Page 30 of Jade: Chance Are

“Mr Darabi insisted I tell Naseer I was cheating on him, which is why I’m breaking up with him. I just couldn't do that to him.” She burps out loud.

“Did you date after the babies were born?”

“I tried to but after one lousy casual sex night, I just gave up till I met Knox, he’s an amazing guy and he loves my children.” She laughs again and slurps her drink.

“Do you love Knox?”

“It would be easier won’t it, but we are compatible. I’ll always love my husband, even when he’s the most annoying man on earth.” The recording stops.

Josh’s face is bewildered with beads of sweat on his forehead. He pushes his chair back and faces the beach. When he turns, all I see are dark eyes, wrinkled furrowed brows, and a frustrated look.

“You just couldn’t let it go, could you! You just had to know, and now you do, bravo. You and I know Naseer is going to fucking kill you. First, for getting her drunk, and when he wakes you from the dead, he might kill you again before he sees reason.”

“You are right, can we avoid telling him?” I ask, we both know it’s a stupid ask.

“What kind of a friend would we be if we didn’t tell him? Would you trust me if I keep such information from you?” He challenges in a harsh tone.

“But his dad involved … that would destroy him.”

“It will destroy us, if he finds out later that we knew and didn’t tell him. You and I know how he can be.”

“So, the decision is to tell him.”

“Yes, but Ken, we didn’t need to open this Pandora’s box.” I nod in agreement.

“When do you think we should tell …” The door to Josh’s office opens loudly, and Naseer's face is enraged like he’s about to kill me. I quickly grabbed the phone and put it in my jacket and briskly stepped behind Josh’s desk.

“Josh can’t protect you from this storm, just what part of staying the fuck away from my wife did you not get, first I hear you take her to dinner every night then you get her so drunk that, she’s sick. I went to check on her and she’s throwing up and complaining of a headache are you stuck on having broken bones or jail pick one, because I can make either one happen.” His face is a bullhorn of anger as he yells at me.

“Listen Nas …”

“Stay out of this Josh,” Naseer yells at him.

“Just this once, Nas, you must hear this, I’ll personally help you break a few bones in his body but right now you have bigger issues.”

“Fine, but I promise you Ken, nothing is going to save you from my wrath.” He points at me.

“Naseer, please sit down,” I say as I watch him try to control his anger, but I know I should stay right where I am, he’s going to be more upset when he finds out. I took my phone out of my pocket and hit play. Just like before her slurry words came through. His expression is seething through anger, bewilderment, frustration, and then calm but it’s certainly the calm before shit hits the fan.

I expected him to attack me, but he took my phone and walked out.

twenty-two

Naseer

I direct Radek to take me straight to her place. I need to hear the truth from her un-slurred mouth. I’m not sure what I’m feeling but I certainly want to rip her apart for not contacting me and telling me about them, then and now. I know without a doubt how intimidating my father can be and her barely out of college self didn’t stand a chance against a powerful man like my dad.

Though she slurred her words, I believe her when she said he would have killed her. My father wants the crown on my head more than I do, no doubt about that.

He believes the crown on my head puts him right in the kingmaker role and that for him is paramount, his yearning for that power has made him cross the line. I’ve let him control my life and listened to him for too long. I certainly didn’t tell him that I married Jade, right now feels like a blessing in disguise. I dread to think what he would have done if he’d found out about our marriage or the twins.

“I have children—twins.” I can’t get over that. I’ve been jealous of them because I thought another man was their father. I even attacked her for calling them Lady and Gent. She gave them our private name because they are mine. I was so mad when I heard her call them ‘lady and gent.’ I couldn’t explain the gut-wrenching feeling of anger that swept through me then, now I smile. I want to meet my children and call them ‘lady and gent’ too.

I’m subconsciously reminded of all the times I wished they didn’t exist because they are evidence of what I wanted most with their mother and the times I wished they could magically be mine; my reality is they are mine.

“My brave Jade, you saved our children and gave them choices, something you keep saying I take away from you, how do I protect all three of you?

My uncle is still the king right now, he has Raheem and me competing to be the chosen one. Though I’ve beaten Raheem at some of the tasks, I do believe my skill is best used without the crown on my head. My father of course disagrees so he has continued to push me towards the crown. Nadra is the princess; he believes my marrying her will give me an alliance and a greater edge to wear the crown.