- But I know absolutely nothing about her ! This event was the first time I saw her. And how am I supposed to convince her when she certainly wouldn't recognize me. Stammered John Smith, whose faint glow of hope that had just kindled had just gone out.
- You don't think I was going to ask you to go shopping for me at the supermarket to erase a debt of two million dollars. Hackim ask him for all answer while settling comfortably in his chair.
John was really confused. Was it worth bothering? How could he find a woman whose first name he had only remembered ? And even finding him seemed difficult, it was nothing compared to asking him to travel to Kahazhan with a man who would scare anyone away at first sight. She was never going to put up with such bullshit. Shaking his head desperately from left to right, he spoke, still hoping to touch his jailer's heart of stone.
- Is there really nothing else I can do so that I don't have to face Kahazhan's justice? I mean what you are asking me there is impossible. In two hours of discussion, this girl barely opened her mouth twice. And for that I had to ask him a question that requires an answer that a nod could not give. I'm even convinced that she has no idea who I am. He try to negotiate
But the impassive countenance of the sheikh took on an indifferent expression showing that he was not disposed to want this condition. He wanted this woman. But why did he want her? Had her beauty also impressed him ? Him the man who feels no emotion but hate and anger ? Even if she was beautiful, if he wanted women to liven up his nights at Kahazhan, he could find her some. More beautiful and which will follow it anywhere across the globe if he agrees to pay the price.
-I must admit that this woman is infinitely beautiful but your Majesty I can find you one or even several more beautiful than her and who would follow you anywhere with the means you have. You only have one word to….
-Enough ! Hackim had just roared, imperiously raising a hand in the face of this insult that the foreigner was doing to his dignity and to the women of his country. Insinuating that he wanted the young foreign girl to make her his appointed mistress ? Did he need to travel to the other side of the world for that ? Were there not infinitely beautiful and desirable women in his lands ? Women who, although greedy, will satisfy him in every way ? This insolent would deserve 100 lashes for such an affront ! But for now, Hackim was going to forget about corporal punishment to concentrate on the art in which he was an undisputed and indisputable master: intimidation.
-How dare you imply I'm a mistress collector !? Walking slowly and calculatedly toward a John Smith on the verge of a panic attack, he stopped at a safe distance, both hands shoved into his pockets to keep from giving in to the urges that seeped into his blood hot like the wind from the Sahara.
- I… I didn't mean to offend you. I… just assumed that… Tried to catch up to the unfortunate John in an unsteady voice before being interrupted by the king's murderous gaze.
- And who are you to assume anything about me ? Who the hell do you think you are? Is it the fact that you're still alive that gives you that nerve ? Know that I can always kill you here without any problem. Your life is meaningless to Americans if in exchange I offer them what they want. So be careful what you say or assume in front of me the next times if you're still alive to talk to me.
Turning on his heels, he left the office, asking his guards posted at the entrance to take the stranger back to his cell in the Los Angeles prison where he was being held while he waits for him to decide if he will ask for an extradition for the Kahazhan.
- Goodbye champion and watch the steps the next time you play. Mia greeted her last patient of the day by opening the door to him and his dad.
-I promise, doctor, I'll be more careful. The little boy promised, waving his hands at him with a broad smile on his face as he rested his head on the shoulder of his dad who had taken him.
"Oh children!" she thought to herself, thinking back to the concern on the father's face when they arrived. Luckily that it was only a sprain contrary to what her father thought. She then sat down in her armchair, her back comfortably propped against the backrest, then closed her eyes to rest for a moment before going home. But no sooner had she closed her eyes than the scene of her catastrophic marriage was replaying irremediably in her head like an infernal loop, causing her to escape a few tears that she didn't even bother to try to wipe away. And for good reason: she knew that as soon as she cleaned, her tears would flow again and again. She just opened her eyes to escape this torture and began to put her things in her bag when she received a call from her best friend.
- Hello ? How are you ? She asked with a smile on her lips and watery eyes. What a paradox!
- Fancy dinner tonight. Get ready, I'll be there in an hour. Informed her friend without further ado before hanging up on her.
Ugh, her best friend's dirty habit of hanging up on her was pissing her off. And then she didn't want to go out! All she wanted was to wrap herself in a warm, comfortable blanket and sit on her sofa with a big tub of ice cream on her thighs to watch a mushy movie whose "happy ending" will make her cry all her tears so that she does not shed any more for this criminal who had without misguidance bruised her heart. But knowing Camilla, if she made the mistake of not being dressed and ready to go out, she would regret it at least during the next 20 years. It is therefore with a grumble that she turns off the lights in her office to go home after greeting her fellow doctors who were on call. The one who was replacing her for that night was also there.
- Oh my God Mia what is this outfit ? Who do you think you're going out with dressed like a potato sack ? Camilla was offended as she entered her friend's room, who was finishing dressing.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Mia saw nothing abnormal or ugly in her outfit. She had put on a long black dress a bit like a Moroccan djellaba and had tied her hair with a scarf of the same color. Everything was enhanced by a pair of black flat sandals. She liked it. It was simple as she liked it. Unless it was the color that bothered her friend, she didn't see what was being blamed on her.
- But Cam, what's my outfit ? Me I find it … Did she start before being interrupted by a Camilla on the verge of explosion.
- Do not even dare to finish your sentence otherwise I will not give much of your skin. Rummaging through her closet for the perfect outfit, she finally found a black dress with a slit at the back and cinched at the waist, which she handed him with a look that seemed to say, "You better not not look for me". She had never worn the dress. It was a birthday present from one of her colleagues at work for which she had not yet found the perfect occasion. Well Cam had just decided for her obviously. So it was with a sulky face that she grabbed the outfit and went to put it on in the bathroom while her friend was preparing the accessories. When she came out, she didn't need a mirror to know that the dress suited her perfectly. The gleam of satisfaction in her friend's eyes was enough.
- Don't waste my time arguing and come and sit down. Pulling the chair from her nightstand, Camilla ordered Mia to sit down. Something that the latter did without flinching. Her friend therefore made her up and made her wear gold-colored pumps that went with the patterns on the waist of her dress and the pocket square she handed her.
- Now, we can go out without me having to put on a mask for fear that someone will recognize me. Cam teased, referring to her dress from moments earlier;
- But I liked it. It was ….
-Simple and clean. Yeah we know the song. Come on get in the car.
Mia got into the car and while putting on her seat belt, wished from the bottom of her heart that this evening would go as well as she hoped.