Filed to story: Once Upon a One Night Mistake Book PDF Free by Simone Shirazi
It took a little over a half hour, but Blair finally found someone who knew her father’s location.
“He’s downstairs with all the other men,” she revealed, slipping to Sebastian’s side once again. “No woman except for Noor is allowed down there, so you’re on your own. Think you can manage?”
“Here’s to hoping.”
Blair grimaced and patted his shoulder encouragingly. “Go get ’em, tiger.”
With one last glance at his fake girlfriend, he made his way through the maze of people to the stairs that led to the basement. As he began his descent, he smelled the mix of cigar, cigarette, and shisha smoke. Soon after came the noise, a mix of unfamiliar Iranian music and news in Farsi blaring from the television. Sebastian hesitated halfway down as he waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim light, taking the opportunity to get his bearings.
Much to his relief, he spotted Amir a moment later, seated on one of the many overstuffed leather chairs in the room with a drink in hand. Sebastian inched forward as he watched Amir wrap up a conversation with Mahmoud, his right-hand man and Blair’s former babysitter, and decided this was his chance to strike.
“Mr. Bakhtiar?”
Amir glanced up with a frown, but his expression soon changed to pleasantly surprised when he realized who was standing in front of him.
“Sebastian,” he greeted, putting down his drink so he could offer a hand to shake. “I was wondering if Laleh brought you along.”
He put on a brave face and gave the scheming businessman a smile as they shook hands. “I certainly wouldn’t have let her leave me behind for this, sir.”
“How many times have I told you to call me Amir?” Chuckling, he motioned to the seat next to him. “Please, sit. Can I get you a drink?”
In their early days of friendship, Blair had been quick to inform him of a certain part of Iranian culture: the? tarroff . If you were offered something, you were always to decline politely. Apparently, this went on for a few rounds, and once you were sure it was no trouble for your host-or that the offer was genuine-you could accept. Needless to say, he didn’t understand why anyone would want to go through all of that, but he hadn’t questioned it. By now, he had the art of? tarroff
-ing pretty much down.
“No, thank you,” he replied with a shake of the head. “I’m fine.”
“Please, I insist.”
Since he wasn’t Persian and hadn’t been born with the inherent ability to tell whether someone was just being polite or truly offering, he declined again for safe measure. The worst thing he could do at the moment was piss off Amir; it would end everything on the spot.
Fortunately, Amir waved him off, and before Sebastian could protest again, a glass was shoved in his direction. Silence fell between them as Blair’s father plucked a cigar from a mahogany box on the coffee table and slipped a lighter out of the breast pocket of his finely tailored suit. As he lit the cigar, Sebastian took the opportunity to study the older man carefully.
There was no denying that Amir Bakhtiar was a foreboding man. At six-foot-two with the build of a former athlete, his broad frame was intimidating to be sure, but it was his gaze that usually convinced people to keep their distance. He and his nephew shared the same seafoam green eyes-a color that had somehow passed Blair over-but unlike with Khalid’s, there was no warmth in Amir’s gaze. It had taken years for Sebastian to work up the nerve to look the man in the eye for more than a few seconds, and even today he couldn’t bring himself to hold his stare for too long.
“I must say,” Amir murmured a moment later, smoke curling past his lips as he exhaled, “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. These things aren’t the most entertaining events, and even less so for an-excuse me for being blunt-outsider.” His gaze shifted to Sebastian, a challenge present.
Sebastian had to confess he did occasionally feel out of place, but it had never been enough to make him want to run away. However, he knew Amir’s statement hadn’t been meant as a dig, but as a subtle inquiry into whether or not he was cut out for a lifetime of? mehmooni and Persian culture.
The truth was that he definitely was not. While he enjoyed the food, the music, and the people, he knew there was still more to the culture than he would ever fully comprehend, which was bound to make him an outsider forever. But he wasn’t there to say that.
“Honestly, I enjoy it,” he lied, gently swilling the amber liquid in his glass. “I mean, really, who could turn down a night of food and family? Emphasis on the food.”
“Ah, yes. Our women certainly know how to put together a meal. Now, if only my daughter would show an interest in learning.” Amir raised the cigar to his lips once more but hesitated before taking another puff. “Not that it really matters if she wants to or not. It is a skill a woman must have if she plans to ever find and keep a husband.”
And there it was, the perfect opener. He couldn’t tell if Amir had specifically baited him, but it didn’t matter. If he was going to do this, he had to do it now.
“Have some faith,” Sebastian said, as lightly as he could manage. “There are people out there who would gladly take her the way she is. Myself included.”
Amir rolled his eyes. “After what she put you through, I’m surprised you took her back. I’m sure the idea of marriage isn’t even on your radar.”
“Actually, sir,” he began, knowing this might be his only chance. “That’s what I’m here to talk to you about.”
Judging from his silence, Amir hadn’t been expecting the conversation to take this turn. “You can’t be serious,” he finally murmured, gaze narrowing in disbelief. “Don’t tell me you’d ever want to marry my daughter.”
“I do.” Sebastian drew in a deep breath, preparing himself for the next words. “Mr. Bakhtiar, I’m here to ask permission to marry your daughter one day.”
He leaned back in his seat, obviously floored by the simple statement, but the shock soon turned to suspicion. “Why are you asking this? You’re only, what, eighteen? Why would you want to tie yourself down at such an early age?”
I don’t. And I sure as hell won’t. “Because I love Blair. And I worry that if I don’t speak up now, I may lose her forever.”
Amir offered a noncommittal grunt. “You’re aware that I’ve already arranged something for her, correct?”
He nodded once in affirmation. “She’s only told me a little about him.”
Amir sniffed in distaste. “A Saudi. Though I must say, I’m surprised she hasn’t told you more. Rahim is a very powerful man in the Gulf.”
“We’ve only talked about it once, and she wasn’t willing to go into details.” Sebastian shrugged, allowing himself only a few brief seconds of worry before settling back again. “It’s not something she wants.”
Blair’s father sighed and shook his head, absentmindedly lifting the cigar back to his lips. “A romantic, that one, just like her mother. She believes her one true love will come riding up and sweep her off her feet.” He took another thoughtful puff, and his next words were gift wrapped in smoke. “I suppose she thinks that one true love is you?”
“I would like to think the same.”
“Wonderful, another romantic. As if this world didn’t have enough already.” A smirk quirked up the corner of his mouth as he put down his cigar, finally turning his full attention to Sebastian. “You know, you’re lucky I like you. I’ve been pushing for you two to happen for years, and when you finally realized what you had together, I was overjoyed. But, of course, this is Laleh we’re talking about. She tends to ruin good things, and your relationship was no exception.” Amir tilted his head to the side, pursing his lips. “You’re either blinded by love, or you’re just an idiot. Possibly a mix of both. Do you know what you’re getting yourself into, Sebastian?”
At that moment, Sebastian was sure his heart was going to jump out of his chest and run away screaming. It was stupid to ever assume Amir would be so easily fooled, and now Sebastian was backed into a corner, completely unsure of what to do next. Yes, it was his own damn fault, but if he wanted to succeed in his mission, he was going to have to think fast.
“I love Blair,” he continued, lying through his teeth. “I always have, and I always will. Doubt that all you want, but at least you know where I stand.”
Amir said nothing for a full minute, biding his time by simply studying Sebastian’s face. The older man’s unwavering gaze had Sebastian internally pleading that the weak speech had worked.
And then Amir cracked a smile. “Well then, I’ll have to call the Saudi to tell him our arrangement is off.”
Sebastian watched as Amir rose from his seat, too shocked to stand himself. Holy shit, it had worked. That had been his ultimate goal, yeah, but the fact that he’d actually accomplished it was a miracle. However, judging from the way Amir was staring down at him, he couldn’t exhale just yet.
“In words you might better understand,” Blair’s father continued, smile swiftly fading, “you have my blessing to marry in a few years’ time. But if you two break up again, or my daughter makes a mockery of your relationship again, do not expect me to be so kind to her.”