Chapter Three: Who is it? #
The light of the sun woke Aliya up. She was still on his chest. She looked at the clock, and it was already 9:15. She carefully got up and snuck into the bathroom to get her dress. It was still damp. She took it with the hanger and walked back to the bed. Alex was fast asleep, and she didn’t want to wake him up. She went to the other room and wore the robe over the t-shirt. She tip-toed down the stairs and messaged Ben to pick her up at her GPG.P.S.ocation. He messaged her that he was already waiting outside. She picked up her shoes and quietly got out of the house. She opened the Iron Gate with the button on the wall. Once fully opened, she pushed the close button and walked swiftly to the car before the gate closed.
“I guess last night was fun,” said Ben to Aliya in the car.
“Yes, it was.”
She returned to her building in the robe and went to her security desk. She pushed her fingers to the fingerprint machine when she heard a snicker from Naz and Paul.
“Guys!” she said, smiling.
“And we will take your dress and send it right up.” Said Naz.
“Thank you.” And she went to the elevator.
She made herself some tea and was thinking about last night. Suddenly, she realized that they hadn’t used protection. She ran to shower, as she would have to go to the pharmacy first. She was all ready and calling for Ben. On her way down, she dropped off the t-shirt and the robe for cleaning. She went to the pharmacy and got an emergency contraceptive pill. She also made an appointment with her doctor to discuss long-term options.
It was quarter to noon when she arrived at her uncle’s place. Her parents were not there yet. She greeted her cousins and her uncle. Her parents came, and she ran to hug them. They talked about their work and asked her about her school. Everything went as usual.
Aliya thought about telling Shireen, “It would be over the school bulletin tomorrow.” She thought. Also, she didn’t want to cause any trouble for Alexander, so she decided to keep it to herself. When she got home at nine, the cleaning was already there. She packed the clothes in a beautiful box and tied the box with a red bow.
“Could you do me a favour?” she messaged Ben.
“Absolutely. Anything you need?”
“I have a box that I am sending downstairs. Could you please personally deliver this tonight to the address where you picked me up in the morning?”
“Sure.”
“Thank you so much. The box is for Alexander.”
She sent the box down, and Ben picked it up and drove to the address. He rang the buzzer on the call box outside the Iron Gate.
“Who is it?” asked Alex.
“I have a delivery from Ms. Hunt.”
He pushed the button to open the door, and Ben drove inside. Alex was eagerly waiting at the door. Ben exited the car, picked up the box from the back seat, and handed it to Alex. Alex thanked him for the box, and Ben left. Alex closed the Iron Gate and rushed to his couch to open the box. There was a letter inside the box, and he quickly opened it.
Hi,
First, I would like to apologize for slinking out in the morning. You were sleeping so soundly that I didn’t want to wake you, and my car was waiting for me outside. Also, I had taken your robe and t-shirt hostage, and they are being returned thoroughly cleaned.
I had a wonderful time. I hope you can look past my limitations. Also, I forgot yesterday that I bought something for you. It is in the red box. I hope you like it.
See you soon,
Aliya
Below her name was her number. He opened the red box, and inside was a pair of silver cufflinks from Cartier. He texted her right away.
“Hey. I just got your box. Thank you so much for the cufflinks. They are beautiful. How was the brunch? Alexander”, he texted her.
“Brunch was good. My younger cousin got in trouble for getting the neighbor’s cat drunk. I applaud his creativity.”
“Did the cat have a hangover?”
“Probably. The cat threw up in their very expensive car.”
“Are your parents gone?”
“Yes, they left about an hour ago.”
“Do you feel lonely?”
“It’s ok. I have my books to keep me company. I should probably get to bed for school tomorrow. I didn’t get much sleep last night.” “I can’t believe I just wrote that.”
“Good night and sweet dreams.”
“Good night.”
Thus, started the week that would seem like a month to Aliya. Aliya was at school when Shireen joined her in the lobby.
“How was your brunch?” asked Shireen.
“Aryan got a scolding because he got the neighbour’s cat drunk. It was funny.”
Shireen laughed as Aliya went into details. School went normally. After school, she went to the debate club meeting and was off to the doctor. They discussed the situation, and a solution was chosen that had left her sore. She went home and drank some tea when her phone buzzed.
“How was your day?” asked Alex.
“It was great. But not feeling well right now.”
“Why? What happened? Is everything ok? May I call you?”
“Yes.”
Phone rang.
“Hey. What happened? Are you ok?” asked Alex with concern.
“Yes. It is embarrassing. But I am ok. Just a little sore.”
“Tell me. What’s going on?”
“I went to my doctor today to get permanent contraception.”
“Oh! Everything happened so fast.”
“Yes. The option I decided on is making me uncomfortable. But the doctor said this should be expected, and it will be fine tomorrow.”
“Are you sure? Do you want me to come over?”
“(laughs) No. It’s ok. He gave me a sleeping pill to take tonight to help me sleep. I just took it and should be fine by tomorrow.”
“OK! Rest, and let me know how you feel. I can come over anytime.”
“Thanks. Good night.”
“Good night.”
She woke up the next morning feeling much better. She didn’t want to wake Alex up, so she decided to text him on the way to school. When she picked up her phone on the way out of her flat, a text was already waiting for her. Ben was downstairs to pick her up, and she was on her way.
“How are you feeling?”
“I feel much better. Did you sleep at all?”
“Yes. But I was worried, so I set the alarm. I had to google what time high school begins. I feel old.”
“It starts at nine and ends at three. I have to stay for an hour for math club and debate club, except Friday.”
“Because you have to get ready for Saturday’s mall time!”
“Yes. Shireen’s here. Bye”
“Bye”
“Who are you texting?” trying to peek at her phone. “I am here, and so are Melia, Jun, and Verma.” She said, pointing to them.
“Some guy. So, what’s new?” she tried to change the topic.
Shireen held Aliya’s arm as they were walking toward their class, and she whispered, “I need to talk to you. Can I come over at five?
Aliya thought she was getting ready to interrogate her. She was feeling guilty for keeping something from her. She told her everything. But this was different. Someone else’s secret was involved, and she couldn’t break trust.
“Sure. Dinner tonight?” said Aliya trying to remain calm.
“Awesome.”
Right at five, as Aliya got home, Shireen was in the lobby.
“Hi. Sorry, the club ran late.” Said, Aliya.
“It’s ok. Let’s go up.”
They crossed the security and settled in the flat. Before Aliya could ask, Shireen blurted out, “I like Mike.”
“What?”
“Yes. I thought Mike would always like Melia, the hot cheerleader. But since he doesn’t, could you talk to him? He is in your debate club, and you meet tomorrow.”
“Sure.”
“Please..pleh….What? Who are you, and what have you done to my Aliya? I had this whole speech to plead with you. I was going to quote the friendship of Alexander and Hephaestion. And you agreed just like that.”
“Just like that.” Said Aliya smiling and tilting her head.
Shireen was speechless.
“I am going to shower, and then let’s have your favorite dinner,” said Aliya.
“You mean champagne and strawberries!”
“That is your favourite dinner, isn’t it?”
“I love this new you.”
After showering, Aliya pulled a bottle of Krug from her collection. They were dipping their strawberries in champagne while Shireen narrated her love saga.
“Mike is dreamy,” said Shireen. “It’s his walk and the way he looks and the….”
Aliya cut her off, “Yes, yes. He is perfect.” Aliya smiled, realizing she had said Alex’s favourite word. But Shireen was too busy to notice, and she carried on till the end of the bottle. Shireen left, and Aliya decided it was best not to do the homework tipsy. She went to bed.
It was the next day and time for the debate club. After a lively debate on “if infidelity should cause a resignation from a government post,” Aliya walked over to Mike and started a conversation.
“Hey. Nice debate. Your point on the blind test was great.” Said Aliya with a smile.
“Hi. Thanks. You did great, as always. How have you been?” replied Mike startled.
“Good. And you?”
“Never better”
“Are you going to the mall on Saturday? Maybe we can hang out together.” Said Aliya casually.
“Sounds great. I will text you. What’s your number?”
They exchanged numbers, and she left. And in the lobby, Shireen was waiting for her.
“Hi. Did you talk to Mike?” said Shireen with excitement.
“Yes. Can we go up first?”
“I can’t. I have to join mom for one of her boring tea parties. To do loo, to do loo,” she said, pretending to sip from a fake teacup with her pinky pointing out.
“Mike is coming to the mall on Saturday. He will text me, and then you two can get milkshakes or whatever you crazy kids do these days.”
“Yay! You know that line and don’t know what prom is?”
“I know about prom. I just got confused about the leadership structure.”
“Bye, I love you.” Shireen kissed Aliya on the cheek.
“Love you too.”
Aliya was doing her homework at night when the phone buzzed with a text from Alex.
“Has Shireen left yet?”
“Yes. She is one of my close friends and was waiting for me at school. I haven’t told her about us. I didn’t want her to see the text messages.”
“Oh! Will she not like me?”
“No. I didn’t know if I should tell.”
“Maybe not till your birthday. I don’t think I will do well in prison.” “How does Mediterranean food sound for Saturday?”
“Sounds great. Do they allow belly dancing?”
“Are you planning to belly dance?”
“Just want to know my options.”
“You can do that after dinner.” “I can’t wait to see you.”
“Me too. I will be super hungry after the milkshake at the mall”.
“My mall days are over, thanks to you. Unless you want me to come.”
“No. I wouldn’t go, but Shireen has a crush on Mike, who’s on my debate team. I asked him to meet us Saturday so that he and Shireen can have some alone time while Melia doesn’t know. It’s a whole high school love drama.”
“Whoa. I will leave you with that. I told my best friend about you. He is very excited and wants to meet you soon.”
“Is he joining us for dinner?”
“No, he is in Boston. He might be coming soon for his work.”
“Ok.”
“I will leave you to plot the love meeting. Good night!”
“Good night!”
And it was Saturday. Aliya had finished her assignments, and she was deciding on her dress for the night. When Shireen called her, freaking out, “I don’t know what to wear?”
“Why don’t you wear that short blue dress?”
“It makes me look fat.”
“Noooooo. It shows your curves. Try it on and send a picture.” Shireen was shorter and curvier than Aliya. She was always conscious of her body which could fill any dress perfectly.
“Ok”
Shireen sent a picture, and Aliya texted, “You look great. Wear that.”
Aliya had picked up Shireen, and they were going to the mall.
“Did he text yet?” asked Shireen as the car pulled up at the mall entrance.
“We just got here,” replied Aliya.
They met up with the rest of the gang and decided to go to the food court early.
“When do you think we can discuss your birthday party?” asked Shireen, looking at her calendar.
“No, no party.”
“C’mon. It will be a great chance for you to meet people.” Said Melia.
“You mean it will be a great chance for you to meet people. Besides, where are we having this party at my Fort Knox?”
“How about here at the food court?” suggested Jun.
“And serve a pu pu platter of diarrhea and food poisoning. No, thank you.” Replied Aliya.
“Hey, how about that French restaurant….Le Jeune Amour? I went with dad last Saturday, and the food was de-lish. They have a private dining room.” Said Shireen.
Aliya’s heart was racing. Was she there? Did she see them? Was she being devious? She shrugged off the feelings. “It sounds too formal.”
Aliya’s phone rang. “Hey, Mike. We are by the food court. Oh, Sure. We will be waiting”.
“Mike is here with Brian, Elias, and Aryan. They just arrived and are coming right up.” Said Aliya disconnecting the call.
Five minutes later, they were all there. They took seats, and Mike sat next to Aliya.
“Thanks for inviting me. I thought you didn’t like me.” Mike said to Aliya.
“What, why?” said Aliya, surprised.
“We have been in the same club for two years, and you never talked to me.”
“I was always so busy trying to beat you. We will be seniors soon, so I thought it was time to get to know people around me.”
Melia was talking to Aryan, Verma was eating Brian’s ear, and Jun was laughing at Elias’s joke. Shireen was sitting next to Aliya, and Mike was talking to Aliya. Shireen tried to listen and drop into the conversation, but it didn’t work. Thankfully, it was time for milkshakes, and everyone stood up.
Aliya plotted, “It’s too cold for a milkshake. I am going to get some tea downstairs.” Instantly, Mike chimed in, “I will join you.”
As they walked to the Starbucks, Aliya asked, “Do you like someone from our group, like like like?” She could hear the stupidity in her question.
“Yes. For a while now, but she makes me quite nervous.”
Aliya laughed. “Why don’t you ask her out?”
“I plan to, for the prom.”
“You mean in May? I am still fuzzy on the rules of invitation.”
“Yes, this May.” Said Mike smiling.
They started talking about schools and hobbies on their way back to the food court.
“Guys, I need to leave early for dinner tonight. Mike, could you drop Shireen?” declared Aliya getting up.
“Sure.” Said Mike. Shireen’s smile was so vast that one could count her thirty-two teeth just by looking.
“Who are you having dinner with?” asked Aryan. She forgot her cousin was there.
“I will text you,” she said, leaving with an evil smile that her plan was working. Aryan had the attention span of a goldfish. He won’t remember.
For tonight, Aliya chose a two-piece emerald gown. It was a halter-cropped top with a mermaid skirt. It was embroidered with silver thread and crystals. A few inches of bare skin between the two pieces showed her midrib. She paired it with a faux fur brown stole. Alex was already standing outside when she walked out of the door. He climbed up the stairs and greeted her with a kiss.
“Wow.” He said. “You look ….breathtaking.”
“Thanks, so do you.” He wore a black dinner jacket with a grey silk dress shirt and fitted slags with formal shoes. The shirt had her cufflinks. He walked her down to the car and they were off.
“How was the love triangle?” asked Alex.
“Great. Mike has a crush on someone from our group and plans to ask her out from the prom.”
“How do you know it’s not you?”
“He thought I hated him because I never talked to him. I was baffled that that’s how people saw me. Anyway, I told them I had to leave early, and I asked Mike if he could drop Shireen off. I haven’t heard back from her yet, but love is in the air.”
“You are proud of it, aren’t you?”
“A little bit. Is that vain?”
“No, that’s high school. By the way, I love the cufflinks.” Alex said while pointing to them. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“You didn’t even know me and were taking me out to a nice dinner that I’m sure cost more than a wedding in Seattle. I bought something to show my appreciation.”
“Your appreciation is much appreciated.” Said Alex smiling. “I am so sorry that I overslept. I am not a morning person. I should have set the alarm. I woke up at noon and looked everywhere for you. I was planning to come to your flat on Monday if you didn’t send me your number.”
Aliya smiled. “How was your week?”
“The usual! Work, wait for you. Work, wait for you. Did I tell you about Neu? My best friend from Boston wants to meet you.”
“Your friend’s name is Neu. Like German or Swedish?”
“Try Irish. His full name is Neu Niles.”
“Very unusual name.” Aliya smiled.
“It is an amazing story. You should hear it from him. He loves to tell it.”
And they were at the restaurant. It was a desert-themed restaurant where every table along the wall was a small colorful tent with a door for the servers to enter. There were a few uncovered tables in the middle around a fountain. The highlight was the half-naked belly dancers dancing around the tables with dollars in their garments. They got a tent and settled in.
“This was not what I intended at all.” Explained Alex. “I asked a coworker about suggestions for a romantic restaurant. He is newly married. He must be pulling my leg.”
“No, no. This is very interesting.” Said Aliya watching the belly dancer move. “How much do you suppose I should give her?” She asked, opening her matching green clutch. She took out her phone and stack of hundred-dollar bills in a Cartier money clip.
“Not a hundred dollars. Put that back.” Said Alex taking out his wallet. But the dancer had seen the money clip and was coming over. “You carry a lot of cash.”
“Emergency money. Oh, she is coming over.”
“Use this.” Said Alex giving her a dollar bill.
Aliya took the dollar from Alex and placed it in her belt. She danced for a minute and then moved on when their server arrived. He handed them the menus.
“Isn’t a dollar too less? I have never been to a strip club. But a lap dance is twenty dollars in the movies.” Said, Aliya.
“You think this is a strip club? I am so sorry. We should leave.”
“No. We are here. And this is unique. Besides, she left. Maybe it’s just their way to say welcome.”
“She is going to come back. Would you like to drink something?”
“I would, but not sure if they would serve me.”
“I can order it for you. What would you like?”
“A Remi Martin cognac.”
The server came back and asked if they had decided.
“Yes, I would like the cigars appetizer platter. No main for me. Thank you.” Said, Aliya.
“I will have the lamb. And two Remi Martin Cognac.”
“We have X.O., V.S.O.P, and Louis XIII. Which one would you prefer?” asked the server.
Alex looked at Aliya. “Louis XIII, please,” said Aliya.
X.O.elV.S.O.P.oice! I will be right back with your drinks.” Said the server leaving.
“You really know your liquor.” Said, Alex.
“I have a small bar at home, and cognac is my favourite.”
The server came with their drink.
“Very smooth.” Alex said after tasting. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Sure.”
“Last Saturday, we didn’t use any protection.” He paused. “Was it ok?”
“I realized in the morning and stopped at a pharmacy before brunch. Everything is ok.”
“And we don’t have to use protection, now?”
“No, unless you are seeing someone else.”
“Not at all. I am a one-girl kind of guy. Are you ok?” he said, holding her hand.
“Yes. I am great. Thank you.” Said Aliya smiling.
“You were a virgin?” Alex asked nervously.
“Yes. That was my first time and my first kiss.”
“I am honored. I didn’t know. I will be more careful. I am sorry if I hurt you.”
“It was okay.”
“But not great. I will work on that.”
Their food arrived.
“Did Shireen suspect something?” asked Alex.
“Oh! I forgot to tell you. Shireen was at the restaurant when we were at the restaurant. They talked about my birthday party venues, and she explained in depth how beautiful the private dining room is.”
“Do you think she saw us?”
“No. She is a gossip queen. You would have read it in the newspaper by now. But what a coincidence!”
“Yes. Your birthday is Saturday and I will have the pleasure of your company.”
“It’s Saturday? I didn’t even know. The girls want something that involves the boys. According to Shireen, it is a great custom to celebrate one’s happy 16th birthday in the US.”
Alex laughed. “It’s sweet 16, not happy 16.”
“What makes it sweet and not happy?”
“I have no idea. Please ask your friends to plan something for another day. I would very much like for you to spend it with me. I am happy to meet them to convince them otherwise.”
“I like you. I would not inflict that on you just yet. I will talk to them.”
“Thank you. How do you manage living alone?”
“I have Nana, my housekeeper, who ensures I have everything I need. It feels ok.”
“You are brave.” He said, holding her hand. “I am so sorry about this restaurant.”
Aliya smiled. “It’s fascinating. Do you think I can have my birthday party here?”
“Really? Here?”
“My other options are the Mall…..” pause. “That’s it.”
“What about your flat?”
“It’s complicated.” With that sentiment, a dancer walked in.
Aliya was slipping her dollars, and she was moving her belly. Seventy-odd dollars later, the dancer left.
“I am so sorry about the restaurant.” Said, Alex.
“Alex, stop apologizing. It is all about a story. On the first date, you booked a whole room, and on the second, a tent. Who is going to forget this? It is very amusing; a story indeed. Do you feel better?”
“Yes. Your philosophy of life is amazing.”
“Life is too short to be sad or angry about trivial things. Time should be spent resolving the issues, not creating new ones. And all that other new age crap.”
He laughed. Their server arrived, and Alex asked for a check.
They were in the car by nine. “A garden stroll,” he asked.
“Would you mind if we don’t stroll? I love my dress, and the shoes are new. I would be open to the view on the balcony.”
Alex smiled. “As you like. No brunch tomorrow?”
“No.”
They were home, and Alex parked the car.
“I can give you a tour of the house.” He continued. “I asked my mum about the house. It was built in 1954, and the family, Daegmars, had a turn of fortune in the 2000s. My parents bought the house. My mum is British, so she loves the rustic house feel, but they remodeled everything. The fountains are from Italy. The walkway has the Greek island stone and gravel; that’s just gravel.”
“Seems like much work for an empty house.”
“My mum told me they had never been to Seattle before the house. They visited Seattle for the first time to purchase it. My mum fell in love with the house immediately. They never lived here, and lucky for me, it was here when I needed a place to stay. My dad is from New York. He loves the views and flats and skyscrapers. My mum is from London. They now live in a penthouse near Oxford Circle. My dad has his views, and my mum has the dreary London.” He said, closing the front door.
“This is the living room. To the right are two bedrooms. One bedroom has an interior bathroom. This is the guest bathroom. To the left is the kitchen. I will show you that in the morning as the view is beautiful.” They walked up the stairs. “This was a bedroom, but the walls were knocked to create an accessible area by the terrace. You have already seen the bedroom to the right. Two bedrooms were combined for my bedroom, to the left. And to the left is a small bathroom.”
“Nice.” She said with a perplexed expression.
“What are you thinking?”
“Usually, the bathrooms are on top of the bathrooms for the pipes. The walls should extend all the way to support. But your layout is oriented from the bottom floor and at an angle?”
“No one has ever noticed that before. It is, in fact, angled because of my lab.”
“You have a lab?” she said, stepping back.
“Don’t be scared. I am a research scientist. It is for my work. Would you like to see it?”
“Ok,” she said reluctantly.
He opened a door that she thought was a closet. The walls were white, and there were no windows. It was on two levels with spiral stairs connecting them, and the upper level had big monitors on the wall.
“This is my work desk, and below is the lab. I have a Ph.D. in Physics, but I work on whatever comes to mind. Let me show you the actual lab.”
They climbed down the stairs. There were circuits and wires on two long tables.
“This is something I am working on right now, but it is not working.” He said, pointing to a cylindrical object with an open flap where one could see the circuits. On the left side were the blueprints."
She was looking at the open flap when he moved on to the next thing and explained what it does.
“You need to switch the black and the red wire.” Said Aliya ignoring what Alex was saying.
“Pardon?”
“See, here. Your capacitor is not charging because your ground is connected to the positive.”
He moved closer to look. “Can it be that simple?”
“I made a circuit board for my AP physics last year. I got two major shocks, but I got an A.”
He quickly switched the wires and turned it on, and it was working.
“I A.P.s about to give up.” Said Alex surprised.
“Do you have any patents?”
“About 70. Only 23 of them have any real-world application, and rest is just research.”
“So you are a genius.”
“No, not at all.”
“After those two shocks, I am done with physics.” She said, walking around the lab.
“Did I scare you?” asked Alex coming close to her.
“You drive a Bugatti and have a Ph.D., so I expected finance. A scientist never came to my mind.”
“Would you have preferred an economist?”
“I never thought about it. What about you?”
“Character matters to me more than the profession. I want someone who likes me. My past relationship was quite damaging to the point where I didn’t think someone could like me until I met you. Let’s go up.”
He guided her to the bedroom, “Would you like to hang your dress?” he said, sliding his closet door. “I made some room for you.” One section was empty, and two t-shirts were hanging there. She touched them. “For you, in the night. You can bring some clothes so you can spend more time here.”
“Thank you, that would be great.”
“I am going to freshen up and be right back.”
When Alex came out, he was in his boxers. Aliya was wearing the t-shirt and hanging her skirt on the hanger. He hugged her from behind and whispered, “I didn’t say you could wear the t-shirt now.”
She turned around, and they kissed. He stripped her of her clothes and took her to bed. He was kissing her when he slid two of his fingers inside her. She writhed with pleasure, and an orgasm followed. She hadn’t even opened her eyes when he was inside her. A passionate love covered the whole room, and soon they were both out of breath, lying next to each other.
“Would you like something to drink or eat?” asked Alex.
“Just water.”
“Ok” He climbed out of the sheet and went to the other bathroom. She got up and cleaned herself, and got dressed in the t-shirt.
When he came back, she was checking her phone.
“Everything ok!” he asked, handing her the bottle and sitting beside her on the bed.
“I don’t know. I haven’t heard anything from Shireen. I thought she would be calling me, screaming with excitement. But no call, no text.”
“It’s only 10:00. Maybe she’s on a date too.”
“No. She would have called me a thousand times. What dress to wear, what shoes? It’s just not like her.”
“You are overthinking. I have a distraction for you.” He handed her a small velvet blue box with the words Chanel.
“Oh, you shouldn’t have.” She put her phone down and opened it, and it was a ring. It had a crystal lion head on the front, trying to grab a star made of white gold and diamonds on a white gold band.
“How did you get this? It’s not even out yet.” She said, quickly trying it on. “Look! Perfect fit.” She said, showing the ring on the index finger in her right hand.
“I asked my mum to use her contacts at Chanel, and she got one. Do you like it?”
“Oh, I love it.” She hugged him. “I saw it in a magazine a few weeks ago, and I loved it. But it was not yet available to purchase. Thank you! Thank you! Normally I wouldn’t accept such an expensive gift, but I really, really want it.” She said, touching the ring on her finger, and she hugged him.
“You are very welcome.” Said Alex hugging her.
“Wait!” she said, moving back. “How did you know to buy this ring?”
He was speechless.
“Out of all the brands and all the rings, you picked the ring that is not even available. How did you know?” She was staring at him for an answer. His smile was gone and he knew he was gone too.
He got on his knees on the bed and started, “Just remain calm, and I will explain.”
“You hacked into my computer!” she said, figuring it out ahead of his explanation. “I had bookmarked this. I need to go!” She said, climbing out of bed and walking towards the closet to get her dress.
He got up behind her. “Please. Wait. Just let me explain.”
He was behind her as she walked out of the room and down the stairs, pleading if she could just listen to him once. She was about to open the main door when he held her arm. “Please,” he said with tears in his eyes.
“Please sit down and let me explain, and after that, I will drop you off myself. Please.” He pleaded.
Reluctantly, she sat on the couch and said, “five minutes.” He sat down beside her and wiped his tears.
Alex explained. “I was young to be in the Ph.D. program, and I always had trouble making friends because everyone was older than me. They could go out and drink, and I couldn’t. I had some common classes with students from other streams, and in the statistics class, a girl sat next to me, Shiboyah. After every lecture, she sat next to me, and we started talking. She asked if I could help her with some questions. Studying turned into coffee, coffee into dinner. Our chemistry was great with all the ‘me toos.’ She invited me to the symphony, and I love classical music. We went to see plays and art exhibitions. We shared many common interests. Before we knew it, we had been dating for a year.
I had asked her to move in with me right before our graduation. I was helping her pack. That’s when I found this file, a file on me. Research on me, what I like, what I don’t like, where I go, what I drink. There were pictures of me from before we met. There was a list of all the students in the Master/Ph.D. program, and a few names were highlighted. One of the highlighted names was mine, and the others were of similar backgrounds. There is something I haven’t told you. My full name is Alexander Knight.”
Aliya had a blank look on her face.
“Son of Graham Knight.” Explained Alex.
Aliya still had a blank look.
“Chairman of KnightBridge capital,” added Alex. “It is the biggest hedge fund in the world with head office in London. I confronted her, and she said, “That’s just life. Not like men don’t make a list of the prettiest girls”. We fought, and I broke off the relationship. I graduated a month later, and I moved here. When you came up and talked to me, I was afraid to be hurt again. I hacked your network after the mall to ensure no searches about me. I looked through your bookmarks, and the ring was there. I was so happy, Aliya. I swear that’s all I looked for.”
“How did you hack my computer? You didn’t even know my name.”
“Through the wi-fi at the mall. I put malware on your phone. When you took your phone home, it connected to your home Wi-Fi. I opened the connection between the phone and my computer and used that as a tunnel to hack into your computer. I have not done it since and will never do it again. I am so sorry. But please understand where I was coming from.”
Aliya just sat there. Alex wanted to say something, but he was just relieved that five minutes had passed and she was still sitting there. She was looking away from Alex, and he was sitting next to her with one leg folded on the couch to face her. Nothing was said for fifteen minutes.
“Please, Aliya. You don’t know how bad it is to be betrayed. I promise I will never do that again.”
Aliya was quiet and thinking. She was looking at the coffee table. “So, your mom knows people at Chanel, huh?” she said with a smile and looked at Alex. He smiled and hugged her.
“Thank you! Thank you! I assume you have forgiven me.” Said Alex looking at her.
“Yes, but please don’t do it again. I didn’t know you before approaching you. This should be a process filled with surprise and excitement over time. Hacking is a bad shortcut that will not only destroy the journey but also damage the path of trust on which we must walk.”
“Wow. And I promise, never again.”
“As long as we are sharing. May I trouble you for some champagne?”
“I will be right back.”
He brought a bottle of Dom and two glasses.
“What else did you find out about me?” Said Aliya taking a sip.
“Just as much as your bookmarks and search. Howard Shore, university applications, blog, textbooks, that’s it.”
Aliya sighed, “I guess I understand why you did what you did. Have you heard of Unearthed Properties?”
“No.”
“I have never had to describe it. It is a real estate company. My dad is an architect, and my mom is a real estate broker. Their clients range from royalties to sovereigns and billionaires. Since they have access to blueprints, I have a security detail.”
“Like a bodyguard.”
“Yes, three, to be precise. I have a car outside waiting for me whenever I am ready to leave right now. It will follow me wherever I go. Anyone who would like to visit me must be cleared by my security. My parents are trying to protect me. That is why I am here alone in Seattle. So, I understand you are trying to protect yourself.”
“Thank you. And I promise I will never do it again. I am thrilled that someone likes me for me. You still like me, right?”
Aliya smiled. “Yes. Are you fine with what I just told you?”
“Of course. I thought you were just telling me about yourself. Why would I have any objection? Although you should tell your security they have a major flaw in their protection design. One can easily hack you, know where you are and where you will be.”
“You are not scared?”
“Why would I be scared? I am not going to hurt you. I like you so much. I pass every second, waiting to see you again.”
Aliya smiled. “You can test your bravery and come over when you miss me. Was Shiboyah your first girlfriend?”
“No. But she was my first serious relationship. It wasn’t even a relationship. Everything about her was fake. All our moments, everything.”
“I am not saying what she did was right. But you do drive a Bugatti. My parents gave me a Rolls Royce. It takes me to school and home, and anywhere I go. It doesn’t take long to make an assumption. I understand you don’t want someone to be with you just because you have a high net worth. But you shouldn’t hide who you are.”
“Okay. Are we ok?”
“Give me some time. You broke my trust. Give it time.”
“Okay. I understand. I talked to my mum about my name. She chose my name as, like you, she loves the name, Alexander. But it was after Russian nobility. She was ecstatic when I told her you call me Alexander instead of Alex. She hates the name Alex.”
“What exactly did you tell your parents about me?”
“Just my mum. I told her that I had met someone and that I wanted something from Chanel. That is it. I don’t talk to my dad. He works all the time. He is in finance, and I studied physics. We have nothing in common. Even when we are together, we can’t talk. Everyone loves him. He is from New York. He started trading and worked up. My mum and dad were both working in London at an investment firm. Dad was a young trader, and mum was in investor relations. He noticed that she was mesmerizing when she talked. They talked, and she suggested that he should start his firm. Even though she was making substantially more money than dad, she left her job, and they started the firm, KnightBridge, a combination of the last name of my parents. After two years of struggle, they got a big injection of funds, and now they are worth billions. My mum stopped working when I was born. They tried to conceive for years, so my mum wanted to be there for me. And she still is.”
“Does your dad not support your career in physics?”
“I would know if he ever talked to me.”
“You were right about one thing; you are not a genius. Nobody this smart would do something this stupid.”
Alex laughed. “I am so sorry. Aliya, I really like you. I like you more and more with every minute I spend with you. I wanted to tell you how I felt about you. As you can see, I am not very good at talking. I wanted to give you something that showed you how much I appreciate you. I am nervous. I lack confidence. I am not a good talker.”
“We had a great date.”
“Because of you. You talked. You asked the questions. I am not good at this. But I will try my best. I really like you. I don’t know any other words how to say how much I want you in my life.” Said Alexander crying.
“Alexander. You are crying. That tells me how much you appreciate me.” Said Aliya wiping his tears. “Let’s move forward.”
“Okay.” Said Alexander picking a tissue and wiping his face. “May I hang your dress?”
“What is your obsession with my dress?”
“You are closer to the door, the way out, than to my bedroom, the way in. I want you to pivot towards staying.”
“Fine. Here.” Said Aliya giving him the hanger and getting up. “Let’s go.”
And they were in bed. Alexander took a big breath of relief.
“Aliya. I was hurt, but I never hurt anyone.” Said, Alex. “I would never hurt you.”
“How do you trust people in your life? Your friends?”
“I am not giving my heart to my friends. I am used to people befriending me to meet my dad or get a job at the hedge fund. But I have never had someone play with my heart. It hurt so much.”
“I am sorry you had to go through that. Would you want to talk to your ex again?”
“Never. I wanted to tell you tonight that I hacked you and was ready to apologize. Shiboyah had one year to tell me she knew who I was before we met. We were moving in together. No. I never want to talk to her again.”
“I understand your point. I know who you are now. Will you trust what I say? I knew your car. I also know the price. How do you know a person likes you for you and not for your money?”
“Uhh. I don’t know. How do you know? You have a Rolls Royce.”
“I don’t care. I would love to have people around me who are not scared of my security. I would use everything I have to make friends or have a boyfriend. I know I might get hurt. But I would rather be beaten ninety-nine times and have that one perfect hundredth person than be alone and have no one. I took a risk to stand up and talk to a stranger. It might have been a disaster. But I need it to work just once. I don’t want to lose on the few good times in my life out of fear of getting hurt. I might die tomorrow. I don’t want to die without experiencing anything. You have a best friend you trust. How many friends did you have to go through to find him? Don’t you think he is worth it?”
Alex smiled. “Yes. He is.”
“No more hacking. Just because I didn’t know you before shouldn’t make you trust me. Talking to me and knowing me should build your trust in me.”
“Okay.” Said Alex with a smile. “Are you sure you are fifteen? You talk like you have been in a war.”
“You don’t know everything about me yet.“You must give it time and take a leap of faith.”
“Okay.” Said Alex nodding. “One question. Your name is Aliya Hunt.”
“Yes.”
“When you sent the box, the person said the delivery was from Ms. Hunt. It took me a minute to remember it was you.”
“Anything else you would like to know about me?”
“No. I will wait. You are worth it. Is there something I can do to make you feel better?”
“Turn off the light and sleep. It has been a long day.”
She placed her head on his chest, and they were asleep.