page25 (1/2)

FIFTEEN

As the early hours of theof the penthouse elevator echoed through down the hall of the silent penthouse On the edge of sleep, I heard it and began to blink awake

A fewfootsteps clopping on the marble floor pulled me entirely out of my doze I listened closely as I heard keys and other objects being dropped in a wooden bowl; the crinkle of paper; the heavy footsteps of Rafiq as hedark

At first, anxiety clutched my chest as I lay there quietly in the dark of the bedrooain I just wanted this to be over so both of us could go back to our lives and be out of this misery

But listening to him sloppily move around in the dark, no doubt drunk but thankfully alone, anger washed over —it was all his fault

It didn’t have to end like this, but Rafiq had to pull his stunts, just like he had fro the exhibition for his blonde friends, e elaborate sche more

The anger was too much I whipped the sheets offonly pajama shorts and a tank top, it didn’t even occur toroohts in a sudden movement

Rafiq froze across the roohts He turned around to face me, and the look in his eyes said he wasn’t sure what he was seeing was real

“Evangeline?” His voice was heavy and slow “I didn’t think you would be here”

“I’uess if I had any brains, I wouldn’t be”

Rafiq didn’t answer, but looked stricken

“I can’t believe you did that toout like the water behind a broken dam “And in front of my clientele, at my place of business My life, Rafiq! Do you realize what kind of position that put ht have lost custo I’m a selfish, heartless bitch who turned down a romantic proposal for no reason!”

He didn’t interrupt me, only stared at me as I spoke, his face humble

“You knohat? Sure, you’re char, and you’re handsos, as if ere all put here for your a wildly “You think your fancy, dra a decent person, but you’re wrong You’ve been putting on a show since the first day I met you Well, your shows hurt people, Rafiq They hurt” Tears ran down ry to care “I would rather have none of this fancy pretense and instead have the real Rafiq, the one who s happen The one who faces the world honestly”

Rafiq went pale, but still, he said nothing The way he blinked at me, it was almost as if for once, he didn’t knohat to say I had been expecting his usual arrogant comebacks, and I didn’t knohat to do with his silence

Maybe it was his silence that allowed le Rafiq was holding in his hands, clutched delicately against his body

“What…what’s that?” I asked, pointing

Rafiq glanced at the package in his hand before he moved around the couches and toward me As he did, he pulled the brown paper carefully off of what I could see noas a canvas When he turned the uncovered canvas around to face asped