Novels by leena mohamad

The morning sun filters through the windows of Rami’s beach house, casting a warm glow over the chaos we’ve created. Balloons, streamers, and boxes of decorations are scattered everywhere. I’m holding a string of fairy lights, trying to untangle them, while Rami paces the room, his phone pressed to his ear. His jaw is tight, and I can tell by the way he’s muttering under his breath that his father isn’t answering—again.“He’s not picking up,” Rami says, finally lowering the phone. His voice is calm, but I can see the frustration in the way his shoulders tense. “I’ve called him five times already. I even texted him. He knows it’s her birthday. He has to come.”I set the lights down and walk over to him, placing a hand on his arm. “He’ll come, Rami. He has to. It’s your mom. He wouldn’t miss this.” I say it with more confidence than I feel. His father has always been... unpredictable. But today isn’t about him. It’s about her.Rami sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I just don’t g

I was at my desk, engrossed in work, when my phone buzzed. It was Rami. “Dema, can you come to my office for a moment?” he asked, his tone calm but with a hint of something I couldn’t quite place. Curiosity piqued, I grabbed my notebook and headed over.When I walked into Rami’s office, I was surprised to see his father, Mr. Al Nassar, sitting across from him. He looked as distinguished as ever, his presence commanding the room. Rami stood up as I entered, gesturing for me to join them. “Dema, my father just stopped by. I thought you should come and greet him.”I smiled politely, extending my hand. “Mr. Al Nassar, it’s so nice to see you.”He stood, shaking my hand with a warm smile. “Dema, always a pleasure. I just came by to thank you both for attending the event the other day. You both behaved so gracefully and I couldn’t be prouder.” He turned to me, his gaze softening. “And you, my dear, everyone was complimenting your beauty, grace, and class. You truly stood out.”I felt my che

As we walked into the grand living room of Rami’s parents’ house, I could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me. The air was thick with anticipation, and the room was filled with familiar faces—Rami’s mother, his uncles, cousins, all seated in a semi-circle, their expressions a mix of curiosity and seriousness. Rami’s hand was warm in mine, a silent reassurance as we took our seats among the family. I glanced at him, and he gave me a small, encouraging smile, though I could tell he was just as nervous as I was. Something big was about to happen.Mr. Al Nassar, Rami’s father, stood at the center of the room, his posture commanding yet calm. He cleared his throat, and the room fell silent. All eyes were on him. My heart raced as I waited for him to speak, my mind racing with possibilities. What could this be about? The big Event we had attended with the prince just days ago still lingered in my thoughts—the grandeur, the conversations, the unspoken tension. I had felt then t

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across my room, but I barely noticed. My mind was racing, my stomach in knots. Tonight was the event—the one Rami’s father had insisted we attend. Hosted by the crown prince himself. The crown prince. Just the thought made my palms sweat. This wasn’t just any event. It was the kind where every glance, every word, every step would be scrutinized. And I? I was not ready.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my closet as if it held the answers to all my problems. What does one even wear to something like this? Something elegant, obviously, but not too flashy. Sophisticated, but not intimidating. I groaned, running a hand through my hair. This was impossible. I needed help. Professional help.I grabbed my phone and dialed my stylist. She picked up on the second ring, her voice calm and reassuring, as always. “Dema, darling, what’s the emergency?”“I need you. Right now. It’s the event tonight—the one with the crown pri

As Rami and I walked toward the stadium, the buzz of the crowd grew louder, but my mind was somewhere else entirely. I tried to keep up with his cheerful banter about the game, but I could feel the weight of work pressing down on me. My team’s struggles had been gnawing at me all week, and no matter how hard I tried to push it aside, the anxiety kept creeping back in.“Dema,” Rami said suddenly, his voice cutting through my thoughts. “You seem off. Is something wrong?”I hesitated, glancing at him. His brow was furrowed with concern, and I knew I couldn’t brush it off. “It’s just… work,” I admitted, my voice quieter than I intended. “Things haven’t been great. The team’s numbers are down, and we’re struggling to hit our targets. I’ve been trying to figure out how to turn things around, but it’s been stressing me out.”Rami nodded thoughtfully, his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets as we continued walking. “Have you thought about giving them an incentive?” he asked casually, as if it

I sat at my desk, staring at the latest report in front of me. The numbers were down—again. It felt like no matter what we did, we just couldn’t hit our targets. The weight of it all pressed down on me, and I could see the same frustration mirrored in the faces of my team. They were trying their best, I knew that, but the energy in the office had shifted. The usual buzz of productivity was gone, replaced by a heavy silence that seemed to hang over us like a cloud.I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Was it the workload? The pressure? Or was it something else entirely? I decided to talk to Karim, our team leader. If anyone had insight into what was going on, it was him.I found him in the break room, sipping coffee and scrolling through his phone. He looked up as I walked in, and I could see the exhaustion in his eyes. “Hey, Karim,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Got a minute?”“Sure, Dema,” he said, setting his phone down. “