2

Two Days Later

❈-❈-❈

“Fayrouz” left the towering university building, making her way toward the exit gate, where “Jasser’s” car was waiting for her, accompanied by his private driver. Jasser had instructed the man to keep track of her movements and stay by her side like a shadow, ensuring her safety.

She passed through the gate quickly. The driver immediately moved to the rear door of the car and opened it for her, bowing respectfully. She got inside with her mind elsewhere... A distracted state that had followed her since the moment she woke up that morning. She had been so lost in her thoughts that she barely paid attention to her lectures.

The car pulled away, heading toward home, and an absolute silence descended inside it—a silence she had imposed upon herself long before the driver ever considered speaking.

She leaned her head back against the seat, and, despite herself, her thoughts drifted toward him...

“Jasser.”

His image remained vivid in her mind for a long time as she wondered what he was doing now and who he was with. Her mind was occupied with him... just as her heart was, and she had completely forgotten about the terms of their agreement.

Her memories drifted backward, to approximately a year and a half ago.

Specifically, to the seventeenth of June, right in the middle of the summer season...

“Fayrouz” sat gazing at the crystal-clear sea stretching endlessly before her, its waters extending toward a vast horizon.

She slowly and leisurely sipped from her cup of coffee, an earbud hanging around her neck as soft music played through it, adding to the already relaxing atmosphere.

The sun’s rays stung her exceptionally fair skin, leaving a faint, charming redness across it.

“You really are an idiot, Fayrouz... The entire resort is practically turning upside down, and you’re sitting here drinking your coffee as if you own the place.”

The words of “Nouran,” her friend, pierced her ears in her naturally loud voice.

Fayrouz quickly removed the earbud and stood up, slipping on her high-heeled shoes after having sat barefoot on the sand.

“What is it, you old crow? I haven’t had a moment’s rest since this morning.”

“Come inside. Mr. Hatem wants all of us in an emergency meeting.”

Fayrouz narrowed her eyes, looking at her expectantly.

“What happened?”

Nouran shook her head.

“I don’t know... He just said that and left. The meeting is in half an hour... But he looked extremely upset. His mood was terrible. It seems there’s a visit he wasn’t expecting.”

“All right, let’s go before he takes his anger out on us.”

She left with her friend and headed inside through the back entrance, the one designated for the female employees in the housekeeping department.

Her heart pounded with fear, and she silently prayed that nothing would happen to make her lose her job... The job she had desperately chased after until she had finally managed to secure it.

She had only been working there for three months, and this was her tenth job.

She had lost count.

Luck had never been on her side with any of her previous jobs. Eventually, she had ended up here, at this large and famous hotel located in the heart of the coastal city.

The hotel welcomed a constant flow of tourists throughout the year thanks to its prime location and remarkably exceptional services. During those three months, Fayrouz had made every effort to be obedient and hardworking, determined to prove herself and keep her position.

Her studies were just around the corner, and the expenses of each new academic year were nearly doubling.

She could not even afford a quarter of the amount.

Mr. Hatem stood before everyone with his arms folded across his chest, carefully surveying the faces gathered in front of him with a stern expression.

The hall was crowded with employees from every department of the hotel. Some had been forced to stand in the back rows because there were not enough seats for everyone.

The whispers gradually died down, and silence settled over the room when Hatem raised a hand, signaling them to remain quiet.

It was obvious from his expression that this was not an ordinary meeting.

He cleared his throat before speaking.

“Today, we will be receiving the most important guest in this entire city... Mr. Jasser Al-Morshedy, the renowned businessman, who has specifically chosen our hotel to stay in for one night alongside several of his business partners.”

Several female employees exchanged glances the moment they heard the name, while others remained silent.

As for Fayrouz, not a single feature on her face changed.

She simply continued listening in complete silence.