Well, yes. She wiped beneath her eyes and her fingertips came away black. Oh, she must look a fright! ‘I didn’t hear you knock.’ It was a stupid thing to say but the tone of his voice had thrown her mind into a spin.
‘You left the door open.’ His steely gaze scared her and then he cut his eyes to Minh. ‘I need to speak with Imogen. Alone.’
‘What have you done to her now?’
‘Minh, don’t.’ Imogen had a sense of déjà vu but she knew by the expression on Nadir’s face that something was very wrong. Had he received bad news about Zachim?
‘I don’t like this, Im. I told you—’
‘Please, Minh. I’m sure this won’t take a minute.’
Minh’s reluctance to leave was as palpable as it had been back in London.
He threw Nadir a warning glare. ‘I’ll be right outside.’
Imogen breathed out when he closed the door behind him. She turned back to find Nadir by the arched windows, staring out. ‘Nadir, what’s wrong? Has something happened? Nadeena—’
‘She’s fine. I left her with Zach.’
‘Oh, then he’s back!’
‘Yes.’
‘That’s wonderful news. I thought maybe, but...’ She took a deep breath. Started again. ‘Is he okay?’
‘He’s fine.’
She hesitated. ‘So that’s good. Isn’t it?’
‘It’s very good.’
He turned and stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans and stared at her.
‘You’re starting to scare me, Nadir.’ She gave a soft laugh as if to alleviate the tension in the room but it just ratcheted it up even more.
‘I’m sorry. I don’t mean to.’ He cleared his throat. ‘But we need to clarify some things before the wedding.’
His voice was so devoid of emotion it made Imogen’s stomach roil. ‘Like?’
‘Like the fact that you wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Nadeena.’
Her lashes came down to shield the hurt in her eyes. They both knew that was why he had brought her here. It wasn’t news. So why was he mentioning it? Was he afraid she had twisted the reasons for their marriage into something it wasn’t? Was he afraid she had fallen in love with him? Taking a deep breath, she tried to tell herself that everything was going to be okay. ‘I know that.’
He nodded. ‘And the fact that you never wanted this marriage.’
Imogen frowned. She half expected to see a gavel in his hand. ‘No. I...’ She hesitated, wondering how to answer when he jumped in first.
‘Wanted to marry for love? Is that what you were going to say?’
She nodded and then shook her head. No, she hadn’t been going to say that; she’d been going to say that in the beginning she had wanted that but now—
‘Yes or no, Imogen?’
‘Yes, I wanted to marry for love but...’ She swallowed, her eyes searching his face for some clue as to what he was thinking or feeling. But this was the stranger Nadir—the man who had picked her up a week ago. The man who had walked out on her in Paris. A terrible premonition raised goose bumps along her arms but she pushed aside her apprehension and answered honestly. ‘I’ve come to terms with that now.’
As if he’d somehow been waiting for that exact answer, he slowly raised guarded eyes to hers. ‘Then you’re free to go.’
‘I’m sorry?’
‘I said you’re free to go.’ He moved towards the door.
‘Nadir...wait. I don’t understand what you’re saying.’
‘I’m saying that I agree with you. A marriage of convenience is not a good enough reason to tie two people together for ever. Even for the sake of a child.’
‘Hold on.’ Imogen felt as if she had to fight to get every word out of her mouth. ‘You’re saying that you no longer want to marry me?’
‘I’m saying you’re free. You can leave.’
The room tilted and Imogen put her hand out to grip the back of a chair. Tears of disbelief spiked behind her eyelashes but she refused to let them fall. ‘What about Nadeena?’
‘My lawyers will be in touch about visitation rights—isn’t that what they’re called?’
Isn’t that what they’re called?
He was so cool and remote she wanted to scream. ‘I meant—what about your desire to be part of her life? Permanently.’
Her body started shaking. This couldn’t be happening. It just couldn’t be happening.
‘I still plan to be in her life. I just...’ He looked away as if it was too difficult to look at her. ‘I have reconsidered my position.’