Free Sheikha's Determined Police Officer (Botros Brothers Series Book 4) by Leslie North Page B

announced Joseph's arrival. He had invited him to join him and Amir for lunch at the office. Joseph was still dressed in his uniform. He bowed his head as he walked into the office. Tariq gestured for him to sit down at the table, which was already laid out with food.
     
    “I am glad that you could join us,” Tariq said sternly.
     
    “Thank you for inviting me,” Joseph replied. Tariq gestured for Joseph to start eating. There was silence as Tariq stared at him. He always analyzed an opposing party before speaking.
     
    “So, you are sleeping with our cousin,” Tariq said getting straight to the point. Amir and Joseph both looked at him in surprise. Joseph did not know how on earth he was meant to answer to that.
     
    “I beg your pardon?” Joseph replied. Amir sat back to watch the action unfold prepared to chime in when needed. There was no way he was letting Joseph off that easily.
     
    “She is living with you. You must be sleeping with her.”
     
    “I would never do anything against her will.”
     
    “Now that you have deflowered her, what will happen? Will you grow tired of her and throw her aside?”
     
    “No sir, those are not my intentions. I would never do that to her.”
     
    “So what is the end result of this relationship?”
     
    “I wish to marry her. I actually came here to ask for your permission.”
     
    Amir raised his eyebrows. He had not expected that at all. Tariq still wore the same expressionless look. He too had not seen that coming but he wondered if he was simply trying to get himself out of an awkward situation.
     
    “What?” Amir spat out.
     
    “Are you sincere?” Tariq asked Joseph.
     
    “I am very sincere. I have loved Aaliyah since we were teens. I allowed her to walk away from me once, I will not do it again,” Joseph replied. Tariq intimidated him but he was not going to let that stop him from being with the woman he loved. He had to talk to him man to man.
     
    “In marriage, you need more than love.” Tariq wanted to test him, to see if it was more than infatuation. He wanted to see what Joseph was really made off.
     
    “I agree. Communication is important, and that is not an issue between Aaliyah and me. We have no secrets between us and we are not afraid to speak our minds to one another. I am also able to provide for her, whether it is financially or emotionally. I respect her and value her. I will do whatever I can to keep her happy,” Joseph said. Tariq was impressed by his answer. Not many men respected their partners or admitted that they did.
     
    “What will you do about gaining approval from our family?” Amir asked.
     
    “Hopefully, your family will approve of me one day. I will wait patiently,” Joseph replied.
     
    “If we do not allow you to marry Aaliyah, what will you do?” Tariq asked. He took a sip from his glass.
     
    “My priority is to keep Aaliyah happy and healthy. I can be patient, but if she wants to marry soon, then I will abide by her wishes. However I do hope our relationship would have gained approval before that happens. I do not wish to burn any bridges,” Joseph said.
     
    Tariq studied him for a moment. He may want approval but he was not going to wait forever. He showed courage and just how much he loved Aaliyah. If he was an opportunist like his mother said, then he would have been willing to wait forever. He would have been grovelling and desperate for approval.
     
    Joseph breathed a sigh of relief when he finally left the office. Convincing Tariq to trust Aaliyah with him and allow him to marry her had almost been impossible. Tariq had finally agreed but threatened to end him if he mistreated or harmed his cousin in any way. Amir had the same thoughts as he nodded in approval.
     
    That night, Tariq went to visit his parents. He needed to talk to them on behalf of Aaliyah. Fiddah was normally the peacemaker in the family but she had yet to speak with her daughter in law, she was so angry. Mrs and Mrs Botros were