He was confident without constantly needing to prove himself. He was ambitious, but his ambition didn’t make him cruel or dismissive. He could speak passionately about business one moment and spend the next asking Sarah about a small detail she had mentioned weeks earlier.
He listened.
Really listened.
When Sarah spoke about architecture, he didn’t simply wait for his turn to talk. He asked questions.
When she mentioned a favorite restaurant, he remembered it.
When she talked about her parents, he remembered their names.
When she had a difficult day, he could often tell before she said anything.
After the disappointment of her previous engagement, Sarah had become cautious about romance. She didn’t want promises. She wanted consistency.
Rashid gave her that.
Their relationship developed naturally. Dinners became weekends together. Weekends became trips. Their conversations moved from favorite books and childhood memories to fears, family, marriage and the future.
