Aaliyah and the Billionaire's Lamp

by Catelyn Meadows

  Aaliyah’s heart sank. She hurried to clear the disdain in his tone. “He hasn’t been doing anything of the kind, Papa. He’s been trying to keep distance between us for Zayn’s sake. That’s why I’m talking to you. He’s honorable and good. While Zayn hasn’t so much as called me, River treats me like I matter.”

  Papa folded his arms. “You are sounding like a childish, love-struck girl.”

  Fear began rattling between her ribs, but she gripped the lamp. She wouldn’t back down. Not this time.

  “Maybe I am, but I have enough sense to know that I don’t want to marry Zayn. I know you’re sick, Papa. I want to please you, but I also have to be true to myself. I think I’m qualified to be Elir Resort’s CEO, but if you believe Zayn more worthy for the position, at least let me choose who I want to marry.”

  Her father’s expression shifted with gradual realization, as though Aaliyah had lifted a mask and revealed someone else beneath her outer shell. She waited for the same adoring, sympathetic pride he usually displayed when she tried talking to him like this. The kitten look. Rather than simper at her and pat her lovingly on the head, his brows set.

  “I see you’re serious about this.”

  She straightened, attempting to stand as tall as she could. At five foot five, that wasn’t saying much. “I am, Papa.”

  The clock on his desk ticked ever so softly, a steady, monotone click that somehow made her imagine his thoughts stacking and rearranging in his brain.

  “Very well.”

  Aaliyah nearly coughed. She squeezed the lamp in her palm. “What?”

  “Zayn is returning this afternoon, and the two of you can give it one last chance. If it’s not going to work out, I suppose it’s not going to work out. However, I have difficulty believing he will show no interest in you once he is here.”

  Whether Zayn showed interest in her now or not, it was too late. The damage had been done. She’d been impacted by River, and he wasn’t the kind of man she could forget easily. Especially not after their conversation last night. After their brief kiss.

  “Why don’t we all go for a swim this afternoon?” Papa suggested. “I will casually watch your interaction together.”

  Monitored dating? Not her idea of ideal, but at least he was listening to her. Thank you, lamp, she thought.

  “I will give it another try with him,” she said. “If Zayn pays attention to me today, if he shows that he’s willing to get to know me, then I will be too.” She regretted the words once they were out. That was a stiff promise to make when she’d requested a choice in the matter. “But I ask that you leave the decision up to me,” she amended.

  “All right,” her father said. “I agree. But what of River? He could lose his job if you choose him over his master.”

  “Zayn is his boss, not his master, Papa,” she corrected, pushing away the discomfort brought on by Papa’s statement. She told herself it would be okay. Zayn wouldn’t fire River for this, would he?

  “Why not invite him too?” she suggested “You can see how he treats me, Papa. He is so kind, so thoughtful.”

  He gathered his hands behind his back. “Does he treat you with respect?”

  “He does.” Her smile was filled with private thoughts. Last night River could have pushed her to go so much farther, and yet he’d been the one to keep his distance, to respect her and remind her of her obligations.

  He’d been the good one, and while part of her felt ashamed for her actions, she couldn’t regret her feelings for him, sudden as they were. Nor could she ignore the brief kiss they’d shared. It had imprinted on the underside of her skin so she relived it every time she closed her eyes. It lit a glow within her, leaving traces of warmth.

  “Very well. River will be invited as well. We’ll see who is the better man for you, my princess.”

  “Thank you, Papa.” She kissed her father on the cheek and scurried from the room before he changed his mind. Part of her wanted to head straight for River’s room, but considering their previous encounter, some distance might be best.

  Instead, she made a few phone calls. Ordinarily, she never would have acted without her father’s consent, but she knew what she was doing. She knew exactly the steps to take to help the resorts that were currently struggling, to get their profits back up where they needed to be. Sure, it would take an initial investment to return things where they belonged, but once these resorts were renovated and back on their feet? She estimated the profits from those resorts would double.

  If that didn’t convince Papa she was qualified for CEO, she didn’t know what would.

  It was time to show her father what she was made of.

  But first, she had to get her swimming suit on.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  River checked his accounts on his laptop that morning. Discouragement burbled in his stomach like unsettled sauerkraut. His investments weren’t looking good. Absentmindedly, his hand crept to his pocket, only to find it empty.

  With dread building, he patted every other pocket before memory struck him. That’s right. He’d lent the lamp to Aaliyah.

  His mom told him he was foolish to credit so much to the small hunk of metal, but he couldn’t deny the way his luck began to change after he’d found it. He’d stopped getting fired. He’d gotten the job with Zayn. He’d found books at thrift stores and studied investing while at the public libraries. He’d been able to start putting a little money in different places. Stocks. A 401K. Money market funds.

  To have a home in the countryside. To work from that home. To feel secure for the rest of his life. That was all he wanted.

  Someone to share all of that with was starting to creep into the picture as well. Someone with dark hair, a smile that set off her eyes like stars at midnight, an affinity for business and fast cars, the ability to make conversation seem as easy as breathing. Someone whose kiss made him feel like he had the strength of one hundred instead of only one.

  River shook his head. He had to get Aaliyah out of his mind. He still couldn’t believe the trip to her room last night had taken the turn it had. What had he been thinking, going there so late? He hadn’t been thinking—that was the problem. He’d felt so comfortable with her, he’d just trotted right over. And then she’d turned coy, and he’d melted like a puddle of wax, soft enough for her to mold him into whatever she’d wanted.

  That’s what he was around her. A puddle. Yet, he wanted to be around her all the more. River exhaled, rubbing a palm to his forehead. He really should go home, but he’d given her his lamp, and he’d meant it when he said she couldn’t have it for good. He did want it back. Too bad he wanted her with it.

  His phone rang, and he was eager for the distraction. With the white, background noise, and the time of the call, River figured Zayn was calling from the plane itself. River had been on his jet once or twice. The plane was fancy, to say the least.

  “Good morning, Zayn. How are things faring for you?”

  “I’ll be there in an hour,” Zayn said. “I got a call from Elir. He wants us all to spend the afternoon at the pool together.”

  River’s gut sank. Aaliyah had said she would speak with her father. Either she hadn’t done so yet, or Elir’s answer had been no. This is how it should be, River told himself, pushing aside the flaring jealousy at the thought of Zayn with Aaliyah. She was engaged to him. He should spend time with her.

  He couldn’t discount her words from last night, and her claimed desire to be with him. With River. He’d based far too much hope on that claim, and now it was clear he needed to prepare himself to let her go.

  River forced the words. “That will be good for you. You need to get to know Aaliyah.”

  “Elir said he wants you there too, Riv.”

  Against his better judgment, this piqued his interest.

  “They want both of us there?” River asked. Concern began to seep in. Had Aaliyah told her dad about their midnight encounter in her room last night? She’d said she would, but with how controllin
g her father seemed to be, River began to worry he was about to receive a lecture like a scolded child.

  He needed to tell Zayn the truth, to tell him what was happening. Somehow, he couldn’t find the words.

  “That’s what Elir told me,” Zayn said. “I wouldn’t mind the break. Communicating with Norris is like herding cats. He rarely stays on the same topic without rambling off. Not to mention the other random accusations of this or that. It’s definitely dampening to my spirit. I need some down time.”

  River’s mind hit a roadblock. “Norris is making accusations? What is he accusing you of?”

  “I don’t know, he’s threatening that—whatever. Never mind.”

  Cautiously, River set his laptop aside and stood, scowling in concern. “Zayn, what happened?” If his concern regarded the case he was there to work on, River knew Zayn couldn’t tell him. It didn’t, however, prevent him from asking.

  “Nothing! I’m no criminal, so I’ve been ignoring them. ”

  “Is it Norris? Send me the calls from now on,” River said. “They should be coming to me anyway. How did he get your number?”

  The hesitation on the other line was too long for River’s liking. He got the feeling there was something Zayn wasn’t telling him. The only people who had Zayn’s direct number were those whom Zayn had given the number to himself. River certainly hadn’t offered his number to whomever this person was, assuming it was Norris.

  “It’s okay, I can deal with it. Looks like I may need some representation of my own. For now, I just need some sunshine. That will get my mind off of everything.”

  This made no sense. If there was any kind of legal claim or threat, it would have come through Zayn’s correspondence, wouldn’t it? What was going on? Granted, they hadn’t been at the firm to receive any summons or whatever the threat entailed. Perhaps that had something to do with it.

  River was worried. Zayn wasn’t usually this closed off or this prone to dealing with things on his own. Zayn almost always referred all of his problems to him.

  “Sunshine will do you good,” River said, trying to cheer him. As though he hadn’t gotten enough of it in Fiji. “I just don’t know why Mr. Elir wants us both there if you’re with Aaliyah. I’ve got some business to catch up on, so I think I’ll leave you to it.”

  The last time River’s presence had been requested by Mr. Elir, it’d been so awkward he’d spent the morning hiding behind a magazine. He couldn’t imagine how much harder it would be now that he had feelings for Aaliyah. Could he sit by and watch her with Zayn?

  “Oh come on, come swimming. I’m sure it’s a huge pool. There’ll be plenty of space for you to make a splash.”

  He’d already made plenty of splashes. Ugh, he hated this sneaky, distasteful feeling inside of him. He needed to be upfront about what had happened. River had a nagging suspicion this was why he was being included in the invitation. Had Aaliyah gone to her father after all?

  He wished he’d had the sense to get her number so he could call and discuss it with her instead of speaking in person. Going to her room again was not a good idea.

  Maybe inviting both him and Zayn was her doing. Maybe she wanted him there, and she’d made sure he would be.

  Again, he considered just heading home and leaving them to it. But he couldn’t until the truth came out, and this seemed to be the best time to do it. He would tell Zayn, get his lamp back from Aaliyah, and then he would go home.

  The water in the dual pools on the rooftop was the definition of blue. Palm trees swayed in a gentle, humid breeze, while sunlight pounded against Aaliyah’s bare shoulders. She relished the feel of the warm cement beneath her bare feet and moved through the cleared pool area with flurrying excitement and trepidation.

  She would see Zayn today. How could she after that kiss with River? She knew she should feel guilty about it, and while she’d initially agreed to her father’s engagement scheme, that guilt didn’t seem completely justified. Zayn had never officially asked her to be his wife. There was no ring on her finger. He couldn’t even devote an hour to her. Why should she wait for someone who was so disinterested in her?

  She gripped River’s lamp in her palm. Its metal was a cool contrast to the day’s moist heat. So much of her future was riding on this get-together. She prayed it would all work out as it was meant to. As she hoped it would.

  A man in sunglasses and white swim trunks, with dark hair and bronze skin, sauntered from the hotel’s exit toward the pool. Her heart gave a lurch until she realized it wasn’t River. It was Zayn.

  She had to admit, he was handsome. While River was too, his looks alone didn’t draw her to him. Appearances weren’t everything. They didn’t matter as much as respect, as listening, as making her feel valued, all of which River had done. He could have looked like a duck, and she would have been drawn to him nonetheless. The thought simmered a little inside.

  Zayn lifted a hand in her direction and gave her a smile. At least he acknowledged her. There was that.

  Aaliyah bolstered her courage. Tucking away the lamp within her towel on the lounge chair, she met him halfway.

  “Hey, there,” he said. “Nice day for a swim.”

  “I guess it is,” she said. Who was she kidding? The day was gorgeous, with the sky imitating the pool’s blue water, the ocean spreading through the view from the glass barriers along the rooftop’s edge, and the palm trees dancing every few feet or so around them.

  “Do you like to swim?” Zayn asked.

  She rested a hand on her hip. “I’ve grown up in resorts all over the world, Mr. Hassan. I almost have to like it.”

  “You can’t tell me it doesn’t come along with the territory.”

  “Do you like everywhere you go simply because you’re there?” She couldn’t help the touchiness in her tone. He was probably just trying to initiate conversation, but she was still bitter at coming second for him. They were supposedly engaged. A date was set. She knew very well he’d called River and her father during his travels, but he couldn’t bring himself to call her?

  It just made what she intended to do that much easier.

  “Fair enough,” he said. “What’s your favorite resort you’ve ever lived in?”

  This was a good question. She was pleasantly surprised, and yet thrown off. She didn’t want him to talk with her, not really. He was supposed to ignore her, to leave her to be with River.

  She pressed her lips into a thin line and glanced around. Where was River, anyway? And her father, for that matter?

  As if on cue, the elevator dinged and opened to reveal River standing beside Papa. Her heart chirruped like a clock chiming the hour. River. Glorious and confident, he wore blue swim trunks and nothing else. His chest was chiseled and toned, giving her the impression he was well acquainted with a gym. As he stepped out onto the rooftop, with the sun as his backdrop, he made her mouth water.

  He seemed to be complimenting Papa on his new haircut, with friendly gestures and a winning smile. That was good. Papa needed some positive attention about it.

  Aaliyah greeted her father, who wore a Hawaiian button-up shirt, shorts, and flip flops, before receiving the full force of River’s attention. His skin glowed in the sunlight. His eyes gleamed as he took in her one-piece with its ruffled neckline. Zayn presented himself, shaking hands and greeting her father.

  “You look fantastic,” River said, pulling her aside.

  She beamed at him. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

  “Look, about last night.” He scraped a hand through his hair.

  “Last night was spellbinding.” She inched forward, lowering her voice to a whisper, trying and desperately failing to notice the bare skin on his muscular chest and arms. “I want more last nights. Don’t you?” It was all she could do not to take his hand or throw herself in his embrace.

  His jaw ticked. “I—”

  He didn’t get the chance to answer before Zayn joined them. He offered River a hand.

  “Good to see
you, man,” Zayn said.

  “You too,” River replied, though his tone and wary expression suggested the opposite.

  Aaliyah chewed her lip and met her father’s expectant gaze. This was her chance. Come on, lamp!

  “So Zayn,” she began. “How was your trip?”

  “It was…enlightening.”

  “That doesn’t sound very pleasant,” Aaliyah said.

  Zayn grimaced and exchanged an eyebrow message with River. Had something happened?

  Papa stepped in. “We’re glad you’re back, Zayn. It’s good to go over some details and adjustments. Circumstances change quickly. It’s the nature of business, and of life, wouldn’t you say?”

  Zayn hesitated. There was that uneasy glance again with River. “I’m not sure what you’re getting at,” Zayn said.

  Papa seemed to find this amusing. “It’s why I’ve called you and your assistant here. Aaliyah, I believe, has something she’d like to discuss with you both, and I’m here to support her in any way I can.”

  He gestured toward the nearest white bench located beneath the protection of a gaping umbrella and covered in cushions. That was good. She knew her father couldn’t sit too long in the sunlight, not with the treatments he was undergoing.

  Zayn and River sat on the bench diagonally from one another. River gave her an encouraging nod while Zayn’s gaze darted between them.

  Aaliyah inhaled, bolstered by her father’s unprecedented faith in her. “All right then,” she said.

  Zayn rested his palm on his thigh. “Talking is good,” he said. “I know I’ve missed out on a lot the past few days, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t been on my mind, Aaliyah.”

  “Oh?” She took the bench across from him, and her father settled onto the empty space beside her. Despite the umbrella’s shade, heat from the bench’s fabric nipped her bare legs.

  “Yes, and I—” Zayn’s phone rang, cutting him off mid-sentence.

  Aaliyah’s teeth gritted. He’d brought his phone? “Business at the pool?” She certainly hadn’t brought hers.