Even though he was far away, I felt his gaze. But I no longer felt the same excitement as before whenever I caught him looking at me. My mind was preoccupied with the thought that the reason Samer entered the hotel business was because of Kate.
Driven by his desire to win the woman back, he worked hard to make Khalifa the number one. My mind was not on the applicants but on the possibility of the two of them getting back together.
“Am I the only one in your heart?” I repeatedly asked him, as my insecurities resurfaced.
Who wouldn’t feel insecure about someone like Kate? Moreover, now that Samer has achieved his desired success with Khalifa, Kate is the only missing piece, and I’m afraid she might be taken away from me anytime.
“We keep repeating this, Jamie? I’ve told you several times that you’re the only one I love now,” Samer said.
Now? Does that mean he might change tomorrow or the next day? I became even more anxious upon hearing that, but I didn’t press him further because he seemed irritated with me.
“I just want to make sure that it’s really just me,” I said.
“It’s really just you, I promise,” he said.
“As long as it’s really just me. You should belong only to me,” I replied, and he burst into laughter. We were attracting the applicants’ attention.
“I didn’t know you were possessive of me, but I promise, it’s really just you. So let’s focus on work so that everyone can have their lunch,” Samer said.
All the applicants were entitled to a free lunch, whether they were accepted or not.
“Sorry, I can’t help feeling insecure about Kate,” I admitted to him so he would know what was going on with me.
“You shouldn’t feel insecure about Kate because we’re done,” Samer reiterated that I shouldn’t be jealous or insecure about Kate.
I sighed as I tried to accept what he said, although it was difficult for me.
“I’ll try,” I promised him. “There’s only one more candidate to interview. Are you ready?” I teased him because Brent was the only one left. Of course, the manager position was saved for last.
“Are you ready?” he retorted.
“Of course. You’re the only one I’ve been concerned about. Just promise me that you won’t be provoked no matter what he says. Focus on the interview, and if there’s anything you don’t like, dismiss him immediately. We can have one of the supervisors from the main office handle it instead,” I suggested.
“Don’t worry, I can handle it,” Samer said.
“That’s good because I don’t want Brent to think you’re insecure about him, okay?” I was just reminding him, but he seemed annoyed.
When Rhea called Brent’s name for the final interview, I quietly observed, but my hand was under the table, resting on Samer’s thigh. When I saw Brent approaching, I smiled at Samer and signaled to him that we could face Brent together.
“Sit down, Brent,” Samer said.
Brent sat down but didn’t look at Samer; his gaze was on me. The intensity of his stare was the same as fifteen years ago. He really had a way of getting under my skin! I felt Samer’s legs tense up, so I gently massaged them.
“Hello, Jamie, you look beautiful today,” Brent said, which made Samer’s jaw tighten again. And I just stared back at him.
“Mind your language, Brent,” I warned him.
“Why did you choose Khalifa, Brent?” Samer asked, his eyes fixed on Brent’s face. I was quite nervous with the two of them.
“I didn’t have many options; this is the only hotel in Stonewick,” Brent replied.
Whoa, Brent was so arrogant. He needed a job, yet he still found the audacity to mock.
“So, you wouldn’t have applied as a manager in Khalifa if there were other hotels here?” I asked him.
“Hmmm, I think I would still choose Khalifa because of you,” Brent answered.
I rolled my eyes at him, and at that moment, I felt like smacking him with a two-by-four. Even Samer was starting to get angry.
“You should have gone to the playground if you just wanted to play around,” I told him.
“I like what’s written on your resume, so I’ll accept you. The probationary period in Khalifa is only three months, right, Jamie?” Samer challenged Brent.
“Yes,” I answered.
“Within those three months, show me improvement here, especially in sales,” Samer challenged Brent. “If you can’t do that, you won’t be a regular employee at Khalifa, and you won’t be allowed to see my girlfriend either.”
“As long as you’re not married, you have no right to forbid me,” Brent replied to Samer.
“Both of you, stop it,” I said to them because if they continued, I was sure there would be chaos later. “If you think Samer has no right to forbid me, I do. I forbade you from bothering me at the office,” I told him, and he looked surprised. He probably thought I wouldn’t stand up to him.
“You’re hired,” Samer repeated his earlier statement, and I didn’t argue further because Brent knew what he did wrong.
When Samer stood up, Rhea immediately announced that everyone could go to the restaurant for lunch. I followed Samer, but he didn’t head to the restaurant, so I was puzzled. It turned out that he was heading to the room we were occupying.
“Sam…” I called his name because I knew he was stressed by Brent’s behavior earlier. “Why did you accept him? We could have someone else manage this place,” I told him.
“I don’t want him to spread rumors that he wasn’t accepted because I’m insecure about him,” Samer said as he removed his tuxedo. I knew he was hot, but I wish he had warned me before he undressed. My eyes were caught off guard!
“It’s tough when there’s an ex,” I said in a soft voice, and I didn’t know if he heard me or not.
Samer fell silent for a moment and just looked at me. “Am I the only one in your heart?” he asked.
“Yes, why?” I asked, but then I remembered our earlier conversation, and I realized he was just returning the question.
“I just want to make sure,” he said. “Can I have a hug?” And he immediately pulled me closer to him.
Heaven!
That’s what I thought as I nuzzled against his muscular chest. Plus, he smelled so good. I used to tease him that he smelled like onions, but that was just a joke. The truth was, he smelled super duper nice. Even the sweat on his feet probably smelled good to me.
“I love you, Sam,” I said as I looked up at his face.
“I love you too, baby,” he said before lowering his head to kiss me.
A passionate kiss!
It was just one, but why did I feel hot all of a sudden? Why did I want us to do more than just one kiss? When he released my lips, I let out a sigh. When I looked into his eyes, I could see the desire in him. And because I felt the same, I didn’t wait and kissed him willingly.