Page 11 of Afraid to Hope

Another knock and Matilda popped her head in. “Director? Mr. Nasir is here.”

“Please show him in, and more tea, Matilda. Thank you.”

Matilda ushered in a handsome man wearing a light djellabaover his dress pants and button-down shirt. He appeared to be roughly the same age as Natasha and Bane and was a few inches shorter than Bane, his eyes as dark as his recently cut hair and groomed beard.

“Rafiq,salam alaikum.Thank you for joining us.” Emmet patted Rafiq on the shoulder while shaking his hand, then nodded to Natasha and Bane.

“Wa-alaikum salam,Emmet.It is good to see you, my friend.”

Bane stepped forward and extended his hand as Matilda left with the teapot. “Salam alaikum.I’m Bane Rua. This is my wife, Dr. Natasha Rua.”

Her new identity was introduced, just like that. No chances were being taken.

“I am Rafiq Nasir.Wa-alaikum salam,” he responded, shaking Bane’s hand. “I look forward to working with you.” He bowed his head slightly to Natasha.“Salam alaikum.”

“Wa-alaikum salam,Rafiq,”Natasha said, smiling softly. The Moroccan greeting of wishing peace to one another was lovely, and it took the edge off what had just transpired. “Please call me Natasha.”

“Let’s move to the smaller conference room,” Emmet said, taking a step. He led them across the reception area.

Matilda trailed behind, ready with fresh empty cups and a larger teapot as they seated themselves around the rectangular wood table, Bane next to Natasha. “Shall I order lunch?”

“In order to be thorough, we’ll likely go into the lunch hour. Are you all okay with a working lunch? We’ll make it a light one since we recently finished our breakfast.”

They all nodded and murmured yes.

“Thank you, Mrs. Bradley,” Emmet said.

Bane added, “Matilda, a reminder that my wife does not eat red meat.”

Natasha looked at her sandaled feet, surprised that Bane knew that. She pasted a grateful smile on her face as she looked at him. “Thank you.”

Bane’s expression softened, but he didn’t make any movement to touch her.

“Is chicken fine with you, Dr. Rua?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Does anyone else have a request?” Matilda looked at each person individually to make sure she missed nothing. Her inquiry was met with shaking heads and no, thank yous.

Matilda exited and returned with four large folders, which she placed in front of Emmet.

“You are American, Bane, yes?” Rafiq glanced across the table.

“I am.”

“But your accent, Natasha. It’s not American. More…” He drank deeply from his cup, then placed it on the table. “I can’t place it.”

“It’s French and South African. My father was Bantu and my mother French.”

“I see. How long have you been married?”

Bane deftly enclosed Natasha’s hand in his under the table, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles, then tapping once. Still rattled, she was grateful for the reminder and responded, “A month. And you?”

“I have been married for less than a year as well. My wife is pregnant, and the baby is coming soon.”

“Newlyweds, like us. Congratulations on the baby.” Bane smiled warmly at Natasha, his eyes darkening, almost appearing brown.

Natasha’s insides flipped and she found herself powerless to look away.

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