It was from Bashar. The investors were calling a final meeting about the condo.
This was it. Today, they would sign the papers, and he could finally begin to work on the project.
They met at a private high-class club downtown. A lunch buffet was already spread across the table as Asad took his seat and greeted each of the others. Finally, his gaze landed on Bashar, and he saw something strange in the man’s expression.
Something calculating.
“I know that we hadn’t planned this meeting, and I’m glad that you could join us,” Bashar announced. “Given your situation, we thought it might be best to finalize all the details.”
Starving, Asad filled his plate. “What situation?”
“Your impending marriage,” Bashar said with a grin. “A woman like that is not going to stick around if work keeps dragging her man away.”
So they wanted to sign the papers early so he could focus on his non-existent wedding? Asad was okay with that, even if it did make him feel a little sick to his stomach. “I appreciate that.”
A folder was passed down the table and landed next to his plate. “These are the terms we’ve agreed to. There isn’t much that we’re willing to negotiate on, so read the terms carefully before making your decision. If you agree, then we are happy to declare ourselves your partners on this condo expansion.”
Eagerly, Asad picked up the folder. He knew that Bashar wouldn’t hand him something unreasonable, so he wasn’t too worried as he skimmed the numbers. The investors were willing to put up the exact amount he’d requested, which surprised him. In fact, it looked like they were agreeing to all of his terms.
Except for one.
“The date of this contract is wrong,” he frowned. “It’s dated three weeks from now.”
“I am a family man,” Bashar said with a grin. “Most of us here are, and we’ve all agreed that you have shown tremendous maturity and wisdom in your selection of a bride. It’s clear that you love her, and we don’t want anything to stress you out. We also know that, despite all that Liyah said last night, you’d like to marry her quickly. We will sign this contract only after your wedding and honeymoon. Construction can begin immediately, and I have a feeling that in fifteen months, we’ll be toasting your success, and maybe even
your heir—if things go well.”
Asad’s whole world tilted. He’d planned on breaking the engagement as soon as the ink was dry, but he couldn’t fake a wedding. Weddings were binding legal contracts. Divorce would bring embarrassment to his family, and annulments were out of the question.
“We hadn’t planned on marrying so quickly,” he said as he pushed his plate away. He suddenly didn’t feel so hungry. “I had thought that we might wait a few more months.”
The men started to grumble among themselves, and he knew what they were all thinking. Pushing the project back a couple of months invited more trouble. The contractors might not be available. Someone could pull out. Prices for materials could rise. Money could be lost. “I’m sure Liyah will not mind if we’re in the middle of building when we wed. She’s very understanding of my work.”
“No.” Bashar shook his head and stood. “You disappoint me, Asad. I thought you’d finally found someone you were willing to put before your work. Perhaps I was mistaken.”
His gut clenched. He was going to lose this contract if he didn’t do something. “I’ll talk to Liyah,” he promised. “I’m sure she’d be delighted to get married in three weeks.”
Liyah stared at him. She felt as though a brick wall had hit her. “What did you just say?” she whispered.
“I’ll double the salary. I’ll triple it,” Asad said desperately as he reached for her. “Give me one year, and then we’ll divorce. I know that it’s not ideal, but we’ve gone too far to stop now.”
“Marriage? I don’t suppose this can be a fake wedding, can it? We just pretend to marry?”
Mutely, he shook his head.
Liyah couldn’t breathe. The whole situation was turning into a nightmare. She’d been trying desperately to figure out how to block her emotions from him for the next month or so—but a whole year?
How could he ask this of her?
“This business deal is really so important to you? Tell me this isn’t just to top Rashid.”
“It’s for the family,” he said grimly. “My father has allowed his foothold in the business world to slide, and I need to reclaim it.”
How ironic that Asad was going to enter a marriage to a woman he didn’t love for the sake of family.
“I don’t know that I can do this for a year,” she whispered. She squeezed her eyes shut and thought of the money. Not only would she be able to help Sahaar, but she’d be able to take care of her mother. She could convince her mother to leave that new husband, now that she wouldn’t need his money.
“Six months,” Asad said desperately. “Six months, and we can separate. You can go back home or wherever you want to go. Would it really be so bad to stay with me for six months?”