Chapter 3 A crazy

"Aslan Murabak*

The trip to Brazil was something that left me irritated. My father made me visit all the hotels I bought, and that wasn't in my plans. I wanted to go to New York; that was my plan. I am Arabic and do not follow all the "rules." Since I was young, I had to learn how to deal with our business since my father is not a good manager. They say we are a people who know how to negotiate, but my father is terrible with business. In fact, he lost all our money when I was only fifteen years old, and our country was going through a crisis. And I had to help; otherwise, we would lose everything.

I went to college and left my country. I needed to fly and expand my business, import my products, and many opportunities arose, such as my uncle's hotel chain that was having financial problems after his son started taking over everything, and I bought it. I came to Brazil to see how things are going here, and my father forced me to see all the hotels in the chain, and to avoid conflicts between us, I am visiting the units. And, as I thought, it seems to be poorly managed, with financial problems, the money that comes in barely covers expenses. I thought about firing everyone and finding new people I can trust; I'm studying the case. I suspect the manager is doing some diversion into his personal account.

My brother is my lawyer, and my sister, who is an exceptional accountant, unfortunately, is subject to pressure to get married. I know I am postponing my own marriage because of her, and I feel sorry for my sister and the pressure she faces as a woman to get married. Our father arranged several suitors for her, but I always find some flaw so that she doesn't get married. I wished she could choose someone to spend the rest of her life with, but our clan is very traditional, and unfortunately, she will have to get married and with someone our father chooses and judges to be a good husband.

I will also get married sooner or later, although it is not my desire. I am thirty-two years old and have to arrange a marriage. A wife, actually, a woman from our clan who knows our rules. I never followed rules, and it won't be now that I will.

My entry into the hotel was ridiculous, which made me very nervous and stressed. It seemed like a celebrity was going to stay there and not the hotel owner with his brothers who wanted to go unnoticed, but that wasn't what happened.

"Brother, what is this?"

"Tell them we're going to our rooms and won't participate in this," we looked like a circus attraction.

"Sir, it's a pleasure to welcome you here at the hotel. I am William, the hotel manager," he extended his hand, and I didn't shake it, just looked at him.

I want to go to my room.

"Sir, we made this reception for you."

"I want to go to my room, without a reception."

I went to the counter, where a guy was waiting for me with a smile on his face and handed me the key, wishing me a pleasant stay. One of the guys took my luggage to the room. My sister was curious about everything she was seeing: several people and some taking photos. All of that made me very nervous and stressed. I took the elevator and went to the room. I went up to the presidential suite. I just wanted to take a shower. These trips, going to various places, make me nervous. I took off my blazer and my prized possession watch, a collector's piece and one of the most expensive in the world. I went to the minibar to get a bottle of water. 

I put my hands on the buttons of my shirt and was incredulous to see a woman in my room. How could this happen in a luxury hotel like this? A guest arriving in their suite and having one of the housekeepers still inside the room? I was furious with this mistake.

She seemed inert to everything happening around her and walked over to where I had left the watch. I already knew what she was going to do. She picked up the piece in her hand and observed it closely. She was probably going to put it in her pocket. Before she could do anything, I spoke to her. She was startled by me and dropped my precious watch on the floor. I was so angry and approached her. I wanted to call the police, but when I looked at her face and saw her eyes shining as if preparing a tear, I felt a different beauty from what I was used to. A maid who caught my attention, and that made me even more irritated. A woman outside my social level and I analyzing her beauty. Of course, I wouldn't let it show. The best way to preserve myself is to attack and humiliate. And that's what I did with her. I made it clear that I would pay for the damage, but I knew that a woman like her could work for me for years and still wouldn't be able to pay even half of what I had paid for that watch. After making it clear that she was incompetent, I asked her to leave my room and made it clear that I would think about what to do with her. To get her away from me as quickly as possible, before I admired her face and body even more, I asked her to take my suits to be pressed. I wanted her away from me.

She took her cleaning things and my suits, and something fell. That woman had the perfect body, and I didn't want my next conquest to be a housekeeper. I shouldn't be thinking about that at this moment. I shouldn't. The woman leaves my suite, and in a few minutes, my brothers enter the room.

Dad called, said you didn't answer and that he's angry with you - Aisha tells me, sitting on the couch.

Dad wants to marry me off to some woman from our country, said I'm already past the age of marriage.

Brother, you're already old and need to find a woman and get married - Lemi teases me.

Shut up, Lemi.

You know that dad won't leave you alone until you get married, it's our culture, my brother - he smiles.

You know that after me comes you two.

I'm the second son, I have no obligations, by Ala, how grateful I am for that - he raises his hands.

I don't want to get married, I live very well alone.

Get a fake wife, get married, and then get divorced - he looks at the table and says - What happened to your watch?

I dropped it and it broke - I remember the woman who broke it, Diana Rodrigues, that was her name, and an idea comes to mind - No.

No? - he questions me with a look.

I just thought out loud, Lemi. That's all - a fake wife? It could work.