I didn’t know he found pleasure in doing little things, like a common man. Adam lacked all those fun activities in his life, which he had deserved to do in his youth. He spent all his teenage life lonely, or struggling with his father. In his early twenties, he lost his father, and then he threw himself into raising his father’s business to the heights. I can’t imagine how hard he has worked to achieve his current social status. He is seeking joy in small trips and hot chocolates. He is no different than other men, yet, his way of expressing his feelings to me is exceptional.
“If these moments can be bought, I am ready to spend all my wealth on them. But this is all possible because of you, Rania. You are my only friend; you are the only person in the whole world with whom I would want to share all these little pleasures.” He closes his eyes and continues. “And there will be no one else.”
“Thank you, Adam. I feel very special and… blessed.” I smile, placing my hand on his shoulder, and he opens his eyes at my touch. We enter a hallway that is filled with roses of all colors. It is a heavenly view. Adam takes my picture with almost every variety, as I read their details. His eyes get stuck on a lavender rose’s description.
“Commonly used for the expression of love at first sight.” His comment catches my attention and I walk toward him. “That’s quite a piece of information!” His eyes are fixed on the lavender roses and he is lost in thought, rubbing his index finger on his lower lip.
“They are beautiful, aren’t they?” I say, breaking into his thought. He looks at me with a strange and unreadable expression, and I continue talking. “God has amazed humans with all the beautiful colors and fragrances of flowers. Humans have chosen a different message for each flower, but I see them as pure and angelic beauty. Any color rose, for me, represents divinity and perfection. A human cannot achieve perfection. It is God’s individuality which is perfect.”
“I have never seen flowers the way you do. I always thought they were just for weddings, funerals and parties. You have a very different way of looking at nature.”
“That’s because I appreciate everything in nature. God has created beauty for our eyes, everywhere. It’s up to us to acknowledge it or not. Have you ever been to a tulip festival?” Adam shakes his head. “In the spring, we will go to one together.” I give him an exhilarated smile, which makes him elated.
“I can’t wait for the spring, then. If you’re going to be there, then I’m sure it must be breathtaking.”
We finish our tour, stopping at the souvenir shop on our way out. I pick up some magnets and brooches with different flower designs, and then my attention is diverted by masquerade masks that are displayed in the corner of the store. I pick up one bronze-colored mask and tie it around my eyes. I check myself in the mirror and am astounded to see that I look completely different in it—unrecognizable. Suddenly Adam is standing behind me, and his reflection in the mirror is flabbergasted.
“Excuse me! Have we met before? Are you—” His question surprises me. Didn’t he recognize me? Well, how could he? Even I am not able to recognize myself. I take off the mask and smile at his frozen face.
“Hey, it’s me. And yes, we have met.” I wink at him. He is still frozen and startled. “What happened, Adam? Why are you acting so weird?” He is utterly quiet for some time, and then he finally speaks.
“You dazzled me.”
“You didn’t recognize me?” I look at the other masks while talking to him.
“You reminded me of…” He is silent after that.
“Who?” I give him all my attention.
“Never mind. Shall we go?” He shakes his head in disbelief and changes the subject, but I know there is something stuck in his mind.
“Yes, sure.” I reach the counter and the young blonde cashier gives me my total. Her eyes are glued on Adam. I know he is handsome, but take your damn eyes off of him. I don’t know if it is jealousy or what, but I don’t like the way she’s staring at him. I take my wallet out of my bag, but Adam has already given his credit card to the girl.
“Adam, please, let me pay.” I grab his hand and push it aside. “This is my stuff, so please, don’t try to act like my boyfriend.”
“He isn’t your boyfriend?” asks the blonde girl, her eyes sparkling. She is totally drooling over Adam.
“Yes, I am. But my beautiful girlfriend keeps forgetting about it.” Adam gives the blonde an impersonal smile.
“Adam, don’t create a scene here. Let me pay, please,” I murmur.
“I can’t let you pay in front of me. For God’s sake! Why do you make things so difficult sometimes?” His generous look is changing to anger.
“You are a big time mid-century sexist.” I deliberately speak loudly, so the girl can hear. He looks at me confusedly, and then to the girl, who is staring at us open-mouthed. “I am not buying anything.” I put all the stuff on the counter. “Sorry for the trouble.” And I leave the store without even looking at Adam.
I wait outside near the exit of the conservatory, where I ask the guy to bring my jacket so we can leave as soon as possible. Adam joins me ten minutes later, and I wonder what took him so long. That blonde would be trying her best to seduce him, for sure. I put my jealous thoughts aside and see he has the store bag in his hand. The Italian boy brings our jackets and other accessories and we dress ourselves for the harsh weather outside. Adam reads my annoyed expression, so he doesn’t say anything until we settle ourselves in the car.
As we drive, I look out the window and pretend he doesn’t exist. What does he think, I can’t afford to buy souvenirs for myself? He doesn’t have to pay for everything I want to buy. He has already spent an enormous amount of money in less than a week. If he keeps spending at that rate, he’ll be a beggar in a month. He has earned all this wealth with struggle and devotion. I can’t let him spend it so wildly. And the fact that he thinks I can’t afford such a small amount makes me feel insignificant.
“You’re not going to talk?” I hear Adam’s voice from the other side of the car. I don’t respond. He says something to the driver in French, which I totally ignore, but after a few minutes the car stops at a corner and the driver steps outside. I look at Adam. “He is not going to drive the car unless you talk to me,” Adam says seriously.
“Are you kidding me? The poor man will freeze to death.” I try to open the door from my side, but it is locked.
“He’s a local. He’s used to these temperatures. If you pity him so much, then talk to me. I’ll call him back.” He comes a little closer to me and places the package on my lap. “You left this at the store.” I push the package away and ignore him.
“It’s not mine. You paid for it, so it’s yours.” I cross my arms over my chest and look outside to the poor driver. “Please call him inside.”
“You have pity for everyone. Why are you so merciless to me?” he whispers in my ear. I realize he is only an inch away from me. I shift closer to the window and look at him curiously.
“Merciless? That’s what you think of me?”
“You won’t take this package. You always refuse me whenever I—”
“Adam, I can’t accept presents from you.”
“But this is yours. You forgot it on the counter.”
“You paid for it, Adam. It’s not mine.” I frown over his argument. He is too much.
“But what difference does it make?”
“It makes a difference to me. Please, stop spending so much money on me. I feel disgraced.” I hide my face in my hands and rest my elbows on my knees. Why is he so difficult at times?
“Don’t talk about yourself like that in front of me. If that’s the case…” He pauses, so I open my eyes to see what he is doing. He takes the receipt out of his pocket. “Pay me for it. Or let’s go back to the store and I’ll return it, and then, you pay yourself.” He opens my palm and places the receipt on it. “Please don’t feel so low a
bout yourself. I never wanted to crush your self-esteem.” His sudden change in attitude, having all the sweetness in the world, melts my heart. We are arguing over only fifty-two dollars. “The poor man is freezing outside,” he says. “Have some mercy on him. Do you want to pay me now, or go back to that blonde?”
His sudden mention of the girl in a comic way makes me laugh, and it flushes out all the anger inside me. He waves to the driver, who returns and starts the car, and we are back on the road. I take out the exact amount of money and place it on his palm. He takes a pen from his pocket and hands it to me.
“Write something on it. You are giving me something for the first time. I want to keep it forever.” His sincerity matches his eyes. I don’t argue, as it is his money, so I write on the fifty-dollar bill:
For our arguments.
I sign my name and add the date. He takes the bill and grins from ear to ear, and puts the money in his wallet.
“Happy now?” he confirms, with his tender heart. I nod and smile back at him.
Our car stops on an old town street and I follow Adam to a local Italian restaurant. It is a main street, with lots of local businesses, though not crowded because it is a weekday. The aroma of food makes me realize that I am starving. We sit at a window table, so we can enjoy the view of the snow-covered street. Our server brings warm garlic bread right away and asks us if we would like to start with drinks and appetizers. Adam orders fresh orange juice for me and red wine for himself, with roasted peppers and mozzarella bites as an appetizer for us to share. I look around the restaurant and figure out that the absence of other people is once more due to his enormous spending.
“How do you manage to book places all to yourself, so quickly?” I finally ask the question which has been buzzing in my mind since the day he showed up on the train. He smiles and shakes his head humorously.
“It’s not just for me. It’s for us.” He leans back in the chair. “You are very innocent, Rania. You have no idea how money works in this world. Let’s not talk about it. Enjoy your lunch.” I put my juice glass down and look at him.
“I want to know about the opera. You can’t be—”
“No, I haven’t booked the whole theater. I’m not brainless. The artists can’t perform if there are only two people in the audience.” He has a good point. “Anyhow, we will have a private box, so you don’t need to worry.”
On that, a blonde waitress steps in to take the orders for our main course. She keeps staring at Adam in the same way the store blonde did, and I feel like I don’t exist at this table. All blondes like him. She is wearing a very short black skirt over her long slender legs, with a white blouse, which is open at the top to show the perfect amount of cleavage. I hide my face behind the menu, as I can’t stop laughing at the blonde ogling Adam. I order chicken cacciatore and Adam orders baked shrimp scampi. He is aware of the girl’s wild sexy looks and the inviting messages she is sending through her body. I have to return the menu card back to this hottie, so I purse my lips to hide my laugh. As soon as she leaves, I chuckle and put my hands over my mouth. Adam looks at me intently.
“What’s so funny?” His innocent question makes me laugh more.
“You don’t know what just happened?” He shakes his head, as if he is actually unaware of it. “Oh, come on, Adam. That blonde was completely checking you out. What do you say?” I wink at him. He blushes at my remarks, but doesn’t say anything. “Didn’t you notice the way she stood, displaying the right parts of her body, as if she was begging for wall-banging sex?” And I start laughing again. Adam tries to laugh too, but he presses his lips together in embarrassment. “Oh my God! You look so cute when you blush. Let me call that hottie and see your expression again.” I look toward the kitchen area.
“Are you crazy? You’re making fun of an awkward situation.” He moves my face to look at him.
“I just can’t believe Adam Gibson can blush over a blonde checking him out. I should take a picture of that.” I can’t stop laughing. Adam leans back and folds his arms over his chest. He wonders at my laughter, but I know he is enjoying the moment also. I wipe my watery eyes on the napkin and continue on my fun excursion. “So, what did that store blonde say to you, when I left?”
“That little girl?” he asks with surprise.
“Yes, but I am sure she was not that little. She must be past puberty.” My abrupt remarks make him laugh.
“Yes, I agree. You want to know what she said?” I nod with a smile. “She said ‘your girlfriend is very egoistic.’”
“What? Just that? And you took more than ten minutes to listen to that?”
“You were keeping track of my time with her?” Adam raises one of his eyebrows in surprise. He wants to know if I was jealous or curious. I was both, in fact, but I don’t let him know. “She said I should have let you pay, and said you are very hot and beautiful and I am lucky to have you.”
“She was checking you out and you are saying she was admiring me? You think I will believe that?” I busy myself with the appetizer, as I realize he might not tell me what they said. He is undoubtedly handsome and intelligent; any girl can ask him out. It is his personal life. I shouldn’t question him about every girl.
“She was checking you out, Rania. She was homosexual.” He chuckles behind his wine glass. What? Is he serious? “She wanted to know if I could help her find a girl like you, the way I did for myself, so I told her that God has made only one piece like that and that it is fortunately just for me.” I look at him, startled, but the way he speaks tells me he is not lying. “She also told me that she was watching you when you entered the store and how you tied the mask over your eyes, which blew her away. She fell in love with you.” I put my hands on my mouth to hide my astonishment. “She told me I should not argue with a beauty like you.” He takes a sip of his wine, but his eyes are locked on me. “You are very innocent, Rania. You can’t read people’s eyes. You don’t know what the other person is feeling for you. It’s good sometimes, as it is easier to ignore the assholes, but it’s dangerous as well. You can’t tell the other person’s intentions.” I avert my eyes and look down at my glass. All the humor and laughs are gone. “Anyhow, she gave me her number to give to you, in case you need a friend someday, but I assured her that would not happen. Over my dead body!”
He hands me a piece of paper and smirks at me devilishly. His sincerity makes me smile again. I take her name and number.
“I can’t believe it.”
“She’s lucky she was a girl. I can’t imagine how I would have reacted if she were male.” His expression gets serious suddenly.
“Why? What would you have done?” Oh please, Adam. Don’t tell me you would get jealous.
“Don’t ask me, and don’t ever provoke me, either.” There is an awkwardness between us. I am glad when the blonde waitress returns with our main course, and we finish our meals without talking to each other.
By the time we reach our room after our late lunch, the sun has already set. We relax on separate couches, and Adam breaks the silence.
“Have you decided what to wear tonight?” I look at him, surprised, so he continues. “Women mostly wear evening dresses to the opera.”
“Does it matter? I thought I could wear anything.”
“Yes, you can, but I hope you don’t feel underdressed.”
“But I don’t have an evening dress with me. I just came with a couple of casuals and two dresses for official events.”
“I know that.” Adam speaks reluctantly, while taking off his socks. We still have a few hours before we go, so I decide to take a hot shower and hit the nearest store to shop, but I have promised myself I will not take him with me. Otherwise, he will dominate me once again, and will never let me pay for my own clothes.
When I reach the bedroom, I see some boxes and bags from Holt Renfrew on the bed. Since I haven’t ordered anything from there, I assume they
are Adam’s, so I don’t bother to open them. Adam follows me and sees the boxes as well.
“Oh, they delivered already. That was quick,” he says, sitting at the corner of the bed. “Won’t you open them, Rania?”
“What is this?” I ask him, taking out a top from my luggage.
“It’s for you. Let me know if you like it.” For me? Is he crazy? There are four packages.
“I didn’t order anything, Adam.” I ignore the parcels and continue digging in my luggage.
“You don’t take care of yourself much, so I thought I would take the responsibility.” He stands up and hands me one of the bags. I open it up and find an elegant full-length lace dress, with the label of Burberry Prorsum on it.
“I can’t accept this, Adam.” I put the dress down on the bed and he comes over to me.
“Why? Don’t you like it?”
“Who wouldn’t? But this is too much. Why do you keep on—”
“It’s a dress for this evening. It’s not a big deal.” He shrugs his shoulders innocently. “Please, try it on and if you don’t like it, we’ll go and get something else.”
“It couldn’t be better, Adam. Is this your choice?” I look at the pink dress and then back to him.
“No, the fashion advisor at the store picked it up. I told her what I wanted, and that’s it.”
“Thanks for all the effort, Adam, but…”
“Please, don’t make it such a big deal. Now, try it on and let me know if it’s okay.” He picks up the dress and hands it to me.
“It looks perfect. I have never worn anything like it. It’s precious.” I caress the soft lace.
“Not more than you. Why don’t you check out the other stuff?”
“This is all for me?” I look at the other boxes in surprise. He nods with a smile and goes into the washroom. I sit on the corner of the bed, gaping at the boxes, and deciding which one to open first. I hear the sound of the shower from the washroom, which means he will be in there for a while. I start with the shoebox and am dazzled to find sparkling Jimmy Choo sandals. They fit me perfectly. How did the fashion advisor know my size? Did Adam tell her everything? My feet look prettier in the designer shoes. The dress itself is extraordinary. I have never desired anything like that; it is more than I deserve in life.
A Silent Prayer Page 18