Iyad sat behind his luxurious desk, his piercing gaze fixed on the papers in his hand. His furrowed brow and clenched jaw hinted at the anger simmering within him, yet his face remained stoic and composed.
Kamilia, standing at a distance, observed him with trepidation, unsure of whether to approach him or retreat to the safety of her chambers.
Her heart pounded in her chest, and she could feel the sweat on her palms. She knew all too well that she was ill-equipped to handle Iyad when he was in such a state. She was sensitive and emotional, while he was cool and logical.
But she couldn't help being drawn to him, even in his moments of anger.
For an hour, she stood there, watching him as he took calls, issued instructions to his staff, and scrutinized the documents on his desk.
Several maids came and went, carrying out their tasks with quiet efficiency, but Kamilia remained rooted to the spot, unable to tear her eyes away from him.
As the minutes ticked by, the tension in the room grew palpable, and Kamilia felt as if the air had become thick and heavy.
She longed to speak to him, to ask him what was troubling him, but she feared that her words would only provoke him further.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Iyad put down the papers and the phone and leaned back in his chair.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and for a moment, Kamilia saw a glimpse of vulnerability in him.
It was then that she mustered the courage to approach him, taking slow, cautious steps towards him.
Kamilia's heart raced as she heard Iyad's stern voice. She had known that she couldn't avoid him forever, but she had hoped that she would have more time to prepare for this confrontation.
She looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear, and saw the anger etched on his face.
"Iyad...I..." she stuttered, her words trailing off as she struggled to find the right words.
"Did you seriously think that you could run away from me? Are you stupid?" he asked, his voice laced with frustration.
"After you ran away from me years ago, did you think that I could leave you without any supervision? You are very wrong to think that."
Kamilia shrank back, feeling as if his words were a physical blow. She had hoped that he would be more understanding, more willing to listen to her side of the story.
But as he got up from his chair and headed towards her, she knew that there was no escaping his wrath.
She tried to step back, to put some distance between them, but she ended up tripping over her own feet.
Just as she was about to hit the ground, Iyad caught her by the hand, his grip strong and steady.
"I will never let you out of my sight," he said, his voice softer now. Kamilia felt a shiver run down her spine at the intensity of his gaze.
For a moment, they just stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills.
Kamilia felt the weight of his expectations bearing down on her, and she wondered if she would ever be able to live up to them.
Then, Iyad leaned towards her, his face only inches from hers. She felt his breath on her cheek, and she closed her eyes, waiting for the worst.
"I will never let you go to that place again," he whispered, his voice low and husky. Kamilia opened her eyes, surprised by the tenderness in his tone.
For a moment, they just stared at each other, their eyes locked in an unspoken understanding.
Kamilia's heart was pounding as she looked up at Iyad, her eyes pleading with him to understand.
She knew that she had made a mistake by running away from him all those years ago, but she had hoped that he would be more forgiving.
When he asked her if she understood what he was saying, she nodded her head so fast that it felt like it was going to fall off. "Yes, yes...just don't hurt me, Iyad," she whispered, her voice barely audible
Kamilia's heart skipped a beat as Iyad pushed her away from him with a force that took her by surprise.
She stumbled backwards, her eyes widening in fear as she realized that he was no longer the man she had once known.
"Of course, I'm planning to hurt you," he said, his voice dripping with venom.
"You don't expect to kill my mother and leave that way with no punishment."
Kamilia felt a wave of panic wash over her as she heard his words. She had known that her past would catch up with her eventually, but she had hoped that she would be able to explain herself before it was too late.
But now, as she looked into Iyad's eyes, she knew that there was no reasoning with him.
"Iya..Iyyyad … I-I …I Didn't kill your mother," she said, stuttering, her voice shaking with emotion. "I would never do something like that."
Iyad laughed, a bitter sound that echoed off the walls. "Don't insult my intelligence, Kamilia. I know what you did".
Kamilia's heart felt heavy as she relived the events of the day. She couldn't believe that everything had spiraled out of control so quickly, and now she was facing the consequences of her actions.
She covered her face with her palms, trying to hide the tears that were falling down her cheeks.
"Iyad...Iyad," she said, her voice choking with emotion. "I just can't...I just can't deal with this right now. If you're willing to punish me for what happened, then please...please not today."
Iyad looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Kamilia could feel his eyes on her, and it made her feel even more vulnerable.
"You think this is something that can wait?" he said, his voice cold and harsh. "You think you can just run away from what you did?"
Kamilia shook her head, her tears flowing faster now. "No, I don't think that," she said. "I didn't even say that I have anything to do with it …I am saying ….I ..I…I am willing to take your punishment even when I didn't do anything..just…just …."