POV NarratorAs previously investigated, the restaurant located in one of Cairo's most sophisticated neighborhoods had reduced traffic by half. Those who dined there discreetly looked at the windows that gave onto the streets around the place, curiously intrigued when the Corvettes emptied out and filled the street with security guards dressed in black from head to toe.Hadd approached the Land Rover Lauren and Ursel were in and opened the door, his expression carefully serene. The historian thanked him with a nod of her head when she saw him give her a hand to lower her heels, something notably surprised her in the act, but she said nothing and just walked around the car to find Ursel on the other side, who was helped by another security guard. .Normani and Akil, their faces covered, entered the restaurant beside Karila, their eyes already searching for any hint of suspicion, but everything was in the most peaceful peace, which made them give space to the woman who waited for her
For the rest of the night Karila kept her distance from Lauren and barely glanced at her, which made her posture more defensive than usual. But for Lauren, enough had been said and her glimpse of something wrong going on gave her a more positive than negative feeling, so her dinner was anything but disappointing. She ate well and when she walked into her room that night, she was unusually quiet. Which was the complete opposite of the agitated princess in the next room, who, getting rid of the security guards, and even dismissing Normani's presence, dealt with news that made her move from one side of the room to the other.Music on* Be Like You - Whethan & BroodsHis body stopped just long enough in place when he stepped onto the terrace and glanced over his shoulder, noticing the curtains on Lauren's doors millimeters open. Her mental projection made her take the An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, seriously. The deeply glowing gaze completed his frowning expression as he watche
Lauren's POVLast night had been insane beyond measure, I went crazy thinking I was going to drink a wine that would make me explicitly excited and embarrassed in front of all the women around me, but it didn't happen because I used a certain eloquence to get my ass out of that situation.Is today...It never felt so good to wake up here. That child was a complete find that made me smile just remembering, her black hair and her chubby body and again nourished with what was best made me extremely happy, how could Karila consider herself a villain?She only helped people, how does someone consider himself so bad and is so persecuted for nothing?Ursel and I are doing new translations so that before we travel to El Kab I already have at least half of the translated book in hand, I needed to expose information to the New York Times, some friends of mine worked in the place, I would sign Karila's story as a responsible historian and I needed to expose her good attributes such as her imm
Lauren's POVShe knows.Momentarily it was my only conviction as I got up from that place, left the empty cup in the kitchen and climbed the steps feeling my bones twitching at some point. She's the devil, she knows everything... I can imagine so. I'm also not the most committed woman in keeping secrets, my idiocy could have gotten me into trouble...He can...Why then does she remain so peacefully silent? No death threats? What does she do that's so grandiose as to ignore that I've seen her bare, tattooed back with my own eyes? I don't understand, but I can't complain, she seemed melted in mockery and irony, her voice still echoed in my mind asking me to tell her with that conviction if I had tattoos.As I rounded the steps and walked peacefully in disbelief, I stopped in front of the half-open door of her meeting room, a single crack was open and I frowned looking inside with curiosity, it never opened like that. I looked down the empty hallway and couldn't hear anything other
POV NarratorNormani went upstairs to take a long shower and meet Karila in the meeting room to talk about the princess's trip to Saudi Arabia. When he entered the room, he took the hijab off his hair and rid his face of the scarf, looking at Karila who was sitting quietly reading.— Problems in paradise with the girlfriend? – The voice awakened the silence, her brown eyes lifted and Normani saw her face exposed, a mocking smile on her lips.“It was silly, your highness…no big deal. – Normani spoke seriously, not wanting to extend the case, but Karila was not in the same tune as the black woman, she wanted to extend as much as she could that one case.— I confess that at first I thought she would take longer to freak out, but it's something a little easy to see happen. – Karila commented good-naturedly, closing the book she was reading and rising from where she was, her body walking in a graceful slowness that dazzled.— She has a very high sense of justice, maybe that's her big
Lauren's POVMy day was complicated and full of silence, I went back to supporting Ursel even with my head far away, I had dinner with the historians and we didn't see the princess's presence at any of those times, she had already announced that she would travel, she was planning her things while I I was more focused on my own mess which had put a certain amount of despondency in me.She must hate me for drawing me to her, even if there's nothing in my head about the reasons for your coldness for ignoring that and still keeping me here. After a while too focused on aspiring for it I ended up giving up and giving up on following those boring thoughts that would drive me crazy and focused on my sanity, I may have done a lot of nonsense, but I won't be ashamed of having awakened things for them, I'm not ashamed of what I am and I won't be.The next day, that numb optimism seemed to wake up in me when Ursel told me that Karila had left at dawn to travel to Saudi Arabia, and it was on t
Contrary to how he predicted and feared, he was just a cheap and weak-willed profiteer who pursued Karila just by assuming and NEVER being able to prove anything she did behind the scenes. He said goodbye to him, rejecting the tea he offered her with great class, retrieved his cell phone and leaving the palace with the security guards, she denied the ride he gave her and said that she would meet her colleague right in the center, she didn't want to disturb him.Looking at the cell phone screen carefully, she didn't foresee the grip on her wrist pulling her almost violently forward, forcing her to walk.— What the fuck? – She asked confused looking over her shoulder. He found the hijab-covered face and black eyes.Normani.- Why are you here? Not in Saudi Arabia? – She questioned confused. Normani was too pissed off to respond, just gave her waist another nudge to walk forward.— Get in the car. – Warned menacingly. Lauren then realized what was happening when she saw the two Audi
POV NarratorHer brown eyes were lost in the starry sky that night in Cairo, her terrace doors were ajar just because she wanted to feel the cold breeze blowing her body after bathing. Sitting in a comfortable armchair in front of the big doors, her straight hair falling over her shoulders, completely lost in thought, Karila maintained a stony silence.In her hands she held a photograph of her ex-husband and the ring was on one of her thighs bared by the short baby-doll. She looked over and over at both the details that took her away from reality and felt out of place.— Give me wisdom, Habib*. – He whispered to the photograph in his hand, lost in focus. She asked for her husband's omnipresence cohesion that she no longer felt to be so legitimate in herself, she could even doubt what she said if she thought too hard about what was going on inside her.He didn't like the taste that the absence of reason brought to his lips.That night, she didn't want to leave her room for dinner,
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