Page 42 of To Tango, with Desire

“So what if I have?” I murmured, wanting to hold my ground.

Zane cursed in Arabic. The expletives were so severe, they made my eyes pop.

“Have you, or haven’t you?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“It will be when you’re my wife.”

“I may not have pulled the plug on this sham engagement, but that doesn’t give you the right to know about my private life. What I did and with whom and how often is none of your concern.”

His eyes flashed. He was tiger-like in his anger. Controlled, careful, but still fierce.

“There are no benefits to marrying someone I don’t know.”

“I can help you. I can help your family. Your father needs surgery, yes?”

“And thanks to you, my mother thinks you’re paying for it.”

“Thanks to me, your father’s agreed to it.”

I reeled back. “What?”

“I visited them earlier this week, to make my intentions known. And he agreed.”

“Earlier this week? No, they would have said something. They wouldn’t have been able to keep this a secret.”

“Yet here we are. I convinced them we’d been secretly dating, and that since the mixer, I wanted to take it further. They were keen to have this settled after all the stunts you’ve pulled lately so they agreed to say nothing. They told me all about the failed dates, the no-shows, the arguments.

“I asked them to consider my offer. It took them less than three hours to call me with their decision. I had no doubt they’d agree, but I wanted them to think it over. And part of the deal was that Hasan gets the surgery he needs.”

“And he said yes?”

“At first, he was hesitant, stubborn. But when I got my friend to talk to him—one of the best surgeons in the world—he agreed. He’ll be attending a consultation and we’ll go from there.”

I was shocked. And angry.

Zane was a stranger but had convinced my father to get surgery. Yet, I’d begged my dad week after week to book an appointment and he wouldn’t listen. I blinked away the bitter tears of disappointment and hurt.

“Habibti—”

“Don’t call me that.” I couldn’t stand a term of endearment coming from him. Especially when there was no love between us.

“Let me help you. Let me help your family.”

“And what? What do you get in return?”

“You, of course. A wife. A life companion. Someone to share my wealth with. Think of all you can achieve.”

“I’m not interested in your money.”

I wasn’t a fool. I knew Zane’s wealth could benefit my parents in so many ways, but I would take nothing from this man.

“Wake up, Amira. Everyone is interested in money. You of all people know how hard it is to work for it, to slave over every cent to make ends meet. I know the value of it, and I think in time you’ll realize it too.”

“I. Don’t. Want. It. I want none of your help. I want none of you.” I shoved the ring box farther away.

“Then do it for your family.”