— Hamid why did you run away from me... She wailed in such an affectionate and appreciative tone that I looked at her in complete amazement, feeling her hands move to my shoulder, pulling me close, touching her forehead to mine, her eyes fluttering shut as she had me close, the long, black lashes, tears wetting her eyes... so fascinating was her voice asking me to stay close. My body shuddered when I felt the hands surrounding me, my face rested next to hers, avoiding following what she wanted by the strength she exerted in pulling me to hug her on the floor.
And it stopped, at some point all my shaking stopped and I could hear her labored breathing. Half of my body was on the rug, and the other half rested on hers as she pressed my face against hers. It's like closing your eyes and relaxing with your head in a lion's mouth.But I couldn't move abruptly, I don't know her, I don't know her reactions, I can't even imagine how she would react imagining that I'm her husband anI straightened my posture, sitting as straight as I could in my chair, glancing at the Moroccan lamp in the corner of the table as I traced notes in my book and bolted to my feet. Last night was intense and full of craziness, but here I am again, truly enjoying a luxury that was so willingly given to me. I buttoned my white shirt on my body, straightened my pants and left my room, pausing when I saw Normani leave the princess's room, I looked at her with a nod when I saw her approach, her expression was more peaceful after the madness. "Did you sleep well?" – It was visible that she was being polite and cordial. It's a relief to have such a good person around. "Like no day I've been here, even if it's traumatic events, I'm fine. And you? – I asked looking at the navy blue cloth over her hair. — I'm used to it, I slept perfectly. – Her answer didn't seem like a lie, it conveys this feeling of devastating balance. My eyes strayed next door to the last room down the hall. - It's he
POV Narrator Karila had a keen mind for threats. Normani had anticipated that they were after her on a different level than other times, the princess didn't seem afraid either, it was more about the level of threat they could cause in retaliation, she wasn't afraid of being arrested or falling into a trap, he was too calculating not to foresee the next steps. “They went after the foreigner in the apartment, like you said, when they were together, they dare to know about her, that woman could become a target if she doesn't give them what they want. Karila spoke quickly, her hands clasping together as she sat in her conference room talking to Normani. 'She won't give them anything, she knows it's wrong, she wouldn't betray her trust just now that you've won her back, Lauren isn't mean or stupid. - Normani spoke looking at the princess who was watching her deeply, the brown eyes searching for traces of a lie, Normani gave her a very strong proof of trust by saving her life the day bef
Ursel had requested a private conversation with the Princess, involved Lauren, Rudolph and Gold, asking them to take time out about something important. The princess accepted the conversation after lunch, sitting in the meeting room so that they could talk at her ease. It wasn't meant to be discouraging, but the princess's intimidating posture sat completely relaxed on Lauren's left side, who looked startled, having Ursel on her right. The powerful woman exchanged a long look with Lauren who was looking at her sitting there beside her as if she couldn't believe it. - Some problem? Karila asked directly, watching her shift uncomfortably where she was sitting, denying and looking away. — You can go on with the reasons for calling for this conversation. – Encouraged Ursel who thought about his speech and then started talking. “We're planning to go to the city of the dead. Karila didn't even wait for her to finish speaking to laugh at the idea, averting her convinced look. “This is
The only person who was willing to help me at my worst moment when I had no one would simply be killed because I had a proud and crazy head boss addicted to a destructive and terrifying revenge. Crazy. And who am I next to anyone in this country? What can I do? Screaming downtown? Say it was Normani's mistake? I'm nothing. The policemen seemed too convinced, they have their evidence, and I honestly don't doubt that Normani did it, his honor to Karila was superior to anything, I remember the princess falling to the ground poisoned saying only the name of her maid, she wanted a chase, she wanted Tawaba caught and paid, it was the princess's fault and she didn't seem to have an ounce of remorse to shake it off. Normani of that problem. Crazy destructive. It was so strange to realize that even though all the things were happening right in front of the noses of our entire group of historians, they were so oblivious to even the danger that we were running in being host
Lauren's POV I needed to do a whole reconstruction of what I had already gotten used to in such a short time. And how strange it is to feel so many things in so little time, I should have known that I was going crazy when I got here, I rushed and the problems with the princess began. It was the first time I left my classroom environment, the books that were numbered on my desk in piles, and I let myself live this world out here in such an intense way. Soon I, who should have gotten used to the craziness from such a young age for not contextualizing myself in what is standard, in what is visible and right and palpable. One day and it feels like weeks, one month I swear this here will feel like years. There wasn't much I could do to sabotage my sanity, I just walked into my room, grabbed my prescription glasses off the table, and walked out onto the terrace, feeling the cold breeze touch my face for good. I lost myself in time, shoving my hands in my pants po
She was being so honest in giving away a half bio of her that I felt too guilty to lie, was it selfish of me? Or did I have to think about my life and let her think that way? My silence seemed to pull away from me somehow, as if her exposure was too much and I felt her moving away and the doors closing onto the terrace. I waited in complete silence a few seconds before pulling the fabric from my face, looking around. Her glass was there, the bottle half full, and I was alone. I put my glasses on my face and looked around, hopelessly curious. The doors to her room closed, leaving only the gap exposed by the curtain that was on the side of the glass, her body passed with her back to the glass and I saw her straight brown hair falling down her back, it looked much bigger than I could have predicted, going beyond your waist, huge and beautiful my heart sped up in fear that she would turn around and her face would reveal itself in full accusation, she was in the privacy of the
Slightly more optimistic than the day before, Lauren woke up that morning more relaxed about her presence in that mansion than on other days. It felt like a real truce then about anything correlated to Karila, he still remembered seeing her the night before when arriving so tired from a full day expedition in Cairo, they were planning so much in so little time, as well as focusing on the searches, still had the forbidden visit to city of the dead that would bring the tempting pepper out of danger that morning. Intimately, she assumed that she wasn't that euphoric for that inadequate walk, she knew that it was another level of danger already witnessed and that they would go for that by their own will and choices, nothing more than that. If something went wrong, it was their own responsibility for risking themselves into danger. Usually neat and duly covered with skin covered, social pants, wearing a silk blouse to the wrists and low sneakers in a more relaxed way, the
Lauren's POV I looked at the worn cap in my hands and put it on my head over the bun I made in my hair, looking at myself in the mirror and shuddering to see something so different in me. We could not appear to be in good financial condition, nor to be excessively clean, which would differentiate us too much from the local population. I wore low boots and looser clothes to camouflage the shape of my body, very masculine military-cut pants and double long-sleeved blouses with leather vests over the strategically torn fabrics. Hadd thought it right that none of the women showed themselves as women because it would make the situation very difficult if one of them walked in a group that looked like too many men, the chances of us being harassed for that would increase a lot, and he tried at all costs to show that what we didn't we wanted to draw attention. Ursel took longer than all of us, she had a female form that was hard to cover up. I ironically found myself in a sit
She stood straight, watching her reflection in the mirror as her sewing assistant finished adjusting the shoulder straps of her black shirt. There was a lot of serenity in her expression, even if her ever so impetuous brown eyes were still there. Karila Aistarabaw held out her arms wide, feeling the gloved woman's delicate hands tugging at the last remnants of fabric so that the shirt completely covered the waistcoat she wore underneath her clothes.The country was waiting outside, the international press, its supporters, even its antagonists, it was a unique moment in the history of Egypt, which made it swallow several times, sustaining the sobriety of its royal creation. She was a woman who built herself under that role, her upbringing was governed by her parents under the circumstance of power, she was prepared.Her body moved as the final adjustment was made, and the black, gold-embroidered Sherwani tucked into her arms and fell into line with her stance. The golden buds were qu
Princess Egypt watched as the little boy crawled out of bed and stared at her as soon as she issued a summons. Her body curved before him, to match their heights, the awed brown glint in her eyes made her hold back a smile, she wanted to be serious.- Ali, we are moving from here, the elections are close and we will have a new phase in our lives, you will stay with other people, these different from me, people who are good, who will take extreme care of you until the votes pass so that can go toour home. - Karila quoted in a low Arabic, but authoritative enough for the child to understand that it was something serious. She was very intelligent, perhaps she had drawn so many attributes from Mahara that they were unlistable.His careful look showed his education, he was raised by Karila's principles, like a little prince who would show above all respect when he was old enough for everyone, especially women. The princess knew he still couldn't absorb much, but he made himself understoo
Years laterMusic on* More Than That - Lauren JaureguiDoctor Lauren Jauregui acquired respect and wove an impeccable reputation in the years assigned as a professor at Yale, even if her personal life still hovered around the new classes each semester, yet when they were in her class, silence and respect prevailed in every second.It was clear that they were still questioning themselves about their involvement with the missing princess of Egypt, they questioned the background of truth in the photographs even after the hoax was exposed, they wove long rounds of conversations trying to imagine why for 3 years she behaved like a lonely woman, without ever appearing with no one by her side, without any expository amorous bids, they never knew what to imagine coming from the Egyptology professor. The woman who talked about Egypt like no one else.Extremely elegant, in an all-black blazer and straight-cut slacks, she tucked her hands casually into the front pockets of her pants, glancin
Months laterLauren Jauregui temporarily moved to Cartagena, Colombia. The first months of her return from Egypt were strange, even for her biological life, her immune system was deregulated like crazy, she couldn't keep up for a week without having some health problem that didn't involve painkillers or more serious medications.That forced him to attend his doctor for a few successive times in the meantime, his mind was still used to the Egyptian routine, sometimes he caught himself talking about Egypt with his mother, in a distracted way, trying to sabotage himself that he wasn't wanting news from Karila all the time.He knew the princess was all right, that was all he knew.He was waiting in the doctor's office, glancing from the watch on his wrist to the young woman at the front desk, talking to her co-worker about the new soap opera that had debuted on Univision. A really tempting drama to pay attention to when you want to fill your mind with any superficiality.- Lauren Jau
It was a delicate matter.- There's one last thing to deal with. - Allyson said when Karila lined up all the sheets and put them back in the folder.- Yes?The CIA director put her hands in her pockets, her gaze downcast.- In the midst of our plans, the Saudi King let a personal team be alert about any attempt on his life for some time, he had left the order that if it happened to him, that they would look for you, and make you pay. They did this on Lauren and Mahara's exit from the Four Seasons, they mistook Mahara for you. - Saying that was difficult, even more so after everything.Karila arched her brow, she was surprised, lethargic, her brown eyes sadly dropped to the floor. She thought of Sarosh's pain, and then of little Ali... Tears kept coming from her impulsive eyes, tearing all her feelings out. Yet another victim of you.- They didn't tell you before because of the traumatic effects, but Mahara is gone... not for you, don't think that way, she was in the wrong place
Lauren seemed to think the same because she couldn't help herself and needed to look at those rings on her hands, was that true? She did, pulling Karila's hand in hers, laughing uncontrollably, stroking her delicate hand with her thumb.- From barely alive to this. -She said gesturing to the rings. Karila grimaced as she remembered the nearly dead one. She knew she had pretty exaggerated declines.- You knew how to act well, wretch, how did you lie that you didn't speak Arabic? Did you understand exactly everything around you? - He asked looking directly into her eyes. Lauren felt her cheeks burn, that was indeed a good lie that deserved justification.- I don't speak so well, it's not a lie at all. -She shrugged pretending to be no big deal.- But it's not entirely true. - Karila objected, narrowing her gaze as she watched Lauren hold the sheet covering her bust.- From the first day of the expedition meeting in Connecticut, Astrid instructed me to hide too much knowledge, menti
Allyson had even helped Karila, it wasn't a lie that she was the only one to see the woman leave her room in a deplorable state, lost look and bent body. The princess told her that she only needed to talk to Lauren and no one else, that she wanted to have her moment to say goodbye to her, that there was no hunger or any need that made her need to be interrupted, it was her last request to the American agent, who nothing could say. in retort or denial.Everyone was aware that Karila was fine, and that she was going to stay, warning Dayna and Astrid was providential for the women to be calm, no one had run away, and neither would they. Karila had accepted the help, everything was fine.Finally would.That specific resort had a peculiarity, all its decoration was a union of modern Egyptian decoration with exquisite antiquity. Lauren watched the environment in dim light, it was difficult to define her immediate feeling, maybe it was a complete embarrassment of many sensations inside he
Lauren didn't know what the scene that followed made her feel, maybe even years later she wouldn't know how to describe such despair when observing every inch of that room. The plush rug was wet and a small glass vial was broken over the liquid.It was all that.There was nothing beyond.Karila was no longer there.- Don't fucking tell me she went to turn herself in? Do not tell me! - Lauren walked around the room, opening the doors quickly, the bathroom was empty, it had a small window, it was impossible for her to have gone out that way.If it did, she walked the halls flawlessly.Astrid was as unresponsive as Lauren, watching Dayna who had the same conflicted feeling, it was totally Karila doing what she had done. She knew well that a woman would never let herself be protected, never... she was proud, too protective to be protected.- She shouldn't be that far away, we can help her find sanity. - Dayna suggested in a hurry. Lauren put both hands to her head, trying to think
The first few seconds were difficult and hellish as she stood outside the door, staring at the polished wood.The princess vehemently denied with her head, taking the back of her palm to her face, trying to wipe more of the tears that insisted on falling from her, she hated herself for still being so fragile. Her body shifted to sit on the bed, looking dazedly around her, in a place she didn't know, far from any sane comfort zone.Maybe if he could make a deal with Al Sisi, leave all of his wealth and possessions to the man in exchange for Lauren's freedom and peace of mind, no more stalking, no conspiracy theories, no more. She for Lauren and nothing else.Would it be enough? Would he comply? He would make all their efforts in vain, but was that what he really wanted? To be alive to prolong your sufferings? Was it worth going into those questions? Her brown eyes filled with tears and overflowed without her own control.Thinking about it made her rummage through her own robes, pul