“We found it: the perfect apartment. It had everything—outdoor space, large bedrooms, a modern kitchen… it was perfect, but guess what? It was apartment number thirteen so he won’t buy it!” Holly held her hands up to the heavens, exasperated, and Zahra couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s not funny, Zahra!”
“Well, it kind of is. If it’s important to him, you just have to deal with it. Suck it up, sister.”
“Oh believe me, I’m doing enough sucking as it is.” Holly winked.
Zahra laughed. “That’s good to know, Holly, thanks.”
“How is your apartment-hunting going?”
For the past twelve months, Zahra had been saving for a deposit and now that she had exceeded her goal, she didn’t know where to invest it. “I was thinking about buying one of the Church Street apartments but I’m not so sure anymore.”
“Nice. Why not? Put your money where your mouth is, Zahra.”
Why not? If Jayce Tohmatsu were planning to buy in the building, she most certainly could not.
“And, you could apply for a staff discount,” Holly continued. “I wonder what percentage Tohmatsu would give you. You negotiated the budget surprisingly well, so you should go for twenty percent, I think.”
“Twenty percent!” Zahra scoffed. “I was lucky with the budget. Tohmatsu is a baller and he’s not giving anyone twenty percent. Ten might be a more realistic goal, don’t you think?”
It didn’t matter what Holly thought anyway. Until Zahra knew for sure that Jayce Tohmatsu wasn’t moving into the building, she would not be buying a Church Street apartment. It would be fun though, she thought, to see what kind of discount she could negotiate.
When the final few members of the gathering sauntered in, the Mason party was officially complete: they had soda, they had music, and most importantly, they had Frisbees.
“Okay, let’s split up into two teams. It’s time to play, y’all,” Holly hollered. She didn’t leave her ambition at the office, she took it to the field too. And she wasn’t the only one. Zahra observed the Mason team members and realized this wasn’t the average game of park Frisbee—there were tumbles, indecent tackles and verbal taunting that knew no boundaries. They didn’t play by the rules, they played to win.
*
11057
“Hello, Jayce,” Zahra answered.
An amused chuckle came through the line. “Good evening, Zahra. How are you?”
“I’m fine, thank you. How are you?” She glanced at her desk clock. 8:11 p.m. On a Friday night. Another week had rolled by and the days had merged into one another so seamlessly that if not for her calendar, she would barely know what day it was. They say time feels like it passes more quickly as you grow older and she had to agree.
“I’m good. It’s been a big week but I feel like I’m starting to settle in. I’m about to take a break, grab a quick drink… and I thought you might like to join me?”
She had not expected this and a war of temptation and resistance battled it out in her mind. Resistance won. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He scoffed. “On the contrary, I think it’s a very good idea.” Papers rustled in the background and she wondered what he was doing. “One drink, Zahra, and then we’ll come back to Mason.”
She hesitated, twirling the phone cord around her finger, and then agreed against her better judgment. “One drink, boss.”
“It’s a deal. In twenty minutes. Walk straight downstairs and into the waiting car.”
He hung up and Zahra stared through her glass walls, observing the conscientious employees still working away for the great American dream. Why her? Jayce had the choice of any female, probably even the married ones, in this office. Why had he chosen her? Being in his office was bad enough, but going out for a drink? No good could come from inviting liquor to the party.
He was waiting for her in the car when she arrived.
“One drink, I promise.” He had a gloating grin on his face.
She nodded her head, interested to see if that was a promise he would keep. His blue eyes shone brightly against his gray suit and, surprisingly, after what must have been a long and tiring week, he looked as fresh as he had when she’d been in his office that morning.
“Where are we going?” Zahra asked.
“Somewhere away from Mason and prying eyes,” he responded, gauging her reaction. “I don’t condone inter-office dating—”
She cut him off. “We’re not dating.”
“Correct,” he said and smiled, “but that’s what staff will assume if they see us together on a Friday night, and I don’t want them to think I’m a leader with double standards, so it’s best if we keep this private.”
Zahra agreed on that and for a fleeting moment she thought to tell him that rumors about his love life were already spreading like wildfire but she decided against involving herself in that situation—it was not her place or the time. Zahra pushed her finger down on the window button and watched it disappear into the car door. The cool air felt good against her warm skin.
“So, Jemma must have had a tough week.”
Jayce had requested a full audit on each division’s expense accounts and had demanded it by Monday. Subsequently, Jemma and her team were running on a few hours of sleep per night and her sister was getting crankier by the minute. “You’re not her favorite person right now. And we were supposed to go and visit my parents this weekend but, due to the tight deadline, the trip got canceled.”
“I would say I’m sorry but I’m not,” Jayce said, smirking.
Zahra laughed softly and shook her head. “At least you’re honest.”
Jayce crooned his head to look up at a building and then nodded. “We’re here.”
The driver pulled up at the front and opened the door for her. Sliding out, she could feel Jayce’s eyes on her and she tried to exit as elegantly as possible, which would have been much easier if her pencil skirt were not so tight.
Jayce placed his hand on her lower back, guiding her inside. Her skin flamed at his touch and she hoped her cheeks were not blushed.
“Booking for Tohmatsu,” he said warmly, without flirting. The hostess marked their arrival into the computer system and then led them to the elevator.
“Please take the elevator to the rooftop. Sophie will greet you and show you to your table.”
“Thank you,” Jayce responded and then turned his attention to Zahra. He had a smile on his face and when the elevator doors opened, Zahra realized why. The walls were lined with mirrors and everywhere she looked she could see him. It was uncomfortable to say the least.
“Why did you choose this palace?” Zahra asked.
“You seem to appreciate a good view and this has one of the best in Manhattan.”
So he had noticed her tendency to look over the skyline when she was collecting her thoughts. Their eyes met again in the mirror and Zahra inhaled sharply as the image of a man flashed in her mind, a man with Jayce’s eyes.
“Zahra? What’s wrong?”
She looked at him again but there was no one else there, it was just the two of them. “I… I, nothing. Sorry, I just remembered something I forgot to do.” It was a pathetic lie and it was clear he didn’t believe her. She had seen that man in a dream before, years ago, and now she knew why Jayce’s eyes had looked so familiar when they had first met—they had the same eyes. She had been watching the man while he was playing with his wife and child in a garden. She didn’t know why she was watching him, or how she even knew him. It had been a strange dream and one of the few that was not filled with gory violence. When she had awoken, like she did with all of her dreams, she had buried it deep in the back of her mind and hadn’t thought about it since. Her legs felt numb beneath her now, but she refused to hold the wall for support. Pull yourself together, she said silently to herself.
“Zahra?”
She waved her hand dismissively. “I’m fine, honestly.” The elevator came to a stop and she almost lo
st her balance. Jayce grabbed her arm as she swayed and didn’t let go when the doors opened.
“Can you give us a minute, please?” Jayce said to the lady waiting to greet them, whom must have been Sophie. Her eyes flickered between Jayce and Zahra, but she responded politely and left them alone.
“Do you not feel well? I can take you home.” His voice was even but his face portrayed an expression that was part confusion, part concern.
She looked into his eyes again but the man wasn’t there. She shook the image out of her head and pulled her shoulders back. “One drink,” she said with her best smile.
They were seated in the corner where green vines wove themselves around the metal above them while white curtains, tied back loosely, hung between the tables. It was an all-too-romantic setting, one that would have been perfect for a date. Jayce ordered a bottle of wine and then turned his full attention to Zahra.
“Did you just order a bottle?” she asked, hiding her smile.
“It’s technically one drink.” He looked so proud of himself.
“That’s cheating,” she said, but secretly she was pleased. After what had just happened in the elevator, she would need more than one drink to calm her nerves.
He grinned. “You should set better ground rules, especially when you’re playing against someone who likes to win.”
“I’ll remember that. And you’re not the only one who likes to win, Jayce Tohmatsu.”
He shifted, angling his body toward her. “I hope not.” He held her gaze and a pounding beat started in her chest and worked its way through her limbs. He gestured toward the view. “What do you think?”
It was breathtaking—millions of tiny lights lit up like stars in the night. “Incredible. It rivals the view from your office.”
He rested his arm along the back of the couch. “You would like the view from my apartment in Tokyo. It’s different, of course, but equally spectacular.”
The waiter delivered their bottle of wine and poured two large glasses.
“Cheers.” They clinked their glasses together and Zahra let a mouthful of the cool liquid slide down her heated throat. It was slightly sweet with fruity undertones—delicious.
“Do you prefer Tokyo or New York?” Zahra asked, wanting to know everything about Jayce Tohmatsu.
“Tokyo will always be home for me, but I’m beginning to like New York. I lived here for a short period about five years ago, before I moved to London, so I’m fairly familiar with the city now. To be honest, though, the only sightseeing I’m doing at the moment is the commute from my apartment to Mason and back… not a lot of adventure happens on that trip.”
Zahra agreed. “So where to after New York?”
“That will depend on the next company we acquire, but I will be here for a while yet. There’s lots to do and lots to prove. This is just the beginning.”
“Who do you have to prove yourself to?” Zahra thought she already knew the answer, but she wanted to hear what he would say.
He wet his lips, looking thoughtful for a second. “Myself and my father, but also everyone at Mason. I’m young and that has both its advantages and its disadvantages, as you would know. My track record speaks for itself, but there are still some people who need to be convinced that I’m capable of running and growing this company.”
The glowing light of Zahra’s mobile stole her attention: it was Holly. Zahra groaned. “She’s going to want to go out for a drink.”
“That’s bad timing,” he said with a smirk. “What are you going to tell her?”
“A lie,” she replied, and he laughed.
“Hi, Holly.” Zahra leaned forward and covered her ears with her fingers so that she could hear. As predicted, Holly was ready to leave the office and start the weekend. “Sorry, I’ve left already, I’m having a quick drink with Maya and then I’m heading home. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” Zahra ended the conversation as quickly as possible and put her phone back on the table.
“You’re a pretty good liar. I would’ve bought it myself if I wasn’t sitting here with the truth.” He had that look in his eye, the one that told her he enjoyed testing her.
“Anybody can tell a little white lie.” She smiled sweetly. On the scale of lies she had told recently, the lie to Holly barely ticked her conscience.
He grinned and took another mouthful of his wine, emptying the glass. As soon as he had placed it on the table, the waiter returned to fill their glasses. Both the view and the service at MIRROR were flawless.
“Tell me more about your family. Were you born here?” Jayce asked.
“Born and raised in Brooklyn. My mother is half Iranian but she, too, was born and raised here. Her name is Susan,” Zahra said, raising one eyebrow, “which is kind of strange given her heritage, but my grandparents wanted to give her an American name. My father, John, is all American, hence where the green eyes come from. They have been married thirty-five years tomorrow.”
“That’s quite remarkable. And that’s why you were going to Puerto Rico, wasn’t it?”
“Correct. We were going to spend the weekend with them, but there was no big celebration planned. My father understands; he didn’t put me to work at five years old, but he shares the respect for hard work. There was no free money in our household—you earned it via chores, and when you turned fourteen you got a part-time job.”
“I like your father,” Jayce said, smiling. He checked his wrist and sighed.
“Time’s up?” Zahra asked, repeating the phrase he’d used in his office.
“Unfortunately, it is.” He put his glass on the table and stood up, holding out his hand for her. Zahra took it, noticing how his touch made her chest constrict. He led her out through the bar and into the elevator, holding her hand the entire time. Zahra forced her eyes down so that she couldn’t see him in the mirror and instead focused on the hair of the shorter lady in front of her. It was pulled up into a tight, perfect bun with not a thread of hair out of place. It was pretty impressive, as far as buns went.
The elevator pinged and they followed the other guests out. Zahra fought to keep her breath even, but the more she tried to appear unaffected by him, the more self-conscious she felt. Jayce drew his cellphone from his pocket and made a quick call to the driver who appeared not a minute later.
In the car, he sat closer to her than he had on their way to MIRROR, and she waited for him to make his next move.
“Do you still think this drink wasn’t a good idea?” The look on his face was playfully arrogant.
“Well, from a business point of view, it’s probably not my best career move. But, I had a good time. Thank you.” It was so easy to forget that he was the boss. They were able to chat like old friends, and it was that feeling of familiarity that made her both comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. At times during their conversation she had felt like she had known him forever, but the nervousness that comes with dating someone new, the butterflies, they were there too. It didn’t make sense and she couldn’t rationalize it in her mind.
“I don’t know what it is about you,” he whispered, leaning in. “Tell me to stop, Zahra, tell me if you don’t want this.”
She hesitated; not because she didn’t want him, but because she was scared the image of the man was going to haunt her again. If looking at Jayce elicited such an image, what would kissing him do? Trying to shake off her nerves, she pushed the worry to the back of her mind, along with the man, and focused on the present.
She leaned in and Jayce brushed his lips over hers. Tiny goose bumps blossomed on her skin and when he cupped her face, she parted her lips, opening for him. He tasted sweet, a trace of wine lingering in his mouth. She kissed him back and lost herself in the moment. He groaned as he explored her mouth and her body felt alive. When he pulled back, he was breathing heavy and he rested his forehead on hers. “This was definitely a good idea.”
She giggled. “Are you condoning inter-office dating now?”
He placed another sw
eet kiss on her lips. “I’m changing that statement—I don’t generally condone inter-office dating, but I might be willing to make an exception for you, provided it’s kept private, because I think you can keep your emotions out of it and not let it interfere with your work. I just want to get to know you better, Zahra.”
“I want that too,” she said.
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and, with his hot breath on her neck, he whispered, “This will be fun, I promise.”
*
The moon was full and illuminated the night, but I preferred the darkness; it was easier to stay hidden. I looked over my shoulder again but no one was there. If I had left anyone alive at my last stop they were surely too scared to come after me. The bloodshed could have been avoided; their deaths were their own fault. All I had wanted was some water for my parched throat and something to eat, but they had refused to give it to me unless I paid them. I told them I couldn’t pay, I told them I was dangerous, I warned them, but they didn’t listen. Fools. When I drew my knife, they came at me, one by one, but none of them stood a chance: I was born to kill.
My ears pricked up, it was distant but I could hear it: the sound of a horse’s hoofs on the dirt road. I wrapped my fingers around the hilt of my knife but I kept walking. When the gallop slowed to a trot, I stopped and turned around. The night was bright enough that I could see his face and he smiled at me. I didn’t smile back.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“Who are you?” I replied, my hand not leaving my knife.
He dismounted his horse. “My name is Scythas. I serve Queen Keres.”
I looked at him warily; he hadn’t been at the village or I would have recognized him. Nor did he have a single wound on him, and I hadn’t left anyone standing. So what did he want with me?
“I stopped in for a cup of wine, arriving just in time to see your performance. And quite a performance it was. Not wanting my neck to be next, I stood outside until you finished. Who trained you?”
He remained by his horse, but I wouldn’t be tricked. If he served the queen, this man was dangerous. I answered him with, “I trained myself.”
The Secrets of Their Souls Page 4
