“C’mon. What could it hurt to meet a fan?” Ramos said.
Laine snatched the note from Hector and began to pack up her things. “If this goes poorly, I’m blaming both of you.”
“It’s upstairs. I’m not sending you into the depths of Hell,” Hector said. “I told him you’d meet him there after I had a chance to have the painting properly wrapped.”
Laine pressed her lips into a line.
“Go on,” Ramos said, making a shooing motion.
Laine pointed threateningly at the both of them in turn before she left. She didn’t know what she was hoping for. Knowing that her friends were setting her up didn’t help as she started up the staircase, carrying a moderately sized painting that she’d been sure would never sell. Laine wasn’t sure if she wanted to be right or not. Something fluttered inside her, suspecting that on the other side of the door waited Aziz. This was so something he’d do. Things hadn’t ended well between them, and she wasn’t willing to go back to pretending that she could enjoy their time together and expect nothing more.
When she reached the door, she hesitated. She smelled roses. Suddenly anger rose inside her. She was tempted to leave the painting there and just go.
Another empty gesture? Another arrangement to move her where he wanted her?
Her temper getting the better of her, Laine opened the door and stepped inside, acid ready on her tongue. It faded away, though, as she spotted Aziz standing by the window and several vases of striped roses arranged around the apartment.
He was there. He was waiting, real. Not just a dream or memory of this strange, powerful man who had held her beating heart in his hand and tossed it away.
His head turned, and she took a step back, scowling deeply at him.
“Oh…you are more beautiful than I’d remembered,” Aziz said.
“Please stop.”
“Laine, don’t run from me again. I have brought you a bit of your garden.” Aziz gestured to them.
“I’m sad they had to die for this.” Laine walked up to him and set the painting down. “Enjoy your painting, Aziz. And enjoy New York.” She walked toward the door.
“No, wait!” Aziz pleaded.
Laine stopped. She thought a moment. “Tell Hadiya I said hello. I might give her a call.”
“Please just listen, would you?” Aziz stepped up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “I have so much I need to say.”
Laine turned and looked at him incredulously. “Why are you here? For a painting? And not a very good one. What else can you say to me, Aziz? About me and my sad life?”
“I should not have spoken so roughly to you. I was angry and did not want you to leave.”
“Obviously.”
“It is no excuse. But your life has changed. I know because your office tried to assign me another designer.”
Laine crossed her arms and looked down. “I’m sorry about that.”
“No, I am pleased. You left that toxic place. It was a good move.”
“I hope so.”
“I am simply so happy to know that you are free of that place. I am so happy to know that you are painting…Would you make more for me?”
“Would I have to fly to Bahrain to paint them for you?” she quipped.
Aziz chuckled. “In all honesty…I just…” He sighed, rolled his shoulders back, and then sat down on Hector’s threadbare couch with his hands folded between his legs.
Laine relaxed slightly. What did he really want?
“I have needed to talk to you. To be honest. I have needed to say how brave it was of you to come to my country, to try to engage with my culture, to stand up to Amin.” He frowned deeply, shaking his head. “I heard through Hadiya, who heard from Amin’s wife, what happened. I cannot believe he would have…it is unthinkable. Amin has always been the older brother. He was to be the responsible one, and even after I took the lead as head of our family, I felt that I should show him due respect. But after what he’s done, I cut him off from the family fortune.”
He lifted his head. “Perhaps temporarily, and I will ensure his wife and children have enough, but for now, he must learn that actions have consequences.”
“Good. He’s old enough to have learned that lesson already,” Laine said a bit harshly. She looked down on him and wanted to touch his shoulder. That had to have been a hard decision for him to make. “Thank you.”
“I should have done more when you were with us,” Aziz said. “I should have been more resolute. You are brave in the way I want to be brave, and I…”
Laine uncrossed her arms and stepped closer to him. “You?”