CHAPTER TWO

Dodoma, 3 Years Earlier

“Suhaira, you have to calm down, you look great!” Zafeera spoke with great authority from the bed. 

Suhaira looked at her best friend with some exasperation. Newly engaged, she didn’t have to worry. After all, her marriage to Irfan had been on the cards for years. 

“I have to look good. David is probably used to seeing really hot girls in London.” Suhaira smoothed her blue top, remembering that blue was David’s favourite colour on her. She peered into the mirror for the umpteenth time and pushed her glasses up onto her nose as she surveyed her reflection critically. “You’re sure I look great?” she asked Zafeera, who rolled her eyes theatrically. 

“My Suhaira. You look great as always. You really need to relax!” For some reason, Zafeera didn’t seem too excited. 

  “Do you imagine that he has changed?” Suhaira asked, picking up the black leather watch she had bought David as a welcome-back present. It had cost her a bomb, but she didn’t care. I’m going to be seeing David after two years. I want to make it a reunion worth remembering. Suhaira and David had been going strong through high school and university. When David had decided to go abroad for his Master’s, Suhaira had been quite upset. She was staying back to take up a job after graduating from the university and wondered whether the two years apart would change their feelings. Well, my feelings haven’t changed, Suhaira thought. Not a day had gone by without her thinking of David and their time apart had only strengthened her love for him. She was full of nervous excitement at the thought of seeing him again. 

Zafeera shrugged, “I think it was really strange that he didn’t call you as soon as he arrived.”

“I’m sure he was just tired, he must have had jetlag. You know that’s when you have a time difference and …”

“I know what jetlag is!” Zafeera jumped up from the bed, “But it’s been a whole week, surely he would have found a few minutes to call you?”

Her stomach clenched in dread but she gave Zafeera a smile. “He’s probably been settling in. Anyway, in half an hour we will be back together.”

On the dala-dala ride over to David’s place, she twisted the silver ring that he had put on her finger the day he left for university abroad. 

“Maybe I will replace it with a wedding ring one day,” he had teased as his lips met hers, “Promise me you won’t forget about me Suhaira.” 

She had gazed into his soft brown eyes and swore that she would always wait for him. And she had. She had been loyal to David while he had been away and couldn’t wait to pick things up once he got back. 

Her hand shook as she knocked on the Perry’s front door. When she and David had been at the university, Suhaira had been over at their house almost every day. She hadn’t bothered about knocking then; she had been a part of their family. But once David had left, she had found that she didn’t seem that welcome any more at their place. Suhaira wasn’t destitute or anything, but her family could in no way compare to the wealth of the Perry’s. David’s sister, Cecilia, always looked down on Suhaira and snubbed her in public. So she had decided to keep her distance and wait for David to come back. When he proposes to me, then they’ll have no choice but to accept me, she thought dreamily.

There was no response to her feeble knock so she pushed the door slightly open. There was a lot of noise streaming through from the living room. A group of youngsters were gathered around the giant plasma TV set: there was a rugby match going on. The curtains were drawn, the room was full of smoke and empty beer bottles were strewn all over the table. There was no sign of David. Suhaira wondered how the youngsters dared to smoke in the house. Maybe Mrs Perry was out of town? 

Suhaira walked up to Cecilia, David’s sister, even though they weren’t exactly the best of friends and cleared her throat, “Hi Cecilia. Where’s David?”

“Oh … you’re … what’s your name again … Suhaira, right?” Cecilia asked, “Well, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to see David,” Suhaira replied, “I’m his girlfriend, remember?”

“Girlfriend?” Cecilia snickered, “Surely you don’t think your little high school and college fling was serious?”

She looked Suhaira up and down coldly. It was no secret that snobbish Cecilia did not approve of her brother, heir to the Perry fortune, being seen with a girl like Suhaira. She continued snottily, “Oh please, grow up. After all those girls he met in London, you think he still wants you? And he’s seeing someone else, anyway. His new girlfriend has come back with him to Tanzania. He doesn’t want to see you.”

“No way!” Suhaira snapped, “You’re just making things up.”

 “He’s been back a week and I haven’t noticed him calling you? And you still think he actually likes you? You really are naive.”

“David would never do that to me. He loves me!” Suhaira retorted.

“Ok then, go see for yourself.” She pointed in the general direction of the first floor and Suhaira marched up, her heart thudding.

Suhaira made her way up the thickly carpeted staircase; the walls were lined with dozens of framed pictures of David’s family at various points in time. David’s room door was closed. She knocked twice before turning the handle and walking in. David crossed the room towards her, but she had barely glanced at him. Her attention was fixed on the girl lying in his bed.

The carefully wrapped watch slipped out of her numb hands and landed on the carpet. She staggered back in shock as the sight before her eyes sank in. 

“Suhaira, wait!” David called out, but she had already fled. Suhaira was down the stairs and out the door like a bat out of hell. She had not seen David since that day.

***

Present Day – Regal Corporation Boardroom

Suhaira stole a sideways glance at David. Goodness, he was looking good! He had put on some muscle and his hair was cut shorter than Suhaira remembered. His well-cut suit accentuated his broad shoulders and slim waist. She caught a flash of a gold bracelet on his wrist. She couldn’t believe that this hunky man had once been hers. But that might as well have been in another lifetime. 

David looked directly at Suhaira, his eyes seeing through her in a way no one else could. It unsettled her and she quickly turned away in embarrassment. Her mind was a million miles away. How do I look to him now? Does he see any difference in me?

She looked down at his hands, strong brown hands. Hands that had held hers so many times. Hands that had wiped away her tears when her father died. Hands that had swung her around in celebration when she had passed her exams. David and Suhaira had shared a bond that had seemed inviolable. They had grown up together, laughed together and studied together. But years later, she had wondered whether she had been the only one to feel this way. Maybe it had all been a game to him.

All the pain she had felt in the last three years seemed to come back to her in that moment. Her heart had been shattered into a million pieces that day and her trust destroyed. Suhaira remembered how it had taken her months to heal emotionally. Her self-confidence had been wrecked and she had not trusted a man ever since. And now, just when she had moved on in life, David decided to make a re-appearance. She was tempted to walk out of the boardroom. She wanted nothing to do with this man, personally or professionally. But then she remembered that her job was on the line. If I want to keep my job, and I must keep my job, then I guess I have to do this. She furiously blinked back the tears that were threatening to form and took a deep breath.

“And now I would like you to hear proposals from two of our agents, Suhaira Zaki and Jack Matthew,” Mr Vance beamed at David as though he was giving him a present. “Who would like to begin?” he asked, turning to both Suhaira and Jack. 

“Jack, you first?” he added, after a moment’s silence.

Jack was out of his seat in a flash, making his way to the front of the room. Suhaira’s heart sank. She knew the person who presented first had a major advantage. Shouldn’t Jack at least have had the courtesy to ask her if she would have liked to go first? But of course, this was business. And a competition. It would be silly of him to refuse a boss’s suggestion for a girl he’s gone out with a few times. It’s not fair of me to expect that from him … still, she knew it was a blow to her proposal.

David leaned forward and fixed his eyes on Jack. Suhaira dragged herself away from all thoughts about David and concentrated on the presentation. It was important that she keep her focus. She would not lose her job because of David. As Jack began, she opened her own notes and systematically crossed out each of her well thought-out points one by one as Jack listed the identical points.

Is it that great minds think alike or am I missing something? His points are identical to mine! Surely it can’t be coincidence. Had Mr Vance emailed her presentation to Jack? He was the only person she had shared it with. And was that why he had suggested Jack go first? The thoughts disturbed her, though it seemed such an unlikely scenario. If Mr Vance had wanted to retain Jack, he could just have sacked her!

But she had no time to debate the matter; there was a more pressing concern at hand. Her stomach cramped as Jack began to conclude his pitch. He hadn’t left her with a single proposal to put forward.  

I can’t repeat the same ideas without sounding like an idiot. So what the hell am I going to say? I have to come up with something and it has to be fast.

David nodded as Jack sat down. “Very impressive, Jack. You have some good ideas and I look forward to seeing how the market responds.”

Mr Vance rubbed his hands with glee. “And now we will hear from Suhaira, I am sure you will be equally impressed with her.”

I’m not sure about that, Suhaira thought, feeling more disoriented than ever. 

Suhaira walked to the front of the room, feeling like a snowman in the sun, and with faked confidence, she placed the now-useless notes in front of her. Everyone looked at her expectantly and she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. The boardroom was silent; the only noise was the cacophony of sounds from the Bus Terminal outside. 

Should she feign illness and excuse herself? Excuses and protests ran through her mind and she knew she was losing it. 

As she stood there, fumbling, she felt something rise up inside her. It took her a second to recognise that it was anger. Anger at Jack for somehow upstaging her, anger at David for hurting her and anger at Mr Vance for putting her in this cut-throat competition. The anger gave way to a steely determination. I’m not going to let them defeat me. I am going to show them all.

“I think we should have a party!” The words were out of her mouth before Suhaira knew what she was saying. 

Mr Vance’s eyebrows shot up. David leaned back in his chair and stared. Jack’s jaw dropped and he looked like he thought she’d gone crazy.

“The run of the mill ideas, such as newspaper adverts and taking part in home expos are fine.” She glanced in Jack’s direction, to see that he was listening intently. “But that’s what everyone always does and it’s not going to make Bazaar Abodes stand out from all the hundreds of other apartments on the market.” Suhaira stood up straighter as she warmed to her theme. “We need something different and innovative,” she looked directly at David and spoke confidently, “So I propose we do a fabulous launch party, we invite prospective buyers from our database and give them a special deal if they sign up at the launch.”

Suhaira looked down at her papers, not sure of what their reaction would be. Oh please, let me not have blown it, she thought desperately. There was a moment of deafening silence, broken by the sound of David scraping back his chair as he stood up. Suhaira looked at him, but she couldn’t read the expression on his face.

“Bravo! I love the idea, make it happen.” He turned to Mr Vance, “I think I have heard enough, I am happy to make Regal Corporation my sole selling agent. Send me the paperwork.”

Suhaira couldn’t believe it. They had passed the first test. She exhaled in relief and thanked her stars that she had managed to salvage the situation. Now there was still a chance that she could retain her job. David made his way out of the boardroom but not before giving Suhaira a lingering look, which she couldn’t quite figure out. She glared at him in response. The sight of him filled her with anger, and she was still furious at him. But she couldn’t help noticing the way her heart raced when she met his eyes. Her reaction annoyed her and she was glad she had not made a fool of herself in front of him. After all, she thought, I’m now a professional woman, not some college kid. 

“Well done both of you!” Mr Vance exclaimed, “The meeting went off really well and we landed the client.” But before any of them could breathe, he added, “But the competition isn’t over yet. Only one of you can stay. And that one will be the person who sells more apartments.”

As if we could forget, Suhaira thought. Trust Mr Vance to ruin a happy moment.

Just then, he knitted his brows together and looked at her. “But Suhaira, I didn’t understand this database you were talking about. I wasn’t aware that we even have a database.”

“Oh, I have kept the details of each client that I have met who hasn’t purchased a home for one reason or another, especially when I know they have the potential to do so. I have noted their preferences and their budget.” Suhaira couldn’t keep the slight touch of pride out of her voice; she wanted Mr Vance to acknowledge how resourceful she was.

But it was Jack who spoke up. “You are a star!” he said smiling broadly, “I think we should go out for lunch to celebrate.”

Mr Vance shuttled rapidly away at the mention of ‘lunch’, probably worried that they would ask him or the firm to pay. Jack and Suhaira were left alone in the room. 

Suhaira felt suddenly awkward. Just when it seemed like things were heating up between her and Jack, Mr Vance had sprung this crazy competition on them. Now David. She wondered whether Jack was now looking at her as a competitor or whether he wouldn’t let that come between them.  

He took a step closer and she felt a shiver of excitement. Jack pulled her close to him and cupped her chin in his hands. “You were really hot up there,” he said, moving his face closer to hers, “Beauty with brains. I like …”

“Jack, I …”

“Shh …” he whispered, brushing his lips against hers, catching her off guard, “You need to stop worrying about this work thing.” 

Before she could reply, he pulled her even closer and kissed her. At first hesitantly, but when she didn’t resist, his kiss grew more urgent. It took several minutes before he finally pulled away, still holding her close. Suhaira was breathless, surprised by how easily she fit into his embrace, still feeling the warmth of his lips on hers.

“I think I have …” His words were abruptly cut off when Anna opened the door.

“Ohhh, sorry,” she said, looking anything but, “I didn’t know there was anyone still in here!” 

Yeah right, Suhaira thought. As though two people in this small office had simply disappeared into thin air. Suhaira was sure she had done it on purpose, probably hoping to sniff out some more gossip. Nothing was as exciting as an office affair, at least not to a busybody like Anna. Or maybe she wanted to find out what they were doing in there. The girl never left Jack alone; she must really be smitten. 

“I’d better go, as I am disturbing you,” Anna smirked, obviously glad she had interrupted whatever was going on. 

“We are finished here Anna,” Suhaira said quickly, pushing past her to walk out the door. She needed some space to think and was actually grateful for the interruption. 

Suhaira was still a bit bothered by how Mr Vance had given Jack an advantage, although she had no way of proving it. In fact, Jack probably didn’t even know those were her points. Mr Vance had probably shared them, passing them off as his own. She shook her head; she was probably over-analysing what was just a coincidence. This competition was not helping. She wondered whether falling in love with Jack was a good idea under these circumstances. 

Most worrying though, was why being near David was so disquieting, yet she knew she was totally over him. So why was she even thinking about him when she had Jack with her?  

It was time for some expert advice.