The Intern Affair Read Online Free Page B

was Talya’s turn to plead.
    “You know very well the answer to that question. I was in love with you, and you didn’t realize it.” He shrugged, his presence towering over her. “So, I’ll be answering your calls anytime. You can be sure that I’ve learned my lesson. No more messages or voice mails left unattended—”
    He kissed her on the forehead and left quickly. Talya was stunned. Her eyes had been opened shut.
    For a long while, she sat watching the flames as if mesmerized. She reflected on everything Ghali had said and on all of those feelings that she shared with Alhassan . What a distinct path the two relationships had taken .
    3
    When Talya got back to her apartment, she dialled Alhassan ’s number at home. It was the middle of the night for him.
    “Hello?” he answered gruffly.
    He told her at one time that he didn’t appreciate being awa ken ed by a phone call.
    “ Alhassan . How are you?”
    “Talya, my dear God, what’s happening? Where are you?” he said his voice faltering.
    “I’m sorry to wake you, but I just needed to hear your voice. I needed you—”
    “Are you all right? Why are you calling?”
    “Wake-up, Alhassan . I’m okay. I just miss you, that’s all.”
    “But, it’s four o’clock in the morning. I’m happy that you’ve called. I can’t stand it. How long before you come back? It’s only been a week and already, I’m like a zombie. Mansur even said that I needed holidays—”
    “Then, why don’t you take a few days off and go to Yves’s place.”
    “No, I can’t do that. Anyway I’ve got enough here to keep me out of trouble for a while. But you haven’t said when you’ll be back.”
    “That’s because I don’t know. Charles has assigned two people to the projects. They’ll be heading down to Senegal and then Mali shortly, I think.”
    “I don’t care about them. It’s you I want back, none other.”
    “Hold on, Alhassan , this is business. The two people will be visiting both sites and then they’ll be coming back to Vancouver to plan the next move. And they won’t need me under foot unless Charles decides I need to accompany them.”
    “Does that mean it’ll be weeks before I see you again?”
    “Maybe—”
    “I won’t have it. I’ll fly to Vancouver if need be. I can’t be without you for weeks on end. It won’t work.”
    “Please calm down ,” Talya said soothingly. “ Why don’t you phone me back when you had a chance to wake up?”
    “I’m perfectly awake right now. And—”
    “And what?”
    “Oh God! Help me, Talya. You shouldn’t have phoned. Hearing your voice and not being able to take you in my arms is going to push me over the edge.”
    “Will you calm down?”
    “I am going mad without you.”
    “I’m going to hang up now—”
    “You can hang up if you like but that won’t change the way I feel. I love you.”
    “Yes… I love you too.” The words came out of her mouth mechanically, without warmth or tenderness. Talya hung up. Ghali ’s words were ringing in her ears, “you want to love him … but you’re not in love with him.” She was in tears. Alhassan had been right; she shouldn’t have called.
    4
    Alhassan looked at the receiver in his hand and replaced it in the cradle. He was still in bed. The joy he had felt at hearing Talya’s voice had been quickly substituted for an insane rage at his powerlessness. She had hung up as he asked, and yet why did she? Why, why was he feeling so miserable?—because she was so far away and because he couldn’t cope with her absence. They didn’t have a chance to be together alone during the days before her departure. She had been so badly hurt by this brute, Mustafa Kareef that most days all she wanted was to be left alone or go off with Samir. Samir knew how she felt better than anyone did now. That, too, was troubling Alhassan . Apparently, he was the only one not understanding or knowing the woman he loved.
    He got up, went to the back porch and sat in one