Mafia Throne - Action Story

785464

Mafia Throne

2025, David Gordon

Mafia Novel

a ruthless Russian mafia boss with a hidden artistic passion and a split personality. Forced into an arranged marriage with Adrian Richard, the cold, dominant head of a powerful British mafia family, Vanessa arrives in London determined to maintain her independence and true identity. Their volatile union sets the stage for a clash of wills, as both leaders navigate a world of crime, power, and unexpected desires

Vanessa Sokolov

The 23-year-old boss of the Russian mafia. She's ruthless and cold in her underworld dealings but harbors a secret passion for fashion design, especially wedding dresses. She's strong-willed and fiercely independent, with a preference for dark, somber aesthetics over bright, cheerful ones. She also deals with what's described

Adrian

The cold and dominant head of the powerful British mafia family. He's imposing and doesn't tolerate disobedience. He's tired of unnecessary relationships and is being pressured into this arranged marriage by his grandfather. He initially intends to ignore Vanessa and make her life difficult to force her to leave. He has a mysterious past love that he hasn't been able to find.

Edward

Vanessa's loyal right-hand man and her "brother by oath." He's a formidable figure in the criminal world but also deeply devoted to Vanessa. He trained with her since childhood and helped establish their organization. He's formal in business but more like family at home.

Link copied

For those of you who've been reading my novels for a while, you know this is my first one. It's truly etched in my heart, and I love it. I feel like I didn't do it justice back then because I was so focused on finishing it fast, and I just didn't have the experience. I've rewritten it without making big changes to the plot, just adding details that weren't there before.
___________________


Enjoy!
Near Moscow, Russia – 7:45 AM

All you could hear were the clicks of her heels. Everyone was dead, so no sound besides hers could be heard. That was normal.

The path was covered in blood and the bodies of the people she'd just eliminated. Their bodies were still warm but completely devoid of life. She walked past hundreds of corpses, looking for empty spots between each one so she wouldn't step on them. It wasn't out of respect; she just found them disgusting and couldn't risk messing up her beautiful shoes. Finally, she exited the large warehouse that had started to suffocate her.

She glanced at her men, whom she'd ordered to stay out and only prevent anyone from escaping the warehouse. And that's exactly what they'd done.

The blonde-haired man with sharp, deadly green eyes, a massive muscular build, and towering height approached her. With serious, cold eyes, he put his weapon behind his black jacket and asked, "What are your orders, Boss?"

He asked her, but did she answer him? Yes, of course, but not with her voice. She just raised her hand in a gesture that made him understand what he needed to do. So she walked past him, then cast her empty gaze at her black shadows, who were looking at their shoes more out of fear than respect. That's how things worked here. Fear trumped respect. They'd also seen her flay a man's penis after he'd looked at her admiringly during the massacre, causing her trouble, and then dissolve it in acid. So, no one dared to raise their head in her presence, fearing for their lives.

She approached her car, and one of the men opened the door for her. She got in and sat down calmly. She waited a few seconds for the blonde man to get in and sit across from her. Then the car started, followed by the cars of the rest of the guards.

She reached for the bag beside her and pulled out her tablet and drawing stylus. She needed to finish the details of the wedding dress she was working on. Imagine someone covered in blood, having just killed dozens of people, drawing a wedding dress. Is that even possible? Absolutely. This is our messed-up protagonist, suffering from a personality disorder.

Vanessa Sokolov.

It's not a disorder in the scientific sense; she doesn't have two personalities. For her, she's one person, but everyone needs to know her as a beautiful, innocent princess with a great talent for designing jewelry and clothes since she was seventeen.

She was drawing the details of the lace fabric she'd use for the dress when a huge explosion went off behind them. Neither she nor anyone else turned around, because this was undoubtedly their doing.

Meanwhile, in another place entirely. Not peaceful like the last one, but filled with screams. Down in a dark basement in the Richard family's mansion in London, UK, to be exact. Four people were hanging by their arms, suspended off the ground, while they were being tortured by the second-in-command who had the honor of making a few traitors regret what they'd done. But that wasn't the reason for this display; they were going to die anyway, so why waste time on them? It was meant to be a lesson for anyone who dared to betray Adrian Richard.

Adrian Richard sat on his leather chair, one leg propped over the other. The darkness made his face hard to see, but his powerful, overwhelming aura was something that couldn't be hidden.

"Enough," his voice was sharp, making everyone who was breathing hold their breath. He rose from his chair, revealing his massive body, which was perfectly proportionate to his height. "No need to play with them anymore. We don't have all that time. Make sure they don't die before they see every dog with their same blood take their last breath."

His tone and his brutal, harsh way of handling things made everyone stifle their gasps. One of the men hanging in the middle started crying and sobbing, begging for the lives of his young children. But who cared about his pleas? Nobody, of course.

"Your orders, Boss," Aaron said seriously, starting to remove the cloths from his hands, which had stones in them to make every punch bloody and painful enough. "And also... you have full authority to handle such trivial matters. Don't bother me every time."

The matter was never insignificant; the traitors had sent information about them to their rivals and those who wanted to eliminate them. All the mafias in the world wanted to take down the British mafia, but they had no idea who they were messing with until they tried it for themselves. He could destroy them all without much effort. But he didn't want to destroy them; he wanted to acquire and rule them. The Richard family was the largest supplier of all kinds of drugs in the world. They even dealt with traitorous governments that brought potent drugs to their own people to mislead them into enslavement. But was it important to the mafia? Of course not. This was their business, and the fact that governments were traitors helped their trade even better. As for weapons, they dealt with the Russians to be supplied with the best types, as the Russian mafia was the only one that didn't oppose them, even though they weren't subordinate to them.

Russia was a neutral zone, and because it was so large, many clans ruled it, all under the orders of one boss whom no one knew anything about except that she was a woman. The woman who hid herself from the rest of the world, not out of fear of enemies, but because she loved to play in the shadows, just like a swift black ghost you don't feel or notice its chill until it passes by you. But by then, it's too late.

And this boss was Vanessa Sokolov, our twenty-three-year-old protagonist. She was distinguished by naturally wavy, dark brown hair that reached the end of her back. They say half a woman's beauty is her hair and the other half is her body, so let's talk about this stunning woman's captivating physique. She was 173 centimeters tall, had a slim French waist, and long legs. As for her clear, milky skin, that's another story titled "Blood Bath."

In reality, people pay attention to facial details before other details. What I described earlier was from the perspective of someone only looking from behind, because when you see her from the front, the first thing you'll do is gasp in admiration when you look into her turquoise eyes. Like a clear sky surrounded by thick, long eyelashes. Her eyebrows were delicately sharp, as if drawn. Her nose looked like it was made in a laboratory, and if we wanted to describe her lips, we'd have to dedicate several special chapters to them, and I don't have enough time for that. She was wonderfully perfect, a marvel of beauty, like an artist's painting that combined the most beautiful features of women worldwide to produce such a masterpiece.

So tell me, how could this angel be a devil from the deepest floors of hell?

She was the adopted daughter of Igor Sokolov, the owner of the largest diamond company in Europe and Asia. All his businesses were legal and impeccable; he had refused to let his family's century-old legacy enter the underworld. A man in his fifties who was still so handsome that if you saw him on the street, you'd turn to look again. He had honey-colored eyes and completely white hair with a neatly trimmed beard. He had never married, content only with his little girl, Vanessa.

Vanessa's car pulled into the Sokolov family mansion. She was wearing a classic white suit with a red lace shirt and matching heels, her wavy hair flowing down her back. She had gone to the headquarters first to shower and change her clothes, as well as finish some work that required her presence. Her father knew about her activities and respected her decisions, but she didn't like to appear before him in her bloody state. She walked inside, her gaze cold, even though she wanted to roll her eyes because of this day—the monthly cleaning that happened on the tenth of every month. This explained the many servants running everywhere to perform this ridiculous tradition.

She entered the spacious living room, dominated by red in its design. It featured many paintings by famous 18th-century artists, along with a large portrait of Vanessa and Igor at her high school graduation party. Igor was sitting on a single sofa, reading his morning newspaper—another boring routine for Vanessa. So she wanted to ignore him and go up to her room, but he stopped her by saying, "Your room is being cleaned right now."

"That's ridiculous!" she replied coldly.

She hated this; she hated having all her clothes and belongings taken out by the maids so the room could be cleaned, but this stubborn old man wouldn't back down. And she had given up on saying the same thing over and over again.

"Did you eat breakfast?" Igor asked after placing the newspaper on the small table.

"Nope."



"Come eat with me," he told her calmly. She nodded in agreement. He rang the bell beside him, and one of the maids stopped in front of him. He ordered her to bring breakfast for them and to call Edward to join them.

Edward was Vanessa's right-hand man in both legal and illegal affairs. He was known for his ruthlessness with everyone. When he was nice, he was genuinely nice, but when he changed, it was best to run for your life. He had trained with Vanessa since they were kids. Together, they had founded their organization; it wasn't hers alone, but she was its boss. Edward was Vanessa's brother by oath, and the men respected him no less than the boss herself. However, even though she loved him like a brother, she dealt with him formally when it came to business. At home, they were one family. But she also used her authority for certain private matters—no one ever said she had good qualities.

The three of them sat at the six-chair dining table, having their breakfast. There was a large dining hall for banquets and parties, but they didn't use it; they preferred a small table in the living room. Vanessa was eating a toast sandwich with sausage and cheese, along with fresh orange juice. This was Vanessa's favorite breakfast; she adored this sandwich, which she used to eat in her childhood when she lived an innocent and happy life. It remained the only tradition she had kept since then.

She ate while Edward looked at her cold features, along with Igor, as if she wouldn't care if the world burned. Vanessa was known for not talking much, so they didn't talk to her much so as not to bother her.

"How are things with the business, Edward?" Igor asked, trying to start a conversation.

"Sorry, Uncle, but my boss doesn't allow me to talk about that."

Igor laughed, and Vanessa joined him, innocently saying after taking a bite of her sandwich, "My dear father, don't cause my assistant to break any bones." She added, "Then I'll be the one who suffers from not having an assistant beside me." Both men chuckled, while Vanessa didn't look like she had just told a joke. "Excuse me, Uncle Igor, you know the rules," Edward said.

They didn't really mean it, as Vanessa didn't hide anything from her father; it was him who preferred not to talk about the details of the underworld. He just wanted to annoy Edward, but he didn't succeed, as irritating this beast was much harder.

Igor cleared his throat seriously after silence fell between them and said, "Vanessa..."

Vanessa raised her eyes toward her father, who seemed a little tense, as if he was thinking deeply about whether he should say what he was about to say. "I want to take you somewhere this evening. Come home early."

Vanessa didn't answer him with words, but just nodded her head, and he said, "Good."

Hours later, Vanessa was sitting in her father's car, which he was driving himself, unusually, as he wanted them to be alone. He stopped in an empty area where it was raining heavily. He entered a small house, and Vanessa followed him without asking, as it was clear from his expression that the matter was serious, and she could guess what it was.

Igor lit the fireplace and said after they sat facing each other, breaking the silence between them, "Vanessa!"

He paused for a moment, letting the name hang in the air, then she coolly interrupted the silence, "Agreed."

He looked at her in surprise, first because she knew what he wanted, and second because she agreed so readily. "I think you forgot who I am, Father. The day the former British mafia boss came, I knew about it. I just waited for you to make your decision about this." Vanessa said these words calmly, as if she wasn't personally concerned with the matter. Igor could only feel guilty and said quietly, "Well then, be confident that this is the best for everyone..."






Wearing a completely black suit, except for a gray tie, the man who had just entered his thirties a few weeks ago stood before his office's glass window, watching the raindrops fall. His black hair, like threads of night, was neatly combed to the side. His olive eyes stared coldly into space, as if deep in thought. His right hand held a cigarette, bringing it to his thin lips, from which poison quickly exhaled, rising until it vanished into the air. His left hand was in his pants pocket.

His solitude was interrupted by someone knocking on his door. He said nothing because he knew the knocker, who usually didn't knock. His secretary didn't come in without informing him or being called, and if anyone else came, she'd tell him before he allowed them in.

Aaron entered, dressed in loose clothes, looking like a member of a band, wearing a white shirt and black pants. His honey-colored hair was scattered casually across his forehead. His eyes, the same color as his hair, gleamed with amusement, which made Adrian realize he was here to provoke or mock him. If it weren't for the weapon hidden behind his loose shirt, he'd truly look like a member of some obscure band.

Adrian paid him no mind, so Aaron sat on the couch opposite the desk and put his feet on the table after pouring himself some wine from a bottle on the table. "Don't you have any ice, man?" he grumbled.

Adrian threw his cigarette to the floor and said after crushing it, "Does my office look like a bar?"

Aaron feigned a frown and replied, "You're such a buzzkill. I know work's serious, but we can enjoy it. Like, in my room, there's a fridge with all kinds of drinks—you'd even find strawberry milk in my office 'cause some girls like to act cute, and their eyes light up fake-bright after I tell 'em I got strawberry milk for nice girls. It's really fun. There's ice too. And instead of a boring wine bottle, my side table has a box of arriving chocolates..."

"Just shut up, Aaron. I know what your room looks like. Just be quiet," Adrian cut him off sharply, but not with the same intensity he used with his men or business partners. This was the sharpness between friends and cousins. The person Adrian Richard trusted the most was Aaron Richard, and blood relation had nothing to do with their closeness.

"Speaking of girls..."

"I didn't mention girls."

"I did. They called from the airport. Looks like your future wife has arrived in London."

Adrian sighed in annoyance, pulling out another cigarette and lighting it. Now, as if he had nothing else to do, he had to deal with a spoiled princess who was going to be his wife. "Send someone to pick her up and ensure her protection. If anyone finds out she's here to marry me, she could be in danger."

Adrian's POV:

She's coming. She wants to marry me! Ha! I'll marry her in my dreams, of course. That dumb girl who thinks her life will get better after she gets my family name, but I know the truth. She'll regret saying yes, that's for sure. All I'm thinking about her is that I'm just going to avoid her. I'll pretend she doesn't exist. My mansion is full of unwanted people anyway. But it's not like I'm marrying just any girl; she's also from a powerful, old family. The only difference is she doesn't belong to the underworld. Plus, she's made a name for herself in business. So, she might want more than I plan to give her. I just hope she has some dignity and doesn't invade my space.

I put my cigarette back between my lips, inhaling its poison deeply, then released it from my lungs toward the window, which had become foggier than the incessant London rain. According to what I know about her, she's supposed to be the best fashion designer in Europe, and her brand is globally famous. She has a sparkling image in the fashion world. Any girl who wears slutty clothes attracts attention and always smiles like an idiot, as if her jaw doesn't hurt, and her achieving such a position at a young age indicates only one thing: her father opened these opportunities for her. I hate women and everything that comes with them. I remembered one love in my life, that sweet girl I can't find no matter how much I search. It's like she vanished into the lowest depths of hell.

End POV

"You're not going to pick her up yourself?"

Adrian exhaled in annoyance after seeing the amused gleam in his cousin's eyes and replied, "I don't have time for that, and I don't want the idiot to hope for or expect anything from me."

"Are you gay, man?" he asked seriously, as if he truly believed it and was just waiting for confirmation.

"Unfortunately, I'm neither. I just don't like unnecessary relationships," he replied coldly, then continued, "I only agreed to marry her because my grandfather asked and convinced me that I needed to get married, settle down, and all that stupid stuff so he'd stop interfering with my business. Also, I only loved a girl once, so I don't think I'm gay."

Aaron shifted helplessly and said seriously, no longer seeming like the guy who was enjoying provoking him just moments ago. "How are you going to convince her you don't want a real marriage? She might consider that an insult. Plus, she's not just anyone. For a fashion princess to change her life and come from Russia to Britain to meet a husband who doesn't want a real relationship! I don't want to imagine what I'd do if I were in her shoes."

"She can leave; I don't care. I'll tell her my conditions... If she wants, she signs. If she refuses, she goes back where she came from."

"You're really weird. Have you seen her pictures? She's the most beautiful woman my eyes have ever seen. There's something special about her you'll never find in any other woman."

Adrian looked at him with hostile eyes that made him swallow. How could there be someone like him in this life who rejected her and didn't want her, yet felt jealous when someone complimented her beauty? So, to preserve the last shred of sanity he had left, he'd leave this suffocating place, just like its owner.

"Alright, I don't care about your curse. Do whatever you want. I'm going to the club. You coming?" he asked in a playful tone. Adrian pulled out his weapon from behind his waist, causing Aaron to quickly flee the office.

Aaron's POV:

I got out of his office before he could shoot me. I know perfectly well that my cousin is crazy and never goes back on his word. He didn't like it when I told him his future bride was beautiful; I saw anger radiating in his eyes. And the problem is, he doesn't want her; he wants to make her life a nightmare so she'll run away and never think about setting foot in London again.

Also, I was telling the truth; she's truly captivating, and she's famous and capable of taming any man she desires. Unfortunately, her bad luck landed her in the hands of this lunatic. It would be great if she didn't completely lose her self-confidence because of him.

I headed downstairs, making my way outside. I deserved some relaxation since I didn't have any essential work today. As I walked, all the girls in the office turned toward me. Each one tried to steal a glance, and when I winked at one of them, their hearts fluttered, and their steps stumbled. I'm a rich and famous man, and I'm the second most handsome man in London after the boss—that's what the list made by the girls in the company says. A man in his thirties, with honey-colored hair with some blonde streaks, eyes similar to the color of honey, and a light beard highlighting my sharp features. My body might not be as huge as Adrian's, but it gets the job done. And since the boss looks intimidating, girls don't dare to look directly at him, but they know his handsomeness from those who work with him, and from me, of course, because I'm truly fond of the fairer sex.

I sit with girls and chat with them every chance I get, which makes me the complete opposite of Adrian. It's true I'm a mafia man; my name alone is enough to inspire terror, but I'm a first-class womanizer, and everyone knows it. They even tried to kill me by sending beautiful girls to seduce me, but I don't let any curse control me, so those tactics failed with me. What I'm saying about myself isn't my own opinion; it's not like I'm admitting Adrian is better than me. This is just what the girls in the company talk about. For your information, I eavesdrop through the surveillance cameras and hear their whispers when they gather to gossip. I even hear them commenting on the boss and his handsomeness. It's really good that he's gay, otherwise no girl would look my way. Please, don't blame me; I'm not a pervert. It's them who don't do their work and gossip about the managers.

Finally, I left the company and got into my armored Jeep—it's safer against bullets. I drove to my favorite club. It belongs to our family, which gives me complete freedom to do what I want without watching my back. This place is managed with the highest levels of protection, as it's the secret meeting place for our businesses.

Without caring about the men of her future husband who had come to pick her up, Vanessa was sitting in the back seat of a luxurious black car that her father had sent for her. An aura surrounded her that made everyone stay out of her way, while she was deep in thought about her new situation.





For the first time, her visit to Britain wasn't a secret; everyone knew she was coming. She was used to coming for work discreetly, but this time, all eyes were on her, and for reasons she knew well related to this marriage. Her agreement to this marriage didn't mean she'd let her so-called husband lay a hand on her. She definitely wouldn't give him a chance to overstep his boundaries. She just needed to figure out how to do it without showing her true power and who she really was. If things went south, she was ready to blow his brains out on the spot.

She was lost in thought when Edward called her several times, his firm, familiar voice trying to get her attention after she seemed pale to him. "Vanessa... Vanessa... Vaneesssa!"

She finally turned to him, finding his gaze fixed on her as he asked anxiously, "What's wrong? You seem distracted. Are you okay?"

She replied coldly, trying to hide what she was really thinking. "Nothing, just... I don't like London."

Edward smiled, and with a rare warmth in their harsh world, he said, "Don't worry, I'm right here beside you, Boss. Everything's gonna be alright."

Vanessa nodded at him, then rested her head against the windowpane, watching the London streets and some people running because of the sudden rain, while others pulled out their umbrellas.

When they arrived at the Richard family mansion, the car passed through the large iron gate, decorated with a golden inscription bearing the words "Richard Family Estate."

The mansion looked grand and imposing, with luxurious decor embodying classic Victorian style. In front of the mansion was a fountain with a statue of a man holding a bow and arrow, surrounded by gardens full of colorful flowers. The palace gate was also adorned with two huge wolf statues, as if guarding the place. The place was breathtakingly beautiful, and if it weren't for the cars in front of the inner palace gate, you'd think you'd traveled back in time to the Victorian era.

But all this beauty only filled Vanessa with aversion. The sparkle of colors and the decorative details were too much for her; she preferred black and gloom over all this exaggerated vibrancy. She entered the mansion, which was decorated in white and gold, and her hatred for it grew. It seemed she would suffer discomfort in a place with such a cheerful and fake spirit. Edward followed her, loyal in his support as he'd promised, despite hating being there.

The head butler greeted them, bowing respectfully, and informed her that Mr. Adrian hadn't returned yet, and that she should wait in the guest room until his arrival. As for the family members, they were gathered in the living room if she wished to see them.

She replied in a cold, decisive tone, "No need for that."

So, they weren't welcoming this marriage either? Good. Things would be less boring if they didn't show their fake affection. She muttered sarcastically to herself.

She gave the head butler a steady look and said in a commanding tone, "Give Edward a private suite and a maid to help him."

The head butler was surprised and looked at her in confusion, so she repeated her words coldly, her tone enough to make his body tremble. "I don't think there's anything unclear... This is my friend, and he'll be staying with me, so he needs a place to stay and a maid to serve him. As for me, I'll stay in the guest room until my husband arrives."

The head butler nodded submissively and left to carry out her requests. As he began to move, Vanessa stopped again and added, "Bring my bags from the car and put them in my husband's room. As for Edward's belongings, put them in his suite."

The head butler hesitated slightly and said, trying to justify his refusal, "Madam, I can fulfill Edward's request, but no one is allowed to go up to the Boss's floor except under the supervision of one of the governesses, and she's on leave today, so I cannot—"

Vanessa cut him off with cold disregard and continued on her way, unconcerned by his excuses. She surveyed the grand hall, with its luxurious white and yellow designs and gold-framed paintings depicting ancient scenes. This opulent and bright decor made her want to leave immediately, as joy and colors didn't suit her personality at all.

When she reached the guest room, she lay carelessly on the bed, having dismissed the maid they sent, who seemed to have come to annoy her rather than serve her. But before she left, Vanessa asked her to close the curtains to plunge the room into darkness instead of the miserable view outside. Vanessa's concept of misery was a little different.

Meanwhile, the Richard family members were gathered in the living room: Isabel, Adrian's stepmother, her daughter Mary, and her brother Gainer and his wife Georgina. Although many family members didn't live in the mansion, Adrian had them live there because everyone hated them and didn't want to deal with their daily quarrels.

Isabel commented with hidden venom after the head butler informed her, "So, the little snake is trying to assert her control from the first moment. I'll show her who really runs this house."

Georgina replied in a flattering tone, "Yes, sister. It seems she thinks she's the lady of the mansion just because she's marrying the Boss."

Isabel laughed mockingly, while Mary muttered in a voice her mother didn't hear, "She already is the lady of the mansion." Mary didn't like her mother and only tolerated her because she had to. As for Adrian, he refrained from getting rid of Isabel out of respect for Mary, his younger sister, whose feelings he didn't want to hurt.

Later, Adrian arrived at the mansion, tired. He entered through the other side, which he had made his private entrance, preferring isolation away from the faces he couldn't stand. After entering his suite, he summoned one of his trusted men, one of those who went up to his floor, then asked him to bring Vanessa. After that, he threw his body onto the couch exhaustedly, rubbing between his eyes. He smoked his cigarette, as was his habit when thinking.

Christopher returned after a while, his face etched with worry. Adrian asked, "Where is she?"

"Sir, she's..."

He paused for a moment, as if hesitant, which prompted Adrian to straighten up from the couch and ask in a stern tone, "She's what...?"

Christopher replied hesitantly, "She said you made her wait, then asked her to come to you at your feet..."

Adrian's expression changed. Vanessa's audacity had angered him. No one had ever dared to disobey his orders before. Christopher continued, "Then she added that she's tired and will take a bath, and she told you that you can come to her in an hour and a half."

You may like it

October's Betrayal | A Romance Social Novel

915361

October's Betrayal

2025, Jana Farid

Social Novel

This novel plunges into the opulent world of powerful families, where a scandalous wedding night leads to immediate divorce and ruin for the bride. Parallel to this drama unfolds the harsh reality of a young woman struggling with poverty and family responsibility after losing her parents. Their paths intersect when the cunning, recently divorced heir offers her a job, setting the stage for a collision of vastly different lives and secrets. The story explores themes of wealth, betrayal, desperation, and the lengths people will go to for survival and revenge.

Osman El-Behiry

The wealthy, cunning heir of the powerful El-Behiry family. He is the protagonist involved in the scandalous wedding that begins the story, shown to be ruthless and calculating in his actions.

Samar Hefzy

A young woman facing severe hardship after her parents' sudden death, leaving her responsible for her younger siblings. She is determined and struggling to find a way to provide for her family amidst financial desperation.

Yahya

Osman's father and the patriarch of the El-Behiry family. A prominent businessman deeply concerned with maintaining the family's reputation and power.

Link copied

Characters:

The novel's protagonists: Osman El-Behiry / Samar Hefzy
"Yahya El-Behiry" - Osman's father
"Feryal El-Mahdy" - Osman's mother
"Safeya El-Behiry (Safi)" - Osman's sister
"Refaat El-Behiry" - Yahya's brother
"Saleh El-Behiry" - Refaat's son
"Hala El-Behiry" - Refaat's daughter
"Fady Hefzy" - Samar's brother
"Malak Hefzy" - Samar's sister

And the rest later...

Gleem / Alexandria, October 31st..

The massive square, skillfully and professionally designed in the Italian style, was packed – with photographers and journalists on one side, and guests on the other.

They had all come to attend the biggest wedding of the season, for the son of one of Alexandria's most prominent figures and one of the country's biggest businessmen and investors, "Yahya El-Behiry"...

In a truly legendary wedding, the eldest son and heir of the El-Behiry family married inside their opulent palace, which consists of 322 rooms and eight external facades with vast gardens, to "Gigi El-Haddad", daughter of the well-known politician "Rashad El-Haddad"...

After the initial wedding celebrations that lasted for three days, a huge dinner banquet was held tonight, attended by over 700 people. The total cost of the wedding exceeded ten million Egyptian pounds.

The wedding took place under tight security that worked to protect the guests, who included businessmen, diplomats, and politicians. Many famous artists and singers also participated in the evening's entertainment.

On the other side... Mrs. "Feryal El-Mahdy" managed to slip away from the crowds of guests and quickly urged her son to begin the marriage contract. He responded indifferently and led his bride to the center of the square where the officiant was waiting for their arrival. As soon as everyone was seated, the officiant draped a white veil over the hands of the bride's father and her fiancé, who were completing the contract. In full view and hearing of everyone present, the contract was announced through the loudspeakers placed everywhere...

A usual traditional ritual, it included the hollow vows the groom repeated after the officiant, the bride's fake smiles she distributed here and there, and some pursed lips around them – you couldn't tell if it was malice, jealousy, or indifference!!!

"May God bless you both, and combine you in goodness."

As the officiant uttered these words, loud whistles and cheers erupted. Those seated rose to their feet, congratulating amidst warm applause, and the men headed towards the groom with handshakes and hugs.

Then came his wonderful mother, cupping his face, covered in his thick chestnut beard, with her soft hands. He gazed at her with pure admiration, as she, as usual, still surprised everyone with her never-fading beauty and her breathtaking presence. Especially tonight, wearing a long nude-colored dress from Chanel's Resort collection that harmonized with her fair, rosy skin, and completing her enchanting look with black high-heeled shoes from the Italian brand Le Silla, and a few simple pieces of jewelry she wore...

"Congratulations, my love," Feryal said softly and whispered in his ear as she hugged him happily. He bent down and kissed her hand in front of the cameras pointed at them. She, in turn, tenderly stroked his long hair.

His father arrived the next moment, gripping his wrist firmly as he pulled him slightly aside, then said in a low voice only he could hear: "Be careful... we don't want any trouble, act smart, understand?" He warned him sternly like this, giving him sharp looks for emphasis. Feryal noticed what was happening between father and son and felt a sudden tension settling in.

She approached them and asked anxiously, "Yahya! Is something wrong?"

Yahya turned to his wife and said in a calm tone as if nothing had happened, "Nothing's wrong, my love, don't worry... on the contrary, everything is good, and the night went exactly as we wanted...". Then he turned his face to his son and continued with the same calmness and confidence, "I was just congratulating Osman and rushing him. That's enough, the evening has gone on long enough, and Rashad El-Haddad says the bridal chalet is ready and everything is perfect... they have to leave now!"

With simple words, Yahya managed to deceive his wife, who now smiled, resting her head on his chest. But he couldn't deceive his son, not after he knew everything!!

Finally, the wedding night, described as being like a scene from a thousand and one nights, ended. The groom left with his bride in an open Ferrari car to one of the luxurious chalets in the upscale suburbs of the city...
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The shadows of the fragrant red candles danced on the wall of the romantic bedroom, furnished entirely in white and pink.

When Osman El-Behiry entered, carrying his wife in his muscular arms, he gently placed her on the soft, wide bed.

Gigi feigned shyness in front of him, lowering her dark mascara-laden eyelashes and lifting her loose hair from her eyes.

But she quickly overcame this artificial barrier of modesty and slowly raised her gaze to him, finding him looking at her with indifferent eyes, always attractively sleepy-looking.

"What is it, Osman?" Gigi asked in surprise, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Osman smiled slightly, then said as he leaned towards her, "Nothing, my love... I'm just admiring your beauty. You're so beautiful, Gigi, especially tonight... you were like the moon."

She turned her face away, placing her hand over her mouth as she giggled softly, then looked back at him and said, "You were handsome too... you were a Prince, my love. Our wedding is practically the wedding of the season, and it will be the talk of everyone for years to come."

He agreed with a short laugh and said mysteriously, "As for it being the talk of everyone for years to come, don't worry... I'm sure of that, my love."

He seemed to be resisting another laugh, and Gigi sensed that something unusual was happening with him. She asked him anxiously, "What's wrong, Osman? Are you okay...?" She continued suspiciously, "You haven't taken anything, have you?"

He answered, laughing heartily, "My love, don't worry, I'm fine. It's just that I'm a little happy."

He looked up at her newly dyed hair. "You know, blonde hair really suits you," he said as he played with her hair with his fingers.

Then he moved closer to her, until they were touching, and planted a long kiss below her neck. Gigi let out a hot, broken sigh afterwards and mumbled, "Okay... shouldn't we change our clothes first?"

But he didn't back down an inch; instead, he continued his work, bringing his face closer to hers. His lips met hers, and slowly he turned himself until he was over her. He held her face in his hands and lifted it up so it would be easy for his mouth to lick her neck.

Her breathing was embarrassingly loud, but she wasn't embarrassed, she didn't care. She was just enjoying his gentle caress, and her heart was beating strongly, its rhythm echoing loudly in her ears.

However, this loudness didn't prevent her from hearing Osman's faint, wicked laughter. She opened her eyes wide, astonished to hear him laughing in such a situation!

He rose from her simultaneously with the rising waves of his strange laughter. "How about we watch a movie together?" he asked in a playful tone. She propped herself up and leaned her back against the pillow, repeating strangely, "Watch a movie? Now?"

He nodded innocently, "Yeah... or don't you want to?"

"No, no... okay, whatever you want, we'll watch a movie."

A malicious smile twisted his mouth, which she saw before he got up from in front of her. Her feeling of suspicion and apprehension increased, but she tried to relax, convincing herself that this was just his nature anyway.

Cunning, wicked, shrewd, evasive, no one could predict his actions...

He quickly returned carrying his laptop. He sat next to her and moved the mouse cursor until he reached a specific file and opened it...

The medium-sized screen began to display a documentary film. At first, Gigi felt bored and indifferent, until she saw herself appearing as the protagonist of this film, and soon after, she watched her ex-lover co-starring with her in several intimate scenes that passed before her eyes, scene after scene...

The shock hit her hard as she tore her frozen gaze from the screen to look at him... She asked him with a heavy tongue, "You... how, how did you film these things?"

His bright white teeth showed from behind his lip as he smiled devilishly, saying, "I'm everywhere, baby. Anywhere that concerns me, directly or indirectly, I have an eye on it."

Then he surprised her by grabbing her hair violently, saying with intense anger, "And how audacious you are! Going to meet your heart's beloved a week before your wedding! Did you think you could fool me? Did you think I was a fool or an idiot, girl? I am Osman El-Behiry, no one can play games behind my back, no one can pull a fast one on me, hear me?"

She screamed as his grip on her hair tightened, begging him tearfully, "Please, Osman, let go of me, let go of me, we'll talk about whatever you want, if you want to divorce me, divorce me."

He laughed loudly, then said mockingly, "Yes, my dear? Divorce you! Well, I am indeed going to divorce you... but not that easily. I paid a lot for you, would you have me lose money?"

She replied, trying to pull away from him, "I don't want anything from you, I'll give up everything, I'll absolve you, Osman, but please let go of me!"

She moaned weakly. He pursed his lips in feigned regret and said, "Baby, you're going to absolve me whether you like it or not, that's not the problem for me at all."

She screamed impatiently:




"Then what do you want?"

"I'll tell you, my heart."

He said it and stood up from beside her very calmly, while she breathed a sigh of relief as he released her and freed her hair from the grip of his steel fist. She massaged her scalp with her fingers.

He came back and sat beside her again, then said in his famously cold manner: "Here, baby... sign these papers."

Gigi looked at the set of papers in his hands and asked in a choked voice, "What are these papers?"

"These, my love, are a waiver of your share in the company that our fathers established for us as a wedding gift, and along with them are papers waiving all your rights in this marriage, even though I spent millions on our royal wedding... but it's okay, God will compensate me, there's always next time."

"What are you saying?" she exclaimed in disbelief, and continued, "There's no way I'll do what you're saying, are you crazy? I'll waive my rights, yes, but my share in the company is absolutely no way, I won't let you get near it."

Osman with a sarcastic laugh: "It's not up to you, kitty, you'll do everything I want whether you like it or not."

She replied sarcastically, "Okay, and if I don't do everything you want... what will you do?"

He answered simply, "Nothing... I'll just take this beautiful film and publish it everywhere, and instead of your extraordinary talent being buried like this, I'll reveal it to people so they can be amazed by it, and I promise you... tomorrow morning, you'll be more famous than Scarlett Johansson."

He laughed again, and she glared at him indignantly and said, "Do you think you're twisting my arm like this? Daddy won't let you get away with this, Osman."

He smiled and silenced her with a vulgar insult that made her eyes bulge in shock, then returned to his reckless behavior and said sharply, throwing the papers in her face, "Go on, sister, sign it. I don't like to repeat myself twice."

She looked at him with intense hatred and complied with his order reluctantly.

She took the papers from his hand, and he handed her a pen in turn...

And after one minute, she was done. He took the papers back from her and met the look of loathing radiating from her eyes with a provocative smile...

Then he stood tall in front of her and said softly, "Now, baby, I can tell you you are divorced, divorced, divorced!"
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

For a long time, Samar no longer needed the alarm clock that used to wake her up every morning, as the screams of her ten-month-old sister, Malak, were a more impactful alarm.

And here she was, jolting awake from her deep sleep as the little one began to cry. She got out of bed, rubbing her eyes with her fists, and hurried to her sister, stumbling over every piece of furniture she encountered.

She bent towards the small crib to quickly quiet her so her screams wouldn't get louder and disturb the neighbors. For two months now, she had been suffering from stomach pains and cramps that she could only express by screaming, especially at night.

Samar carried the baby and began to soothe her, rock her, and sing to her sweetly. Gradually, Malak calmed down and fell back asleep in her older sister's arms.

Samar placed the child back in her crib and carefully spread her soft blanket over her small body.

She tenderly stroked her smooth, hazelnut-colored hair, then turned and headed out towards the bathroom...

She performed her daily routine, washed her face, brushed her teeth, then made a cup of tea and returned with it to her room.

She sat on the chair in front of the table and began calculating the expenses due this week, arriving at a very difficult conclusion.

She had to reduce her expenses to the lowest possible degree to be able to pay the rent for the apartment that housed her, her young brother, and her younger sister...

But what about food and drink? Wouldn't they eat to save money?

Malak alone needed a special budget daily; the money was barely enough for her powdered milk, diapers, and medication... Where would she get the rest of the necessities?

Samar felt deep despair and hopelessness, and suddenly she remembered her parents... If only they were here with her now, she wouldn't be drowning up to her ears in this swamp of worries.

But fate willed that they both die together in a car accident eight weeks ago while on their way to the pediatrician overseeing Malak's treatment, as she was born with jaundice. Fortunately for the little one, she was the only survivor among all the bus passengers, not suffering a single scratch!

Samar and her brother didn't have a chance to mourn and grieve for their parents, as Malak needed attention every moment...

Samar was startled out of her thoughts by the sound of Malak's whimpering, which indicated an imminent severe screaming fit. Samar rushed to her, took her into her arms again, and kept walking around the entire apartment with her until she fell asleep again...

She heard a knock on the apartment door and went to open it.

On the doorstep stood the building's owner, his face flushed.

Samar stammered, saying in confusion and embarrassment, "Uncle Saber! Welcome, uuh..."

The latter interrupted her roughly, "No welcome at all, Miss Samar. I'm here to tell you, nicely and amicably, you have two days, no more, to pack your things, take your siblings, and find another place to live."

Samar in distress, "Why are you doing this, Uncle Saber? We haven't fallen short with you, especially, and we pay the rent on time!"

"My dear, God is not in need of the few coins I get from you, and as for this month's rent, I forgive it, God is not in need, just leave from here."

Samar's face crumpled as she asked brokenly, "But where will we go? This has been our home our whole lives, we've never left it, and we don't know anywhere else to go."

"Honestly, that's not my problem, miss. Figure it out yourselves. The tenants are starting to leave the building because of you. The other day, Engineer Alaa, who lives next to you, came and threw the apartment key at me and left. The man couldn't sleep because of the voice of the little lady in your arms. Every day she wakes him up from his sweetest sleep."

Samar helplessly, "But what can I do, Uncle Saber? You know she's been sick since the day she was born, and what she's going through isn't in my hands."

Saber answered in his crude manner, "My dear, may God heal her and make her well, but away from here. Look, I've done the right thing and come to warn you to vacate. A new tenant is coming to see the apartment the day after tomorrow. Please have left the place before I bring him, because that day, if the man comes and you're still here, I'll gather my boys and throw your stuff in the street."

"How are you talking to her like that, you old man???"

Fady exclaimed this upon arriving at the apartment door, adding angrily, "And besides, didn't I warn you before not to come near the apartment when I'm not here? What brought you? It's still the beginning of the month tomorrow, and I was going to come to you and give you the rent like every time."

Saber immediately shouted, "No, sir, I don't want anything from you, I swear I don't want anything! I just want you to leave me alone and find another place away from me and the tenants."

Fady spoke with extreme hostility, trying to control himself as much as possible so as not to hit him, "And you don't know how to speak politely, you disrespectful old man?"

"May God forgive you, Mr. Fady, and because I am a respectable man, I won't respond to you..." Then he announced with a decisive voice, "But starting tomorrow, I will hang a paper on the building door downstairs and advertise the apartment for rent, and I will give the key to the first customer who comes."

Fady's face turned dangerously red, and he was about to pounce on him, but Samar quickly stopped him, holding his arm and saying, "That's enough, Fady, that's enough..." She turned her gaze to Saber, continuing coldly, "Okay, Uncle Saber, do what you want. We'll pack our things and leave the apartment tomorrow."

Saber smiled coldly, turned his back, and walked away, leaving the three siblings in silence...

Samar looked intently and tenderly at her sister's innocent face, and her eyes filled with tears. Her brother noticed her and shouted nervously, "Why are you crying now? Don't cry. Do you want me to go down and show him to the whole street right now?"






Samar, wiping her tears away quickly with the back of her hand: "No, of course not, are you crazy? That's enough, come on, go inside."

She pulled him inside with her, then asked him to steer him away from the discussion about the previous argument: "Tell me, what did you do at the university?"

He answered, frowning, "Nothing... they told me I couldn't get the books until after paying the fees."

Samar, with a sad expression, patting her brother's shoulder: "It's okay... it will be resolved, God willing, don't worry."

Fady nervously: "How will it be resolved? Are we going to strike the ground and make money appear? We're going to be homeless like this, Samar, and Malak will die on us. There are no solutions in front of us, there's only one solution, and you didn't manage to do it."

Samar weakly: "What did you want me to do? I kept after them all these past months and didn't get any result. They won't agree to pay us the bonus, Fady."

"Why not? Wasn't Dad just like any other employee in this rotten company? Let them do that, I swear I'll sue them and send them to hell."

She smiled bitterly and said, "Where will we go against these big people, Fady? We won't be able to do anything with them."

"No way, I will. And here I am, going down to them right now, and it's either me or them."

He took two steps away, and Samar chased after him, shouting, "Wait, Fady... wait!"

She grabbed his hand and mumbled softly, "Okay, I'll go again."

He rolled his eyes, saying impatiently, "Where will you go? You come back just as you went. You don't know how to handle things."

She argued with determination, "I'll go... I'll go and I won't come back without a result!"
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

In the El-Behiry palace...

Yahya El-Behiry slammed the table with his heavy hand, shouting with intense anger, "The dog isn't answering me! Well, when I see you, Osman... you ANIMAL!"

He spat out his last word, yelling fiercely into his phone. The family members exchanged tense glances, while Feryal moved towards her husband, saying gently, hoping to calm him, "Calm down, Yahya, not like this, my love, enough for your health, calm down for my sake."

Yahya, shouting even louder: "Don't tell me to calm down! How can I calm down? How can I calm down after your son, the Pasha, got us into trouble with Rashad El-Haddad? That man, if he gets angry, he'll make us all stay in this house, if we even have a house left after his black deed."

"You're exaggerating a lot, by the way," Feryal said impatiently, then continued, defending her son, "And besides, what did you want him to do? After what you told me yourself last night, I don't see that he's wrong. On the contrary, that's the least he could have done."

Yahya emotionally: "Do you want to drive me crazy too? Are you going to swim with him?"

And here, Refaat intervened calmly, "Osman was wrong, Feryal. He shouldn't have acted so impulsively... Now the newspapers and magazines have no topic but us, and Rashad El-Haddad will indeed not stay silent. The scandal has affected him much more than us, and you know he's a well-known politician and a member of parliament... his position is sensitive."

"Tell her!"

Yahya shouted violently, due to the intensity of his anger. Safeya joined them the next moment, entering the large salon carrying a newspaper in her arms and the lion cub she was caring for until it recovered from its illness: "Good morning, everyone!"

No one returned her greeting except her uncle and his son Saleh. She asked calmly, waving the newspaper,

"Is what's written in the newspapers true?"

Saleh volunteered to answer her when he noticed the tension in the atmosphere intensifying after her question: "Yes, Safi, it's true."

She gasped in shock: "But why? What happened?"

Yahya, who had resumed shouting nervously again: "I don't want to hear a lot of chatter. Be quiet, all of you, right now."

Safeya rolled her eyes indifferently and said, "Okay... if you'll excuse me."

And she withdrew, leaving... Saleh waited for a minute before clearing his throat and saying, "Okay, I'll go look for Osman. I'll see if he went to his office."

And he hurried away to catch up with Safeya...

Meanwhile, Refaat spoke, addressing his brother in a low tone, "Excuse me, Yahya, I have to leave for Paris tonight. I can't leave Hala there alone any longer and, uh..."

Yahya interrupted him indifferently, "Travel, Refaat... travel."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Inside the palace garage, which housed a collection of incredible cars...

Safeya was about to get into her car, but Saleh's voice stopped her as he ran towards her: "Safi... Safi, wait!"

She sighed impatiently and stood in her place but didn't turn towards him. He had to walk around the car to face her: "What is it, Safi? Where are you going so early?" he asked with interest, while she looked the other way, answering him dryly, "Going to take Antar for vaccinations."

Saleh looked at the cub nestled docilely against Safeya's chest, a contradiction to its nature, and said anxiously, "I really don't know the secret behind your love for wild animals. Okay, I know you're a vet and you care for all animals, but I still can't understand why it's lions specifically that you love so much! Why do you love them so much, Safi?"

She answered him in a stern manner, "I love them because they protect me from people like you."

"What's this, what's this, what's this! Why are you talking to me like this? Are you upset with me?"

She replied sharply, "Get away from me, Saleh, and stay out of my way."

His cheerful facial expression changed as he said seriously, "No, you're really upset with me now... What's wrong, Safi??"

She said, stretching the syllables mockingly,

"You don't know what's wrong! Go ask the girls you were dancing with yesterday, and they'll tell you, or go to Farida, Auntie Zizi's daughter, she was stuck to you the whole wedding and didn't leave you until the very end."

Saleh smiled understandingly and said, winking at her, "You're jealous, my love. Don't be jealous, my heart, you are the mistress of them all."

"Me, jealous! No, my dear, I left jealousy to you."

He chuckled lightly and said, "Safi, my love, rest assured, not a single one of them can fill my eyes. The proof is that I left them all and chose you. Everyone knows you're my fiancée."

"And did you consider your fiancée? You wiped the floor with my dignity."






He shook his head no and moved to touch her face with his hand, but she shouted roughly, "Get your hand off me, kid."

His eyes bulged in shock, and he said, "Kid! What's with 'kid'? Where did you learn that, daughter of El-Behiry?"

"Get out of my face, Saleh, or it's better for you!" she shouted sternly.

He leaned his elbow against her car and said, amused, "And if I don't move, what will you do?"

"Are you going to get out of my face, or should I unleash Antar on you?"

She raised the cub with the golden fur in front of his eyes, and he immediately flinched backward, saying quickly, "No, no, no, okay... okay, fine, goodbye, you and Antar."

She looked at him haughtily and placed the cub in the back seat of the car, then she got in herself behind the steering wheel and drove off, leaving a cloud of dust that flew entirely into Saleh's face...
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

On the morning after his wedding night...

Osman El-Behiry entered his family's company, and the employees, especially the female ones, started whispering about him...

One said, "Look how relaxed he is? It's like he didn't divorce his bride yesterday!"

Another replied, "I wonder why he divorced her? And on their wedding night too!"

The third reprimanded her, "And does that need deciphering, smart one? There must be something wrong with her, otherwise why would he have done that?"

A fourth murmured, "That's enough, girls, God knows the truth. May God protect us all."

Osman overheard all their conversations as he passed by them, which increased his feeling of pleasure. His plan had paid off, and the story had become like chewing gum in everyone's mouths, and this was what he wanted – to expose his ex-wife and her father to punish her for her betrayal and also to regain his dignity...

Osman entered his office and called his private secretary, ordering her to gather all his belongings and sort the important files for him. Then he instructed her to send all of this to his new company's headquarters with security guards...

The secretary left after receiving the orders, while Osman's phone rang, making him sigh in annoyance, as he knew very well who was calling.

Despite this, he pressed the answer button and replied, "Hello!"

His father's angry voice came through, "Where are you, Pasha? And why aren't you answering me? Is this something you do, you idiot?!"

Osman calmly: "Just calm down, Dad, nothing happened, and on the contrary, I carried out everything we agreed upon."

Yahya in disbelief: "You send the girl to her father in the middle of the night in her wedding dress, and have the press waiting for her at her father's house, and you tell me you did what we agreed upon? You exposed us!"

Osman imagined the scene his father had painted in his mind, and he burst out laughing, saying gleefully, "But what do you think? Honestly, wasn't it a knockout blow? Rashad El-Haddad will have to wear a veil to cover his face in parliament from now on."

He continued laughing, and his father shouted angrily, "You idiot, you don't realize the magnitude of the disaster you've landed us in! You've sent us to hell."

Osman ignored his father's words and suddenly frowned when he heard sounds of a quarrel outside.

He quickly ended his call, then walked angrily towards the door, pulled the handle forcefully, shouting, "What's all this noise here???"

His eyes blazed as he looked at his secretary in anger, demanding an explanation for the strange noise. The latter stammered as she replied nervously, "Mr. Osman! This young lady suddenly came in, and she insists on coming in to meet you. I told her it's not possible, you have to make an appointment first, but she's still insistent and won't understand."

Osman shifted his gaze to the petite figure standing beside the secretary with a flushed face and red eyes.

He gave her a scrutinizing look, examining her from head to toe with utmost precision and boldness...

She provoked him to the extreme; her pure, round face and delicate features, which hinted at innocence despite her agitation, attracted him. But he couldn't see more of her because of the dark scarf she wore over her head like a hijab, preventing anyone looking at her from seeing her hair, and also the long, loose clothes that prevented him from discerning her figure...

She aroused his curiosity and anger simultaneously. He pursed his lips in some annoyance, then addressed her with his rough voice, "Who are you, clever girl?"

She was greatly surprised by his obvious shameless arrogance, a manner that didn't fit his refined appearance at all...

But she ignored it and answered steadily, "I am Samar Hefzy, daughter of Mr. Sherif Hefzy. My father, may he rest in peace, was an employee here with you."

"Welcome," he replied rudely, and added, "And what do you want?"

Samar sharply: "I've come to meet the person in charge of this company..." She turned her speech to the secretary, "Please inform whoever is in charge here that I request an urgent meeting."

Osman, raising his eyebrows in surprise: "And I'm not enough for you, or what?"

Samar, returning to look at him with disdain: "Who are you?!"

And here the secretary quickly intervened, saying with embarrassment, "Mr. Osman El-Behiry is the company manager and also one of its owners."

"Welcome," Samar said, adopting his previous tone with her.

He glared at her with fiery eyes, and she realized she had succeeded in angering him. This pleased her, but she said in a firm, formal tone, "Sir, I've been coming here for about two months trying to reach someone in charge to speak to about something important concerning my father's work, may he rest in peace, with you. Unfortunately, every time I come back just as I came, I don't get any result, so if you could help me, I would be very grateful."

He gave her a long, empty look, then said curtly, "Come in."

And he gestured for her to enter his office...

He preceded her inside. She entered after him and heard the sound of the door closing behind her by the secretary.

She followed him, examining the room with rounded edges with great curiosity and admiration. Its walls were wooden, and the floor was marble. There was a corner a little further away that looked like a small kitchen, with a small refrigerator and tea and coffee making equipment.

"Please sit down," he said after sitting in front of her behind his large desk. She complied with his request and sat on the left side in the two chairs facing him.

Osman asked calmly, "Okay, what is it? How can I help you, Miss?"

Samar, with similar calmness, forgetting her hostile stance towards him: "As I told you, I've been coming here for two months because of a problem concerning my father's work with you, may he rest in peace."






"And what exactly is the problem?"

Samar explained the details of the problem to him...

Osman seriously: "But your father, according to what you're saying, was an elevator technician, not a primary engineer here at the company."

"I don't understand the difference?!"

Osman sighed deeply and said, "The difference is that your father was a wage worker. If there was a malfunction in the elevators here, he would come and fix it and that's it. Meaning, his name, and the names of many of his colleagues who have the same job here, are not in our employment records because, simply, our group is investment and commercial, and we don't need this type of worker much. We only hire them on a wage basis, as I told you."

Samar in shock: "What do you mean?!!"

He pursed his lips regretfully and said coldly, tapping his pen on the desk, "It means, unfortunately, your father doesn't have an end-of-service bonus with us because he wasn't an employee to begin with. He might have some dues; you can ask downstairs in Human Resources on your way out if there are any remaining payments related to him or anything!"

Samar was struck by a disappointment that overwhelmed her senses. She no longer heard him completing his words but instead listened to a powerful flood of questions suddenly erupting in her mind...

How would she manage? How would she continue her life without money? And her siblings... what would she do about them? They needed many things essential for their survival. Malak wouldn't live if Samar couldn't provide food and treatment for her, and Fady's future would be lost if he dropped out of his studies. Where would she get all of this from? The only hope she had relied on turned out to be false... There was no escape from the miserable fate, not just for her, but for her siblings as well.

Gradually, Samar stood up without feeling it, despite her trembling limbs, then she began to repeat, crying, "What will I do now? How will I manage? My siblings will be lost to me... I won't be able to do anything for them. Malak will die, and I... I'm the reason... I'm the reason."

"Are you alright, miss?" Osman asked with some concern, but he received no answer.

The vision in front of Samar was fading little by little, until it completely disappeared...

Her legs could no longer carry her, and she fell unconscious...

Osman jumped from his seat and walked towards her quickly.

He bent down to her, extended his hand, and gently shook her, calling out, "Miss! Miss..."

Osman fidgeted in his place, looking at her in confusion, "What should I do with this now?" he muttered softly to himself, then he got up and went to his desk.

He pressed the intercom button connected to his secretary's office and said in a clear, steady voice, "Sherry... call the company doctor immediately and come here quickly."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

In another place... where a man in his fifties was leaning against his desk. His white hair was mixed with some black strands, and he looked dignified and respectable...

He suddenly turned to his daughter and brought his heavy hand down on her temple. She screamed in pain, and her younger sister quickly embraced her, receiving her.

"You disgraced me, you hussy!" Rashad El-Haddad said, shouting, and continued, "Our reputation is on everyone's tongue. Your husband divorced you on your wedding day, and we don't need to explain the reasons to people. You've ruined my future and your sister's future, you -----! I'll lose the elections and I'll lose everything because of you, --------! My name, after being in the sky, you've dragged it through the mud."

Her sobbing grew louder, while her sister tried to calm Rashad by saying, "That's enough, Daddy, please, Gigi knows she made a mistake, and you also know that Osman betrayed her. She didn't know he would send journalists after her."

Rashad angrily: "Shut up, it's none of your business. I have a score to settle with that dog too, but not before I finish with this ----- myself."

Gigi, crying and still protected in her sister's embrace: "You're the one who forced me into this marriage! I told you I don't love him and I don't want him..." Then she continued hesitantly, "You're the reason, Daddy!"

Rashad raised his arm and pulled her by her hair, shouting, "I am the reason indeed! I'm the one who left you unchecked until you became corrupt, and in the end, you handed my neck to Yahya El-Behiry's son."

Gigi moaned in pain and said in a trembling voice mixed with her tears, "I didn't know he would film me, and I didn't notice anything until the wedding day, he surprised me."

Rashad roughly: "Why did you sign the waiver for him?"

"He threatened to publish the video."

He shouted emotionally, "You're stupid! He couldn't have done anything. I would have dealt with him, and we wouldn't have been exposed like this now."

Then he suddenly let go of her and turned, staring into space, muttering fiercely, "Alright, son of Yahya... I swear I will bring you down to the ground. I won't have mercy on you or your family!"
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Malak had woken up from her sleep about fifteen minutes ago. She had spent all this time lying alone without moving until she got tired of her loneliness...

So she began to scream loudly enough to attract one of her siblings. This is how she had learned and memorized the way to attract their attention according to her small mind.

And indeed, Fady answered her call and came to her immediately...

Malak fell silent as soon as she saw him. He smiled at her and said gently, "What is it, Miss Malouka? Are you hungry, or did you wake up and find yourself bored and decide to annoy Fady a little? Huh? Tell me, talk..."

And he started making faces at her as he talked to her. The child began to laugh at him, raising her small arms towards him and making sounds mixed with her laughter.

Fady laughed with her, then carried her and began to play with her and caress her...

Malak had features shared by both her mother and her sister Samar... For example, she inherited her fair skin color and her hazelnut hair color from her mother.

As for her wide green eyes, she inherited them from her older sister, who also possesses a special kind of beauty characterized by her long, raven hair, her light chocolate-colored skin, and her well-proportioned figure that her neighbors and friends envy her for whenever they visit her at home...

Fady sat in the living room and seated Malak on his lap, then began to rock her so she wouldn't start crying again, while he watched a game on the small television screen...

Samar caught his attention as she opened the apartment door with her key and entered. He turned off the television, carried Malak in his arms, and went towards her...

Fady eagerly: "Well, Samar! What did you do?"

Samar raised her face, answering him with clear exhaustion, "Fady, I'll tell you later. I'm tired and can barely see in front of me. I need to rest a bit, and I'll tell you everything in the evening."

He frowned anxiously and asked her in a calm tone, "What's wrong, Samar? Are you alright?"

She nodded her head in the affirmative, then said, "Just take care of Malak until I wake up, and if she gets hungry, you know how to feed her. You can just wake me up for her medicine time, and I'll get up and give it to her."

And she left him, heading towards her room...

Finally, she was alone. She closed the room door, and immediately took off her hijab, breathing deeply, then released her hair from the hair clip, letting it fall softly and smoothly down her back.

She threw herself onto the bed and stared at the ceiling, and the memory of the brief meeting returned to her...






She found him standing in front of her when her eyes opened. He was talking to a short man in his mid-forties; he seemed insignificant next to him...

She didn't have a chance to figure out much, as she sprang up from her spot like a frightened cat, saying in a sleepy, slurred voice, "Where am I? What happened to me?"

Osman reassured her with a smile, "Don't worry, miss, you're fine. Don't worry, you're safe. You just fainted, and Dr. Hussein woke you up."

Dr. Hussein said kindly and politely, "Thank God you're safe, miss. I want you not to worry, you're completely fine, but you're malnourished. You're very weak and need to take better care of your eating and drinking so you don't faint again."

Sherry, the office secretary, was standing beside her, so she bent down to give her a glass of juice. Samar accepted it gratefully, feeling her head spin.

Meanwhile, Dr. Hussein left after gathering his tools in his bag, and Osman, in turn, dismissed his secretary to resume her work outside...

Samar, trying to get up: "I don't know how to thank you for what you did for me!"

Osman seriously: "Stay where you are, miss, you're still dizzy, don't get up now."

"I have to go... I'm late for my siblings."

"Just wait a minute, I want to talk to you about something."

Samar in surprise: "Something! What is it, sir??"

Osman pulled a nearby chair and sat on it, leaning his body towards her, then said calmly, "I feel like you're in trouble... You can tell me if you'd like, I might be able to help you."

Samar suspiciously: "Help me how, exactly?!"

He shrugged, answering, "Help you means help you... Just tell me what your problem is?"

Samar was silent, her tongue tied, not knowing how to answer him!

"Money?" he asked, and continued, "What did you graduate in, miss?"

Samar answered with a heavy tongue, "Marketing and e-commerce."

Osman admiringly: "Nice... very nice... Then he added with false enthusiasm, "Look, I'm opening a new company of my own in a few days, I've already chosen the employees but I haven't chosen a secretary yet... Would you like to apply for this position?"

She stared at him in disbelief and asked foolishly, "Really?!!"

Osman laughing: "Oh, yes, really... Then he asked her, smiling, "How old are you? I mean, how many years have you been graduated?"

Samar with slight tension: "I'm 24 years old, and I graduated two and a half years ago."

"Hmm... not long ago. So, what do you say? Do you agree to work for me?"

Samar without hesitation: "Of course I agree... but she backed down, "But I don't know anything about secretarial work."

Osman confidently: "Don't worry, you'll learn... It's a very simple job."

Her face brightened with a gentle smile, while he reached into his pants pocket and took out his wallet.

He pulled out some banknotes, then held out his hand to her, saying, "Here, Miss Samar."

She looked at his outstretched hand with the money, then at him, and asked him, frowning, "What's this, sir?"

He answered with a smile, "I know you need money, please take it."

Samar, refusing politely: "Thank you, sir... I have enough, thank God."

Osman with insistence and kindness: "Just take them, Miss Samar, consider it a loan and pay it back from your first salary."

Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she found it so difficult, but she reached out and took the money from him...

Samar, standing on her feet and testing her steadiness: "I'll take my leave now."

He also stood up and said to her, "Okay, when you leave, leave your name, address, and phone number with Sherry, and don't forget the day after tomorrow. I'll have Sherry call you and give you all the information about the company."

Samar nodded without looking into his eyes, then left his office quietly...
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Samar emerged from the memory feeling very distressed. Since leaving that company, she hadn't stopped scolding herself for taking the money from him.

Several times on her way home, she thought about going back and returning his money, but she remembered Malak and Fady... So she surrendered to the reality of the situation and continued on her way with her lips sealed.

Thinking had exhausted her to this extent, so she stopped everything and surrendered to the sleep that had begun to caress her eyelids...
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

In the enchanting night of Alexandria, Saleh El-Behiry drives his luxurious car along the Corniche overlooking the coast, lit by lampposts that reflect their light on the dark sea water, making it look like black pearls in its rarity...

Saleh arrives at that famous nightclub and enters, searching with his eyes for his cousin.

He finds him there, sitting at the bar, surrounded by all sorts of vices, and he is interacting with them with his usual indifference...

"What's up, man? Where have you been?" Saleh said as he sat next to him at the bar, and added, "Do I have to beg you just for you to tell me where you are? Your father is turning the world upside down looking for you."

Osman impatiently: "I know."

"Then why haven't you come home yet??"

"I'm not ready for Mr. Yahya's interrogation, and I don't need any more hassle."

Saleh frankly: "You really messed things up, to be honest. I knew you were a devil, cousin, but I never imagined your thinking would reach this point!"

Osman laughing as he ate some appetizers: "Maybe because you don't know how to think, Saleh."

"No, seriously, the devil himself would applaud you for this stunt."

Osman boastfully: "Man, I'm not just anyone, I'm Osman El-Behiry, meaning all the cunning and power, and don't forget I'm Alexandrian too."

"No, as for the power, I'm more certain of that... Then he asked, recalling, "By the way, what did you do about your company thing? It's all yours now."

Osman drank what was left in his glass and answered him, as the intoxication began to make him say what he didn't want to say, "Shut up, don't remind me of work at all... Today I ran into a girl who almost made me lose my temper. Can you imagine, she mocked me?!?"

Saleh with a playful laugh: "Oh no! She just played with her lifespan."

Osman with a threat: "Are you kidding? By my mother's life, I will make her life hell!!!!!"

You may like it