as he was immersed in the financial documents of Dalilah’s company that he was examining that afternoon in the midst of his busy office, the woman once again came to see him.

“Sir, we have a visitor for you, Mrs. Dalilah.” The secretary informed him through the door that the woman opened after first knocking. Dashtan sighed harshly for a moment then gave his guest permission to see him. As Dalilah entered, Dashtan was still going through the financial statements of the woman’s company. Taking a seat on one of the couches in the center of the room, Dalilah waited for Dashtan’s attention to be drawn to her.

“I talked to your wife about the guarantee I told you about last time,” Dalilah said, opening the conversation between them.

“So?” Dashtan asked without looking at the woman.

“Can’t you persuade her? Dash, I have nothing to pledge but myself. I really need your help to save the company.” Dalilah looked up at Dashtan pleading for concern. The look in her eyes was pleading mixed with desperation.

“Didn’t you get anything from your divorce with Steve?” asked Dashtan who then turned his gaze towards Dalilah, he placed the document he had been examining on the table open.

“No, I don’t have any children.” Dalilah looked away as she said that. Dashtan sighed. He did not expect the fate of the woman he once loved to end up like this. He thought that after marrying Steve, who was a well-established and intelligent man, her life would be fine.

“Rakia firmly rejected the guarantee. I can’t sacrifice her feelings,” Dashtan said earnestly. He did not want to break his promise to Rakia. Dalilah looked at Dashtan with a look of sadness mixed with disappointment.

“Why, I know your marriage to Rakia was only because of that inheritance, right?” she guessed right on target. Dashtan looked at Dalilah squinting with suspicion. But it was only a moment before he made a strong assumption for the woman.

“Dash, why are you complicating this, Rakia must understand her position.” Dalilah’s words more or less offended Dashtan.

“Watch your language, Rakia is legally my wife.” Dashtan’s intonation threatened Dalilah with a mocking smile.

“Now you’re defending her just because she’s your wife?! Just wait until she learns the truth that your family allows polygamy.” Dalilah stared at Dashtan undaunted.

“That’s my family, not mine,” Dashtan insisted. Dalilah let out a long sigh, and stood up from her seat.

“I won’t force you, but I can force others to accept me.” After saying that, Dalilah departed from Dashtan’s room, leaving the man stunned. After Dalilah left, Dashtan was busy thinking of a plan to keep the woman from going to beg for attention from his mother and his family. He didn’t want to end up breaking his promise with Rakia and have him force a divorce and leave her. He would lose everything in an instant just because a woman from his past came and ruined everything.

Rakia came home later than usual, it was because she had to anchor the midnight news. Dashtan was surprised when his wife came home when it was past midnight.

“You just got home at this hour?” asked Dashtan in surprise. Rakia nodded with a tired face.

“I have to bring the evening news,” Rakia replied past Dashtan who was standing near the entrance of the house. The man followed Rakia into the living room which looked rather dark as the lights had been turned off. Dashtan turned on the chandelier so that the room was lit up again.

“I’ll ask Liam not to put you on work hours like this again,” said Dahstan who stopped Rakia’s steps when the woman was in the center of the room, near the piano. Rakia turned around with a weak movement.

“That’s not appropriate, Ash, this is what my job is like. I’m a journalist not a program manager,” Rakia replied, trying to look patient with Dashtan in the midst of her fatigue.

“Then I’ll ask Liam to make you the program manager.” Dahstan’s words only made Rakia snort.

“Don’t use your authority willy-nilly,” Rakia said as she turned to leave but Dashtan grabbed her wrist and made her turn back toward the man. Dahstan lifted Rakia’s chin gently to meet the woman’s gaze.

“You’re my wife, I don’t want anything to happen to you. Coming home this late on public transportation, it hurts my ego,” Dashtan explained. Rakia smiled weakly and said, “Then buy me a car.” Rakia was honestly just joking but Dashtan took it seriously.

“That’s a good idea, what kind of car do you want?” he asked as he brought a few strands of Rakia’s hair behind the woman’s ear. Rakia laughed weakly, she was starting to get sleepy.

“Hey... I was just joking,” Rakia corrected. Her voice weakened. Dashtan understood her wife’s tired state. He immediately carried Rakia in front of his body and took her to his bedroom.

“Why to your room?” asked Rakia who realized as she was lowered Dashtan on the man’s bed.

“Tonight you sleep with me,” Dashtan said as he sat beside Rakia. The woman gazed around her as she stifled her sleepiness, yawning occasionally. She nodded with a weak smile.

“Such a cozy room, it’s a wonder you don’t want to share,” Rakia said, trying to joke in the midst of her sleepiness. Dashtan laughed lightly then said, “Go to sleep, I’ll come back later.” Dashtan gently rubbed the top of Rakia’s head before leaving the woman to change.

“Can I wear your clothes?” asked Rakia before Dashtan passed the door to the room he had opened. Dashtan turned his head and nodded with a smile. Rakia stood up and quickly opened Dashtan’s wardrobe to choose clothes she could sleep in. She found Dashtan’s dark gray sleeveless shirt, she took off her work clothes and also the skirt she wore today so that she was only wearing underwear. She took off her bra before she got dressed, just as she was about to put the shirt on perfectly, Dashtan came back and saw her wearing only a shirt and no pants.

Dashtan walked over to Rakia and carried her in front of his body. Closing the closet door with his foot and walking over to the bed, he laid Rakia on his side. They both covered their hips and below with the thick but soft blanket. Dashtan hugged Rakia like his favorite bolster pillow. This was the first time he had let a woman sleep with him in his private room.

“How many women have slept in this room?” asked Rakia as she closed her eyes. She was sleepy but wanted to chat.

“Only you,” Dashtan replied, making Rakia giddy and excited.

“Really? You don’t have to lie just to please me.”

Dashtan planted a deep peck on the top of Rakia’s head.

“I didn’t spend any time with women after my relationship with Dalilah ended. I focused on working and building my company,” Dashtan admitted, his mind recalling the lonely times he had felt.

“Why didn’t you try another relationship with another woman?” Rakia was still curious but she yawned and it sounded unfriendly to Dashtan.

“Go to sleep, there’s still time to find out about me,” Dashtan said and tightened his embrace on Rakia before both of them closed their eyes and crossed over into dreamland.