Total pages in book: 230
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
“Let’s stop then. I assume you already looked up all of the restaurants in the area and know their ratings.” It was something Amir did that we all poked fun of him for. God forbid we eat a meal somewhere rated under four stars.
“There’s an Indian restaurant up ahead that’s good.” He nodded toward a building in the corner. “We could eat Spanish food if you prefer, but that’s all you’ve been eating since we got here, and I’m a little tired of it.”
“Indian is fine.” I smiled.
We headed in that direction. As we reached the door, a woman came up to us. I smiled, my usual friendly expression in place as she approached. It faltered when I saw the anger in her eyes. I stopped to fully assess her. Amir took up a stance that made it clear I was not to be touched. The woman, who was probably only a little older than I was, looked at him for a second before training her eyes on me.
“You should walk away from Ben before you get hurt.”
“Wh…what?” I felt myself frown momentarily until it occurred to me that she was probably a fan and had seen photos of him and me together. I offered her another small smile. “Oh. He’s just a friend.”
“Ben doesn’t keep women friends.”
“We’re going to have to ask you to step away from the princess.” Amir lifted an arm across my chest.
“It’s okay, Amir.” I looked back at the woman.
“Just be warned. You’ll never be the most important woman in his life. I should know. I was there before you, and I’ll be there after you.” This time, she smiled at me. “I’m the only one he travels with. Which means, I’m always there for him. Waiting. And even I’m not enough for him. Just remember that the next time he leaves your villa.”
She gave a little wave, and the phone in her hand lit up long enough for me to see that her lock screen was set on a picture of her and Ben. I watched as she walked away, my heart in my throat, wondering if the things she’d said were real. It wasn’t as if I knew all of the women Ben had dated, but I’d stalked him on social media and followed the gossip columns he’d been featured in long enough to recognize most of the women he’d been out with. If she was one of them, I’d remember.
She was beautiful, in a 1960s Italian actress way, with full hips, plump lips and big, brown eyes that glimmered when she smiled. I couldn’t help picturing her with Ben. They matched the way couples who have been together for decades did. I imagined his dark complexion against hers, fantasized what their kids would look like if they had any—adorable little curly-haired, plump-lipped babies. I shook the thought away and made myself stop obsessing about it. I hated that my brain conjured images in the blink of an eye. Still, now I couldn’t un-see any of it, and I wasn’t sure what to think about what had happened between Ben and me. Had he done those things to me and then gone to her to finish the deed? The thought made me feel inadequate.
“Do you want us to follow her?” Amir asked.
“No.” I swallowed and turned back to the door. “We don’t follow people anymore.”
There was no use mentioning that I already had Adeline looking into Ben’s file. Those were matters best left within the family, and even though I cared about Amir as if he were part of my family, at the end of the day, this was a job for him. I didn’t want more drama for my brother, not when he was doing everything in his power to start a clean reign, where people trusted him to make decisions that were best for them. I sat down with Amir at a table by the window, wishing that Joss were here for me to talk this through with. She was a woman and had more experience than I did with matters like these. Instead, I was stuck with my bodyguard, who, despite his fitness regimen and style, could be my father.
“I have a question,” I said after the longest silence ever.
“About the woman?”
“No.” I shot him a look. “I already told you to leave that alone.”
“What’s your question?” He ripped off a piece of paratha and dipped it into the chickpeas, scooping it up swiftly. He watched me as he chewed. I tried to think of a way to ask my question that didn’t seem lame, but Amir knew me, so it really wouldn’t matter.
“Let’s say you really like a person who’s famous—” I started.
“Like you.” He waved another piece of paratha at me.
“No. Not like me. I mean really famous.”
“You’re pretty famous.”