CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
“The woman from before.”
Malik barely slept.
The image of the white lily sitting on Lena's kitchen table replayed in his mind over and over again.
It wasn't random.
It wasn't coincidence.
It was a message.
The same message Devon had left for Zara.
Which meant one thing.
Devon wasn't just watching.
He was moving people into position.
The next morning, Marcus arrived at Carter Developments before eight.
He placed a folder on Malik's desk.
"Forensics confirmed there was no forced entry."
Malik frowned.
"So whoever went inside..."
"...had a key?"
"Or knew how to bypass the lock."
Marcus folded his arms.
"Lena's shaken."
"I've arranged temporary security outside her building."
Malik nodded.
"Good."
Marcus studied him carefully.
"You need to tell Zara."
"I know."
"No."
Marcus shook his head.
"You've been saying 'I know' for three days."
"When are you actually going to do it?"
Malik looked out of the office window.
"Tonight."
"No more waiting."
Across Brooklyn, Zara's promotion was finally official.
Camille gathered the team together just before lunch.
"I've got an announcement."
Naomi grinned.
"If this is another wedding, I'm resigning."
The office laughed.
Camille smiled before turning towards Zara.
"As of today..."
"...I'd like everyone to congratulate our new Senior Event Coordinator."
The room erupted into applause.
Naomi was the first to hug her.
"I told you."
"I actually did tell you."
Zara laughed through happy tears.
"I know."
Camille handed her a small envelope.
"Your new contract."
"You've earned every bit of it."
For a moment, Zara forgot about Devon.
Forgot about anonymous gifts.
Forgot about Tennessee.
She simply allowed herself to be proud.
That evening, Malik collected Zara from work.
"I've booked dinner."
She smiled.
"We're celebrating?"
"We are."
"I've got promoted."
"I know."
She looked at him suspiciously.
"How?"
"Camille called."
"What?"
"I asked her to let me know."
"You've been planning this."
"For weeks."
She laughed.
"You really are impossible."
"I've heard that before."
The restaurant overlooked the Hudson River.
Quiet.
Elegant.
The sort of place where conversations mattered more than appearances.
Halfway through dinner, Malik became unusually serious.
"There's something I should've told you sooner."
Zara put her fork down.
"Lena?"
He nodded.
"Something happened yesterday."
He explained the break-in.
The white lily.
Marcus increasing security.
Everything.
This time...
He left nothing out.
When he finished, Zara remained silent.
Not because she was angry.
Because she was thinking.
"So whoever's doing this..."
"...is targeting both of you."
"That's what we think."
She leaned back in her chair.
"Then why?"
"I don't know."
"Maybe because she represents my past."
"And you represent my future."
The words settled quietly between them.
She reached across the table.
"I'm glad you told me."
"I should've told you yesterday."
"You should have."
He nodded.
"But you didn't."
"No."
She squeezed his hand.
"So don't make that mistake twice."
"I won't."
As they left the restaurant, Marcus was waiting discreetly by the car.
He stepped towards Malik.
"Sorry to interrupt."
"What is it?"
Marcus glanced briefly at Zara.
"Lena wants to speak to you."
"Now?"
"She says it's important."
Malik hesitated.
Then looked at Zara.
"I don't want any more secrets."
She smiled gently.
"Then don't have any."
He took a slow breath.
"Come with me."
She blinked.
"You sure?"
"If we're doing this..."
"...we're doing it together."
Twenty minutes later they arrived at a small café in Tribeca.
Lena was already there.
She stood as they approached.
Her eyes immediately fell on Zara.
"So..."
A small, nervous smile crossed her face.
"You must be Zara."
Zara smiled politely.
"And you're Lena."
The atmosphere wasn't hostile.
Just awkward.
Lena looked at Malik.
"I didn't know she'd be coming."
"I asked her to."
For a brief moment, Lena studied the two of them.
Then she smiled.
"I actually respect that."
They sat down.
Lena wrapped both hands around her untouched coffee.
"I need you both to know something."
Malik frowned.
"I'm listening."
"I didn't leave that note."
"What note?"
"The one on my kitchen table."
"I've never bought white lilies."
She looked directly at Zara.
"And I have absolutely no interest in getting back together with Malik."
Zara believed her immediately.
Not because of what she said.
Because of how she said it.
There was no jealousy.
No resentment.
Just exhaustion.
Lena laughed quietly.
"If I'm honest..."
She looked at Malik.
"We were terrible together."
Malik smiled despite himself.
"We really were."
"You brought out the worst in me."
"You brought out the worst in me too."
They both laughed.
Zara found herself laughing as well.
The tension eased.
Lena looked back at Zara.
"He's different now."
"I know."
She smiled.
"I can see that."
There wasn't a trace of bitterness in her voice.
Only acceptance.
As they prepared to leave, Lena stopped beside Zara.
"Can I tell you one thing?"
"Of course."
She glanced towards Malik, who was paying the bill.
"If he ever looks at you the way he looked at me..."
"...walk away."
Zara's heart tightened.
Lena smiled softly.
"But..."
She looked across the room at Malik.
"He hasn't looked at anyone that way in years."
She met Zara's eyes.
"The way he looks at you..."
"...I've never seen before."
Emotion caught in Zara's throat.
"Thank you."
Lena nodded.
"I genuinely hope the two of you make it."
Then she walked away.
From a car parked across the street, a long camera lens followed every movement.
Click.
Malik standing between Zara and Lena.
Click.
Zara and Lena speaking alone.
Click.
The three of them leaving the café together.
The photographer smiled.
The pictures themselves meant nothing.
But once they were cropped...
Once the timing was changed...
Once the right caption was added...
They could mean anything.
He sent them to Devon.
Less than a minute later, a reply appeared.
Excellent.
Tomorrow we start the rumours.
Across the street, Zara slipped her hand into Malik's as they walked towards the car.
For the first time, she felt she'd finally put Lena in the past.
She had no idea someone else had just turned Lena into the future.