Like the stray cat Zahra described, I pass by her cubicle after my meetings with Jenny and Sam. If Zahra’s suspicious of my growing interest, she hasn’t let on to it.
I stop at the wall right outside of her cubicle. A white paper with bold lettering stands out against the gray fabric backdrop, with strips of half-cut paper dangling in the air. They’re all accounted for except one.
Join our Buddies team and be a mentor today! If you have any questions, feel free to call me. We’d love to have you.
The rest of the paper is vague, only mentioning an opportunity to join an adult mentorship program for Dreamland employees. I think I heard Martha speak of this during our morning agenda but I was only half listening once she mentioned the word voluntary. I only have so much time in a day and discussing some random employee meeting about community service isn’t on my radar.
Each strip includes an address for the meeting and a contact number I’m quite familiar with. There’s something about everyone having access to Zahra’s information that makes my skin all hot.
There’s one strip missing out of the ten. I could check the surveillance tapes and find out who snagged it but that’s a step too far, even for me.
Who could have taken the number? There aren’t too many young Creators around here that might be interested in hanging around Zahra. I have noticed one blond Beta team member staring at Zahra’s ass once or twice. When he saw that I caught him looking, he actually shot me a smug smile that made my fists clench. I ended up destroying him during his presentation.
My fists ball up by my sides. I look around the hall before ripping the rest of the numbers. I tuck them into the pocket of my trousers before I have a chance to berate myself for something this ridiculous.
I’m acting like a goddamn maniac.
Who cares who texts her?
Me. I care.
But why?
I rub a hand down my face and groan.
Zahra pops her head out of the cubicle. Her smile drops when her eyes land on me. “Oh. It’s you.”
“Waiting for someone else?” Don’t tell me she’s waiting for Chad. Or is it Brad? Either one fits the blond tool.
You sound like a jealous idiot.
Her brows pull together. “Huh? No. Just checking if someone had any questions about—” Her eyes widen at the paper in front of me. “Wow! I didn’t think that so many people would be interested!” Her entire face lights up like a solar flare. She shines so brightly that everything else pales in comparison. I feel helplessly trapped in her magnetic field, so close to the sun I might burst into flames.
A fitting way to go based on the lie that pours out of me. “There was only one left when I got here.” I should feel guilty about lying but I can’t find it in me to care that much.
Zahra’s smile reaches her eyes. “Does that mean you took the last one?”
Fuck. Why does she have to be so smart all the time?
“Yes,” I mutter under my breath. My stomach churns, and my throat feels like I have an invisible hand wrapped around it.
“Great! Be there tonight at 8 p.m. sharp.” Her eyes glitter as if she is amused by the idea of mocking my request for punctuality.
I frown. “Aren’t you supposed to be working at that time?”
“What if I told you this is a part of an idea I’m working on?”
I rip the paper from the thumbtack and reread the title. “Doubt it. I can’t imagine approving of anything that involves cupcakes and charades. I don’t know who you’re trying to mentor here but we’re not interested in hiring toddlers.”
Her smile drops. “Forget you ever read about this and lose my number.” She snatches the paper from my hand and returns back to her cubicle without sparing me another glance.
I’ve never seen Zahra this pissed before. What about this meeting specifically set her off?
Who cares? Now you have a reason to avoid going.
But what is she hiding?
I leave the warehouse and stop at the closest trash bin where I throw away all the slips of paper except one.
Zahra’s eyes connect with mine as I step through the doorway of the small meeting room. The rented space Zahra chose is located at the back of the park within the employee apartment complex. I’ve never visited this area for anything but a quick glance for my checklist.
Her smile falters as I unbutton my suit and take a seat like I belong here. My neck heats from the way she tracks my movements, with her eyes following my hand as I pluck a cupcake from the tray.
Her small hands ball up by her sides. I don’t even love sweets but I pretend it’s the best cupcake.
Come on. Show me what you’re really hiding beneath those fake smiles and innocent pins. Speaking of, today’s offensive dose of serotonin is a ridiculous ghost wearing a sombrero with the saying Ami-Ghost. Where does she find these things, and why does she wear them?
Zahra’s eye twitches. “What are you doing here?”
I look around the nearly empty room as if the answer is obvious. The lack of a turnout fills me with a sense of accomplishment. “I’m here for a meeting. Carry on.”
She leans forward on the table, attempting to intimidate but failing. “You don’t tell me what to do. You’re not my boss after working hours.”
“If you’re on company property, then you’re still considered my employee.”
“Everything here is company property.”
“Perceptive as ever.”
Zahra’s eyes narrow while her cheeks turn an interesting shade of red I haven’t seen before. I’m somewhat interested in learning more about this version of Zahra. It’s quite the contrast from her pin-loving, happy-going self that she shares with the world.
A younger brunette woman walks into the room carrying a bottle of soda, followed by a blond male. They both have soft facial features, which is a dead giveaway for their Down syndrome diagnoses.
Shit. It doesn’t take much effort to draw conclusions about exactly what kind of mentorship program this is.
For the first time in God knows how long, I feel intense regret. No wonder Zahra was so pissed at my comment. It was wholly deserved based on the kind of program she is trying to create here.
Fuck. You’re such an asshole sometimes.
Zahra smirks. “Now’s your chance to leave before it’s too late.”
“I think I’d like to see this through.” I meant what I said about challenges. The more Zahra wants to push me away, the harder I’ll push back.
The shorter brunette elbows Zahra in the ribs. “Be nice. He’s cute.” Her almond-shaped brown eyes brighten and bring out the softness in her face.
She officially became my new favorite person.
Zahra glares at her. “I am nice.”
I raise a brow.
“Why are you really here?” Zahra looks around the room that’s empty besides us four.
I could comment on the lack of a turnout but it’s my damn fault.
“I’m interested in the mentorship program.”
She scoffs. “What happened to not being interested in hiring toddlers?”
“I was wrong.”
Both her brows rise. “You—well. Wow. Okay. I didn’t think you had it in you to admit when you make a mistake.”
“Don’t hold your breath waiting for the next time.” My comment earns me a tiny smile.
“So, are you going to start the meeting or do you plan on staring at me all night?”
The brunette beside Zahra giggles.
Zahra’s eyes move from the shorter woman to me. “You know what, Rowan? I have the perfect buddy for you.”
Buddy? I never agreed to becoming a buddy. I’m only here to watch from afar, not become some mentor. I don’t think I’ve mentored anyone in my life. It requires too much speaking and not enough working, and I end up redoing their job anyway.
The way Zahra smiles at me has my skin itching. “Ani, you’re partnered with Rowan.”
The brunette beside Zahra cackles. “Yes!”
Well, shit. That laugh should worry me.
“So my sister told me all about you.” Ani and I take a seat on a bench near the apartment complex. Zahra split off with the male, giving us time and privacy to schedule our first official mentorship outing.
“Who’s your sister?”
She looks at me like I’m the dumbest man on Earth. “Zahra.”
My head tilts. “I didn’t know she had a sister.”
“Surprise!” She grins.
“Well, is it too late to revoke her sister card?”
Ani looks at me with furrowed brows. “Why?”
“Because no sister who loves you would partner us together.”
“Oh, please. I doubt you’re that bad.”
“And you got that in the two seconds you’ve known me?”
Ani shakes her head. “Because not many guys would come to a meeting like this. Lance never wanted to.”
“Who’s Lance?”
“Zahra’s ex.”
“He sounds like a dick.”
She elbows me. “No bad words.”
I raise my hands in surrender.
She fidgets with her hair tie on her wrist. “I never liked him.”
“Because?”
“Because he looked at me funny. And sometimes I heard him say things on the phone when I wasn’t supposed to listen.” She looks away. The look on her face has me wondering what kinds of awful things she might have overheard.
“Like?”
She shakes her head aggressively. “Nothing.”
“Why are you protecting him?”
“I’m not. It’s old news, and I don’t want to make Zahra sad again.” Her bottom lip wobbles.
Wow. Ani really cares about her sister. While my brothers love me, I doubt they would let anything tear themselves up to protect me.
Ani knocks her shoulder into mine. “So why did you come tonight?”
“I was curious.”
“About my sister?” Her grin widens.
“About the meeting. I wasn’t sure if she was planning a coup d’état against me.”
Ani giggles. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me.”
“What secret?”
“You wanted to see my sister.” She says it in a sing-song way.
I steal the cupcake from her. “I’ll take that as payment.” I forgot what it was like to enjoy sugar but whatever Zahra put in these cupcakes has me craving more.
“Hey! Payment for what?!” She tries to swipe the cupcake out of my hand.
“For the emotional turmoil you’re bound to put me through by the time we’re done here.”
“It’s only day one. You still have months left.”
“Then you better bring a lot of cupcakes.”
I solidify myself as Ani’s buddy. Not because Zahra told me to but because I kind of like her.
Maybe Ani can give you a better understanding of who Zahra really is.
I grind my teeth together.
Or what if Zahra really is a nice person and you’re too goddamn bitter to accept that?
Something about that thought troubles me. Because if Zahra really is a nice person, it would throw my entire mentality off.
I shake my head. I’d be stupid to trust someone based on nothing but a few interactions.
