THE DARKER SHADES OF WHITE (BOOK 2)

Chapter 4-His Pleas

Shehzad . . . he's really here. He's really actually here.

But why?

Why is the Shehzad Atish here in Pakistan? A country that he looked down at, why is here now? I just cannot believe that he's here in front of me.

There is stood with all his masculine glory; his tall frame, squared shoulders, hands deep inside his pant pockets—standing like a serious business magnate, elegantly dressed in grey and black, his soft brown hair smartly made; his bangs neatly aligned to the side. His face was as handsome as I had last seen it , his sexy lips smirking at me smugly and his eyes as elusive and mysterious as ever but the only thing that changed about his was that he had grown thinner and he had grown a light stubble.

A part of me wants to rush to him and hug him; a part of me wanted to slap him hard and then cling to his chest and then a part of me wanted to break down and cry . . . while there was also a part of me who wanted to turn on my heels and walk away without saying anything and with an indifferent attitude.

I don't know what I should do; should I be happy? Or should I be angry? And my conscience is dictating that I should choose the later as all that had happened to me because of him flashed in my mind. I stiffened my face and my body and stared at him directly in the eye.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in a cold tone. His smirk widened into a grin as he advanced towards me. I wrapped my arms around my chest and frowned.

"You look oh-so-surprised." He commented. My blood boiled. The tears were threatening to prick my eyes but I held back my feelings for him and stood with a firm tenacity.

"If that is all you want to say, then I would appreciate it if you left immediately. I have someone very important coming here . . . ," I trailed off. Could it be . . . ?

"Unless . . . you were that anonymous bidder," I mumbled and then gasped as he grinned at me innocently. That pig.

"How dare you interfere in my life?!" I spat venomously. So he has been keeping tabs on me; the nerve of him. I was fuming now.

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Can I not know about the well being of my wife?" He stated.

My brows jumped. "Oh, so it's 'my wife' now is it?" I said sarcastically. He cupped my chin in his hand all of a sudden that send chills down my spine and it made me believe that he was actually here, touching me and talking to me.

 "You look so cute when you're angry. Shame I never noticed that." He remarked. I slapped his hand away and glared at him, sparks were everywhere. I balled up my fists.

"Why are you here?" I asked through clenched teeth. He arched a brow.

"Sightseeing; actually I came here for some time off. But the off thing was that this place doesn't offer ant decent tourism services so I thought that I should stop by your place and ask you to give me a tour of your beloved city." He chided. My mouth literally hung open at his jocund comment. The nerve of him!

Argh. I stamped my foot and began to walk inside my lawn. First he barges into my life unexpectedly and then he makes random jokes.

I heard him laugh wholeheartedly as he got near me but I strode with quick steps.

"Oh come on Khadijah, I was just joking." He said behind me. Whatever; I didn't want to listen to him but before I could get inside the house, he caught my arm and turned me to face him. His breath fanned my face and his light eye, which glistened in the sun, stared at me with a piercing stare.

"Do you hate me that much now, honey?" he said smugly, touching my lips with his finger.

Honey? Oh no he didn't . . . the girl inside of me was getting excited but I dismissed her and pushed him away.

"Get out! I don't want you here!" I shouted. He looked surprised. I quickly ran up the stairs to my room and grabbed my check. There was no way in hell I was about to give my house to someone like him.

Now I see what he's doing; he's here to make fun of me, he wants to rub it in my face that I am nothing. If I had truly cashed that cheque, who knows, maybe it would've turned out to be fake because there was just no way he had that much money. I mean, sure he's rich but he's not like Rothschild rich. If I had cashed it, it would have proven how desperate I was for money and all his assumption about me would've been proven to be true. And there was no way I was about to give him that satisfaction.

I took the cheque and ran downstairs. He was standing in the middle of the living room. I took the cheque and shoved it in his chest. He didn't move an inch to pick it up when it fell to the ground. My breathing was fast, as if I was having trouble with it.

"If you think that by barging into my life and altering everything is going to do you any good than you are wrong. If you think that by showing up and buying my house for this much money is going to prove anything then I don't need anything from you."

"I don't mean anything by it . . . ,"

"Oh come on, I know that you have an ulterior motive behind everything. If you think that by coming here and putting me through the t*****e of your whims and then leaving me broke then you got another thing coming. I will not let you make a fool of me again." I declared fearlessly. There was a moment of silence between us.

He sighed and was the first to speak. "I don't mean anything that you have just said. I just came here to help." He said. I scoffed. "No . . . I don't believe you," I said dismissively. I picked up the cheque.

"I do not believe anything that you will tell me and I can never do that again. If you think that just by coming here and saying that you want to help, then it will take way more than that to make me believe because I don't believe that you are capable of helping anyone but yourself." I stated and tore the cheque into shreds and threw it back in his face. He closed his eyes and his jaw clenched—his hand dipped inside his coat and it took out a cheque pad. My eyes bulged with anger at him.

"It's not my intention to trouble you. I know that it's hard for you to believe, but I want you to trust me on this, I really do intent to help you" He said and wrote another cheque. After tearing it from the pad, he slide it to me on the coffee table. I took it again and tore it to pieces.

"If you want to help, then please present the divorce papers to me right now." I demanded. He wrote two more cheques and I tore them apart—but the amazing thing was that he wasn't annoyed in the least, he stood with his composure intact; that was really ticking me off.

When he wrote the third one, I sighed heavily and rubbed my face with my hands. "Why are you being so damn persistent?" I hissed through clenched teeth and uncovered my face. He looked at me with a passive expression. I exhaled deeply. "What is it that you are really here for? Are you here to see me suffer or are you here to laugh at my face at my vulnerability." I said with closed eyes. I felt a touch on the sides of my face. He had cupped my face delicately, his eyes piercing through mine. The tears were pricking my eyes—it has been so long since I looked at those eyes which could clearly see through me. I wanted to push him away but my limbs wouldn't move and my tears wouldn't stop, I bit my lips to stop the whimpers from escaping. His thumb wiped away my tears but his eyes didn't falter from mine.

"I didn't realize that you would think that lowly of me. I know that I was an a*s to you but still, despite my faults, I want to say . . . I want you back." He murmured. My eyes dashed open and I pushed him away from me with full force. He fell behind and hit the sofa, he looked baffled and he should be—I was fuming.

"What nerve you have . . . after all that happened you still have . . . ," I stopped to collect myself but my anger was going through the roof. "You still have the balls to say that to me!" I spat acidly. He stared at me through narrowed eyes.

"Why do you need me now? I thought that you said that I wasn't good enough for you? Don't you have a fiancée waiting for you?" I jeered venomously. "You were the one who said that after you have the Chairman's position, you will divorce me yourself. If you are here to do just that, than do that and get lost." I shouted. My voice echoed in the empty house.

"Would you believe me if I told you I had an epiphany?" he asked in a low voice. I gritted my teeth. "I will never believe anything that you tell me again. You have lost my trust; something that I had worked so hard to believe in. You broke us!" I yelled in a high pitched voice. And what was more frustrating was the composure that he withheld and the fact that he wasn't making any effort to apologize or to explain himself; he still wasn't giving me the benefit of the doubt. I balled up my fists.

"This time, there is no second chance. You have run of out of it—now if you don't leave right now, I will call the people and have you arrested."

"You cannot kick me out of the very house that I have recently bought."

"You. Did. Not!" I hissed through clenched teeth but I tried to contain myself. Just having him here in front of me and acting so indifferent as if we didn't have the ultimate husband and wife fight but more like we had a small couple quarrel was just enraging.

"You did not buy my house. If you don't leave write now than I will have you arrested on charges of harassment."

"There is nothing wrong with a husband visiting his wife."

"I am not your wife!" I declared furiously. He dipped his hand in his pants pocket and took out a paper and unfolded it. "Oh really 'cause the signature on this particular piece of paper declares that you are my legal spouse, period."

"Oh yeah . . . then I will deny it you cannot prove that that signature is mine, period!" I countered. He huffed and then smiled.

"Touché," he said. "You're pretty intent on getting rid of me," he stated.  "Oh you have no idea,"

"I see that you are mad . . . ,"

"Oh I am beyond mad . . . I am seething with hate and loathing." I leered.

He sighed and dipped his hands in his pockets. I was beginning to quiver but I needed to be strong. He saw my determination so he sat on the sofa and crossed his legs. He scrutinized my body with a deep gaze.

"I have finished everything with Caroline. I have decided that I don't want any wife other than you." He said.

"Oh," I arched an eyebrow at him skeptically and sat opposite to him on the armchair. "Is that supposed to affect me? Is that suppose to tell me to condone all that you did to me and run in your arms like any other girl out there?" I rowed.

"I don't expect you to forgive me at once but I do . . .,"

"Then what gave you the idea that I would come with you?"

"Because you need me as well," he said. I stared at him in disbelief. "What are you talking about? Why would I need you?"

"Because you have no one else except for I." he reasoned. I swallowed.

"I don't need you."

"Yes you do," he tried to pacify me but I wasn't enamored in the least.

"You said that I was nothing but a greedy girl who only wanted you for your money. According to you, I was an agent working with your mother and conspiring against you." I argued. He sighed deeply.

"I suppose I was wrong," I heard him mumble in a low tone.

"I'm sorry but what did you just say?"

"I said that I was wrong. I was quick to judge you."

"But that doesn't disturb me as much as the fact that you have killed three people and have cheated on me and lied to me and used me and betrayed me and the fact that you do not choose to be a Muslim. I don't see how you can win my trust with so many evidences of your treachery. Do you expect me to just overlook them and go with you? No, you are wrong Mr. Shehzad Atish. Even I have my pride and I have chosen to live my life without your name or your influence." I pronounced. He remained silebt. I felt a little content with myself.

"I don't accept your help. Please take back the cheque and withdraw. You don't need to disturb my life now that I have finally settled down." I said and jumped to my feet. He also stood up and walked to me.

"Is drowning in your father's debt your definition of settling down?" he said with a sly look. I bought up my palm and slapped him sharply across the face. That gave my palm a sharp sting of pain but it gave my heart some peace and fulfillment. He didn't look at me as his eyes were covered by his bangs that got displaced. He touched his cheek and half-smiled at me softly. My eyes slightly widened but I retained my composure.

"Are you satisfied?"

"Not nearly as much,"

"I suppose that I deserved that,"

"No . . . you deserve much more than that. Still, you have no right to meddle in my affairs. What I do now has nothing to do with you, so mind your own business." I asserted.

"If you are done here, take your cheque and your a*s out of my door." I spat in English. I turned my back to him but he caught my arm.

"No can do. I can't find a decent hotel. Would you find the mercy in your heart and grant me a night's stay in your house." He enquired. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"No you can't. There are over a hundred seven stars hotels in this city. Stay at any you like." I said and shook his hand off of my arm but he didn't let go. His grip got tighter and his eyes glared at me with a deadly glare. I felt a little intimidated and the goodness of my heart just wouldn't refuse him. When I nodded, he smiled happily and let go.

"You can stay in the guest room." I said and ran upstairs to my room.

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It has been over a whole day since he came back. He hasn't disturbed me all day.

I have kept myself locked up in my room until the next sun rises. I am so hungry right now. I haven't eaten anything since morning and I couldn't go out to eat anything because I didn't have any money. I didn't even have my cell phone anymore. I lost a lot of things on the day I ran away in the rain, including the cell phone that my father had given me.

I was lying silently in my room. There was complete silence surrounding me; only the light of the moon was oozing out of my uncovered window. I tossed and turned in my quilt and grabbed my empty stomach. I guess I finally know what it's like to be so hungry. I closed my eyes and ignored my grumbling stomach.

I heard something move. I opened my eyes and almost jumped when I saw a bare, perfectly chiseled pale muscular chest and shining turquoise eyes stare down at me.

"What are you doing here?" I hissed and switched on my lamp. I think that I forgot to lock my door.

"Do you always live like this; without locking up?" he asked with an arched brow. I glared at him through narrowed eyes.

"What do you want?" I hissed at him. he sat on the edge of my bed and placed a plastic bag in front of me. it smelled like it had chicken roast in it. My mouth began to water.

"What?"

"I thought that you might be hungry so I bought dinner." He said innocently. I looked away.

"No thank you, I'm not hungry." I stated. I heard him scoff and he heard my stomach growl. I turned bright red and hid my face in my quilt.

"It's okay. I get that you hate me but at least eat something." I offered.

"I don't need anything from you." I said through the quilt. He uncovered my face and gazed down at me softly. No matter how much I sulk, I just cannot deny those eyes that look at me so humbly.

"Yes you do." He said decisively. I gave up and sat upright. It kind of reminded me of the time when he was almost killed and I was so upset that he tried his best to calm me down; he even touched my feet and that was an awkward moment.

I opened up the bag and started eating and before I knew it, I ate the whole chicken. I licked my fingers and I was still so hungry. He gave me a bottle of water.

"See," he started.

"What?" I acted oblivious.

"You do need me. Without me, you didn't even have anything to eat in your kitchen." He stated. I clenched my jaw in fury.

"Is that what you wanted to prove?" I taunted. He sighed. A shroud of silence

"Please come back with me, Khadijah." He murmured softly and took my hand and placed it on his heart. I will not let him sweet talk his way out of this.

I removed my hand. "I don't want to." I said. He stared at my face; it was making me feel queasy. He's doing that again, looking at me with those eyes that he knows well enough that I cannot reject. He looked so cute that I almost fought the urge to touch his face and kiss him.

"Please leave my room. I only gave you permission to stay at my house for one night. And put on a shirt, if someone had seen you, they would misunderstand." I said and removed the bag and eaten objects from my bed.

"But I don't want to," he said and before I could react, his hand had already gripped the nape of my neck and my arm and brought me close to his bare chest. His lips grabbed mine in a tight kiss. I resisted and tried to release myself but the weight of his body on me forced me to lie down with his towering me. he forcefully opened my mouth and sucked in my tongue. I almost felt disgusted but I had missed this so much; I forgot about my problems for a while and enjoyed the taste of his sweet lips. He began to kiss me softly but as soon as he was less forceful, I pulled myself away and jumped off the bed.

"How dare you," I cried and wiped my mouth with my hand. My eyes were flowing and my cheeks were flushed. My lips were swollen from such a deep kiss. I saw him sitting on the bed and looking at me dejectedly. The last time we kissed was when he was forcing a bitter pill down my throat.

"Don't ever touch me again."

"What do you want from?" he snapped and rushed in front of me. I flinched at his sudden outburst.

"Do you want me to apologize? Fine I'll apologize . . . ," he stated crossly. "I'm sorry alright." He said.

He didn't sound sincere at all. I made a disgusted face. "Why would I want to accept such a halfhearted apology? All I want from you right now is to leave my room." I stipulated. His nostrils flared. He wasn't giving up that easily. So I needed to use another tactic against his stubbornness.

"Tell me something . . . eould you have forgiven me if you had caught me cheating on you? Would you have tolerated such infidelity and betrayal?" I asked sternly. He remained silent.

"That's what I thought," I said and walked to grab my pillow and strode towards the door.

"Oh and of course if you were truly sincere in your approach and you really meant it, I would've accepted it, but not like this. I hope that I don't find you here when I wake up tomorrow and I hope to see the divorce papers in your place." I stated and left the room. I retreated to my parents' room and locked the door behind me.

Again, I broke another vow. I cried myself to sleep.

I cannot say what will happen next.

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