chapter 5

INAYA -

Hamza was sitting on the sofa When I walked in front of him with my wet hair, it seemed like some sort of twisted "wet" karma, since the last time I saw him 3 years ago he walked out of my house with his hair dripping wet And now I was the one to walk inside the room with a wet hair.

He hadn't changed, he looked even more handsome than before, at the time when we separated he looked somehow sickly and had dark circles around his eyes, the workload must have been exhausting back then that it affected his health, but even in that state, He still looked very handsome.

So you can imagine how more handsome the man sitting on my sofa was!

However, I was always immune to his charm anyways, because the handsome Hamza Filladi was just the same devilish Hamza Filladi who killed my child and tormented my life.

I didn't say anything to him nor recognized his existence, I kept drying my hair with the towel while walking into the room in front of him.

He kept staring at me, I could notice that with my peripheral vision, it was so weird to be stared at so after some time I decided to stare back at him too.

And this is how we ended up having a staring battle. We both were looking at one another seriously and coldly, not minding showing any other expression on our faces.

So, ladies and gentlemen, this was our reaction after meeting for the first time in 3 years.

After a long staring battle, he finally said,

"do you think that the filladi co's secretary is that idle to call your phone repeatedly only to find it disconnected? hmm, Turn on your phone."

"I see that even the CEO himself is so idle as to come to my house personally simply to ask me to turn on my phone, I guess your outstanding company is running out of business" I replied mockingly.

I walked to the set of drawers, Brought out the hair dryer from one of them, then started drying my hair not caring about his existence.

The sound of the blowing air was so loud that I didn't hear Hamza's footsteps coming close to me, it was only after he stood beside me that I finally noticed him, I almost shrieked with terror again .. Almost.

It's really hard to maintain an indifferent face in front of that man!

He looked at me intensely, Like a really intense look, I tried to act as if I didn't notice a thing but this man was literally digging holes in the side of my face with his gaze.

Then he suddenly snatched the hair dryer from my hand and weirdly started drying my hair for me.

I seriously have no description for him... He's simply unpredictable and hard to deal with.

While he was drying my hair, I asked,

"what do you want Hamza? "You didn't come to meet me, after all, this time just to ask me to turn on my phone"

"you are correct." He admitted.

I waited for him to answer my question, but he didn't say anything else.

He only kept drying my hair... Brushing his fingers through it, focusing on that task as if it was a matter of life or death.

He was standing so close to me, he was so close that I could feel his warmth, this familiar feeling was overwhelming me.

I haven't been so close to him for so long, it was making my heart beat faster although I didn't want it to.

I gulped in nervousness... And looking in the opposite direction avoiding him.

"don't bother looking for a job somewhere else, I will make sure that the only place that will accept to hire you is Filladi co"

He whispered to my ear while pushing the hair drier away... Making all the warmth I felt turn icily cold.

After a bit of thinking, I said,

" Does your dear mother know about you wanting to hire me in your company? She'll assume I'm going to snatch your precious company from you, then she will fall into another fake health crisis because of me, you should act like a filial son and just divorce me and get me out of your life. Marry another woman and make your mother happy"

I tried to act sneaky bringing his mother in the middle, I was never more thankful for her hatred towards me.

He resumed drying my hair again, his fingertips kept lightly touching my temples, my ears... And slid along my shoulder-length hair.

He gulped.. then he whispered again,

" it's not her company so she has no saying in whatever decision I take, as for remarrying another woman, I'm an already married man and I have no intention of finding a second wife."

His fingers which were initially sliding through my hair suddenly started touching the back of my neck.

His fingertips traveled through my neck... To the tip of my pajamas. And slid on my collarbone.

I tried to step away from him feeling alarmed, So he in quick movement put the hair dryer aside on the shelf and he blocked my attempt to escape with his now free hand.

I was so surprised, describing his actions and actually living them are two totally different things. Because everything happened faster than my understanding, Before I could think clearly... His soft lips were already nibbling my ear and his hot kisses landed on my shoulder.

He circled my waist even tighter with his arms as his kisses became more thirsty and more passionate.

But I was not going to let it happen... That man had no longer the right to touch me.

In a moment of wake, I resisted him.

"Hamza!" I shouted angrily .. While Pushing him away with all my might.

It was as if he was drugged earlier as if he wasn't even aware of his own actions and he only realized what he was doing when he heard me shout his name, he immediately let go of me, so I stepped away from him and yelled threateningly,

" don't you dare touch me again! Leave!"

That man kept looking at me calmly As if nothing happened and I was only imagining things.

then he ignored my words, he suddenly stepped closer and hugged me tightly!

I was so small in his embrace, so startled, even in the past when we were together he seldom hugged me this way... Now that we've long been separated it's just dumbfounding!

I was so angry that I harshly pushed him away, not only I did that... I looked inside his face then I clenched both my fists and punched his chest while yelling,

" you disgust me! Don't you ever touch me again!"

He soon grabbed both my fists with his stronger hands... And he shouted my name:l,

"INAYA!"

He didn't say any other word, nor ordered me to do anything, he simply shouted my name... And that was enough to make me stop hitting him and calm down.

We were both breathing fast, both angry... And we both looked wordlessly at each other with blame and anger.

Hamza didn't try coming closer to me again, only stood in front of me, only his eyes locked inside mine.

And I didn't understand "us", I didn't.

It's frustrating to realize that even after 3 years I still fail to understand what he exactly wants from me, and why I'm so easily affected by him.

The man that every girl in the country dreamed of was standing in my house and looking at me. And I wasn't happy about it...

"leave. Please" I whispered.

He nodded, he let go of my hands, then he weirdly started walking towards the house door apparently wanting to leave.

I kept staring at his actions in total confusion, just put your selves in my shoes... Isn't he totally confusing!!

Why would he appear in my house without a convincing reason? why would he want to get close to me when he in fact doesn't even like it? And finally... He just leaves calmly!!

he held the door knob giving me his back, then before leaving he reminded me,

"turn on your phone, And don't you dare see other men again, because I don't know what I will do if that happens again, But I promise it won't please you anyways"

After he walked out of the house... I finally breathed in relief.

I turned off the hair drier that was blowing noise in the air in vain. then I sat weakly on the sofa... I rested my palms above my heart and tried to calm my emotions.

Although I acted cold earlier... But seeing Hamza again made my heart go into a total mess. After he left the house I kept only looking at the door in a daze... As if expecting him to come back again at any passing moment.

It is still hard for me to meet him after all...

A bit of time later, I finally noticed that Hamza forgot his winter coat on my sofa. It looked very expensive.. Very warm.

I held it with my hand and brought it closer to me... It was so fragrant and had his scent that I didn't smell for so long.

"such a scum," I whispered as I tossed the heavy coat aside again.

all I thought about at the moment was, "I need to take another shower" Because I didn't want that man's traces nor scent to linger on me.

I turned on my phone after taking the shower since I had no other choice but to comply like an obedient useless person and execute his orders because that man is more than capable of making me starve or throwing me to the streets, and I have absolutely nothing -but the mercy of God- to help me stand against his ruthlessness.

Long minutes after I turned on my phone, a call finally came. But who called me was not who I expected, meaning not the secretary's unfamiliar number... Instead, it was my grandmother's.

I frowned and sighed helplessly seeing my grandmother's name flashing on my screen. It was very uncommon for her to call me twice in the same month, she has already called only a few days ago, I was surprised as well seeing her calling again so soon.

Ever since I left my husband's household, she was so disapproving of my decision that she decided to sever ties with me in order to make me regret my actions and get back with Hamza.

Even knowing how he caused me so much pain and suffering, she still took his side and abandoned me.

I don't have such a big heart who forgives people easily, I could never forgive Nana for letting me leave all by myself in the time when I needed her the most, And she chose strangers over me.

Once I picked up her call, Her voice came shouting from the other side immediately,

"Inaya! You ungrateful granddaughter! If I don't call, You never call and ask about me!"

"How are you doing Nana?" I asked coldly.

She sighed on the other side, and ignoring my question she continued,

"your husband told us today that you will start working in filladi co... You finally started to grow a brain in that thick head of yours! You should have joined the company and proved yourself a long time ago!"

"my working there is not my decision so you don't have to praise me, Nana, I will, by all means, try my best to walk out of that place with my divorce papers"

"you ignorant!! Forget it... I will no longer talk with you since you want to kill me with anger!"

When Nana's "grandmother" was scolding, I heard a certain ugly female voice in Nana's surroundings.

A familiar ugly female voice.

So I interrupted Nana instantly and I asked:

" is Lydia there in the Villa?"

Nana who seemed so amazed by the sharpness of my ears soon replied,

" yes, that girl is here in the hall... And she is speaking with your husband."

Once I heard that this pretentious girl was around... I frowned even more.

Lydia khoudjali, Who is my sister-in-law's best friend and the woman who was better matched with Hamza and probably the first candidate to become his wife before I appeared out of the blue and snatched that away, this woman is one of god's creatures that I loath the most.

She is the only daughter of sir Khoudjali Fateh, the president of some whatsoever political party and an MP, her powerful father was moving so fast on the political ladder for me to remember the exact position he occupied.

Not only she had a good background, but she was as well a delicate beauty who possessed all the qualities that my mother-in-law wished in a wife for her precious son.

I never minded Lydia's repetitive visits to the villa nor the way she always addressed my husband as if he was already hers and I was simply an obstacle that will be removed from her way sooner or later.

I didn't mind all of that because I was not interested in Hamza at all. But one day, my patience came to a drastic ending, It was one ordinary morning, Lydia supposedly visited the villa to play on the tennis court like usual with Ines, my sister's in-law.

I was randomly walking by Hamza's study room in the corridor when I noticed that my dear husband was not there alone, instead, He was in the company of beauty, that Lydia.

Initially, I thought of just ignoring them both and continuing my way. But after second thinking I felt curious to know what these two actually do behind my back.

So I tiptoed closer to the door to listen to what they were saying, I was shocked by what I heard.

That shameless woman said,

"Hamza. You know how much I always loved you! Don't you know how heartbroken I feel seeing you married to someone who doesn't care about you? You don't have to divorce her now... You can take me as a second wife and we'll deal with her later!"

That fake woman said these words with a face full of tears, acting like a freaking powerless heroine who the whole world was bullying.

I laughed in mockery realizing how disrespectful they both were towards me. I always thought she only used hidden means and kept her pride while trying to seduce him... As it turned out to be, she had no face at all!

Wasn't she supposed to be the daughter of a grand family, she acted like a slut!

She then hugged him and rubbed her wet face against his chest. While he simply stood there not saying nor doing a thing.

I hate deceitful people the most, even more than that, I hate those who disrespect me. And my husband and his secret lover were both deceitful and disrespectful.

After a few moments of watching them, I felt so disgusted with that scene, so I just walked inside the room with my hands crossed above my chest and I said,

" Mr. Hamza, how do you expect me to sleep on the same bed with you later after seeing this? I hate sharing my things with others, now you're just trash to me."

They both turned to look at me in terror, although I didn't have the attention of making a dramatic entrance still they both went pale because they knew what they were doing was wrong.

Hamza pushed Lydia away... And he kept staring at me.

I felt so disgusted with his stare, I knew we were not a loving couple, but he should have at least respected my existence in his life.

"How can you talk with him in this way?" Lydia, who had lawyer's genes apparently, immediately said with more tears."

I chuckled in mockery... And replied,

"it is not your business how I address my husband"

Then I walked towards Hamza, with nothing in my heart but pure disappointment. When I finally reached him... I looked at his wet with tears dirty shirt, and I said,

"I already had poor respect towards

you in the past, and now you had lost even the little that I had, Don't you always act so prideful? Is this how lowly you act behind my back?"

" you misunderstood" he finally said... "I rejected her, and I have no intention of following her fantasies." he continued.

When I heard his words, something broke inside me finally hearing his voice.. my heart hurt.

It is inevitable to feel hurt and being affected by what my husband does. Since after all, no matter how much we hated it, we were still married and shared our lives.

When I spoke next... My initially strong voice became very weak and shaky.

No matter how hard I tried to act strong... I was still surprised and hurt by what I saw.

"Is this how you reject a woman ya Hamza? " ( ya: used to call for someone's attention when addressing him)

The man who was standing in front of me looked even paler, he had nothing to say to me.

I hated being married to such a person... And I hated how silent and calm he was in the times he was supposed to talk.

In the end, It was me who just walked out of the room like a useless person.

At the time, I had made a vow... That even if I had to get a divorce from Hamza, Lydia will never get him as long as I lived.

And this is exactly why I felt so enraged when Nana told me that Lydia was talking with Hamza.

Ugh... Those scums!

I took a deep breath, then I said to Nana,

" Nana, you take your phone and you go to Hamza, then you put me on a loudspeaker... That man is still my husband and outsiders should know this"

"my Allah bless you! You finally decided to use your brain!"

Nana soon took part in my plan to destroy their bubbly mood, she reached them so fast, I bet she flew her way towards the couple. then I heard her saying,

" your wife wants to speak with you Hamza"

Soon, a pin drop silence was in there.

I didn't know whether Nana knew how to put a phone on a loudspeaker since she has never been fond of technology, even learning how to slide the green circle to answer a call took her much time and practice, but I decided to try my luck anyways.

So once I felt the silence, I said in an angry tone,

"Mr. Hamza, when did I allow you to treat my place as yours? You're not allowed to randomly leave your stuff behind when you come to my house, your jacket is on my sofa! Are you planning to move your whole wardrobe here next?"

What I wanted to say was simply "miss Lydia, this man still comes to my house behind your back and even gets undressed, he's two-timing again... What lovely karma."

I was very proud with what I said. Until Hamza suddenly added with a peal of laughter,

"no need for me to move my wardrobe to your place... Because soon enough you will move yours back to my house instead"

wait What was that?

Is he freaking insane!!