As Louis made his exit, Kamilia remained in the office, her mind still reeling from the unexpected turn of events. Suddenly, the shrill ring of a phone shattered the silence. It was not her own phone, but rather the one that sat on the desk of the now-former secretary whom Iyad had just fired.
Kamilia approached the ringing phone with trepidation, unsure of whether she should answer it. After all, it was not her responsibility to answer calls intended for someone else. Nevertheless, she hesitantly picked up the receiver, her heart pounding in her chest.
To her surprise, the voice on the other end of the line was none other than Iyad himself. His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife as he barked out the command, "Come here!"
Kamilia was taken aback by the sudden and unexpected summons. She stood frozen in place for a moment, unsure of what to do next. She could feel her pulse racing as she pondered the possible reasons for Iyad's call.
Without another word from Iyad, Kamilia was left standing there, staring blankly at the wall with a mix of confusion and surprise. Her mind raced as she tried to piece together what was happening and what her next move should be.
As she made her way into his office, Kamilia couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The image of Iyad sitting in his chair, his face buried in his hands, was a stark contrast to the confident and powerful persona he usually projected.
Without hesitation, she strode towards him, her heart racing with concern.
"Hey, Iyad," she said softly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "What did he tell you? Tell me what happened. He mentioned your father, and I know that you and your father are not getting along well."
Her voice was filled with compassion and understanding, as she tried to offer whatever support she could to the man who had always been so commanding and in control. She couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness towards him, knowing that he had always kept his personal life tightly guarded.
As she waited for him to respond, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Iyad had always been the one to give orders, to make decisions with an unwavering confidence. To see him in such a vulnerable state was a stark reminder of the past .
"You have nothing to do with my father, " he said .
" I know , I just wanted to …" she said, stuttering .
" Kamilia, you never mention that bastard, okay, after all of what he did, after all of what he did " he shouted .
Kamilia flinched at Iyad's outburst, but she remained steadfast in her resolve to support him. She knew that his relationship with his father was a sore point for him, but she couldn't help but feel that his anger was misplaced.
"I understand that you're upset, Iyad," she said softly. "But I'm here for you, no matter what. You don't have to go through this alone."
Iyad looked up at her, his eyes full of pain and anger. For a moment, he seemed to be struggling with his emotions, trying to decide whether or not to confide in her.
Finally, he spoke. "My father….is a bastard and I don't want you to even speak about him, or bring him into the subject "
As Kamilia stuttered in her attempt to explain herself, Iyad's gaze shifted away from her. His body language was defensive and closed off, and his words were sharp and cutting.
It was clear that he was not in a vulnerable state anymore, and that he didn't want her sympathy or comfort. He was a different person now, someone who didn't need anyone's help or support, someone who was capable of standing on his own.
"I am not weak like I was," he said firmly, his voice ringing with conviction. "I am not going to cry while your arms are around me, and I am not going to expect you to shed my tears because I am not going to cry. I am not that teenager who only sought for your help. I am different now, I am the worst person that you could ever come across."
His words were like a knife, cutting deep into Kamilia's heart. She had never seen this side of Iyad before, the side that was so closed off and distant. But despite the pain she felt, she knew that she had to stay by his side.
She had to work for him and keep staying next to him, no matter what.
Kamilia nodded silently, her eyes downcast. She knew that she couldn't change Iyad, that she couldn't make him open up to her.
But she also knew that she couldn't abandon him, not after all that they had been through together.
Kamilia took a deep breath and looked Iyad straight in the eyes. "Okay, Iyad, tell me what I need to do as your assistant. But let me be upfront with you, I am nobody. I don't have the level of education or experience required for this position. The only job I have ever held was cleaning dishes in filthy restaurants. I know it's not much, but I am willing to work hard and learn."
Iyad leaned back in his chair, a small smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "And who said I was going to go easy on you?" he replied, his voice low and dangerous. "This is not a job for the faint of heart. You will be working long hours, dealing with high-pressure situations, and handling confidential information. Are you sure you're up for the challenge?"
Kamilia didn't hesitate. "Yes, I am sure. I may not have the experience or education, but I am a quick learner, and I am not afraid of hard work. I will do whatever it takes to prove myself and be the best assistant you've ever had."
Iyad's eyes narrowed, studying Kamilia carefully. She could feel the weight of his gaze, as if he was searching for something within her. Finally, he spoke. "Very well, Kamilia. I will give you a chance.
But you need to be prepared to work harder than you ever have before. This is not a job for the weak or the indecisive. You need to be strong, confident, and willing to take risks."
Kamilia nodded, her determination set. "I understand, Iyad. I will do whatever it takes to succeed in this job. You can count on me."
With a nod of approval, Iyad stood up from his chair. "Good. Let's get started then. There's a lot of work to be done, and no time to waste." And with that, Kamilia knew that her life was about to change in ways she could never have imagined.