CHAPTER FORTY ONE
“The road to good intentions.”
The following morning began with a promise.
"I'll be home by seven," Malik said, fastening the cuff of his shirt.
Zara looked up from the breakfast bar.
"You've got another board meeting?"
"Just one."
"And then I'm all yours."
She smiled.
"You don't have to rush."
"I want to."
He walked over, kissed her gently and rested his forehead against hers.
"I've missed us."
She laughed softly.
"We literally spent all evening together."
"I know."
"I still miss you."
She shook her head, smiling.
"You are unbelievably needy."
"I've accepted that."
She kissed him once more before grabbing her handbag.
"I've got supplier meetings all afternoon."
"Then I'll see you tonight."
"Seven."
"Seven."
They left the apartment together, locking the door behind them.
Neither realised it would be the last uncomplicated promise they made to one another for a long time.
Malik arrived at Carter Developments to find Marcus already waiting.
The surveillance photographs lay spread across the conference table.
Damien Cross.
Lena.
A café in Queens.
Another meeting two days later.
Then another.
Marcus folded his arms.
"I don't like it."
"Neither do I."
"You still think she's innocent?"
Malik stared at the photographs.
"I don't know what I think."
Marcus hesitated.
"We could bring her in."
"And ask what?"
"If she's working with Devon."
Malik looked up sharply.
"Not without proof."
"So what do we do?"
Malik slid the photographs back into their envelope.
"I'll speak to her."
Marcus frowned.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"I need to hear it from her."
Marcus remained silent.
"Boss..."
"...if Zara finds out—"
"I'm not hiding anything."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
Malik sighed.
"I'll tell her."
"When?"
"After I know whether there's actually something to tell."
Marcus looked disappointed.
"You've said those words before."
Bellamy & Co. was buzzing with preparations for the Foundation Gala.
Camille gathered the senior team around a long table.
"I've had confirmation from every major sponsor."
She smiled at Zara.
"This event is your biggest responsibility yet."
"No pressure."
Camille laughed.
"A little pressure."
Naomi nudged Zara.
"You're going to smash it."
"I hope so."
"You will."
As the meeting ended, Camille asked Zara to stay behind.
"I wanted to ask you something."
"Of course."
"I know things have been... difficult lately."
Zara smiled politely.
"We're okay."
"I'm glad."
Camille leaned back in her chair.
"I've watched you these last few months."
"You've grown into this role beautifully."
She paused.
"I hope you know how proud you should be of yourself."
Those words caught Zara off guard.
It was becoming easier to hear them.
To believe them.
At half past four, Malik pulled into the underground car park of a quiet apartment building in Queens.
Lena was waiting outside.
She looked surprised to see him alone.
"I thought Marcus was coming."
"I wanted to speak privately."
She folded her arms.
"This doesn't look good."
"I know."
She unlocked the communal entrance.
"Come upstairs."
Her apartment was modest.
Neat.
Comfortable.
Nothing about it suggested luxury or hidden wealth.
Malik remained standing.
"I'm not staying long."
"I didn't expect you to."
Lena poured two glasses of water.
"You've been asking questions about me."
"I have."
"And you've been following me."
"I've had security watching because someone broke into your apartment."
She nodded slowly.
"I know."
They stood in silence for a moment.
Finally Malik placed one of the photographs on the table.
"You know him?"
Lena looked down.
Her face immediately changed.
"Where did you get this?"
"Who is he?"
She looked away.
"I asked you first."
"He worked for Devon."
Lena's shoulders dropped.
"So you know."
"Know what?"
She closed her eyes.
"I met him."
"Three times."
Malik's jaw tightened.
"Why?"
"Because he told me he could help."
"Help with what?"
She laughed bitterly.
"Getting rid of all this."
She gestured around the room.
"The surveillance."
"The break-in."
"The anonymous messages."
"He said if I answered a few questions..."
"...he'd make it stop."
The room fell silent.
"What questions?"
"You."
Malik felt his stomach drop.
"What about me?"
"Whether we'd spoken."
"If we still had feelings."
"If we'd ever considered getting back together."
"And what did you say?"
She looked him straight in the eye.
"The truth."
"That chapter ended years ago."
Malik believed her.
Not because he wanted to.
Because the fear in her voice couldn't be faked.
"You should've told me."
"I know."
"I was ashamed."
"I thought I could make it disappear."
He rubbed a hand across his face.
"So did I."
She frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"I haven't told Zara I'm here."
Lena stared at him.
"What?"
"I wanted answers first."
She shook her head immediately.
"Malik."
"You need to tell her."
"I will."
"No."
She stepped closer.
"You need to tell her today."
At that exact moment, Zara was leaving Bellamy & Co. with Naomi.
"I'm starving."
Naomi laughed.
"You say that every day."
"Because I'm hungry every day."
As they reached the pavement, Zara noticed a black envelope tucked beneath the windscreen wiper of her car.
"No stamp."
"No address."
She frowned.
"Probably a parking notice."
She picked it up.
Inside was a single photograph.
Nothing else.
No note.
No explanation.
Just one image.
Malik.
Standing outside an apartment building.
Looking up towards one of the windows.
The timestamp had been cropped.
The location removed.
Her heartbeat slowed.
Not because she thought he'd done something wrong.
Because she recognised the jacket.
He was wearing it today.
Naomi looked over her shoulder.
"What is it?"
Zara quietly slipped the photograph back into the envelope.
"I don't know."
But for the first time since they'd moved in together...
A question she never wanted to ask entered her mind.
Where is Malik right now?
Miles away, Malik climbed back into his car.
His phone lit up.
Zara ??
Calling.
He closed his eyes.
He'd only been trying to protect her.
Now he realised...
He might have just handed Devon exactly what he'd been waiting for.