Aslan MurabakI run desperately through the corridors of the palace, my mind filled with worry for Diana. My parents are already safe in the safe house, thanks to Said, my trusted man, who took them there. Now, my only goal is to find Diana and ensure her safety.As I climb the stairs, I see the damage caused by the fighting with the rebels trying to take over the palace. Broken glass and debris scattered everywhere show the violence that is ravaging the place. The state-of-the-art security we relied on seems ineffective against the relentless onslaught of the invaders.When I meet Said in the corridor, his tense face reveals the concern we share. He looks me in the eye and says."Aslan, I found Diana, and I took her to the safe house, but before she could go in, someone hit me and I fell unconscious and she wasn't there anymore.""We have to find my wife, Said. My son in her belly could harm us both."We advanced cautiously through the dark corridors, surprised by three men who inter
The crowded bus reminds me every day how hard it is to be poor - of course I'm being ironic. Today, luckily, I got a seat, which doesn't always happen, especially on a Friday. I am happy and grateful for that, looking at the scenery and praying that no one needs my seat, because I am exhausted. I've worked all week and my day off won't be until Wednesday. When we are born poor, it feels like we live at work and visit home.José usually takes the bus two stops after mine, and I am saving a seat for him next to me. Anyone who takes the bus knows how hard it is to hold a seat without getting into trouble. José, my best friend, whom I love very much, enters through the door and waves to me, and I smile, showing that his place is saved. But a woman, who looks about thirty-five years old, enters before him and looks intently at the seat beside me. We have a battle of eyes between me, the woman, José and the bench. She is in front, she will probably arrive before him, and José seems to be in
Diana Rodrigues*Looking at the tall, thick-legged man in front of me, I blurted out the dumbest comment I could have made to the hotel owner where I work."Beautiful," I said."What are you talking about? Do you think it's nice to have broken my collection watch?" he snapped at me."I'm sorry, sir. Please don't fire me. I need this job.""I don't usually give second chances to employees like you.""Please reconsider. My family depends on me, and I need this job. If necessary, I'll apologize and kneel in front of you." He huffed and said:"Take some of my suits to be ironed, they are wrinkled, and then bring them back. I have some appointments and I'm running late. In the meantime, I'll think about what to do with you." He walked away from me, grabbed three suits, and handed them to me."Yes, sir." I took the suits, the broom, and the rag. "Thank you, sir."The rag fell to the floor. It had to be like that. It wouldn't be me if I didn't drop something. I bent down, but not in the corr
"Aslan Murabak*The trip to Brazil was something that left me irritated. My father made me visit all the hotels I bought, and that wasn't in my plans. I wanted to go to New York; that was my plan. I am Arabic and do not follow all the "rules." Since I was young, I had to learn how to deal with our business since my father is not a good manager. They say we are a people who know how to negotiate, but my father is terrible with business. In fact, he lost all our money when I was only fifteen years old, and our country was going through a crisis. And I had to help; otherwise, we would lose everything.I went to college and left my country. I needed to fly and expand my business, import my products, and many opportunities arose, such as my uncle's hotel chain that was having financial problems after his son started taking over everything, and I bought it. I came to Brazil to see how things are going here, and my father forced me to see all the hotels in the chain, and to avoid conflicts b
Diana Rodrigues*I was leaning against the wall and my tears were falling down my face in anger. And now I owe my whole life to him, and how am I going to pay? Work for free for so long? How am I going to support my family? And even more with my brainless brother, who only thinks about parties and buying things for his motorcycle, forgetting about basic needs, and my mother, who is a good woman but likes excessive luxuries that don't match our financial situation. A hand is on my shoulder and I startle."What's going on? Why are you crying?" The man's accent was the same as my boss's; he must have been one of his employees. "Can I help you?""It's nothing, just some things happened to me. They always happen.""Can I help you?""No, unfortunately, you can't," I took a deep breath. "Thank you.""I'll be in town until the end of the week. Take my card, contact me by message if you need to, say that you're the crying girl from the hotel, and I'll know who you are.""Thank you. The world n
Diana Rodrigues"I want to talk to you," the hotel owner tells me, but Sonia shouts at me."Diana! Are you already causing trouble with the boss again?" - already comes the cow manager - "I'm sorry sir, I'll take this incompetent girl away before she causes more trouble.""Look Sonia, I'm not causing any trouble," he watches me being taken away by her."Don't make any more fuss," was all he said, so I went on my way with my manager."Since your debt to the hotel is so large, you are scheduled to work overtime. When I call, you should be ready.""Okay Sonia, I'll do the overtime," I agreed."And today, in addition to the suites, you will be cleaning the staff bathroom after your shift.""But it will be at the staff's check-in and check-out time, it will be full of people, it will be wasted service, I can finish cleaning.""Diana, do as I say, dear."Cleaning the bathroom at staff in and out was a punishment when one of us did something wrong. If you had an enemy and she knew about your
Diana Rodrigues"Mom, I'm still at my job, I'm working overtime."There, my child, don't you know what your brother did?" - she was crying."What did this irresponsible man do?"Don't talk about your brother like that, my child, you know he has little sense, but he is responsible.""Where from that Alex is responsible, mother? He is a madman who only does shit and only thinks about himself.""Daughter, your brother is in the hospital. And our neighbour is taking us.""Hospital?" - she cries and answers."Yes, at the hospital. I'm on my way there, they just called me. He had an accident and I don't know anything else, they just told me he was in the hospital and I'm so nervous, daughter.""What hospital is he in, Mum?"He's at São Vicente, it looks like it was near there."Mum, São Vicente is a private hospital, why did they take him there? Mercy of God, how are we going to pay?"I don't know either. Daughter, think about your brother's health now."Okay, mum. I'll ask to be excused fr
Diana Rodrigues"Diana, what are you talking about?" asked Juninho Bad Boy."Juninho." He kissed my hand.Juninho, who had always been as poor as us, suddenly started living a luxurious life. He used to be a scrawny boy with blond hair and eyes of an indecipherable colour, maybe green or maybe blue. But now, he has become a strong and muscular boy, and women adore him. Recently, he showed up with a very expensive car, though I don't know how he got the money. My brother and he became close friends, although I warned Alex to be careful.People in the neighbourhood said Juninho was dealing drugs, but I never knew for sure where his money comes from. I hope he's here at the hospital to visit my brother and that this payment story is just a joke."Hello, Juninho," I greeted him."You got married?" He pointed at Zyan."He works at the same hotel as me and when he heard about my brother's accident, he came to bring me here.""So you're single?" My body froze. "I want to talk to you, Diana."