Page 37 of The Geek and the Sheikh

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“No. I want to know why you are doing this. I don’t remember you being so… avaricious. What changed you?” he replied curtly.

“You never really knew me, Jameel. There is only one person who did… and he's dead. They say the real learning comes after you graduate. I happened to learn it earlier. The world may be run by rich men, but there is power in being underestimated. I learned that the hard way,” she bitterly retorted.

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“This is about your mom and sister, isn’t it?” Junebug said.

Allison’s fingers clenched around the fork in her hand. Jameel was surprised the metal didn’t bend under the obvious force of her hold. It was a fleeting tell, however, as was the flash of bitterness in Allison’s eyes. She relaxed and a glimmer of wry humor replaced the pain.

“What happened to your mom and sister?” he asked.

“Why don’t you ask Bugs? She seems to know everything,” Allison said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Jameel looked at Junebug. She shrugged. There was a hint of compassion in her eyes as she studied the other woman.

“It isn’t my story to tell,” Junebug replied.

This time it was Allison who shrugged. She waved her fork at him in a silent taunt to have patience and continued to eat several more bites of the meal. Finally she placed her fork down on the table. He returned her steady gaze.

“Not all of us are born with a golden spoon in our mouths. My mom and sister were in a car accident almost six years ago. My mom was paralyzed from the waist down while my sister was left in a vegetative state. I won’t bore you with the details, but let’s just say it cost money to care for them both. Money, I didn’t have at the time. Thanks to Bronislav, that changed.”

Jameel felt a cold shockwave run through him, but it didn't slow down his thoughts for long. His voice was hard when he said, "I don't buy it. You could have been making six-figures easily with any tech company in the world. You could have been earning that and more every year for the past six years in a steady, legal job.”

She scoffed. “Why waste my talents on writing some inane game or working for a government that would pay me half of what I'm worth to do the same thing I’m doing for Bronislav? What makes him so different from the American, British, or Jawahir governments? At least he is honest when he sends a team in to kill a bunch of people. He doesn’t make up some self-righteous bullshit.”

“That still doesn’t explain why you are doing what you are doing now. I thought we were friends,” Junebug said.

There was a quick flash of emotion in Allison's eyes that was gone before it could be identified. “It’s not personal. You have a skill Bronislav needs. I was hired to get it.”

“Trying to kidnap someone sounds pretty personal to me,” Jameel snapped in a low voice.

Allison shrugged. “So does wiping out a billionaire’s accounts and shutting down his businesses.”

Jameel clenched his fist and slammed it against the table. The silverware rattled from the force and the sound drew the attention of the other passengers. He waved his hand when James, Yahya, and Hyder started to rise out of their seats.

“Bronislav kidnapped and tortured one of my brothers and almost killed another. His goons have tried more than once to kill Aimee. What happened to you, Allison? Why have you been targeting my family? Why get close to me again using a different name?"

Allison laughed, picked up the napkin next to her plate, and dabbed the corners of her lips. "As if you don't remember."

Jameel could feel the muscle in his jaw tighten. “I remember whatyoudid tome!”

"I needed money. You didn’t! Don’t take it personal, Jameel. You're a freakin' prince of Jawahir! It didn't have to be that big of a deal because god knows your future is bright no matter what you do or don't do. But oh no, your pride is what matters most, isn't it? I got your ‘go-to-hell’ response. It was memorable,” she retorted.

Her eyes glittered with malice for a second before she shrugged. "Karma's a bitch, Jameel," she said casually.

Jameel was just as sick now as he had been back then to see the darker side of the woman he had thought of as a friend and confidant. Once again, he realized that this was a world that his brothers were more at home in than he was. He was the naïve, trusting one and look where it had gotten him. He had endangered his entire family, his country, and… Junebug.

He looked at Junebug as the last thought swept through his mind. She looked young, vulnerable, and fragile next to the hardness and cynicism radiating from Allison.

"It was a long time ago, Allison," he said. "You are more than capable of building a healthy and happy future for yourself. Instead you burned bridges that you never needed to, because you could have justaskedme for any assistance that I could give to you, and I would have. You've kept yourself chained to what happened six years ago, kept yourself miserable. Why? Why are here now? Why align with people like Bronislav?"

Allison smiled as if they were discussing the weather or some other inconsequential topic. Only her eyes hinted at her derision. “I’ve tried your so-called 'good' route. It's easy for you. More power and comfort than you know what to do with was just handed to you. For me, being 'good' would just be refusing to grab power, choosing to idolize helplessness and wait for someone to pat me on the head for myoutstanding moral fiber. And don't pretend Bugs is any better."

She moved her attention to Junebug. "How many people have you destroyed in your little game of Queen-of-the-Hackers?” she asked nonchalantly.

Jameel reached for Junebug’s hand. He didn’t miss the way Allison’s eyes followed his movement, nor did he miss the gleam of satisfaction in her eyes.

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