As Iyad was leaning towards Kamilia, the tension between them was palpable. However, before anything else could be said or done, the door to the office swung open without even a knock.
In walked a man, who was clearly a close friend of Iyad's, and also a successful businessman named Louis Revereas.
Louis walked into the office, dressed in a sleek charcoal grey suit that accentuated his muscular build.
The crisp white shirt underneath was unbuttoned at the collar, revealing a hint of his chiseled chest.
His brownish hair was styled neatly, and his sharp features were emphasized by a five o'clock shadow. His brown eyes gleamed with a shrewd intelligence that was unmistakable.
The man was older than Iyad by three years, but he still carried himself with the same confident aura and poise.
As he walked towards the two, his expensive leather shoes echoed in the room, filling it with a sense of authority.
Iyad straightened up and turned towards his friend, his expression changing from anger to one of surprise and pleasure.
"Louis! What brings you here?" he asked, a smile spreading across his face.
Louis looked at Iyad and then his gaze shifted to Kamilia, who was still standing there, looking intimidated and unsure of what to do.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, my friend, but I couldn't resist stopping by to see you," he replied, a hint of mischief in his voice. "And who is this lovely lady?"
Iyad's smile faded a bit as he looked back at Kamilia, still standing there looking uncomfortable.
"This is Kamilia," he said, introducing her to his friend. "She's... the new secretary"
Louis raised an eyebrow, looking between Iyad and Kamilia, and a knowing grin spread across his face.
"Ah, I see," he said, clearly understanding the situation.
As soon as Iyad mentioned that Kamilia was his new secretary, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with emotion.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away, trying to compose herself. She didn't want to look at Louis for too long, feeling embarrassed and vulnerable.
Louis, on the other hand, seemed preoccupied with something else entirely. "Did you see the news?" he asked Iyad, cutting straight to the chase.
"I thought you came here to see me," Iyad retorted, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
He glanced over at Kamilia, who was standing awkwardly in the corner of the room.
Louis shifted his gaze to Kamilia, and for a moment, she felt as though she was under a microscope.
She was acutely aware of her own presence in the room, and the fact that she was just a lowly secretary made her feel small and insignificant.
Then, without warning, Louis dropped a bombshell.
"Your father..."Louis began, but his voice trailed off as he glanced over at Kamilia, as if unsure whether she should be present for this conversation.
Kamilia's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Iyad's father.
Louis took a deep breath and continued, "Your father has made a major decision, Iyad. He's going to announce your older brother as the CEO of El-Mukrani, the main company and the side business too."
Iyad's expression darkened, and he turned to Kamilia, who was standing silently by the door.
"You can leave now," he said curtly, dismissing her.
Kamilia hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should stay or go. She was curious about what was happening, but she didn't want to overstep her boundaries.
Eventually, she took a step back and quietly closed the door behind her, leaving the two men alone.
Louis waited until Kamilia had left before continuing.
"Your father has always favored your brother, you know that. He's been grooming him for this position for years, and now it seems he's finally going to give him the reins."
Iyad's jaw clenched. He had always known that his father favored his brother, but he never expected him to be named CEO so soon.
"Why now?" he asked, his voice laced with anger.
Louis shrugged. "I don't know, maybe your father thinks your brother is ready. Or maybe he's just tired of waiting. Either way, it's happening."
Iyad stood up from his desk and walked over to the window, staring out at the city below. He didn't know how to feel about this .
Iyad's eyes were filled with anger and frustration as he spoke. He leaned back in his chair, trying to calm himself down.
"Cedrik is brutal and you know that," he said to Louis, his voice low and tight. "He hates me to the bone. I know I was never going to take his place as the son of a mistress, but this guy wants to eliminate me."
"I know ..you better find a way to stand on his face " louis suggested
Iyad turned back to Louis, his eyes narrowed in thought. "I have a few ideas," he said slowly. "But I'll need some help."
Louis nodded. "Whatever you need, you know I've got your back."
Iyad smiled slightly, grateful for Louis's support. "Thanks, man," he said. "I'll let you know what I need."
As Louis made his way towards the door, he paused and turned to face Iyad once again. "That girl... Kamilia," he began, his voice laced with curiosity. "What was happening here with her?"
Iyad's expression hardened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. He didn't want to discuss Kamilia with Louis, or anyone else for that matter.
"Nothing that concerns you," he replied curtly.
Louis raised an eyebrow, sensing Iyad's defensiveness. "She seemed scared when I walked in," he commented. "Is everything alright?"
Iyad hesitated for a moment before responding.
He didn't want to reveal too much about his relationship with Kamilia, but he also didn't want Louis to think that he was mistreating her.
"She's new," he said finally. "Still getting used to the job."
Louis nodded, accepting the explanation. "Well, if you ever need any help , just let me know," he offered before finally making his exit.
Iyad watched as Louis disappeared through the door, his thoughts still consumed by the news about his brother.
As he sat alone in his office, he couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen, and that his life was about to change forever.