Black Silk

CHAPTER 9 Coffee In Cold

RAHEEM'S POV

I caught her through the rearview mirror the second she approached the car. Long, wide-leg jeans, a brown turtleneck tucked neatly in, a coat to match. Effortless. And yet, she looked like she was daring me to react. She met my eyes, then slid into the back seat with that infuriatingly calm expression.

I smirked. I knew exactly what she was doing, testing me, pushing boundaries, seeing if I'd snap.

"What are you doing?" I asked, voice low.

"What do you mean?" she replied innocently, though the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth gave her away.

"Why are you sitting there? In the back?"

"Oh, no reason," she said, deliberately vague.

I straightened in my seat, tone sharper. "I'm not an Uber, Rose. Get in the front."

"Nope. I want to sit here," she said, deadpan.

I exhaled, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Nadia... stop fucking with me and move."

She sighed dramatically, standing on the seat and climbing over with that perfect combination of grace and defiance. I caught her in the corner of my eye and gave a subtle amused look.

"How old are you again?" I asked sarcastically.

Her glare could have melted steel. I laughed quietly, sliding the car into gear. Breakfast was already a distant thought—the early wake-up was worth it.

~~

"Do you want coffee or anything?" I asked casually.

"No," she replied, as if daring me to leave it at that.

I opened the door. "Okay, but don't touch mine."

"Wait! Can you get me a chocolate-filled donut and a hot chocolate, please?"

Ah, there it was. The predictable part of her. "That's more like you. Anything else?"

"Nope. Actually... never mind. That's it."

"Fine, Rose. I'll be back in a minute."

NADIA'S POV

He closed the door behind him, striding into the café with that confident, calm energy that made it impossible to think of him like anyone else. A minute later, a knock on my window made me jump. 

"Salaams, Nadia. What are you doing here by yourself?" 

"Wa alaikum salaam," I said, smiling, though the flutter in my chest betrayed me. "Oh, nothing. Just waiting for someone..." 

"Oh right. You coming into work today?"  Malik asked.

"Yeah, mmhm, I'll be there." 

"Okay. See you later, then." 

"Bye!" 

I watched Malik get into his car, feeling the familiar pull of nerves and anticipation. Moments later, Raheem returned. I knew he had seen me talking to Malik—this was going to come up. 

"Who was that?" he asked, voice smooth but with a note of warning. 

"No one that concerns you," I replied lightly, smiling as I grabbed the bag of coffee and donut from him. 

"Rose... what concerns you concerns me." 

"Maybe in your head," I said, tilting my mug toward him, "but not mine." I took a slow sip, letting the warmth calm the sudden racing of my pulse. 

"Did they give you sugar? There's none in this," I asked, curiosity sharpening my tone. 

"They did," he said