Chapter 18
Khizar
Khizar’s heart began to ache as he confessed what he’d done. He had made a mess of courting Jacqui, had gotten close to her for all the wrong reasons. But he wanted to make that right, and talking to his parents was the first step.
He told them the whole story, as well as why he had originally proposed, and was about to explain that he’d since realized Jacqui meant more to him than the Bauer Diamond ever could. He was nervous about admitting his love for Jacqui, but he was certain that he had fallen for her for real.
There was a commotion near the door, and Khizar heard a waiter ask someone if they were okay. He jerked his head up and saw Jacqui’s head disappear out the door. Concerned, he left his parents at the table and caught up with the waiter, who would only tell him that the young woman had been distraught.
Khizar looked back at the table. Her path back from the restroom would have put her around that corner. It only took him a moment to surmise what had happened; she must have overheard him telling his parents about his false proposal.
If the ground had opened up and swallowed him, Khizar would have welcomed it. It was no less than he deserved.
But Jacqui deserved better. A reason, if nothing else. Khizar dashed out the door.
He didn’t see her outside, so asked the valet at the front door if he’d seen a crying woman leave. The valet pointed down the street, and Khizar took off.
He ran down the street, dodged other pedestrians, and looked for a glimpse of Jacqui. She didn’t know her way around, and if she wasn’t paying attention, she might have gone anywhere.
Khizar doubled back after going down one street. Maybe she stopped somewhere to catch her breath, he thought. When he looked up, he saw the entrance to the botanical gardens across the street.
She must be in there, he thought. He didn’t dare think otherwise.
Khizar knew these gardens like he knew his parents’ palace. He’d spent so much time here as a child, and their layout hadn’t changed over the years. It didn’t matter how much time he spent away. He could walk through the paths blindfolded and not get lost.
The path wound around different sections and through the trees. The gardens were quiet at that time of night, though a few people were strolling through well-lit parts. Khizar followed the path to an area that wasn’t as well-traveled; it was likely that Jacqui sought solitude.
There was a small pond ahead of him, with benches around the edge of the water. Khizar’s pace slowed as he got closer to the pond, seeing a figure sitting alone on one of the benches.
All he could tell was that she was curled in on herself, head resting in her hands. It was quiet here, just the slight rustle of leaves in the night breeze. And the sound of the woman he loved softly crying.
He’d broken her heart.
Khizar acknowledged that his plan all along had been to break her heart. He’d kept himself out of reach, untouchable, in order to execute his plan. He had consoled himself with the idea that he would leave her better off than before, financially secure and with more freedom than she’d ever had.
He hadn’t planned on falling in love with her.
Khizar made his way to the bench. He didn’t sit, but instead softly cleared his throat. Her head jerked up and he almost flinched at how despondent she looked.
“May I sit?” he asked.
Jacqui stared at him. “I don’t think I want to talk to you right now.”
“I understand. I don’t particularly want to talk to myself right now, because I feel like a terrible person.”
“That might be because you are a terrible person.”
He acknowledged the hit with a nod of his head.
“I am. What I did was wrong and horrible. I am deeply sorry.”
“Why are you here?”
“Because I want to make sure you’re okay.”
The look she gave him could have flayed skin and he raised a hand, palm out, to ask for her forbearance.
“I mean, I want to make sure that you’re safe and know how to get back to the apartment. I’m not leaving you out here on your own.”
Jacqui nodded. “Fine. I’ll find my own way out to the mine tomorrow, and then I’m leaving.”
“I’ll put you in touch with someone else who can take you to the mine, and then I’ll arrange for my plane to fly you home.”