Master of Lust

Chapter 202: Qasim and Gloria [2]

Chapter - 202

"Hahaha..." Qasim chuckled, sharing a joke with Rick as they bantered back and forth, their camaraderie evident to anyone watching. Stay updated with mvl

But while laughter filled the air between them, snakes roamed on someone else's chest. Gloria was surprised and equally frustrated as she observed the unexpected tuning between her husband, Qasim, and Rick. Her brows knit together in a frown, and her gaze turned sharpen upon seeing them.

"What the heck is he up to?" Gloria muttered under her breath, her words tinged with disbelief as she struggled to make sense of Qasim's sudden buddy-buddy act with Rick.

Was her husband losing his mind? That thought flitted through Gloria's mind as she shot a pointed elbow into Qasim's side, hoping to snap him out of whatever trance he seemed to be in. But to her dismay, he barely flinched, his attention firmly locked onto Rick.

Despite her best efforts to communicate her irritation through silent glares, Qasim remained blissfully oblivious or chose to ignore her altogether, his focus solely on his newfound conversation partner.

Frustration bubbled up inside Gloria like a pot ready to boil over, 'How could he be so oblivious?'

She shot daggers at her husband with her eyes, hoping he would pick up on her silent plea for attention. But Qasim seemed either oblivious or deliberately ignoring her silent signals, his focus solely on Rick and their conversation.

With each passing minute, Gloria's irritation grew like a weed in a neglected garden, her patience wearing thin like a threadbare rug. She clenched her jaw, feeling the throbbing pulse of annoyance reverberating through her veins.

Unable to contain her frustration any longer, Gloria cleared her throat loudly, cutting through the chatter like a sharp knife through butter.

"Qasim, can I speak with you for a moment?" Her voice was sharp, commanding attention with its edge.

Qasim turned towards her, momentarily startled by her interruption, but quickly composed himself with a casual smile.

"Sure, honey, what's up?" he replied, his tone relaxed and unconcerned.

Gloria wasted no time, grabbing his arm and pulling him away from the table, needing to address the situation away from prying eyes and curious ears.

Gloria fixed Qasim with a steely gaze, her frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. "What on earth do you think you're doing?" she demanded, her voice laced with annoyance. "And why the sudden buddy act with him?"

Qasim's expression faltered for a split second under Gloria's intense scrutiny, but he quickly regained his composure, though his smile wavered just a tad. "We were just having a regular chat, you know, trying to keep things civil for once."

Gloria's eyes narrowed at Qasim's feeble attempt at an explanation, her sarcasm dripping like honey. "A civil chat? With him? Seriously? Are you feeling alright?" Her disbelief was palpable as she struggled to comprehend Qasim's sudden change in behavior.

"Him? Of all the people? Have you lost it?" Gloria repeated herself. She was really pissed.

Qasim nodded understandingly, his disappointment fleeting as he focused on the pleasant prospect of lunch ahead. "Sure thing, Rick. I would catch up another time," he said amiably, as Qasim pulled out a silver-ish box from his jacket and handed a card over to Rick.

Rick chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he indirectly teased Gloria. "As for my number, I would've asked you to get it from your lovely wife, but..." he trailed off with a playful grin, leaving the implication hanging in the air.

Qasim couldn't help but laugh at Rick's jest, appreciating his sense of humor. "Alright, alright, fair point," he conceded with a chuckle, reaching for his phone to exchange numbers with Rick.

"And I guess you won't let me off the hook until I owe you a treat, huh? Alright, you drive a hard bargain," Rick chuckled, flashing a grin as he readily agreed to swap numbers.

With a quick exchange of digits between Rick and Qasim, the impromptu act of camaraderie concluded. As Rick made his way out, Qasim couldn't help but watch him go, a mix of gratitude for the unexpected kindness and curiosity about the woman by Rick's side bubbling within him.

Shrugging off his musings, Qasim returned his attention to Gloria, who was already deep in thought, fiddling with the menu card.

As he settled back into his seat across from her, Gloria wasted no time in quizzing him about the interaction with Rick and the exchange of numbers.

Qasim met Gloria's gaze with an open expression, his face a canvas of sincerity. "Honestly, Gloria, I just got a good vibe from the guy," he explained, his voice carrying the weight of honesty. "He seemed genuinely appreciative, and I thought it wouldn't hurt to keep the connection alive, you know?"

Gloria scrutinized Qasim's face, searching for any signs of deceit, but found none. Still, a flicker of doubt danced in her eyes, creasing her brow in a slight furrow.

Sensing her unease, Qasim reached across the table, his touch gentle as he clasped her hand in reassurance. "Hey, it's okay," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm. "I get it. But trust me, there's nothing fishy going on here."

Gloria's features softened at his touch and words, her annoyance giving way to a moment of contemplation. After a beat, she shook her head, a determined glint in her eyes.

"I think we should bounce, Qasim," she declared, her tone firm. "We don't need to take Rick up on his offer. Let's just ditch this place."

But Qasim was resolute, determined to honor Rick's gesture of kindness. "I hear you, Gloria, but imagine how crappy Rick would feel if we just bounced," he countered, his voice earnest. "Let's just stick around for a quick bite, ya know, to show some gratitude."

Despite Gloria's protests growing louder, Qasim flagged down the waiter, ready to place their order, brushing off her escalating annoyance and surprise.

As the waiter scurried off, Gloria shot Qasim a pointed look, her frustration reaching a boiling point. "I can't believe you're going along with this," she muttered under her breath, her irritation palpable.

"Well, he is my friend now. I believe you can fire him if you want to," Qasim smirked looking at Gloria, "No need to come between me and Rick."

"You..." Gloria could not believe her ears as she heard her husband totally take Rick's side.

*****