CHAPTER 3: TWO HEARTS, ONE DANCE
As my husband and Dashiell continued to talk about business and crazily boring stuff, I felt the urge to run away from the party. The larger it was, the more I felt like I wanted to vomit. I haven't known Dashiell for more than a day but I could tell that he was a man of few words and works. His aura was enough for him to voice out a five thousand worded essay in two minutes. I kind of admired him, plus, he was hotter than Malek. Malek looked like the effect of a failed chemistry practical. Curly hair, big head, large stomach, and thin legs. And he called me ugly? Me? I am the epitome of beauty and perfection. Every time I walked past my husband's friends, their eyelashes fluttered like they wanted to make them fly out of their shorts. They studied me like I was their business textbook, and when they saw me, it was like the light had been restored to darkness. I am the air that those men breathe. My beauty rises and kills. They could chew my long hair that cascades down my shoulder to my thin waist for a living and would still crave for more. When my pair of green eyes meet theirs, they salivate and lose the ability to breathe. When my plum, red lips start to move, they stop whatever they are saying and wait for me to finish. When I walk, they wait until I pass for them to shut their eyes and take in the aroma of my fresh rose fragrance. In my opinion, Malek was just jealous that his sisters looked like him. What could a family of failed practicals know about grace and beauty? "Mrs Kashem?" I felt a tap on my skin, and I turned to see Dashiell's cold gaze on mine. He was so close that I could perceive the scent of his wood spice musk. "Would you like to dance?" He asked with that unwavering facade. I looked behind him to make eye contact with my husband, and he looked like he was being forced to agree, but he did. Anything to get in Mr Blackwood's favor, I suppose. "Sure," I replied, faking a smile, as I placed my small hands in his rough ones. **************** I closed my eyes as the soft jazz music began to play overhead, enjoying the music before Mr Blackwood's baritone voice ruined it, "You seem to be enjoying the music," he said, allowing me to roll my eyes. "Your husband wouldn't be pleased to know that you take pleasure in disrespecting people. However, I choose not to tell him because I don't want him to land you in the hospital. Everyone knows that he beats you, it's not a secret," he added, prompting me to look at him, wide-eyed. I gulped, embarrassed by what he had just said, "I didn't know-" "It's fine," he answered, cutting me off and then twirling me around. As if on cue, my eyes landed on my husband who was watching us, keen with interest, but he looked like he was about to set the place on fire. And then he crossed his finger over his neck to symbolize that he was going to kill me. "He won't do anything," Dashiell assured, bringing my head to look at him. "I will protect you," he added. "Why?" I asked, almost croaking. That creepy smirk played on his lips as he replied, "Because I want to ruin him. He doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as me and you, don't you agree?" He inquired, his hands around my waist getting tighter by the second. He pushed my body towards him, my breasts, pressing his hard abs, cause he was rather tall. My breath hitched as I felt the hotness between us grow from zero to a hundred, minus the fact that I could feel everyone's eyes on us. "What do you know?" I asked, my eyes watery because the tension burned me. "Enough. I know you have a son. He's four years old. But, Malek doesn't want to make him the inheritor of his empire when he dies, because he has a disability," My eyes grew, "He does?" My voice quaked with fear. I didn't even know that my boy… he was disabled. "He must be so scared without his mother to guide him," I added, a tear rolling down my cheek. I snapped out of my little tearful moment when Dashiell pressed me closer again, this time, I could feel his hot breath on my skin, "Stop drifting away," he warned, and moved to his normal position. "I have a proposition for you, Zahra, and I would state it here because I am a man of honesty. Malek's empire is built on the blood and sweat of innocent people, he steals and doesn't return, and he has stolen something from me, and I want it back. And you will help me," I scoffed, "Me? I don't know how to do anything," He twirled me around again and drew me closer, "I'll teach you," I gulped, pushing to be a little greedy, "What's in it for me?" I felt his taps against my skin, and I moved to look him in the eye, "I will help you get your son back, and also help you reinstate him back into Malek's will. That little boy is the key to your freedom, Zahra. There is no corner of this world that you can hide that Malek wouldn't find you. And we have to be fast, "he implored. "Why?" I asked again. "I have intel and ears on every wall in the world, and one of them tells me that one of Malek's mistresses just confirmed that she was pregnant. If it is a girl, we can buy ourselves more time to take what's ours, but if it's a boy, you will get kicked out of the Kashem household, disgracefully, or because he follows Sharia law, will keep you as his first wife, while he transfers all his inheritance to the boy and his mother, and you wouldn't want that now, would you?" He asked, his words burning my ear bit by bit. How could Malek be so cruel? How could he destin me to such fate, where there's no hope for survival? I knew that no matter how many boys I gave birth to for that loser, he would still keep me out of his will, and I was done being thrown wall to wall by him because I didn't want to unintentionally harm my son. "How can I trust you?" I asked naively, leading him to give me that cold smirk, before spinning me and bending my back to lean over me before flipping my head to the side. "Look at the lady in the ripped blue gown," he commanded, and I turned to look at her. "She's the mistress, and if you want, I have ten of my men outside with guns, ready to shoot her on the spot, if you would just ask me to," However, tempting his offer was, I would never want him to kill an innocent baby for me, "No. Let's play the long game," I replied, returning his smug smile.CHAPTER FOUR: WINE OVER GOLF?A week had passed since Malek's opening party and I hadn't heard from either Dashiell or Malek. Fear began to engulf me as the thought of Malek already signing off the inheritance to his mistress's unborn baby filled my head. I paced around my large bedroom frantically, thinking of how to reach Dashiell. Where do I even start from? How do I get to my child, who I don't even know his name. What should I do?Just then, my phone started to ring. Like a bolt of lightning, I rushed to pick it up and saw that it was an unknown number.I swear if it's the interior designers that are calling to ask whether we have a new event coming up, I am going to kill that person myself."Hello?" Then, his familiar baritone voice filled my ears, "Were you waiting for me to call?" I moved to sit on the chair, even more restless than before, "I was almost tempted to steal your email address from my husband," I confessed"My driver is in your estate. He's going to bring you
CHAPTER 5: DIVORCE? ON A CONDITIONI was so glad that Dashiell's driver didn't drop me in the estate, and that he dropped me off at the same place we met last week. But as I stepped onto my husband's estate grounds, all of the guards stationed at the gate all the way to the main house, held guns and stood near the gate. I wanted to ask what was going on, but I heard Barney call out to me. "Ma'am, Mr. Malek wants to see you as soon as possible," My heart sank. I knew that tone, that look. Malek definitely knew that I had left the estate, and he knew who I had met with. "What is it, Barney?" I asked, hoping that he was calling for no reason. Barney's expression remained neutral. "I'm not supposed to give you that kind of information, ma'am," I nodded slowly, "I understand. Sorry," I replied and made my way to his room.************Malek had his back to the door as I entered the room. He immediately stifled a laugh as he felt my presence. "You have grown nerves, Zahra. You have bec
CHAPTER SIX - SALEM KASHEMI felt somewhat uneasy because Dashiell hadn't sent his car to pick me up, and it was almost dusk.After the whole gunshot drama and estate raid yesterday, neither Malek nor Barney had been found. I asked one of his other guards, but he said that Malek didn't wish to disclose his hideout. How cowardly.The sun started to set, casting its beautiful rays onto me as I stayed glued to the large window in my bedroom, looking to see if his car was there or not. "Zahra," I heard a familiar stern voice, call from behind me, startling me and almost making me lose my balance. My heart skipped ten beats as I turned around to see Dashiell standing up straight, his back against the wall, dressed in a black satin dress shirt with several buttons undone, revealing part of his broad chest, and tucked into black low-waist pants.I wanted to ask him so many questions. Why was he here? Had anyone seen him? Why didn't he call earlier? And why didn't he send Blazer or Gotham?
CHAPTER SEVEN- DO OR DIE AFFAIRWARNING: 18+ THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS VIOLENCE~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°NIGHTFALLDashiell's car pulled up directly in front of my estate gate, and knowing how much of a gentleman he is, I decided to sit down and wait for him to open my car door. I shut my eyes, taking in his scent shamefully as he left the car to open my door. "Thank you for helping me. I am grateful to you," I said, holding on to my son like he was going to escape from me at that moment. He didn't say anything, he just nodded coldly and entered the car. As I started to walk away, I could feel his gaze etch on the back of my head. I turned back to see his car still there. "Maybe he was watching me leave," I thought as I entered the gates. The sky was pitch black when we arrived, the only thing we could hear were trucks honking and frogs croaking. I carried my son onto my shoulders, rubbing his back and kissing his body softly. The only thing that was stopping me from bursting out tears w
CHAPTER 8 - ALONE IN DUNDEEWith the strength I had left, I started to drag Dashiell out of the warehouse. My arms were tucked under his armpits as I summoned the rest of my strength, trying to carry him to his car. But I gave up, leaving him on the floor, and then rushed outside. A black sports car was parked directly in front of the warehouse, but as I drew closer, I saw that the windows were bashed, and the tires were flattened. I immediately opened the door and started searching the car for his phone. I found it under the car pedal and took it out, scrolling through his contacts list, my eyes searched for Blazer or Gotham's names.I dialed Blazer's number when I saw it, and it rang for a second before he picked up. "Hello, Boss," Blazer's scary voice filled my ears. I shook my head slightly, "No... it's not... it's me, Zahra," I stuttered. "Please come to the warehouse in Dundee Street. It's Dashiell, he was shot. Please be fast. There's no time! I could have driven his car, bu
CHAPTER 9 - INHERITANCEAfter leaving the hospital, the old lady kindly dropped me off at the pharmacy where I usually bought drugs. From there, I walked to my husband's estate. My son's room was the first place I went, and I was relieved to find him playing with toys on the floor. I smiled and bent down to his level. "What are we playing with today?" I asked in my most babyish voice, caressing his back and forgetting he couldn't hear me. "My poor baby," I whispered, my eyes welling up. I gulped, trying to control my emotions. "You don't deserve to be born into such a cruel world." Salem looked at me when he saw my tears and pouted. Using his hands, he mimicked tears and then shrugged. I couldn't hold back my tears anymore, I wrapped my arms around him and sobbed like a child. "My darling, I know you may not know me, and you can't hear me, but I'm your mommy, and I'm sorry for neglecting you all these years. It wasn't right of me -"Just then, Malek's voice interrupted me. "Zahra!
CHAPTER TEN- GODFATHERDASHIELL BLACKWOOD'S POVAfter I ended the call with Zahra, I placed the phone back on the desk, my fingers entangled with each other, as I stared at Blazer."Why did you lie to me that Zahra was going to take an Uber home?" I asked, my expression stoic. But he said nothing.I grasped his chin harshly, bringing it toward me, to leave his large body hanging in the air. "Answer me when I am talking to you!" I seethed, gritting my teeth together."Nothing, boss," he replied, beads of sweat dripping on my desk. I flung his face away in anger, as I got up, my hand holding my chest to prevent myself from adding pressure to the injury that my Doctor had already sewn up. I paced frantically around where he sat, gripping onto the edge of his chair. "Do you have any idea about what your insolent attitude could cost me? You may think that you are protecting me, but no one protects Dashiell Blackwood!" I snarled, grabbing him by his tie before dropping him back in his seat
CHAPTER 11- AUNT MAGGIEZAHRA'S POVI walked out of the Kashem estate gates to meet Dashiell who stood outside, leaning on the door to his luxurious, black Chevrolet Corvette C8, and waiting patiently for me.Our eyes locked as I began to saunter over to him, my black stiletto heels making a crunching sound on the tarred road. I swayed my hips unknowingly, allowing my long wavy hair that cascaded down my back to bounce up and down. I wore a tight, white dress that hugged my curves in the right places, the chest part pushed up my large breasts, and the high slit on the dress revealed my toned legs.Dashiell didn't take his eyes off me for one second. His eyes scanned my every move like a hawk waiting for mother hen to leave her chicks and go search for food."Good evening," I mumbled shyly, trying to avert his gaze. In response, he nodded his head and asked me to get inside the car.I looked gorgeous facially, but I was screaming inside my head at how embarrassing what just happened w