Karim smiled and walked over to the bar across the room. “Drink?” he asked, fixing her one before she could answer, then pouring another for himself.
“No,” Ella said from her spot, as far away from him as she could be. Her skin was still prickly from the heat of his breath.
“I don’t think you should have any more,” she said gently.
“Yeah, yeah,” he said. “I know. I wouldn’t want to become a drunk or anything… like my lovely fiancée!”
Ella watched as Karim walked unsteadily over to the sofa, placing both drinks on the glass table before collapsing into the cushions.
“It’s just such a mess,” he said exasperated. “The whole thing is such a mess.”
Ella felt her heart ache and moved across the room, careful to sit on the far end of the sofa. “Then why?” she asked. “Why are you marrying her if it's making you so unhappy?”
Karim looked up at Ella with defeat in his eyes. “Because it’s the logical choice. It’s the right thing to do. It’s what I’m supposed to do for my career, for my family.”
His words came out sloppily and in long breaths; he was obviously quite drunk. Ella wanted desperately to reach out and console him, but she knew it was the last thing she should do. Instead, she got up and grabbed his hand.
“Get up,” she said, shifting gears. She had strong feel
ings for Karim, there was no denying that. But if she couldn’t be with him romantically, then she would be there for him as a friend.
“What? Where are you taking me? I’m about to be a married man, you know,” Karim said, splashing his drink as he stood.
Ella rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, so I’ve heard.” She felt better now that he was joking around.
She led him over to the balcony and stepped outside with him. They stood and looked at the river, the long shadows of the buildings, the lights up coming on up and down the city skyline. Cars and people moved about below like little ants, making the whole scene look like a painting that had come to life.
“Do you see that?” Ella said, pointing over to the business district bustling with early evening traffic.
Karim didn't respond, but nodded as he swayed slightly.
“Do you see all of those people running around like little rats because they want to have successful careers?”
Karim nodded again, steadying himself against the high railing. He stared down and watched the activity below. Even through the alcohol, he knew what Ella was trying to do.
“It’s not just about money! There’s more to life than being successful, Karim.”
Ella turned to look at him and watched as Karim let a tear slip down over the edge of the balcony.
“I know,” he said softly, pulling himself away from the railing. “I know, I do. It’s just…”
Ella looked at him with pangs of regret in her heart. Would she ever be able to get through to him? Would she ever be able to make him understand that life was about more than just getting ahead? Karim already had enough money to last several generations. If only he could see that love was the only thing that mattered.
She walked toward him, hoping to get his attention and make it clear to him that he shouldn’t go through with the wedding. She had the words in mind. She would tell him what she thought about him and Nadia, without mentioning her own feelings for him; she couldn't be responsible for complicating things further.
She opened her mouth to speak just as Karim leaned down, his lips falling softly on hers in a tender kiss.
Ella jumped back, shocked at what just happened. She had kissed a client! She had never, ever crossed that line. It was the one thing she had sworn she would never do.
She stepped back quickly with a look of confusion on her face. Karim opened his mouth as if to say something, to apologize, perhaps, but Ella held her hand up. She turned and ran out of the apartment, into the elevator, diving past the doorman and into a cab as soon as she reached the first floor.