Chapter 16 - Sayid
I lean back in my chair, the weight of responsibility pressing heavily against my shoulders as my team lays out everything they have gathered. I need to get this done while Nora is away. I don’t want her involved. I want to protect her from not only the details of what is discovered, but also this heavier part of my life.
The room is filled with only those I trust implicitly. Asim, the former Interpol operative, sits nearest to me and is already sharing his files. Also joining us is my head of security, two of our top guards, my personal driver and bodyguard, and our senior family advisor.
“Tyson Ross.” Asim, flips to a section in the file in front of me. “He’s deeper in with the Pavlovas than we initially thought. It’s not just money laundering—he’s handling a bit more than their books.”
I exhale sharply, skimming the documents. “What’s his real position with them?”
“That’s what we need to confirm,” Asim says. “On the surface, he’s just a financial middleman, but there are whispers that he’s trying to work his way further in. Whether that means expanding their operations in the States or something else, we don’t know yet.”
I glance at Asim. “The Pavlovas respect power. I have kept my dealings with them limited but amicable. I’ll need to arrange a meeting to see exactly how useful Tyson has become to them. And how easily they will part with him.”
Idris, our family advisor, clears his throat. “Are you certain this is necessary? This is not just a personal vendetta—”
I cut him a sharp look. “No, it’s not just personal. Make no mistake, Tyson’s fate is already sealed. The only question is how much blood I will have to spill to sever him from this world.” Idris sighs but does not argue further. He knows me well enough to recognize that my mind is made up.
My head of security, Youssef, then speaks up. “We also traced the flowers.” My grip tightens slightly around the glass in my hand. “Facial recognition confirms it was Dr. Ian Kasey who delivered them to Nora.” My expression doesn’t change, but something in my chest twists with dark satisfaction. My suspicions were correct.
“He has no criminal background, no known associates that would be concerning,” Youssef continues, “but his continued connection to Nora… that’s another story.”
“What is it?” I demand.
“We’ve tracked his movements. Nothing overtly threatening, but he’s been keeping tabs on her for awhile. It is pretty clear that she is the reason he applied to this hospital. Once we ran data analysis, he used his credentials to access her schedule. And based on the logs, it isn't the first time he has monitored her. He’s definitely watching.”
A slow, simmering rage settles into my bones. “If he’s watching, then it’s time he sees me,” I say coldly. He may not know who I am, and the reputation I have, but he will feel my warning.
“Sayid, have you considered that perhaps making your relationship more official will solidify your claim on Nora, and keep these outside interests away for good.” Idris has a good point, but I will make sure Nora is my wife on her own terms—as much as I want to commit to her at this very moment, if it means her absolute protection.
“Idris, I am aware that may be necessary. I have always set the expectation that I will marry only for love, and not for any other convenience. However, I intend to do everything absolutely necessary to keep Nora safe.”
A pause settles over the room, a silent understanding. “Let me know when you have a meeting set with Ivan Pavlova. I will handle Dr. Kasey myself,” I instruct. I want to make sure to protect the details of Nora’s relationship with him as much as possible. I am the only one that needed to know about her preferences.
∞∞∞
I stand looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows of the office inside my penthouse. Hands clasped behind my back, watching the city below as I wait for Nora to return. My concern pulses through my body with the new knowledge of how He knew about her exam today.
My security team already informed me that she is on her way back, but something in their tone made me uneasy. When the elevator chimes, I turn around just in time to see her step inside.
She looks the same—beautiful, determined—but there is something else beneath the surface. A tension in her shoulders, a shadow in her eyes. I step toward her, reaching for her hand.
“You did well, Habiti. I can’t wait to take you out to celebrate.” Her lips part slightly, but instead of a smile, a breath of hesitation escapes her. That is all it takes. I knew. Something is wrong. “What happened?” My voice is steady, but the rage beneath it is already coiled tight.
She looks down, taking a breath before meeting my gaze. “Dr. Kasey was there.” The name alone is enough to make my hands curl into fists. She doesn’t pause.
“He saw me waiting in line to order a drink. Said he was giving a lecture. He tried to invite me to lunch, and when I refused, he kept pushing.”
“Kept saying how much he missed me. I told him no. Over and over. He didn’t get the hint. He even—” she hesitates, looking away briefly, “—he touched my arm, but I pulled away.”
The sheer effort it takes for me to keep from slamming my fist against the desk behind me is immense. I draw in a slow breath, forcing down the violent rage that threatens to take hold.
Then her brow furrows even more. “He congratulated me, said he heard about the exam at the hospital. But…I don’t know. There was just something off about the whole interaction that left me feeling uneasy.” So clever.
“He knew you were taking your exam, Nora.” I keep my voice level, but my words are cold and absolute. “That was not a coincidence.” I turn toward my desk, pulling out the file Youssef left for me. “He sent the flowers. I had my team investigate him further.” Her breath catches and her chest trembles.
“He’s been keeping track of you,” I continue. I met her curious gaze. “His record may be clean, but his intentions are not. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but today he made it clear—he does not intend to let you go.”
I step towards her, cupping her chin so she can’t look away. “I will handle this, Hayati.” My thumb traces her jawline, soft but possessive. “He will understand that you are mine. That he has no choice but to cease his pursuit of you.”
Her green eyes flicker with emotion. She isn’t afraid—not of me, not of the decision I had already made. “I trust you,” she whispers. I press a kiss to her forehead.
My mind is already made up. Dr. Kasey will learn a lesson in ownership. And I will be the one to teach it. The tension in Nora’s shoulders didn’t ease as I held her. I don’t want the shadow of this man to ruin this day.
She needs a distraction. Something to make her smile, to loosen the grip of the past. “Come,” I say, taking her hand in mine. “Let’s get out of here.”
Her brow furrows. “Where?”
“I don’t know yet.” I squeeze her fingers, pulling her close. “But you need a break, and I want to be the one to make sure you get what you deserve.” She hesitates only a moment before nodding, letting me lead her out.
My driver is already waiting, but instead of giving him a destination, I simply tell him to drive. The city moves past us in a blur, and then, as we get out of the busy city streets, we pass a carnival on the outskirts of town. I know exactly what I want to do.