Marie's words hit me like a slap.
"Ji-Ah is back."
I never wanted to hear those words. But when Marie said that, My stomach dropped with anxiety.
"And this time," she continued, voice low, "she brought her father. They have a new proposal for Lucifer."
She gave a pause and continued "A big one at that."
I tried to swallow, but my throat was dry.
"What plans does she have this time?" I asked, my voice barely holding together.
Marie looked at me carefully before speaking.
"Her father is proposing a $150 million strategic investment into Hardpound, with markets open for AI ventures. They want 10% equity and a board seat. Enough to have influence on future decisions, but not enough to threaten Lucifer's control."
My heart was already racing. But the deal sounded too good.
And one thing I did learn here is that if a deal sounds too good, then there is a motivation hidden.
"That… that sounds good for the firm, right?"
Marie didn't smile.
"It would be. Except there's one more condition."
She paused.
"Lucifer has to marry Ji-Ah."
"Or at least announce a formal engagement. Publicly."
The floor seemed to tilt under my feet. My hands started shaking. I couldn't breathe properly. A cold wave of nausea rolled through me.
Marriage.
To Ji-Ah.
Marie kept talking, but her voice felt distant.
"He removed Rhea's name from his former will recently. That move has been attracting attention. A lot of people are circling now… looking for marriage alliances, relationships, anything to get close. What happened in Miami… it made people notice him more. Notice the space next to him."
I felt like I was going to throw up.
This makes sense.
There will be more women now. More beautiful, more experienced, more suitable women. Women who don't miss prayers. Women who don't whisper astaghfirullah while coming on his fingers. Those who won't push him away, when he is approaching.
Will he fall for someone else?
What if he finds someone else interesting?
Marie was still speaking, but I couldn't hear her clearly anymore. My chest felt tight. My palms were sweaty.
"Aafreen… Aafreen?"
She gently shook my shoulder.
I blinked back to reality.
"Are you going to be fine?"
I forced a small nod, my voice barely there.
"I'm."
She didn't believe me, but she didn't push.
"Come," she said. "Let's go to the rooftop. I need some air."
***
The rooftop wind was cool against my burning skin. Marie stood beside me, arms folded, looking out over the city.
"Life is unfair when it comes to fulfilling wishes." Marie said this while smoking a cigarette. A mint one which didnt bother anyone beside her much.
She continued " There are times when you feel like nothing is going your way. And for a matter of fact, it won't."
I looked at her, She never said something depressing before. But she was telling me this to make me understand that nothing is in my hands ? This isn't the Marie I know.
I had decided to counter her statements, I whispered "But that dosen't mean that, you'll give up and change nothing. Right?"
She takes a deep puff looking at me and then breathing it out side ways. As if she were sighing in disappointment.
"What's bothering you the most?" she asked quietly.
I stared at the lights below, my hands still trembling.
"I'm insecure," I whispered. "About him leaving me. About him choosing someone else."
Marie was quiet for a moment. Then she spoke, realistic as always.
"The offer is too good, Aafreen. He's single. Women are flocking. Honestly… I thought about joining the flock myself once. Trying my luck with him. But I held back because I don't have the influence he's looking for."
She turned to look at me.
"You have some value to him. I can see that. But there isn't much progress yet. He can easily afford to keep you on the side… and then go marry, fuck and make some kids with someone else."
Her words landed like stones in my chest, my stomach twisted so hard. My breathing became shallow. A fresh wave of nausea hit me.
I shook my head quickly.
"No. He won't do that. He—"
I stopped.
Marie continued "This is how life works Aafreen, I'm sorry but thats it. For you."
Then, for the first time, I said it out loud.
"We… we were together in Miami. More than once. He held me after. He said I was his. He—"
Marie's eyes softened, but her voice stayed firm.
"It matters to you a lot. It should matter to him just as much."
I swallowed hard.
"Please help me again, Marie. Like before."
She looked away. Putting off the red butt of the cigarette against the wall.
"Not this time, habibti. I can't be unfaithful to my work."
She stood up.
"Think as much as you want. But remember — the time is ticking."
"I'll report that I'll be covering your shift tonight. Go home rest and forget."
She left me there on the rooftop, wind whipping my hair, city lights blurring through tears.
The longer I waited… the further Lucifer was being taken away from me.
***
They sent me home early.
I didn't argue.
I sat on the bed in my official clothes — blazer missing, belt forgotten somewhere, shirt half-unbuttoned. I didn't care.
My mind wouldn't stop.
What if he says yes? What if he chooses the $150 million and the perfect alliance over me? What if I just become the girl who works for him while the world sees him with Ji-Ah on his arm?
I curled up on my sheets. I was crying, my skin was on fire. An irritation that does not go away.
My phone rang.
It was Ammi.
I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Ammi…"
"Beta, how are you? Did you have food ?"
I said "I'm good, I didn't have it yet."
She said this with a concerned voice "Arre, Go have your dinner, You sound tired. Is everything alright ?"
I didn't tell her everything. I couldn't.
"I'm okay… but the friend I trusted the most… he's hurting me unknowingly."
Ammi was quiet for a moment.
"Then talk to him, Aafreen."
"You won't know the circumstances he is facing. He might be unaware about how much you are affected. So talk and make sure to empty your emotions. Something me and your Dad didn't do before marriage or after it. And you know what happened."
Her words hit deep.
I stayed silent, tears slipping down my cheeks.
"Beta, Promise me you'll talk to him tomorrow," she said gently.
"I will, Ammi."
After the call ended, I kept thinking about it.
Tomorrow.
I would meet him tomorrow and tell him everything — how scared I am, how much I need him, how terrified I am of losing him.
I closed my eyes, still in my messy office clothes, and tried to sleep.
But sleep didn't come.
Only fear.
I may have manifested my fears too much.
My phone buzzed again.
Marie.
"Hey, I'm sorry."
Then the next message came.
"Lucifer texted me to start processing the deal with Suamsungu. We are waiting— "
My soul felt ripped out of my body.
Tears burst out of me instantly. Loud, ugly sobs that shook my whole frame. I didn't even read the next text.
Sadness. Fury. Humiliation.
All of it crashed over me at once.
I wasn't just sad. I was angry.
He was really considering it. After everything we did. After I defended him in front of his ex-wife and daughter. After I let him mark every inch of me.
I couldn't wait until tomorrow.
I couldn't wait another second.
I grabbed my bag, still in my messy office clothes, I ran outside.
It was raining heavily, it felt like the evening Sky was weeping with me.
I called an Uber.
I was going to his home. Right now.
The ride felt endless.
When the car stopped outside his building, my hands were shaking.
I stepped out, the rain drenched every inch of me instantly as I took my first few steps.
I rang the bell.
My hands clenched into fists so tight my nails dug into my palms.
And I knocked the door aggressively as well.
The door opened.
Lucifer stood there, still in his shirt from earlier, sleeves rolled up, looking tired but surprised. He did not expect me to meet him directly.
I didn't wait for him to speak.
"I needed some answers."
My voice came out louder than I expected — raw, trembling, full of everything I had been holding inside.