Page 14 of A Million Shades Of Love and Betrayal

Roman rolled his eyes. "I won't be able to forget if you keep staring into space."

I shrugged him off. "Let's get back to it."

He sighed. "Okay. Make sure you focus, this deal with Ivan could be something special."

The mention of Ivan Rashid brought me back to the urgent situation. Ivan was possibly the most elusive and talented businessman, and our proposal could start a very lucrative deal for all parties involved. Ivan only worked with who he thought was the best so just a meeting with him would turn heads in our direction. I pushed aside all thoughts of Yasmin and focused on the task at hand, working alongside Roman to iron out the proposal details.

As we delved deeper into the intricacies of the project, my mind gradually shifted away from the kiss and onto the challenges ahead. Roman's sharp insights and strategic thinking were invaluable, and together we made significant progress on the proposal.

However, as we were nearing the final stages, Roman's phone pinged with a notification. He glanced at the screen, his expression turning serious. "Ivan Rashid just touched down at the airport."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Ivan Rashid is at the airport," he repeated even though it was obvious I heard him the first time. I couldn't believe what I had heard. Ivan Rashid was at the airport. How? Why?

"Wasn't he supposed to arrive two days from now?"

"He was," Roman agreed. "I don't know what happened. What are we going to do?"

"What can we do?" I stood, stuffing the papers into my briefcase. "We're going to the airport to make it known we'd like to do business with him. He knows who you are, doesn't he?"

"Of course he does," Roman sounded almost offended but I brushed it off. "Why else would he attend the gala?"

"How'd you even know he was here?"

"A member of his team told me," I paused, my eyes narrowing on him. If a member of Ivan's team personally reached out to tell him of his arrival, why were we still here?

"Hurry up!" I urged him, helping him pack up his stuff while reaching for my phone to call Daniel.

As we made our way to the airport, I couldn't help but wonder how Ivan Rashid's presence would impact not just our business but also my life. The kiss with Yasmin had opened a door I wasn't sure I was ready to walk through, and now, with Ivan Rashid in the picture, everything felt even more uncertain.

We arrived at the airport just as Ivan Rashid emerged from the arrivals gate, flanked by his entourage. He was a tall, imposing figure with a sharp gaze that seemed to pierce through everything it landed on.

"Rafael, Roman," he greeted us with a nod, his voice smooth but with an underlying edge. All I could focus on was the fact that he knew my name. I felt like a fangirl with how happy I was to be acknowledged.

"Ivan," Roman replied, his tone polite but guarded.

Ivan's gaze shifted to me, and for a moment, I felt like he could see right through me. It was a sensation I wasn't familiar with but for some reason, his eyes felt familiar even though they shouldn't.

His eyes fell on the briefcase in both our hands. "It seems we have a lot to discuss," Ivan said, his eyes narrowing slightly.

I stood beside Roman, mentally going over our pitch and ensuring that we were prepared for any questions or challenges that Ivan might throw our way. The stakes were high, but I was determined to prove that we were more than capable of handling the project.

"Walk with me," he spoke quietly taking a step forward, then another. "Give me the condensed version of whatever this is."

Roman and I exchanged a look before the businessman in me came forward, giving him a quick rundown of our proposal. I highlighted the expected profit and cost of production. I also made sure to include how he would also benefit from this. While I spoke, we grew closer and closer to the two black armored cars parked out front.

By the end of my monologue, Ivan nodded in approval. "You've made a compelling case. Send me a detailed proposal, I'll give you my answer at the gala."

Relief washed over me as we parted ways with Ivan. Roman clapped me on the back, a proud smile on his face. "That went better than expected."

-11-

Yasmin

I sat by the large windows, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow in the room. The events of two days ago replayed in my mind like a movie on repeat, distracting me from the present. Thoughts of Rafael, his touch, his lips, and his warm fingers caressing my cheek, filled my mind and stirred a deep longing within me. I couldn't deny the desire that surged through me whenever I remembered our kiss.

When he mentioned perfecting our fake dating skills for everyone to see, I knew kissing would be involved, but I didn't expect to react the way I did. I shouldn't be surprised seeing how insanely attracted I was to him but still, being attracted to someone and acting on said attraction were two completely different things.

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