LOGINKIMBERLY
Azeena came over to my house with dresses she was sure would be the perfect fit for the party and although I had not informed my mother about it, I knew she would hardly have any objections to me attending a party thrown by my best friend’s dad.
I squealed as she brought out a black number, waving it in front of me. It was a stunning dress, patterned with flowers at its edge and more so, it was very short.
It was a kind of dress my mother would never allow me to wear and one I wanted to just so I could see the color drain from her face.
“You will look absolutely amazing in that dress with your beautiful shape” Azeena sighed as she watched me try on the dress.
“Do not act all jealous. You are absolutely stunning and it is only proper that I have something over you too” I told her
I was curvy if that something and it was all thanks to my Italian gene which gave me hips and a well rounded butt. It wasn’t something I used to have and I guess I had adulthood to thank for such gift.
“We shouldn’t be late. I asked the driver to pick us up by 7 sharp and we should already be dressed and waiting by then”
My mother poked her head into my room and Azeena greeted her while I informed her of the party which she readily agreed to. I thanked her while I watched the worried line crease her forehead at how short my dress was and how exposed my thighs were
“Do you think it is okay to wear such dress” she asked
“We are going to their house for the party, mother not a club and besides Azeena recommended the dress for me”
“When will you be back?” She asked, not responding to my argument about the dress
“Before ten” Zeena told her
It was 7:30pm before the driver pulled up in front of my house. I tried not to react to the limousine that was picking us up but it was evident with how huge my eyes were that I was going into shock
“You never said anything about a limousine, Zeena” I said accusingly as stepped out, holding each other
“It is nothing” Zeena laughed and waited until the driver climbed out and held the door open for us.
I could feel the stares of my neighbors as I stepped into the car and from the doorway, my mother stood with her eyes portraying her shock
“Just how rich is your family?” I asked as I reclined in the seat.
“Rich enough” Zeena replied vaguely
I decided not to push the matter. It was obvious she did not want to tell me more and I wasn’t going to demand answers, I guess I was just going to have to see for myself.
We soon arrived and were led into one of the most exquisite halls I had ever seen in my life and not that I had seen so many halls. It was already filled with people and Zeena and I had to push our way through with me praying to God that I did not lose sight of her.
“It is not usually like this” Zeena breathed as soon as we stumbled upon a clearing.
I did not know how to respond because I was doing a lot of looking around. The chandelier hung so low that if I reached, I was sure I would touch its shiny tips and it left me very enthralled. I could finally understand why Azeena never talked about her family, it was because they were stinking rich and she probably did not want me to get intimidated.
“Come on, the main party is inside” She told me and then pulled me through some door.
I was hit again by the sheer affluence in the room but unlike the other room we had just exited which was packed to the brim. This one was filled with the choice few and I could tell that this was the VIP lounge and I was standing in it.
Zeena continued dragging me with her but I was trying to fill up my mind with as much details as possible so I could yap about it later.
“Oh no” Zeena muttered beside me
“What is it?” I whispered
“My dad is headed in our direction; I want you to maintain your cool and do not look” She snapped when my eyes began darting around
I did not know what she meant by me maintaining my cool but I could only imagine that her father was probably one of those strict and pompous rich men who wanted their children always under their thumb and did not want them associating with people who were of different social status to them.
It was definitely from him that Hassan had gotten such rotten attitude and I was determined to make a lasting impression on him and one that would not be good.
“Azeena” A deep and rich voice called so close to us.
“Dad” Zeena muttered
I steeled my spine and flexed the muscles on my face which were now rigid before bringing my eyes up to… OH MY GOD
This had to be a mistake, there was no way the Adonis standing in front of me right now was Zeena’s father but judging by the way he was looking ever so lovingly at Zeena
“Meet my friend, Kimberly and Kimberly… this is my father” Zeena introduced
I could not speak as I watched him stretch out a powerful hand for a shake. He was staring at me… gazing at me like I was something interesting and when he smiled, his whole face lit up like you would imagine a god’s face would.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr Farouq” I finally got out through my dry throat
“Oh please, so formal. You should call me Asif, Kimberly” He said
My name rolled off his tongue like whiskey. He pronounced it like he was tasting the name and found it considerably appealing and when our hands connected, I saw stars light up the dark room… I was in deep fucking trouble.
KIMBERLY“Happy Birthday”I stared at Hassan’s Instagram message one more time before I turned off my phone and slipped it into my pocket.It had been two weeks since my mother died and her body was cremated per her wishes.Aunt Catherina had been so helpful with the details of everything while I just floated in a haze of self loathing and anger.After my mother’s farewell, we packed up and left to Italy.I was yet to meet my father’s family. Aunt Catherina had mentioned they were excited to me and were only getting things in order but the truth is, I did not think they wanted to.From what I had been able to gather from sneaking around and eavesdropping on her phone conversation, they hated me. In fact she was the only one who thought it was a great idea to bring the unacknowledged daughter of Matteo Massimo to Italy.Today however, she did mention I would meet my grandfather.Surprisingly, we shared a birthday and he was hosting a party so I was going with her as a plus one. I had a
KIMBERLYMy palms were pressed against one another, clammy and twisting in my lap.The doctor was watching me, his eyes soft in a way I hated. I did not want his pity and who the hell was the woman anyways.“Kimberly,” he said “How are you doing?”How am I doing?I almost laughed. A bitter sound caught in my throat, but no air came out. How could he ask me that when my world had been split apart only minutes ago?“I…” My throat burned, and I shook my head quickly. “I don’t know. I just…” My words caught in my throat. “Where is my mother? I would like to see her.”“That can be arranged,” he said gently. “And I am so very sorry for your loss, Kimberly.”I swallowed hard, my eyes stinging. “You said… that can be arranged?” I repeated. “So she is here? Where is she?”“Yes.” The doctor nodded, but then his gaze flicked to the woman seated in the corner, the one I had not wanted to acknowledge. “That is why she is here as well.”“What do you mean?”The doctor folded his hands on the desk.“
HASSAN“What did you say?” I askedAzeena stared me down, her lips curling in disgust.“You heard me, brother,” she spat. “While you were up here in your little cave, fucking my best friend, her mother was dying in the hospital while the doctor rung her up.”I could feel my body run cold. This was not happening… this had to be some sort of bad dream.I turned to Kimberly, who was still frozen in place, her face pale as death. Her lips were parted but no sound came from them. She looked like she was stuck between horror, disbelief and grief and she wasn’t sure where to begin.Azeena’s gaze snapped to her next.“I hope whatever this is with my brother was worth it,” she said “Because Kimberly, you are dead to me.”With that she spun around and stormed out, the slam of the door shaking the walls.There was silence in that nanosecond as Kimberly’s ragged breathing filled the air.I rushed forward attempting to touch her but when I did, she jerked back violently, her eyes wild.“Kim…”“Don
KIMBERLYI asked myself what the hell I was doing for the umpteenth time that day as I kissed Hassan right back.His lips were so demanding, hungry and full of a need that both terrified and thrilled me. I should have pulled away, I should have thought about Azeena and Asif… even my mother. I should have considered everything this could unravel but instead, I let him reach for the corset ropes of my dress and loosen them, my breath hitching as his fingers trailed down my spine.The fabric gave way easily, sliding from my shoulders like it had been waiting for this moment.“God, Kimberly…” he whispered against my mouth, his forehead pressing to mine as his hands rested at the small of my back. “Do you have any idea what you are doing to me?”I swallowed, my throat dry.“What am I doing?” I croaked.His laugh was low and laced with disbelief.“Everything” He said as he kissed me again, deeper this time, as though he was trying to consume me, to make me forget every thought but him and f
KIMBERLYAnd dance I did… with Hassan whom by the way was an interesting dance partner.He knew how well I struggled with dances and he took his time to twirl me around, making sure I did not trip on my shoes or his.I did not think Hassan had one gentlemanly bone in his body but he surprised me and soon enough I had almost forgotten Asif with that woman… almost.The dance ended and we headed to our seat when Asif cornered Hassan and I.“I would like to introduce my son, Hassan and my daughter’s best friend, Kimberly” He said to the woman in red.Her smile widened as she took us in and my fingers itched to drag itself across that pearly white perfect skin. She was beautiful… stunningly beautiful and it wasn’t helping my broken heart.“It is a pleasure to meet you, Hassan. Your father has always spoken with great pride about you” She brought out a hand to Hassan who took it reluctantly, his smile tight.“And you, Kimberly… I must commend how beautiful you look. I see you have Italian b
KIMBERLYI tried so hard not to cry but my tear gland refused to cooperate with me.I was glad there was no one there to witness my breakdown and when the morning came… the morning of Azeena’s birthday, I lied to her that my eyes were swollen because I had thought about my mother and cried.She comforted me and then rounded it up with an invite to her birthday party. I had to be there and I had to let go of my sadness because in her words, it wasn’t my fault that my mother was ill and I was allowed to be sad about it but not guilty.Hassan knocked on the door that morning to wish his sister a happy birthday and present her of course with his gift for her.He did not look at meHe pretended like I was not in the room as he teased her on turning 21 and then rolled his eyes when she asked him if he would show up for her party.“I don’t think I will, Zeena”“You have to. I do not want to hear it. What the hell is up with you, Hassan?”He cast her a smile and then his eyes met mine across







