Page 10 of Mark My Words

“Yes.”

“Why are you talking like this?”

His forehead creased as he frowned.

“Destiny, I don’t know what I did to you,” her forehead creased, “or what my mother said to you…” her eyes widened, “…but I love you as I always have. I’ll never love anyone else. You’re it for me, baby.”

Destiny stopped dancing, her body going stiff. How did he know about his mother?

Malik held on to her, refusing to let her go.

“Which one is it? Did I do something to you? Did my mother say something to you?”

She blinked rapidly. “Who told you that?”

“Does it matter?”

“I would say so.”

“Why?”

Destiny dropped her head into the palm of her hand. “I can’t have this conversation.”

“Why not?”

“It isn’t the time or the place.”

“When will be? I can come to your home if you’d rather.”

“No, no,” she shook her head. “Why do you care now Malik, you’re getting married.”

He shuthis eyes and dropped a hand over his face. Then he grabbed her hand and pulled her off the dance floor, away from prying eyes.

Chapter Four

Destiny grabbed a champagne-filled flute on the way out of the main hall, tossing back the bubbly as Malik barged through a conference room door, drawing her inside.

He removed his mask, and Destiny was bombarded with the beauty of his dark melanin skin. For some reason, his eyes stood out all the more, and the complexities of angles that made up his face reminded her what a unique, beautiful man he was.

“I am not engaged. Yes, I was at one point in time. I thought it was the best way for me to get over you. But I’ve been honest enough with myself to know that no woman will ever compare to you. They can’t replace you here.”

He pointed to his chest, and Destiny’s throat clogged, her eyes watering.

“But your fiancée said—”

“Destiny,” he grabbed her hands, “do you think I would lie to you?”

She sucked in a breath.

“Because I never have, and I never would.” He removed her mask. “Why do you think I’m here?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do.”

“You wanted to pay your respects and donate to the annual charity.”

“I could’ve done that by writing a check,” he said frankly.

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