Chapter 19

Blake took it upon herself to go to Bassem’s office and update him on their project. It was the end of the week, and Bassem hadn’t been to the construction site since Tuesday. They had made a lot of progress, and she was going to need more funds. He had told her to go through his secretary but she needed an excuse to meet up with him.

“Is the sheikh expecting you?” Amina asked Blake as she approached her desk.

“Yes. It’s just a quick meeting. It won’t be long.” Blake smiled at Amina and headed for the sheikh’s office.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Amina rushed after Blake.

“Is he meeting with someone?”

“No but at least let me call him and ask if it’s alright for you to go in.”

Blake stopped right in front of Bassem’s office. She took a deep breath and then knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Bassem called out. Blake turned the door and walked into his office. Bassem was sitting at his desk with some paperwork. He looked up and saw Blake and Amina walking in.

“I tried to stop her,” said Amina. She looked nervous.

“It’s okay,” Bassem replied. He looked good, Blake thought to herself. His beard had been trimmed down. It looked about a week old. His hair was neatly brushed as usual. He wore a black shirt and burgundy trousers.

Amina bowed her head and walked out of the room. Blake slowly approached Bassem’s desk. He gestured for her to sit down. Blake sat down at the chair opposite him.

“What brings you to my office?” Bassem asked her.

“Work,” Blake replied. She was a little bit annoyed by the fact that he hadn’t even greeted her or asked how she was. “I came to show you the progress on your house,” she added.

“Show me?”

“I have photos.” She pulled out a file with the photos and put them on the desk.

“You could have e-mailed them to my secretary.”

He really had no interest in seeing her, she thought to herself. “I also wanted to ask for more funds. We needed more materials,” she said.

“You have my accountant’s number,” he said in an icy tone. Blake swallowed nervously. Why had Bassem changed so much? How could he kiss her and just act as though nothing had happened?

“I guess there is no reason for us to meet then,” she said to him. He didn’t respond. He just leaned back in his chair and kept his gaze on her. His stare was so intense, it made Blake very nervous. She sprang up to her feet and turned on her heel. She headed for the door. She turned the doorknob and walked out.

She chastised herself as she headed for the elevator. It was her fault for coming over unannounced. It was her fault for not getting the hint. She had met him twice since then, and he hadn’t showed any interest in her. She should have just left him alone.

“Are you okay?” a voice interrupted her thoughts.

“What?” Blake turned to see Basil standing next to her.

“You are pressing that button so hard. What did it do to you?”

Blake looked at the elevator button and removed her finger. She had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she hadn’t realized that she was poking it so hard. “The elevator is taking forever to come,” she said. Basil raised an eyebrow.

“Were you here to see my brother?” he asked.

“Yes.” Blake placed her hands on her hips and started tapping her foot.

“Things didn’t go well?”

“Why is he so cold?” She whipped her head in Basil’s direction and waited for an answer. 

“That’s how he is,” Basil replied carefully.

“Why did I even bother coming here?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Why is the elevator taking so long to come?” she snapped.

“Blake, what’s going on? Do you want to talk about it?” Basil said gently.

“Yes.”

“Okay, let’s go to my office.”

“Not to you.” She turned around and marched towards Bassem’s office. Basil was just left by the elevator speechless.

“Are you going in there again?” Amina asked as she sprang up to her feet.

“Yes,” Blake replied as she walked past Amina. She swung Bassem’s door open and shut it behind her. Bassem raised his eyebrows.

“Did you forget something?” he asked.

“I learned the first time that keeping quiet didn’t help me at all,” she said to him.

“I am confused. What is this about?”

“You kissed me.” She went straight to the point. Bassem stared at her with an unreadable expression. “I didn’t make that move, you did,” she added.

“I did.” Bassem frowned. He was probably wondering where she was going with her words. Blake didn’t know either. She was just saying whatever came to her mind. He had made such an impact on her. She wasn’t the woman to lose her calm. She was acting out of character because of Bassem. She liked him so much and it was driving her crazy that he was avoiding her so much.  

“This is just so unfair,” she said. His short answer made her nervous. She needed him to say more to her. She needed something.

“What is?”

“This! You!”

“Blake.” There it was again. Bassem had called her by her first name. Hearing him say her name made her almost melt like butter in a hot pan. “You are not making sense,” he said.

“No, you are not making sense,” she said. Bassem raised his eyebrows. He slowly got up from his seat. “You just kissed me and then we never talked about it. You just decided to act like nothing happened. Your actions aren’t making sense,” she added. Bassem walked around the table. The closer he got to Blake, the more nervous she grew. She lost her resolve. So she turned and rushed out of his office.

She got into the elevator and headed to the ground floor. As soon as the doors opened, she walked out and headed to her car. Blake chastised herself for going back to his office. She hadn’t gained anything. She still didn’t have an answer for his actions. She felt so stupid for going back into his office and making a fool out of herself.

Blake arrived at her apartment not too long after. She frowned as she walked into her apartment. She could smell cooked food. “Hello!” she called out. She followed the smell to her kitchen. She saw her mother and CJ in the kitchen.

“Mom?” she said.

“Blakie!” the older woman cried out as she quickly approached her. She wrapped her arms around her. Her mother was a head shorter. Blake had gotten her height from her father. She hugged her mother tightly and kissed her on top of her head.

“When did you get here?” Blake asked her.

“About an hour ago. CJ let me in,” she said. CJ smiled at Blake. She had a key to Blake’s apartment, which she was meant to use in an emergency.

“Why didn’t you tell me that my mother was here?” Blake asked CJ.

“I told her not to. I wanted to surprise you,” said her mother.

“This house is so clean,” Aunt Moira said as she walked into the kitchen. Blake’s eyes widened. She hadn’t seen her mother’s sister in such a long time.

“Aunt Moira!” Blake quickly hugged her.

“Hey sweetie.” Her aunt rubbed her back.

“It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too, darling.” Her aunt was just the same height as her mother. Both of them had long, thick, brunette hair. That was where Blake got it from.

“Let’s catch up over dinner. Go set the table,” Blake’s mother said to her. Blake nodded. She grabbed some dishes and cutlery and went to set the dining table which was just a few feet from the kitchen.

“I’m coming from Bassem’s office,” Blake whispered to CJ.

“What happened?” CJ placed a fork on the table and then moved closer to Blake.

“I gave him a piece of my mind,” she whispered. She didn’t want her mother and aunt to hear her. The two of them had always been nagging her about getting a boyfriend. They even tried to set her up with a family friend and it didn’t work out.

“You did?” CJ cried out.

“Not really.”

CJ frowned at Blake. “Then what?” she asked.

“I just said to him that it wasn’t fair. He kissed me and then acted as though it never happened.”

“What did he say to that?” CJ looked so excited.

“I walked out before he could say much,” Blake replied. CJ’s face dropped. Before she could say anything, the doorbell rang.

“It must be delivery. I ordered dessert,” said CJ. She dashed out of the kitchen. Blake finished up setting the table.

“Put this casserole dish on the table,” her mother said to her. Blake walked through the arched door and into the kitchen. She took the dish from her mother. CJ walked back into the kitchen.

“Blake, it’s for you,” said CJ. Blake almost dropped the casserole dish when she saw her visitor.