Chapter Eight: Brunch

"Okay," I said, as he hung up.

"Ma'am are we waiting for Ms Laila" Flora asked, "let's go back to the office" I said as we went back to our floor.

I had no idea I was meeting Ibrahim today, I came out without a single line of makeup, I looked at my window which was made out of a mirror opaque glass. I was glad I took dressing up to make a first impression seriously I thought as I looked at myself.

I picked up the powder in my bag, touching up my ever-so-oily face with it. I had no other make-up material in my bag, not even a lip gloss "Shame on your Fatima" I berated myself.

I pulled out the card to read it before he came.

"My love for you is like a flower, it blooms every day. from the moment I set my eyes on you, until this day. I promise to nurture what we have and protect you with all I have" it read. it was handwritten making it more romantic, I held on to the letter smiling at the words.

I thought he didn't like me. I had tried not to think about the marriage or my choice all day but thinking about it now, Ibrahim seemed deliberate and sincere.

"Ma'am Mr Mukhtar is here to see you" Flora said over the landline interrupting my train of thought.

"Thank you" I replied, putting the card back into my bag and adjusting my sitting position. Her words were followed by a knock on the door.

"Hello," Ibrahim's husky voice said.

"Hello" I replied as he walked into my office, he had on a dark grey suit, with a white shirt, it made him look so fine. I blushed at the sight of him. 'fine choice, Fatima' I told myself as he walked in.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked, with a beautiful warm smile, I nodded, getting up from my chair. we walked to the elevator together.

"I am sorry for the sudden call and appearance, I was hoping we could spend some more time together before..." he said pausing and changing the conversation.

"I know you don't want to go too far from the office, there is a nice spot just around the corner" he said as the elevator took us to the basement.

A private parking lot. I followed him as he got to the spot where his car was parked. opening the door for me.

"thank you" I said inhaling the amazing scent of his Arabian perfume as he came closer to me.

"Thank you for accepting me" he said as soon as he got into the car, "I promise to be the best husband I can be" he assured me as he got driving.

As he drove I couldn't help but stare, everything about him was perfect. His sideburns, his nose, his palms as he steered the wheel.

"Lower your gaze Fatima" I warned myself.

He parked In Front of a beautiful garden, He was right about it being around the corner, as the distance was short. it was located in a very serene part of the city I wasn't sure a lot of people knew about it. "Cafe Deluna".

"don't open the door please" he said as soon as I was about to open the door,

"let me get used to doing these things for you," he said rushing towards my door to open it for me, I blushed at the gesture. I had gotten so used to doing these things myself, it wasn't a big deal to me.

We walked into the cafe, it was even more beautiful inside.

"Welcome sir" the waiter said as Ibrahim pulled out a chair for me to sit. The place was empty, I figured because it was midday a lot of people would be working. I noticed the two waiters pulling in two buffet tables with rollers, one filled with different dishes and the other with snacks and drinks.

"Would that be all sir?" The waiter asked.

"yes, I would call you if we need anything more," he said as the waiter walked away.

"I thought it would be better to have the place to ourselves" Ibrahim explained to me as soon as the waiter left.

"This must have cost a lot" I spoke innocently forgetting I was speaking to a billionaire

"what if I couldn't come out of the office" I wondered, wondering how long and how much he must have spent to book a whole restaurant".

"It's just money, you should never worry about that, and I am glad you could though" he said with a beautiful warm smile.

"would like me to serve you?" He asked, looking at the buffet table, as he served a jug of what looked like orange juice into two glasses before sitting down opposite me.

"I am sorry if I seem too unromantic, I am not so good at these things," he said, 'was he kidding' I thought to myself looking at the beautiful setting of the place we were, he was better at it than all the people I had been in relationships with.

"I don't think anyone is good at having their marriage arranged" I replied, I wanted to get him to talk about it, to understand how he felt about it. Instead, he just smiled at taking a sip of juice.

A silence filled the room for a few minutes as we both silently took sips of our drink,

"Did you want an arranged marriage too?" I said breaking the silence.

"Yes," he replied. "Not at first, I don't regret it now" he said staring at me as I lowered my gaze, for someone who claimed to be terrible at being romantic he knew the right things to say.

"What would like to eat" he said again looking at the buffet table, I didn't want any of these things to waste but lunch wasn't a meal I took seriously.

"I am fine for now" I replied.

"What about you, I heard you also like an arranged marriage," he said, I smirked at his statement. Umar and Ruqayya must have told them everything about me.

"not really" I replied. I only said I wanted an arranged marriage because I was heartbroken, someone I had been in a relationship with got married. It was the heartbreak speaking.

"O!!" He exclaimed I could sense the disappointment in his voice. "But I am glad. thank you for the card and rose" I said, finding a way to lighten the mood.

"there was a rose" he blurted, I could see an instant regret in his eyes. "You didn't know there was a rose?" I was surprised.

"Well yes, um, actually, I told Ahmad to help me pick out a card before going to meet you at work" he confessed, the ease I had felt with my decision instantly disappearing. "It was handwritten, did you tell him what to write?" I asked disappointed by the lack of effort.

"No, I told him to write something, he knew I felt" Ibrahim confessed and that made it worse. I instantly felt angry. He was really unromantic.

"I think I should be going back to work now," I said, my anger evident as I spoke, I was not one to hide my feelings.

"I am sorry, I promise to do better," he said, his words flying through my ears.

"I just have to go back to work" I insisted. The one thing that made me think he liked wasn't even written by him.