Page 102 of Hired Husband

My original plan had been getting Jasmine alone, begging her to call this whole thing off and to be with me instead, but it was too late for that now. I could hear the party already in full swing, music, chatter, and laughter drifting across the grounds.

Jasmine would be front and center, impossible to pull away while all eyes were on her. Plus, given the extreme rush and everyone’s insistence that we were running out of time, it was obvious that the hour of David’s formal request was here.

Honestly, I didn’t really understand the ins and outs of all these rituals, but I felt a renewed sense of urgency pressing against my chest as I adjusted the cuffs and buttoned up the jacket of my new suit. It fit okay, probably belonging to either Rami or Tarek, but it didn’t have to be perfect.

It only had to get me in the doors. “Okay, I’m ready. Let’s go.”

The Saad boys took the lead, flanking me on either side as they muttered instructions on our way into the house. “There are a lot of people here.”

“Both families are gathered,” Tarek whispered. “Don’t look anyone in the eye, but don’t avoid eye contact either. Just act normal.”

“Right. I got it.”

I definitely didn’t get it, but I tried to look calm as I followed them through the enormous house, weaving our way through more people than could possibly belong to only two families. They were all dressed to the nines, filling the hallways and reception areas, but most of them were craning their necks toward the center of the room where Basel stood with one hand resting on the back of an ornate chair.

David sat across from him. Layla was on one side of Basel while Jasmine was on the other. As soon as I saw her, I forgot about all the other people and the fact that I still had no idea what I was going to say. She looked so absolutely breathtaking and so completely miserable at the same time that it hit me all over again that she was actually going to do this. My beautiful, funny, clever adventurer, my soul mate, was planning on marrying that asshole.

For me.

And I almost let her do it. Good Lord. I really was an idiot.

I’d never been more grateful for my chronically interfering siblings than I was in that very moment. The important thing was that I was here now. They’d verbally smacked some sense into me and gotten me here right in the nick of time.

I drew myself up to my full height and squared my shoulders, squeezing through small gaps between people and drawing a few annoyed glances, but I didn’t care. I hadn’t flown halfway across the world to worry about etiquette.

Sure, you got here first, but I promise I’m not going to block your view. You’ll still have a front row seat. Just of something a little different than what you came here to see.

Basel’s voice carried across the room. “I understand you have something to ask me, David.”

As the asshole started rising, I broke through the final cluster of people and spoke up. “Stop.”

David turned and his expression tightened into a scowl when he saw me. Basel started grinning but then quickly tried to school his features as he shrugged at the older man sitting next to David. Jasmine’s eyes widened, silently screaming at me not to do this, but I gave my head a small shake and turned my attention to Basel.

“I’m sorry for interrupting,” I said lightly, walking forward until I was standing right next to David. “I know this isn’t my place.”

“No, it’s not,” David agreed coolly. “Why are you here, Thayer?”

“Relax.” I smirked. “I’ll be done in a minute.”

Dismissing him from my gaze, I turned to look at Jasmine, laying it all out not only for her parents but for her. “So, I uh, I spent the last few weeks trying to convince myself that you made the decision that was right for you and that I should just respect that.”

“Why are you here then?” David sneered, but I ignored him, my eyes bouncing between Jasmine, Basel, and Layla, who was smiling at me with tears in her eyes.

“It almost worked, too. I came so close to just leaving it be and accepting that this wasn’t my choice to make.” I swiped my tongue across my lips and held her gaze. “For what it’s worth, if you tell me this is what you want, I’ll leave, but I had to try. I couldn’t let you go through with it without saying my piece.”

Basel waved at me to continue despite the absolutely murderous expression on Mr. Maher’s face, but even I could feel time running out. I had to speed things up or one of them was going to put a stop to this.

“I’m not rich,” I said, still looking between Basel, Layla, and Jasmine. “I don’t have a private jet, or an island, or a stock portfolio the size of a continent. Once upon a time, I was going to be that guy when I grew up, but then life happened and now I work with my hands, for long hours, on dusty construction sites or I’m in an office, either getting lost in my calculator or my laptop.”

A tiny smile flickered across Jasmine’s lips and she sighed. Basel shifted his weight but patiently waited for me to keep going.

I drew in a deep breath and tried to ignore the fact that I was bleeding my soul out in front of probably a hundred strangers. “I’ve had to grovel or work my ass off for everything I have. Life with me won’t be anything like you’re used to. I get that.”

I gestured vaguely around the gigantic, magnificent room, with its crystal chandeliers overhead, golden accents, and marble floors. “I’ll never be able to afford a house like this, for instance. Eventually, I might be able to buy us a nice place in a gated community. If we’re really lucky, I might even be able to take you and the kids on a decent vacation every year, but that’s about it.”

Jasmine smiled through the tears welling in her eyes and I turned back to Basel. “I’ll spend the rest of my life working this hard. I realize that’s probably not what you had in mind for your daughter, but if I’m going to do it, I want it to be for her.”

I looked at Jasmine, my voice cracking when I spoke again. “I’m sorry I left. I’m sorry I let you think that this was your responsibility or that you had to carry it alone. That was never true. I love you and I’ll spend every day of the rest of my life proving that I’m worthy of you. All I’m asking for is a chance.”