"What was that supposed to mean?" I snapped as soon as the car came to a halt. His eyes widened from surprise.
"You've endangered yourself"
"Which was bound to happen. Did you think I was going to let this go?"
"No, you've put a target on your back"
"I've made my choices Haider and I don't think you have the right to tell me if they're correct or not"
"I was saying..."
"Nothing. You and I met during a mutual friend's party. That's it. We became close, blah blah. My birthday is on the 12th of May and I love the color purple. The wedding isn't happening anytime soon,"  I took out my compact to check my makeup, using the phone light, extremely aware of his eyes on me.
"November"
"What?"
"My birthday is on the 6th of November and I like whichever color you wear," he exited the car, coming around to open my door.

Well, that was progress.

I stepped out of the car, keeping a careful grip on my sari. The gravel driveway was making it hard to find my footing in heels. I missed good old concrete. Haider held out his hand and I took it, grateful for the support.

"Welcome. Your names please?"
"Elena and Ali"
"Right this way Ma'am, Sir" and the valet led us into the enormous mansion.

If Alishba auntie's house was extravagant then this house was ten times worse. I tried to ignore the harsh gold lighting and the excessive use of mirrors on every corner. It felt like I was being seared at the center of the sun. Huge gold columns stood in the foyer only to be trumped by a huge grand staircase that descended right in front of the main doors.

How were we going to find a way to get into his office here? This place was huge.

"Relax" Haider breathed into my ear, his hand on the small of my back. "Wait... is that a" he muttered astonished, his fingers brushing the small lump on my back.

"I couldn't come without it" I muttered, trying to act like I was whispering soft nothings into his ears. He shook his head, his face filled with wonder.

"Elena! My God you look stunning! And Ali, lovely to meet you again" Jasmine floated towards us, looking ethereal in white. We both smiled and made the appropriate gestures and noises.

"There are so many people I'd like for you to meet..." I nodded, excitement bubbling in my stomach. "Right this way" we followed her to a private room that had been decorated tastefully.

Haider grabbed my hand as we walked I curled my fingers around his, and my stomach dipped a little. He wasn't holding my hand any longer. We were holding hands.

He kept me close, not losing contact, making sure to keep me in his sights, and always leaning in towards me. After the fifth time, I'd had enough "You need to stop doing that"
"Doing what?"
"Sniffing"
"Isn't that what couples do?" Those strange, mesmerizing eyes glinted with a hint of mischief, and I was transfixed.

"Where have you downloaded this information from?" He chuckled.

I leaned in, tired from standing around in my heels. His arm snaked around my waist supporting my weight. It felt nice to let go. I enjoyed having the ring on my finger. I enjoyed the weight of it and the promise that it brought.

"Lavender", he inhaled deeply.
"What?"
"You always smell like lavender. It's been driving me crazy. Ever since that day, I can't get this scent out of my head"

My mind flashed back to that day at the party. When he had run out of the room and had left me alone. My stomach knotted as I remembered

"The day you left me alone, in a room and ran?" I said trying to mask the hurt in my voice.
"I had to or I would have done something we both would have regretted," His tone was apologetic and I knew he wasn't lying.
"You're doing it now" he took in a huge breath and then chuckled.
"I'm very much in control"
"This you being in control? I'd love to see when you're not..." he groaned.
"Don't tempt me. I think you like it"
"That you're smelling my hair?"
"That you're here, with me" I didn't deny it. There was no point in denying it.

He could sense that my body relaxed whenever he was close to me. He could tell that I liked not having to carry a conversation on my own. He had guessed that I liked that he was intelligent and could hold his own against several of the big names here.

His confidence was sexy. No, it was addictive and heady. His presence was intoxicating and I was becoming drunk on it.

I detached myself from his grasp and started to move around searching for Jasmine. I found her talking to a man who I could only assume was her husband. She rubbed his arms in a placating gesture and I felt my gut tighten. That seemed to be such a... defensive act. Jahangir pushed her off and I felt my heart clench at the sorrow on her face.

Feeling like a complete and utter moron, I walked up to her, waving and smiling to a few familiar faces along the way.

"The party is lovely," she didn't even look at me.
"Thank you, I'm glad you're having fun" she was still looking at her husband.
"I wanted to use the bathroom and was wondering where..."
"Third door on the left," she said gesturing towards the first floor, her eyes not moving an inch from the drinks table.

I skidded away not wanting her attention on me, hoping that Haider saw me as I exited the room.

Keeping my walk casual, I opened the doors to my right. One of them seemed to be a bedroom. The other was a bathroom. Keeping my eye out, I tried out the third one and succeeded. Tiny tremors piled in my stomach, forming little knots of anticipation and fear.

'Third door on the right' I texted Haider.

No reply.

I went about switching the computer on, my hands shaking. Fear threatened to take root, but I couldn't cave to it.

Bending slightly, I typed in the words Uncle Bakht had told me. Scrolling through the search results I looked at the file descriptions. The file I needed was password protected and encrypted.

"Got it," victory thumped in my blood and I transferred the document to a small hard drive that had fit into my purse, praying to God that no one came here looking for me.

Hopefully, Haider was still keeping them busy.

"Now this is a lovely sight,"  a deep voice said from behind me.

Sucking in a sharp breath, I spun around my dagger in my hand, ready to throw-

It was Haider.

"You are..." He gazed at me, his stare, intense and unblinking. "You're something else"

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