Since their conversation about Dalilah three days ago, Dashtan and Rakia have been busy with their jobs. Not that Dashtan had ignored Dalilah's request for help; he was still thinking of the best way to help the woman without making Rakia like a lion awakened from her deep sleep. However, just as he was immersed in the financial documents of Dalilah's company that he examined that afternoon in his busy office, the woman once again came to see him. "Sir, we have a visitor for you, Mrs. Dalilah." The secretary informed him when through the door the woman opened after first knocking. Dashtan sighed harshly momentarily, then permitted his guest to see him. As Dalilah entered, Dashtan was still going through the financial statements of the woman's company. Sitting on one of the couches in the centre of the room, Dalilah waited for Dashtan's attention to be drawn to her. "I talked to your wife about the guarantee I told you about last time," Dalilah said, opening the conversation between
Rakia helped Mrs. Hunt in the kitchen that morning and woke up early, as was her habit. Since she was starting to miss work today, she planned to pack her bags. Dashtan urged her to take an early leave before departing to Dubai tomorrow. Rakia saw Dashtan struggling with his tie in the living room. She approached the man after handing over the task of making breakfast to Mrs. Hunt. "Let me help you," Rakia said as she took over Dashtan's hand, who seemed busy putting on his tie. Rakia smiled at her neat work after thenecktie was perfectly and neatly attached. "Where's your suit? Let me get it for you, go have breakfast," Rakia said again. "In my room, I'll wait in the kitchen." Dashtan quickly pecked Rakia on the forehead before heading to the kitchen. After picking up Dashtan's coat, she followed him into the kitchen, placing his jacket on the arm of the sofa in the living room. "Don't forget to pack for our departure tomorrow." Dashtan reminded Rakia of their departure tomorrow
The sound of the room door opening distracted the two people who were drunk with mutual attraction to each other. Rakia and Dashtan suddenly turned their heads and found Dalilah standing near the closed room door with a surprised face. “What are you doing here?” Dashtan asked flatly. His gaze instantly changed when he looked at Dalilah, sharp and cold. Rakia, who felt awkward, looked down for a moment and swallowed. She was now nervous when she felt Dashtan’s aura that changed instantly to become unfriendly. “Sorry, I just wanted to-““You want to discuss it again?” Dashtan cut in quickly. Rakia frowned and raised her gaze to stare at Dahstan. “Then, if you’ll excuse me,” said Dalilah, who quickly turned and left the room. Dashtan sighed and then clucked. “She comes here often?” asked Rakia, looking down. Dashtan shifted his gaze to the woman; he immediately hugged her. “A few days ago, she came here, it seems she tried to persuade my family,” Dashtan said, making Rakia worried.
Rakia stared blankly at the floor of her room as she sat on the edge of the bed. Her conversation with Dashtan a few moments ago had made her even more insecure about her feelings for the man. On the other hand, she didn't want to fall too deeply into this marriage because, eventually, they would part ways. But for some reason, when Dashtan asked for a separation on such short notice, she felt offended, as if he didn't want her in his life any longer. Tears quickly gathered in her eyes and trickled down her cheeks before she could stop them. Honestly, what she feared was that she couldn't stop herself from falling in love with Dashtan. She didn't want that in the end; her heart would be in this marriage, while Dashtan gave her nothing and quickly let go of their togetherness. Rakia wiped her tears quickly and turned her thoughts towards the suitcase she had placed in front of her wardrobe in an open state. "I'd better pack," she thought as she stepped towards the suitcase and quickl
Her hungry stomach woke Rakia from her deep sleep. She was confused to find herself on a bed and in a room. She remembered that she had fallen asleep in her seat while the plane was taking off. She observed the room she was in; it was neat and minimalist but cosy. She gently rubbed the sheets of the bed she was sleeping on, soft and smooth. Currently, the lighting in the room comes from a sizable bed lamp that stands in the corner of the room. The atmosphere was dim and perfect for a good night’s sleep, but she couldn’t tolerate her rumbling stomach. Rakia got out of bed slowly, put on her flat shoes, then walked towards the door and opened it slowly. She was surprised she was still on the plane when she saw Thalia preparing food on a wheeled iron tray. “Ah, good afternoon, Mrs. Dashtan, did you sleep well?” asked Thalia with a smile on her face, a friendly smile that fit her appearance perfectly. Rakia smiled and tried not to be awkward. “Um, cozy room, where’s Dashtan?” Rakia loo
Dashtan stared at Rakia with a surprised look, then looked down as he exhaled loudly through his sharp nose. He folded his lips into his mouth as he thought, but he couldn't think of an appropriate response to Rakia's question. Meanwhile, Rakia stared at Dashtan, waiting for the man's reaction to her question. "I... Don't want you to get hurt for expecting so much from me." Dashtan sighed in relief. At least he didn't look helpless in front of a woman. He did not want to let anyone see his weak side; he was still unable and entirely at peace with himself. He was too afraid to make a real commitment to a woman. Rakia swallowed all the disappointment she got from that statement. But she couldn't force anything on Dashtan. "As you said, I wouldn't expect much; maybe that's better," Rakia said and smiled, trying to brace herself. She finished her ice cream while Dashtan finished his juice. After that, Dashtan stood up and excused himself to bed. Rakia just nodded; her face looked sad af
Dashtan exited the room after getting dressed while Rakia performed the bath ritual. Initially, he wanted to wait for her to finish, but his mother entered his room while he was lying on the bed checking his cell phone. A knock on the door from her mother interrupted her. "Where's Rakia?" Mahira looked at her son while occasionally darting into the room as Dashtan stood in the doorway of the room he had half-opened. "Taking a bath, why, Mom?" Dashtan looked at the woman curiously. "Do you want to rest?" Mahira asked again. "I was planning to take Rakia for an afternoon walk." Her son divulged the plan. The mother nodded. "We're having dinner at the Golden Fork tonight. Your father's friend has invited you," she informed; Dashtan frowned. "Who?" Because he didn't want to accept a dinner invitation that he didn't know the source of. Many people surrounded his father, and few were sycophants. “Mr. Zulfikar from Talka industries. You must know him," Mahira replied. Dashtan thought
An emerald green satin kaftan Mahira gave to Rakia for her to wear to the Golden Fork tonight. Tiny jewels formed a sizable prism in the centre. She rarely wore such elegant clothes, as time was not favourable for Rakia to wear such garments. When she did wear it, it fit her body like it was made for her. She looked so graceful, covered and elegant, a very different appearance from Rakia, the journalist. This time, it was like she was seeing herself on the other side, Rakia, the wife of a Dubai conglomerate. Rakia chuckled amusedly at the nickname in her mind. She continued to apply makeup to her face. She wore accessories on several body parts, like earrings, bracelets and wedding rings. She curled her hair in a style she had briefly studied on the internet. She didn't want to look unprepossessing at this dinner, now that she had entered and become part of the life of a Dashtan from a high social strata family. She didn't want to look disappointing or embarrassing. Initially, Mahira