The Brightest Fell

by Nupur Chowdhury

  “Not like you fared much better, is it?” Jehan quipped.

  “Is it true that you stole Amven samples from the QRI for Rinisa?” Abhijat asked quietly.

  Rito froze. “Who–” She threw another crumpled pamphlet, this time aiming for Jehan’s head, her eyes on the rear-view mirror to make sure she didn’t miss her target. “It was you, wasn’t it?”

  “In my defense, at the time I was pretty sure I was gonna die. Keeping track of the intricate web of Shian family secrets wasn’t exactly at the top of my list of priorities.”

  “Well, for what it’s worth, I was blackmailed,” Rito said, pressing down on the brake as the car skidded on a stray piece of rock. “And I didn’t actually manage to steal anything at the end of the day, so it doesn’t even matter.”

  Jehan chuckled. “You realize that says more about your incompetence as a thief than your moral integrity, right?”

  “It wasn’t your fault,” Abhijat said, abrupt.

  Rito glanced at the rear-view mirror to see him gazing out of the window, his eyebrows furrowed and shoulders tense.

  “I should’ve known she’d try something like that after what happened in Weritlan,” he murmured. “I should’ve–”

  “You should’ve what? Seen the future? Read Rinisa’s mind?” Rito swallowed, forcing herself to stay calm. “This was as much my fault as yours. There’s nothing you could’ve done to protect me. But you know what’s more important? It isn’t your job to protect me. Not anymore. Damn it, Abhi. I’m not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself.”

  “Which is more than can be said about your brother,” Fasih interjected through a massive yawn.

  “Will you shut up–”

  “No, he’s right,” Abhijat said, before Rito could finish her tirade. “You’ve no reason to trust me, after what I’ve done.” He sucked in a shuddering breath, then continued. “He’s right, Rito. I messed up. Horribly. None of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t fallen for Rinisa’s goddamned lies.

  “I thought...I called Maa and she...” he sighed, shaking his head. “Well, it doesn’t matter what I thought. What matters is that I almost got all of you killed. I trusted Rinisa when she said that Fasih had betrayed us–”

  “And why wouldn’t you?” Rito snapped, stepping on the accelerator. The car felt cramped and suffocating all of a sudden. “Jehan never trusted you. Or any of us, for that matter. Not unless he had no other choice. And even then, he never once told us the whole truth. And if you never trust anyone with anything, you don’t have any right to expect they’d trust you when the time comes.

  “We aren’t mind readers, are we? How the fuck were we supposed to know Jehan was trying to keep Amven out of Maganti’s hands, when he never bothered to fucking tell us? I mean, good intentions are great and all, but what’s the point if no one knows you have them?

  “But of course, asking for help isn’t an option when you fancy yourself a loner alpha wolf, or whatever.” She scoffed. “He thought he could outsmart everyone, do everything on his own. And come out the other end unscathed.

  “Well, it backfired. Surprise surprise!” She glared at Jehan through the rear-view mirror until he ducked his head. “Life isn’t one long game of chess where you have to capture every pawn until you’re dead or the board’s empty. It’s a fucking team sport.

  “And if you spend all your time manipulating everyone within a hundred feet radius, they’re going to return the effing favor first chance they get.”

  She swerved, sending them all crashing into each other. “And if our so-called prodigy can’t get that through his thick skull, that’s no one’s fault but his own.”

  The silence, while it lasted, was deafening.

  Rito had expected many things, including being told by Jehan that he’d have her arrested as soon as they landed in Qayit.

  What she hadn’t expected was for the prime minister to break into a fit of giggles and flail around helplessly, next to her wide-eyed brother.

  “Well,” Jehan huffed, after a solid minute of hiccup-y laughter, wiping tears from his eyes. “I’ll be damned. If they ever write a biography of me, I’ll be sure to give them your number. I don’t think anybody’s ever given me a more succinct psych evaluation than that.”

  Chapter 16

  “It’s going to start in less than an hour.” Ruqaiya strode into the suite in an elegant gray saree with navy borders. “And you haven’t even knotted your tie yet.”

  She plucked the offending piece of fabric from Jehan’s hands and started looping it efficiently around his neck. “You’d never have held down a job if you weren’t a genius.”

  Jehan cocked his head to the side, his lips quirking. “I’m not sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult. Is she here?”

  “She is. They all are. Down in the lobby, ready and waiting for you.” She gave the tie one final tug, then patted it in place against his chest. “There you go. All suited up and ready for the big boys’ party.”

  Jehan smiled, pulling awkwardly at his sleeves. This shirt fitted him a little too well for comfort. “Thank you. For coming out here at such short notice–” He waved a hand. “I really couldn’t have done this without you.”

  Ruqaiya shrugged. “I’m not sure you’ll be able to do this with me. It’s right on the teetering edge of what I’d even call a plan.”

  “Your confidence means the world to me,” he deadpanned, examining himself critically in the full-length mirror next to his wardrobe. “I look distinguished.”

  “You look like a twink in a suit.”

  He frowned, taking her assessment into consideration. “A distinguished twink in a suit.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You should take Abhijat with you,” she said, her tone losing all traces of humor. “If Maganti tried to kill you once, he might try again. In fact, he’s more desperate now than ever before. And we’re in his capital city. His stronghold. You need all the protection you can get.”

  Jehan shook his head, turning away from the mirror. “Nah. I need someone with her. Someone who can protect her, yes. But also someone I can trust not to turn on me. Not many people would be willing to risk murdering the prime minister in a place like this. But she’s an easy target. I can’t entrust her safety to anyone less than completely trustworthy.”

  “And Abhijat Shian is that person?”

  “He’s already betrayed me once.” Jehan slid an arm into his jacket, pulling it on with a huff. “It’s kinda lame to betray someone twice in two days. Plus, I’m pretty sure Rito would murder him if he let anything happen to her friend.”

  Ruqaiya raised an eyebrow. “And?”

  “And,” Jehan sighed. “A little distance might be good for our relationship.”

  “You’re awkward around him, aren’t you?”

  “He just looks so…guilty all the time,” Jehan said plaintively. “Won’t look at me, won’t even talk unless I address him directly. It’s painful.”

  “No less than either of you deserve, I’m sure.” She strode out of the room, smirking.

  “Hey, wait up!” Jehan caught up with her at the elevator bay, breathing hard. “Have you spoken to Ivanovna yet?”

  Ruqaiya nodded. “You’re so out of shape, I worry for the future of our nation. Though I have to say, whatever you said to her, it seems to have worked. She agreed to make the introductions at the gala, personally. I didn’t even have to ask twice.”

  He hummed thoughtfully. “And…the other thing?”

  “Oh, that. Yep. She’s agreed not to press charges or publicize the incident…yet. She didn’t seem happy about it. But then, he did kidnap her daughter. If anything’s going to get you riled up, I suppose it’s that.

  “But she’s more than willing to help us, from the looks of it. She seems to like you. And I suppose it helps that she’s been at loggerheads with her step-son ever since her husband died fourteen years ago. She wants to stick it to Maganti as much as we do, if not more.”

  “Well, her
daughter seems to have taken a liking to Rito.” Jehan followed Ruqaiya into the elevator. “If all goes well tonight, the future leaders of Naijan and Maralana might end up being in-laws.”

  Ruqaiya chuckled. “I’d like to see you try and sell that idea to Abhijat. All the guilt in the world won’t keep him from strangling you if he finds out you’re scheming to sell his sister into a political marriage with the Maganti girl.”

  “Worth a try.” He shrugged. “All for the greater good, of course.”

  “Well,” Ruqaiya murmured, as the elevator doors slid open. “If your plan works out and Ivanovna really does become the next president of Maralana, we can secure strategic partnerships and free trade agreements the likes of which no one has dreamed of in decades. Your name will go down in history as one of the most successful prime ministers Naijan has ever had.”

  “That,” agreed Jehan, stepping out into the brightly lit lobby. “Or one of the most short-lived.”

  Multicolored lights and exquisite flower arrangements adorned the venue. The place was vibrant, the music soothing, and there wasn’t a single shadow as far as Jehan could see.

  Murderous instincts aside, President Maganti certainly knew how to throw a party.

  Jehan shared this thought with Ruqaiya, even as a waitress poured him a glass of something sparkly.

  She rolled her eyes and told him to pour the drink into a flowerpot when no one was looking.

  “You’re no fun,” he pouted.

  “Not if being poisoned in front of a thousand cameras is your idea of fun.”

  She strode forward, Jehan in tow, until she was face to face with a balding, gray-clad man in his fifties. “Meet Mr. Fanen Sokolov. He’s the new CEO of Avente Capital, the biggest FinTech company in Maralana. He’s planning some major investments in Naijan in the upcoming years.”

  Jehan knew exactly who Sokolov was, and why Ruqaiya felt it necessary to introduce them. The man had a lot of money, and a deep-seated dislike of the current president of his country.

  He wouldn’t be averse to facilitating a change of guard in the government, if given the opportunity.

  Still, there was no reason to reveal his hand just yet. He widened his eyes and favored the man with a bright – if slightly confused – smile. “Ah yes, of course, I’ve heard a lot about you.” They shook hands. “And I’m so glad to finally meet you. President Maganti really has outdone himself with this year’s gala, wouldn’t you agree?”

  Both of them turned to look at the man in question. Maganti was standing at the center of the room, surrounded by a group of transfixed listeners, talking bombastically about progress and collaboration between nations. He was dressed in the ceremonial uniform of the army general and had a smiling model in each arm.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Jehan saw Abhijat standing with some of the other security personnel near the back, glaring daggers at Maganti. If looks could kill, the president would’ve been a very dashing corpse by now.

  Jehan shook his head. Must be nice not to have fifty cameras pointed at you at all times, having to constantly monitor each look, glance, and expression; every twitch a performance. The novelty of it wore off rather quickly.

  He understood why Abhijat had gone out of his way to avoid a career in politics.

  The ornate double doors were flung open and Madam Ivanovna entered the venue with two exquisitely dressed young women in tow.

  Conversation ceased for a moment, as everyone turned to look at the newcomers.

  Tastefully dressed in muted hues, Ivanovna looked regal. Beside her, Milli looked pretty in a simple green dress gathered at the waist. She was talking animatedly with a young woman in a striking ochre and red saree.

  As the cameras flashed, Ivanovna walked up to Maganti, her arms outstretched and a dazzling smile plastered on her face.

  Jehan turned to see Rinisa hurrying towards the newcomers, her mouth set in a grim line.

  “Excuse me,” Jehan said apologetically to the gathered industrialists, and rushed to intercept Rinisa.

  Moments before she had managed to reach Ivanovna, Jehan placed a hand on her shoulder, forcing her to turn around and greet him with an icy smile.

  “Rinisa! Just the woman I was looking for.” He wrapped her enthusiastically into a one-armed embrace. She was too stunned to do more than press a hand into the small of his back. “Come on, I want you to meet some people I’ve been speaking to.”

  Ruqaiya shepherded Sokolov and his group over to Maganti’s clique moments after Ivanovna and the president had exchanged greetings, cameras flashing all around them.

  By the time Jehan reached the gathering, a reluctant Rinisa in tow, the introductions were already coming to a close.

  “And this,” Ivanovna said, turning to the young woman in the ochre saree. “Is Afreen Firoz, a prominent social worker from Naijan and a dear friend of mine. Lately, she’s been working with trafficked children in rural Naijan.

  “And Afreen has some very interesting news about the use of certain…new-age drugs in the Naijani underworld.” Ivanovna turned to Sokolov and his fellow businessmen, smiling warmly. “I’m sure you’ll all find her stories very fascinating.”

  As Ivanovna talked, Jehan watched Rinisa turn progressively paler. She was looking at Afreen as if she’d seen a ghost.

  If Jehan had had any doubts about whether or not Rinisa knew of Afreen’s imprisonment at the La Fantome club, he didn’t anymore.

  Rinisa had recognized Afreen, and it’d spooked her. There wasn’t a speck of doubt about that. She was scared. But was she scared enough to do what Jehan needed her to?

  He glanced at his watch. It was almost time…

  Live music began playing near the back of the hall, where the floor had been cleared and a few couples had started a leisurely dance.

  He stepped forward with a smile, extending a hand for Rinisa to take. “May I have this dance?”

  Her eyes widened. “I-I can’t.”

  Jehan raised an eyebrow. She blushed, looking away. “Uh...I mean, I twisted my ankle earlier this evening. I really can’t dance.” She smiled sheepishly. “My feet are too sore.”

  “Oh, you needn’t worry about that,” Jehan said, raising his voice just enough to make sure those in the immediate vicinity could overhear the conversation. “We’re all civilized people here. Just one dance, please? I promise not to exert you too much.”

  She swallowed, looking around. She couldn’t very well refuse the prime minister a dance, not when every news outlet on the continent had a camera trained on her.

  It was the perfect trap, and she knew it.

  “Fine. One dance,” she muttered through gritted teeth, taking Jehan’s hand and moving quickly towards the dance floor. “But I should warn you, Fasih. Whatever game you’re playing? It’ll be extremely short lived.”

  The music was soft and leisurely, soothing to the ears. The ambient lights changed colors with every passing second.

  Pressed up against Rinisa’s prickly gold dress, Jehan wondered if this was the climax of some surreal dream sequence. If it was, it certainly would be the first time a lucid dream had been this exciting.

  Moving slowly through the dance floor, his hands around Rinisa’s slender waist, Jehan turned his face into her perfectly coiffed, fragrant hair. Her perfume smelled fantastic.

  Rinisa was stiff and awkward in his arms. He smiled. He hadn’t even said anything, and it was already working.

  He might just win this round yet.

  “The game’s over, you know,” he whispered sweetly into her ear, before twirling her around as the music picked up.

  She hissed, stepping on his toe with one pointed stiletto heel.

  He yelped and spun her away from himself, before pulling her back in. “Not in the mood to play nice today, are you?

  “Well, it doesn’t matter.” He smiled serenely, swaying with the mesmerizing melodies created by the smartly dressed band of musicians. “Afreen’s chatting up Sokolov and his friends as we spea
k. It won’t be long before Maralana’s top one-percent has a detailed understanding of what exactly Amven is, what it can be used for, and what kind of potential it has for the future.

  “And of course, having been an eyewitness at the La Fantome Club, I’m sure Afreen will be able to paint an...accurate picture of what it’s like to be under the influence of Amven. Not to mention what it was used for by your little brother and sister-in-law.

  “The business community will be free to draw its own conclusions from that. They’re intelligent men and women, wouldn’t you agree? How long do you think it’ll take them to figure out exactly what Amven will be used for, if Maganti ever managed to get his claws on it?”

  Rinisa laughed. “What? You really think they’ll believe the stories of a girl nobody’s ever heard of, over the word of the president of Maralana, one of the most powerful men in the world? How deluded do you have to be to believe that?” Jehan didn’t miss the slight tremor in her voice. “She’ll never be able to prove anything, and you know it.”

  “Deluded?” Jehan chuckled, leading her into a quick pirouette around the dance floor. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that. Why do you think Afreen ended up at the La Fantome in the first place? You don’t think that was a coincidence, do you?

  “The nonprofit she works for, Pragati, had been looking into the activities of the club for weeks before she was taken. And since the La Fantome was shut down, the central government – including the NIA – has extended its full cooperation to Pragati.

  “They’ve spent months investigating every case of abduction and false imprisonment involving your club. By now, they’ve got piles upon piles of paperwork tracking exactly where the money flowed and who was funding the whole operation.”

  As he spoke, Jehan watched the blood drain from Rinisa’s face. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, even as beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.