His Discreet Love ✔

1.

Our imaginations are as clear and real as our experience and exposure.
-@salamnuhu(twitter)

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A week after The Incident, and I still find it hard to believe.

Kara is dead.
Sasha is dead.

It all felt like a dream. No, it felt like a nightmare.

The number one businessman and his wife, found dead in a lake after a tragic accident.

A tear slipped down my eye as I looked at the little baby cradled in my arms. My poor Manha.

She'll grow up without knowing her parents. But she'll have me, she has me. She's my baby, the only link I have to Kara.

God! I miss her, I miss her so much.

Manha started crying in my arms and I rocked her as I made my way downstairs to make her a bottle. As I hurried to the kitchen, I almost bumped into something.....someone, actually.

"Sorry, sorry." I heard Ali mutter. I looked up at him and he looks tired, sad, depressed.

"Sorry." I say to him, moving past him to the kitchen.

She was still crying as I struggled to make her a bottle and also make her stop crying.

"You're not helping me here, Manha." I sighed frustratingly, stopping to look at her pouting face with my own pout.

I heard a chuckle from behind. I turned and found Ali looking at me with an amused face. He walked up to me and stretched out his arm.

"Let me hold her." He told me, and I handed Manha to him. We didn't say another word to each other as I made her bottle and he moved around, comforting her.

"Can I feed her?" He asked, looking at me expectantly. I nod my head and walked beside him to the living room. I handed him the bottle when he sat down and made my way back to my room upstairs.

When he's done, he'll bring her to me.

I moved back in with Mr and Mrs Ahmed because I couldn't bear to live in the apartment I once shared with Kara and I took a break from work to look after Manha. Ali though, is running his company and he's also the interim CEO at Sasha's since he was a silent partner, owning about 45% of his brother in law’s company. And I can't even begin to imagine how stressed he is.

Without another thought I walked back down to the living room and he turned to me when I reached his side, still feeding Manha.

"Griled cheese Sandwich and coffee sound good?" I asked him with a small smile and he gave me a bright one.

This is the first genuine smile I've gotten from him since....

"Very good, infact. Thank you." He said with a nod.

I went into the kitchen and started brewing the coffee then I took out the bread and two types of cheese- monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese- for the sandwiches. I took out a nonstick skillet and placed it on the electric stove, then I butter the slices of bread and places them on them on the oven.

Once I was ensured the cheese was almost melted, I took out the plates and mug and set everything for the two of us on the kitchen island. I washed my hands and turned, ready to hurriedly call him but he was already standing at the doorway, leaning on the frame of the door.

"Where's Manha?" I asked him.

"Mom came back home and immediately took her from me. But don't worry too much, she went asleep the moment she was done with her bottle." He assured, showing me the bottle in his hand. I went over to him to collect it so I can wash it but he pulled his hand back.

"After we eat. The food is getting cold." He said, moving past me to sit on a barstool. I sat on the one across him and silently began eating my food. So did he.

When we were done with our food, he helped me with the dishes, like the true gentleman he was.

"I should probably go back to my apartment and get some sleep. I just wanted to check on you.... and um, Manha as well." He said, scratching the back of his neck.

I gave him a small smile. "What happened will always... I don't think I'll ever be able to get through it, especially when I see Manha. But she's now also my only ray of hope, sunshine and happiness. So with her in my arms, close to me, I'm sure I'll be alright." I confessed with a heavy sigh.

"I wish I could hug you right now." He said, absentmindedly.

"Huh?" I asked, confused at his statement.

"I-I meant.... to like, comfort you and- never mind. Manha might not have her actual mother with her, but I'm sure you'll be just as much good mother Kara would have been. I trust you with that, though it might not be easy. And I promise you that I'll do everything in my power, no matter what it takes, to make sure no one takes your daughter from you." His words, his voice crumbled my resolve and tears flowed down my eyes nonstop.

"Shhhh, it'll be alright. All will be well." He comforted, standing next to me as I tried to wipe away my tears.

"I miss her a lot as well." He muttered and we stood in silence just staring at the wall ahead of us until he cleared his throat.

"It's past 9 now, I have to go back to my apartment, pack some clothes and get some rest. My plane to Nevada is at 4am in the morning." He informed me, and I nod my head, blinking my eyes rapidly to prevent more tears from falling.

He sauntered out of the kitchen and I followed him escorting him to the door. When we reached there, he turned to me with a serious look.

"Take good care of yourself. And call me if you need anything, at any time of the day, okay?" He told me and I nod my head.

"Okay." I said, almost inaudible to myself as well.

He turned and walked to his car but before he got in, I finally managed to find my voice.

"Have a safe flight." I said, loud enough for him to hear, waving my hands. He gave me a short wave before getting in his car and out of the compound.