Chapter 32

Z A R A

"You're lying, that's Hrithik Roshan,"

Yasmeen whispers to me while eyeing Frank suspiciously. "Hrithik Roshan is your bodyguard and you're just hiding it."

"Why would such an A-list Bollywood actor be my bodyguard, out of all things?" I giggle. "But, honestly, I thought the same thing when I saw him. I couldn't believe he wasn't Hrithik."

"Mister," she calls out to Frank. He turns his head to look at her. "Are you related to Hrithik Roshan by any chance?"

His expression doesn't change. "No."

"Do you know who he is?" She continues to ask.

"No," he answers flatly.

"He's lying. I just know he's related to him," she frowns, looking at me. She turns back to him, "Are you single?"

"Lady, why is your friend as crazy as you?" He finally breaks character. I burst into a fit of laughter. "Unfortunately, she's a tad bit crazier than me."

He grunts out of annoyance and goes back to pacing around the front door.

"Oh, Alejandro told me to let you know to tone yourself down or you'll end up causing unwanted trouble," I let her know.

"Let him know I don't take you to places where you'll get shot, unlike him. He's the type to end up causing unwanted trouble." She rolls her eyes.

"Speaking of getting shot, what did you tell Alejandro?" I raise a brow.

She tenses up, "Uh... I told Marcus, actually." She explains what happened to her, how Marcus saved her, and the theory she had about me being the target.

"That explains why he has me taking self-defence classes..." I think out loud.

"Oh! That's fun!" She grins.

"It actually is!" I smile. "I'm enjoying it a lot! It gives me a sense of control and power, however little it may be."

"That's good! I'm jeal—" Yasmeen pauses, her eyes trail down my neck. She leans in and pulls the collar of my hoodie down further. "O-ho! What's all of this?"

My eyes widen, "Oh... uh... It's..."

"You let Alejandro give you hickies?! You two get frisky often?" She smirks. "Wait, did it hurt? Did it make you feel sexy?" She starts asking all these questions.

"Yasmeen... I..." I feel this overwhelming sense of wanting to burst into tears.

"Zara?" She looks at me with concern. "You're not okay, are you?" She whispers.

I shake my head, not being able to lie to her. She pulls me into a hug, "I'm here now, you'll be okay. Shhh, you'll be okay."

The words are so soothing and comforting but almost means nothing because she can't do anything against him. The only thing I can do is protect her by not telling her anything further. Or so I thought I could keep my mouth shut.

"Do you remember the game we used to play during lunchtime in high school?" She says in a loud, casual tone.

I raise a brow... We didn't play any game... But I nod, nonetheless. Yasmeen is very resourceful, her random actions sometimes carry meaning. This sounds like one of those times.

"What was it called again... It's a very mainstream game. The one with X's and O's," she says.

"Tic Tac Toe!" I make it sound like the game carries memories. "Oh my God! That used to get us so frustrated. I almost killed you a couple of times for fooling me."

"Yes! Let's play! I'm sure you have some pens and paper somewhere in this fancy apartment," she grins.

"I do! Let me go grab it!" I quickly get off the couch to find a paper and some pens.

"I'll write my name beside the X and you can write yours beside the O so we don't get confused!" She suggests. I clearly know we won't forget but I don't complain.

She slips the two pieces of paper towards me, one with the actual game and the other with the questions.

She writes: "being watched?" I get it now, oh my God, she caught up. And she's taking no chances and I'm grateful for that.

I write back: "Yes, everywhere."

"I already think I'll win!" she giggles as she writes on the paper: "did he hurt u?"

"Don't get too cocky," I smirk as I slide the paper over to me. I write back: "Yes"

"R u married?" she writes, asking if I'm only engaged or already married. She's also using short-forms so it doesn't look like it's taking too long for her to draw the X.

"Yes." I scribble on the paper.

"Oh! I told you! I win! Next round!" she won't draw out the longevity of the 'game' so it looks more realistic.

"You're so annoying!" I force my tone to sound playfully defeated.

"Legally?" she writes, continuing the questions.

"Yes." I write back.

"Escape?" she's asking if escaping is a possibility.

"No." It is absolutely not a possibility.

"You're really making it tough this round," she looks visibly upset. "Plan?" she writes.

"None."

"I win again!" She says loudly. Right then and there, my phone rings.

My heart is in my throat as the name on the screen pops up, it's Alejandro.

"Hello," I greet him.

"Having fun playing your little game, my love?" His tone is calm.

My breathing increases involuntarily, I'm struggling to breathe in and out. "Yes," I try not to sound suspicious.

"Good, good... Yasmeen is winning so far?" He asks as if he wasn't already watching us.

"Yes," my voice is this close to breaking down.

"Is that Alejandro?" Yasmeen says loudly.

I nod, "It is."

"Put him on speaker," she says. I do as she says. "Alejandro, I need you to not interrupt us. You've been hogging her this whole time and I need to spend some quality time with her."

"Ms. Yasin, I just simply miss my fiancée," he says, calmly.

"Mister—" she stops and looks at me, "What's his last name again?"

"Genovese," I answer.

"Mr. Genovese, mind your own business for this short amount of time and go back to work," she frowns but her anger is slowly reaching the surface. I grab her hand to let her know to breathe and not do or say anything reckless. She's lucky enough to be able to speak to him in such a manner without consequences but for how long?

He lets out a cool chuckle, "Okay, understood. I'll leave the two of you to it, then."

"Please do," Yasmeen says with a bit of spunk.