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Rafiq stiffened next to me “What?” he said He had carefully dressed to hide them, as he always did, under an expensive button-up shirt

Meh of Rafiq “You said this was her newest ht, was it? I can smell the paint on the canvas Some of the tattoos on the portrait are new to me” He cleared his throat “I was certain, the last time we discussed this issue, that it was the final time”

TheEven the bodyguards, who had long ago taken up posts at either end of the hallway, seee of tone

Meh emotional blood frohthearted visit to hter-in-law Sympathy for Rafiq filled my heart as I experienced first-hand the kind of pressure he had to deal with on a daily basis

“That’sout of my mouth in a tumble

“Your fault?” said Mehmet, surprised

Rafiq was squeezing his nails into ainst whatever it was I was doing

I ignored hins one day, and Rafiq…” I turned to him in what felt like a draht to his father “Your son is so endlessly supportive of ns, he said he had to have them as a part of him forever So he took them to his old tattoo artist and had them done”

Meh from me to Rafiq “Is that a fact?”

“He told me about your displeasure with the tattoos he already had… I know I should have tried harder to talk hi it in my lap “But I’m sure you know better thanHe was certainly as persistent in pursuing me” Not technically a lie, but it felt odd to aditimate romantic conquest

After a few seconds of tense silence, Mehave out a belly l

augh “Yes,if not stubborn I suppose even the love of his life would not be immune from it”

I laughed with Mehmet as the tension in the roohtly, like he was thanking me

“I am truly excited by this union,” said Mehmet as he put down his tea on the table “Rafiq, you have found a lovely wo makes me happier than to see you hold onto her as you should Yourthe wedding”

“Oh, let’s not get into all that already,” groaned Rafiq good-naturedly “This creative beauty has had ements already”

We looked at each other, Rafiq sabout this felt fake So the same

Mehmet ended the moment when he cleared his throat and checked the Rolex that looked a lot like the one Rafiq wore “I would love to continue this further, but I do have some business appointments to make while I am in the city”

The three of us rose to our feet, as Rafiq said, “Do you still have time for a nice dinner with us before you leave town? I would hate for this to be your only tihter-in-law”

“Yes, of course,” said Mehmet He leaned forward and clasped both of entle peck “I would not dreaain I’ll be in touch”

I blushed “I look forward to it, father”

Mehave hi toward the elevator, followed closely by his silent bodyguards With his arm around my shoulder, Rafiq and I followed and stood at the end of the hallaving, until the doors closed and Mehone