Nicole stared. After a moment she realized her mouth was hanging open, and she closed it.
“You’re…you’re what?” she sputtered.
“Do you have tea? I see there’s a mug on this table. Is there any fresh?” Bahir asked casually, like he hadn’t just dropped a huge bombshell.
“Uh, yeah. The kettle’s on the stove and there are tea bags on the counter.” She stared at his back in bewilderment as he jumped off the sofa and found a tea cup in her cupboard before pouring himself a mug and carefully walking back to face her again. He dipped his tea bag delicately, watching the fluid change color.
The silence dragged on until Nicole couldn’t take it anymore.
“Is that it? You’re really just going to tell me that you’ve decided to get married and leave it at that? You can’t hold down a relationship for longer than a month, if that!”
Bahir took another bite of muffin, then smiled at her again. What was going on?
“That’s true, but I think the solution I’ve found will be the perfect one. You see, it all depends on marrying the right person, doesn’t it?”
“And who, exactly, do you intend to marry?” she asked, a cold shiver running down her spine.
Bahir’s stare bore right into her soul. “You.”
They stared at each other for what seemed like eternity, the word floating in the air between them.
“You can’t be serious.”
Bahir tilted his head like a confused puppy. An extremely handsome confused puppy. Why did he have to be so handsome?
“Why wouldn’t I be? You know me better than anyone, Nicole. Besides, I can make it worth your while, and you know it. I’ve spent the night thinking it through. I can offer you a million-dollar stipend each year, as well as anything else you want. Name your price, Nicole, and I’ll give it to you.”
Nicole was dumbfounded. Did Bahir really just propose to her in the worst possible way—like she was some kind of business deal he wanted to close?
“There’s no way I’m your closest friend. You have lots of friends.”
Bahir shook his head. “We both know that’s not true. Come on, Nicole. Think about it! You can enjoy the lap of luxury and set yourself up for life, financially. In exchange, all I’m asking is for you to marry me for a few years so I can get the secured visa I need as a spouse, and then we can go back to the way things are now, friends as usual.”
“I’m not your friend, Bahir. I’m your subordinate.”
“Details! Come on, Nicole. There has to be something you want, other than a million dollars a year. What is it?”
Nicole sat back against the sofa and ran a hand over her eyes, trying to think. Bahir wanted to entice her into a green card marriage. It wasn’t something to take lightly. If they were caught, they could both end up in jail, and Nicole had some doubts that even his money could get him out of that. So what was the one thing that was worth taking that risk, and tying herself in matrimony to her wayward boss?
Ryan.
This was her chance. Her brother was sitting at home without a hope in this world…and now she could give him one.
She looked back at Bahir, determined. “If I decide to do this, I want you to offer my brother a job. He’s graduated from Stanford with a business degree, and he would make a valuable asset to your company.”
“Consider it done,” he said, flippant. Would it really be that easy?
“I want you to know that he is legally blind. It doesn’t detract from his ability to work, but it would seem other employers have a difficult time accepting that when they meet him,” she said, her tone defensive.
Bahir shrugged. “Why should I care about that? If the man can conduct business, who cares if his eyes work or not?”
Nicole nearly cried at that comment. Her brother had struggled so hard to prove himself worthy in a cruel world, and now he might actually have a chance to succeed. But still, marrying Bahir? Her expression faltered.
“Look,” Bahir said, leaning over and taking her hands in his.
She stared at their joined hands, fighting to ignore that tingling sensation that made itself present once again.
Bahir released one hand and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. “I know this is a lot to ask, I do. Take some time to have a think about it, and maybe we can chat later about your answer, OK?”
He stared deeply into her eyes, then, and she looked back at him. The man she had once thought of as a human machine, incapable of holding down a relationship, wanted to marry her. After their day of fun and relaxation together, she couldn’t help but feel tempted.
“I’ll think about it,” she whispered.
Bahir grinned, his dimple popping up, quickly melting her traitorous heart. He removed his other hand and stood, heading for the door.
“Good. I’ll look forward to your response later. And I’ll look into a position for your brother, just in case.”
“Thanks, Bahir, for considering that,” she said.
Bahir stood at the door, his expression pensive. “There’s a lot I’ll need to learn about you, if we’re going to pull this off,” he said thoughtfully.
“Yes,” she agreed, her tone distant as she still considered what could really happen if she agreed to such a wild proposal.
Bahir smiled one more time. “Well, I really ought to get going. Let me know how it goes at the Embassy.”
And just like that, he was gone.
Nicole stayed seated on her couch, staring into space for quite some time. She had never been an overly romantic person, but she’d hoped for something a little better than a green card marriage arranged by her boss. Still, it wouldn’t have to be forever, would it? There was a time limit that would free her in a few years. It would be like an investment, of sorts. And she could help her brother without him even knowing she was behind it. Stubborn Ryan wouldn’t accept the job any other way, she knew.
It could actually work.
SIX
Taking a deep breath, Nicole stood and dressed for the day. She took her time, staring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, wondering if she could go through with such a scheme. She thought of her brother, and the good she could finally do him. Bahir’s company was respected. If he succeeded there, he would have far more leverage in the working world.
Then there was the matter of her stupid, traitorous heart. If she were honest with herself, and she really didn’t want to be, Nicole would admit that deep down she hoped that the marriage might one day become real. While Bahir was maddening in his workaholic personality, there had always been something about him that made her heart do somersaults.
She’d try to justify it, telling herself that he was rich and handsome, and that’s what any girl would want. But she had never really cared about those things; Nicole cared about justice, and bringing good into the world.
There were times when she’d hated Bahir for decisions he’d made just to close a deal. She had almost quit during her third month working for him, when Bahir was about to displace families living in an apartment building so that he could build a new office on the site. She’d raged at him as he sat behind his desk, staring at her with a bewildered expression. Then, after she’d said her piece, he had calmly picked up the phone and made a call.
“Bruce? You know that building on 95th and Price?” He paused, and his gaze met Nicole’s. “Cancel it.”
Nicole stared at him as he placed the receiver down delicately, ignoring the raving voice of Bruce as the call was ended without his consent.
They stared at one another in silence for a moment before Nicole found her voice.
“Why did you do that?”
Bahir shrugged. “Apparently it was a bad move. What did you just say? That it would be unjust, immoral and a generally dick move? Did I quote you correctly?”
Nicole felt her face burning, but she held her head high. Somehow, she had just managed to save the homes of people she would never meet.
“Well, I stand by my argument,” she said, and to her surprise, Bahir’s lips twitched in the semblance of a smile.
“I thought you might. That argument just cost me a lot of money, Nicole.”
“Well you have plenty of it. Sometimes doing the right thing matters more.”
“True. Nevertheless, there will be a lot of paperwork involved with this cancellation, and a lot of angry phone calls to handle. I’m sure you’ll understand why I will now place that burden on your very capable shoulders.”
Nicole’s face fell. It would be a horrendous couple of weeks having to deal with the consequences, and Bahir clearly wouldn’t be taking the blame for it.
She gave him an extra-wide, false smile. “I’ll be delighted to handle that for you, sir. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
Bahir turned his attention back to his computer and began typing. “That will be all. Thank you, Nicole.”
When she’d walked out of the office that day, she had realized that Bahir was, at his core, a good person. Sometimes he just needed someone to help him see outside of his profit bubble.
Somehow, over the past six months, Nicole had become that influence. She’d often wondered if those who had come before her had put in any effort to rein him in.
Nicole’s phone beeped, signaling an email. She was jarred out of her reverie and picked up the device, opening her inbox to find another email from the law firm considering her candidacy.
She tapped open the email, and read.
Dear Ms. Calvert,
We write to inform you that the final committee will be meeting this week regarding your candidacy for a position with Simon and Jenkins Associates.
We appreciate your patience as this process continues, and will be in touch soon to advise you of the verdict.
Cordially,
Janet Coolidge
Director of Human Resources
Nicole read and reread the short message. A shock of annoyance shot through her core. On one hand, she understood that legal process could take quite some time. On the other, she could be waiting forever to get an answer from these people, and by then she might already be married to Bahir. How awkward would that be? Hi honey! Just wanted you to know I was desperate to escape working for you, and now I finally got my freedom. See you tonight for dinner.
It was then that Nicole realized she would choose marriage to Bahir over the law firm she’d been daydreaming about for weeks. She was going to do it. She was going to marry her employer; she’d deal with the consequences later.
Somehow, this revelation did not make time cease to continue. Nicole dressed in a nice suit and headed downstairs to the lobby, where a car was waiting to take her to the Embassy.