Like in a dream, they stormed toward her and patted her on the back, the shoulders, tried to lift her up—
Until Fariq intervened. “Step back. Give him space, gentlemen. Give him space.”
Pen sought out Alworth in the crowd, but she couldn’t see him.
Instead, Fariq pushed her into his private study and closed the door.
“That went well,” Fariq said, satisfied, as he walked across the room and opened a tapestry door in the wall. “Just as I said. You are brilliant! You’re growing to be quite a celebrity. My offer stands. If you want to go into business with me, that is.”
She gave him a tired smile. “Who knows? In the end, I may do just that. It’s the only thing I seem to be good at. But now, all I want is to go home.”
“You can get out the back door, where a coach is waiting for you.” Fariq opened a side door.
She followed him through the dim hallway.
“He never came,” she stated.
Fariq threw her a sympathetic look. “No.”
“You know what, Fariq?” Pen said before she boarded the carriage. “I am thinking I really don’t care anymore.”
“I am sorry, Miss Pen,” Fariq said. “I wish things were different.”
As she reclined in the seat, she pondered on her words and felt that they were spoken true.
