_Leah's POV_
I felt my stomach twist as I made my way down to dinner with Tariq. I could still feel the weight of the key hidden in my purse, and the anticipation made it hard to act calm. My mind was miles away, thinking of the secrets that might be waiting for me. But I had to keep up appearances, so I put on a smile and took a deep breath, hoping to make it through the evening.
When I walked into the dining room, Tariq was already seated, his eyes lighting up as he saw me approach. “There you are,” he said warmly, pulling out my chair. “I was starting to wonder if you had changed your mind about joining me.”
I forced a smile, settling into my seat. “Of course not. I just needed a few minutes to freshen up,” I replied, hoping my voice sounded calm and normal.
Dinner was laid out befo
