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Fairouz agreed to be Jasser’s secret mistress—no love, no promises, and no dreams of a shared future.

 It was a simple, clear arrangement: she belonged to him whenever he desired her, yet remained apart from his family and his public life. She enveloped herself in the potent scent of wild berries—a fragrance he adored, especially when mingled with the natural scent of her fair, soft skin. 

Knowing he was exhausted from the relentless grind of work, and that he had sought *her* out—choosing her above all others—filled her with excitement. She wanted to appear before him at her absolute best, clad in her finest sleepwear... ...and perfume, along with a touch of delicate adornment that complemented her stunning European features

: "My Fairouz... when are you coming out? I’ve been waiting ages."

 Her voice drifted to him—seductive, playful, and laced with a teasing allure—striking a chord with his already smoldering desire.

"Yes, my love... just one minute." 

Before the minute had even passed, she appeared before him, looking breathtaking. 

His eyes gleamed with undisguised admiration as he gazed at her in that blue dress—his favorite color—which hugged her full figure with a stunning grace that captivated his mind.

 The fabric draped softly over her curves; a wide neckline alluringly revealed the fullness of her bosom, while the hem ended just above her knees, displaying her shapely, graceful legs. 

She moved toward him with a deliberate, seductive sway, toying with her long red hair—which she had styled exactly to his liking

. "Here I am, my love" 

 She spoke in a calm, alluring tone. He had been waiting for her for nearly half an hour; she had intentionally kept him waiting to stoke his desire, knowing how much he longed for her and for the warmth of the embrace he had grown so accustomed to.

Jasser returned from his trip to Italy that morning—a journey that had lasted a full week. 

At first, she hadn't expected him to come see her that very day; she thought he would at least stay with his family and visit the next day. He had no time to waste on mere glances; instead, he closed the short distance between them, pulling her slender waist into his embrace. His strong hands held her firmly in place before he leaned down to claim her lips in a long kiss that encapsulated all the longing and desire burning within him. 

He was truly amazed at himself—wondering when things had reached such a point that he could no longer bear being apart from her for even two consecutive nights...

“My darling, wait. I brought you dinner.”

He answered her in a deep, melodious voice, completely captivated by her charm:

“My meal is right in front of me.”

He leaned in and captured her lips again, kissing her with a passionate tenderness. She slipped away from his grasp and took a step backward, saying playfully:

“No. Let’s have dinner first. After that… I have a surprise for you.”

He furrowed his brows.

“What surprise?”

She bit her lower lip teasingly.

“If I told you, where would the surprise be, darling?”

She turned and hurried out of the room, escaping from him and heading toward the living room. There, she lifted the covers from the dining table, revealing the delicious food she had ordered from a nearby restaurant as soon as she learned he was coming.

They had dinner in a romantic atmosphere, one she had put considerable effort into making perfect, just as he had always come to expect from her.

After they finished, he was about to move closer and embrace her, but she stopped him.

“The surprise… wait here for a minute. I won’t be long.”

He watched her leave, disappearing into the room for only a few short minutes.

Then she emerged again—but this time, looking so stunning that it drove every rational thought from his mind.

She was wearing the same beautiful shirt, but she had added an Eastern-style belt around her perfectly shaped waist.

He immediately understood her intention.

He relaxed against the back of his seat as she placed her phone on the table. A lively popular song began playing, its energetic rhythm filling the room and setting the atmosphere ablaze as she began to dance.

Every movement and gesture was graceful and perfectly executed.

The delicate sound of the anklet around her feet chimed with every step.

And in that moment, he finally knew the answer to the question he had always asked himself:

How had this enchanting woman managed to steal his mind from him?

She possessed a strange ability to melt the ice inside him and tame both his thoughts and desires.

His phone rang, but he barely noticed it. The screen went dark, only to light up again moments later, announcing another incoming call. Whoever was calling seemed persistent.

He glanced at the phone and noticed that the caller had called twice in a row, with only a few seconds between the calls.

He gestured for her to stop and turn off the music. She did so, though she had no idea what was happening.

He answered the phone in a calm, controlled tone—until he heard the other person’s response.

At once, he sprang to his feet in alarm.

“I’m coming… Don’t move. I won’t be long. Don’t worry…”

He hurriedly gathered his things and put on his suit jacket, saying urgently:

“Nada, please don’t cry. I won’t be long. Stay with him.”

The moment she heard her name, her entire face tightened with barely concealed irritation.

She tried to appear calm and asked him after he ended the call:

“Jasser, what happened? Where are you going?”

He answered hurriedly:

“Karim’s fever is extremely high. I have to go to him.”

She couldn’t even find the chance to respond or comfort him.

He quickly left the apartment, leaving her staring blankly into the empty space after him.

She slammed the door shut, then angrily tore the belt from around her waist.