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“So, just stay out of his way,” Sabrina passionately said, clutching the steering wheel. “This is our last chance, so don’t provoke him. I barely managed to convince him to take you back.”

Kendall blinked, clutching her seatbelt. “You convinced him to hire me again?”

“Duh!” Sabrina said, proudly adjusting her Dior sunglasses. “What other reason could there be, if not me?”

The car jerked, bouncing over a speed bump. “Slow down,” Kendall groaned.

“Nope. You can’t be late, it’s your first day back. I told you, we can’t get him mad.”

“I’m an hour early, Brina.”

“Trust me,” Sabrina countered. “He’s my dad, I know him better.”

Sighing, Kendall resigned herself to the bumpy ride.

Luckily, they got to the office in record time, and she could finally stop clutching the seatbelt.
Sabrina screeched to a halt and turned to face her. “Okay, Ken, you can do this!”

“Brina, I’m not racing in the Olympics.”

“Remember,” Sabrina said gravely. “Keep your head low, follow his orders without any complaints, and send me weekly updates of what he’s been doing.”

Kendall narrowed her eyes.

“What?” Sabrina said, raising her nose. “That was the whole reason I asked you to do this! But you literally haven’t told me a thing since you started working there. Like, dad went to Washington D.C. this weekend and I had no idea.”

“Sabrina, please.” Kendall shook her head, pulling her seatbelt off. “Not now.”

Her eyes widened with surprise, making Sabrina look unbearably wounded. “Kendall.”

Kendall turned to face her, softening her gaze. “Brina. We’re way too old to play spies.”

“But you said you’d help me get my parents back together.”

“I never said that. I agreed to be your father’s secretary because I’m free right now, and I wanted to help you so you’d stop stressing about him and his secretaries, which, by the way, he’s never had any romantic interest in.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I work for him now, I’ve seen him interact with women.”

Sabrina leaned in, interested. “So, he doesn’t have a romantic life at all. That’s what you’re saying.”

Blinking, Kendall realized the trap she’d fallen in. “Well… he’s an adult, so he has his… ways. But none of the women he’s been involved with have ever worked with him.”

Her conscience burned, making her squirm as she tried to ignore her own mind. Technically, she wasn’t involved with him. She’d just had a fat crush on which nearly ruined their relationship before she swore to get it under control.

“Oh,” Sabrina said, squaring her shoulders. “Well, whatever. I’m going to find my mother before the end of this year, and I’ll put my family back together, just the way grandpa would’ve wanted.”

“I suggest you give that up,” Kendall murmured, opening her door.

Sabrina’s fingers closed around her arm. “Why? Why do you say that?”

“Because Mr Sinclair is an adult, and no matter how badly you want to, you can’t control him. I actually do hope he meets someone he loves and gets married, and I think you should hope the same.”

Her friend's eyes darkened with anger, her eyes glistening with tears. “No. I’m going to be the one to make my dad happy again by bringing my mom back. Why do you think I put up with his dark moods? It’s because I understand where it’s coming from. And I want to help him become happy again.”

“You put up with him? Isn’t it the other way around, love?” Kendall calmly murmured.

“Ken!”

“Okaayy, I’m sorry,” she said tiredly. “I’m just saying, Brina. There’s no saying he’ll get back together with your mother even if you find her and bring her back. I don’t want you to set yourself up for disappointment.”

Sabrina shook her head. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. The two of them are soulmates. They’re the reason I believe in love. I think their story just ended so tragically, and now, they both regret it, but don’t know how to fix things. So, I’ll do it for them. Just wait and watch, Kendall. I’ll bring my parents back together again.”



Kendall was looking down at her shoes, watching as the hem of her pleated pants gently brushed the surface of her heels with every step she took.

Her body knew the way from the elevator to her reception area, so she moved on autopilot, her mind occupied with thoughts of what Sabrina had said.

Kendall hadn’t been lying when she’d said she hoped Lucien would fall in love with somebody and get himself a companion. She genuinely wanted the best for him, even if it meant she’d have to bury her feelings for him forever.

So, why was her mind restless with thoughts of what Sabrina had said? He and her mother had been soulmates?

She walked dazedly toward her table and put her bag down.

If Sabrina did somehow locate her mother, would Lucien get back together with her? Why did Kendall’s stomach twist so violently when she thought of that? It wasn’t like he could marry her, so why was she struggling with this horrible feeling of jealousy?

Sighing, she picked up her iPad and pen, walking toward Lucien’s office. There was no point in feeling jealous. What she had to do now was focus on making Lucien believe that she was well on her way to getting over him. That she was so far over him, she could see the top of his head!

She was so deep in thought that she didn’t think to knock and simply pushed the door open.

Someone ran right into her, quickly catching her as they collided.

“Oh! I’m so sorry,” he said.

Gasping, Kendall held onto him as he pulled her upright. “Sorry! No, it’s my mistake!”

She paused, looking up at the man’s face. He tilted his head, recognizing her, and one of those charming smiles curved his lips.

“Hello,” he said pleasantly. “Fancy meeting you here, habibti.”

“Mr Rahim,” she said.

He chuckled. “You remember me?”

“Of course!” She glanced behind him and froze.

Lucien and Justin were seated on the sofa, watching them in disapproval.

“Hamza,” Lucien said, standing and walking over. “Let me see you out.”

“Morning, Mr Sinclair,” Kendall politely said.

He nodded curtly and put a hand on Hamza’s back. “Let’s go.”

“Wait, wait, Sinclair,” Hamza said, smiling down at Kendall. “Before we lose each other again, sweetheart.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his card. He flipped it over to the white side and then held a pen out to her.

She took both, blinking at him.

He sighed wistfully. “Yalla, write your number, I beg you.”

Lucien's jaw ticked, but he said nothing, watching in stony silence.

Kendall froze for a second but then remembered her resolve to show Lucien that she was getting over him. Slowly, she wrote her number down and handed the items back to Hamza.

He smiled dreamily at her. “Eh el gamaal da?”

“Hm?” she said cluelessly.

“I will call you, darling.” He winked.

With that, he left the room, and Kendall turned back around.

Only to face Lucien’s unamused stare.