Chapter 71: Chapter 71

Rakia smiled as she sent her permission letter to the office where it would be received by Liam. Ever since she got married to Dashtan her relationship with him had been very distant. She thought Dashtan had warned her not to interact with him too much, but honestly she liked his outgoing personality and responsiveness, except for the way he found her too intrusive. Rakia thought Liam was the kind of man who was very honest in showing his feelings. She clearly caught the signal of his feelings for her, but unfortunately she was already interested in Dashtan.

Rakia’s cell phone rang with Liam’s name on it. Rakia picked it up.

“Yes, hello.”

“Hi, are you okay? I was surprised by your permission letter, is Dashtan with you?”

Rakia smiled at the man’s attack of questions that sounded worried.

“To be honest... I’m not well, but don’t worry I just need to rest, Dashtan is in the office, I told him earlier not to worry.” Rakia smiled even though Liam didn’t see it. Liam could be heard sighing.

“I think... You’re trying to avoid something.” Again Rakia smiled and realized Liam’s sensitivity was always right. Somehow that sensitivity did not exist in Dashtan but in other men, even though she really needed it in Dashtan.

“I just need a break, I think being a program manager makes me less mobile.”

Liam laughed crisply which made Rakia laugh too.

“You’re strange, your current position is coveted by many people out there but you don’t enjoy it, instead you want to be a subordinate who always faithfully struggles with danger.”

Rakia looked down, her smile still visible. She always liked her conversations with Liam.

“I’ve always liked to seek and obtain things with my own hands. It makes me more meaningful. Program manager is actually not bad, it’s just that I’m currently still comfortable with the world of reporters who are always close to the crowd and the danger you’re referring to.”

Liam chuckled then said, “Please, don’t tell your husband that you’re going to replace me here. I have to eat, Kia... I have five kids and two wives.”

Rakia’s laughter broke out at Liam’s absurd joke. The whole of Daily Singapore knew that he was a well-established single man who was the target of many women out there.

“I won’t do that, maybe at least... I’ll ask Dashtan to take over as DS owner.”

Liam cursed and made Rakia giggle.

“No way, that’s worse, Kia... If you ask your husband for that, the Daily Singapore will close down immediately because of two crazy people who work only for their own interests.”

Rakia laughed again. So far, she had never been in a meeting with Dashtan in the same room to discuss DS. She wished she could get that chance, she wanted to know what her husband was like in work mode.

“You won’t be seriously affected, but I will be. We could end up in a court of law.”

Imagining that made Rakia’s heart ache. However, she could not rule out the possibility that it could happen. She and Dashtan could end up in court at any time for any reason. Their relationship was still fragile even though he was starting to decide to try a committed relationship with her.

“I hope that won’t happen. You and Dashtan deserve to be happy together, even though you know I can’t let you go completely, but I know Dashtan needs a woman like you.” Rakia could hear the sincerity in the man’s confession.

“Alright then, I have to take care of your empty seat this time, take a rest.”

“Yes, thank you, Lily.”

“Oh, come on, don’t call me that.”

Rakia laughed and hung up. Mrs. Hunt poked her head out of the door that the woman had opened just a width of her body.

“Madam, there’s a guest for you,” the woman told her which made Rakia frown, she approached the woman and asked.

“Who?”

“He said an old friend.”

Rakia changed her clothes into something more modest, then met the guest. When she was at the threshold of the living room and the living room, she stopped and stayed there.

“Ben? What are you doing here?” Rakia felt tongue-tied at the mention of the name of the man currently sitting on one of the living room sofas in her husband’s house.

“Oh, Hi. You look-“

“What are you doing here?” Rakia emphasized all the syllables of her sentence. Her gaze looked at the man sharply.

“Hi, listen, I want to talk to you about something, it’s important, please....” Benjamin’s face looked pleading. Rakia let out a rough sigh and joined the man in the living room. She sat on the sofa opposite Ben.

“Sorry for having to see you in person, I called you but maybe you-“

“Just tell me what you’re here for.” Rakia tried to hold back the sudden flurry of emotions. She didn’t expect him to be here. Rakia looked at Ben who swallowed very noticeably several times. It seemed that the man’s gesture was very nervous.

“I’m here to ask for your help. I need money for my son’s hospital fees, he’s going to have atresia ani surgery and we don’t have enough money to do it.”

Rakia sighed, her gaze never leaving Ben. Her mind was suddenly blank, but instantly the two sides inside her started arguing.

“How old is she?” Rakia asked.

“Six months, baby girl,” Ben replied softly, his gaze staring blankly at the edge of the glass table. Rakia sighed again. Both sides of her were fighting at the moment. She honestly sympathized with the man’s condition, but on the other hand she thought of her heart that had been broken by the man. The pain had dissipated but left her traumatized. As a result, she was in the marriage she was in now.

“Give me time to decide, in two days I will contact you, just leave your cell phone number.” Rakia went to get a piece of paper and a pen and placed them on the table. Ben quickly wrote down his number there.

“I hope you’ll think about it,” Ben said before leaving. Rakia sighed, again. Her eyes began to water after Ben’s figure actually left. She was really surprised by the man’s presence and the news he brought. She wanted to be indifferent but that ignored her humanity towards that innocent baby. She deserved help and a life. Rakia chose to cry in the living room until her shoulders shook. On the other hand she once again had to let fate take its course, that she should be able to forgive and be graceful. Despite the pain she received from him, fate wanted her to make him happy but not in her way with him.

She wiped her tears as she heard Dashtan’s car pull into the garage. Rakia quickly left the living room and went to her room. Then she quickly went to the bathroom to wash her face. As she came out of the bathroom, she heard Dashtan calling her.

“Habibti... Where are you?”

“I’m here,” said Rakia who had just emerged from the wardrobe room. Her face was wet from washing her face. Dashtan approached her and asked, “Everything okay?” Rakia nodded then said, “I’m fine, we’re going to my mom’s, right?” She deliberately changed the topic so that he would no longer assume too much.

“Of course, get ready, we’re leaving in ten minutes.”

Rakia was relieved when she managed to distract Dashtan from observing her further, she quickly went back into the wardrobe room and came out five minutes later. Putting on just enough makeup in front of the mirror to cover her still slightly puffy eyes and slightly reddened nose. After making sure her face was better than it had been a few minutes ago, she left the room to meet Dashtan waiting for her in the living room and headed to her mother’s house for lunch.