Chapter 2 2

Mazen Gamal.

I was coming back at dawn from a wild night out, drunk as usual. I had taken a beautiful girl home with me to keep the party going. I was so wasted I could barely see straight; and, of course, she was just like all the others-not exactly an innocent girl, but that's exactly what I wanted: someone to help me unwind after a long day running between companies and factories.

Since graduating college, I've been managing the entire family business with my dad. Even while I was getting my MBA, I was running the whole group-yeah, we're talking billions. Our work covers everything from detergent factories to steel and iron plants.

To put it simply, our family is the richest in the country-and the Arab world.

We used to invest the princes' and kings' money, and my pictures were always on newspapers and magazines.

They called me "the most successful and handsome businessman."

My life was a nonstop blur of work all day, then partying and drinking after midnight. If I felt like it, I'd take any woman I wanted home, even if she was married. I'd let my desires run wild. Yeah, every woman has her price.

I'm a guy who likes to indulge, and women were all around me, all wanting to be with me-but honestly, none of them meant anything to me.

I was naïve when I was younger. I thought maybe I'd find someone who would love me for who I really am. I thought love was a real thing. I thought there were actually decent girls out there.

That was until I saw the girl I loved in the arms of my best friend. My "friends," to be exact.

She had played the role of the innocent, virtuous girl-she was a great actress, I'll give her that.

That was seven years ago.

"Where are you, Mazen?" my best friend Ahmed, my close buddy from college, called me.

"Sorry, man, I can't make it tonight. I'm swamped with work with my dad." And that was the truth-I'd just graduated two months ago, and my dad was determined to make me one of the top businessmen within the year.

"Bro, you're missing out on some amazing girls. There's a couple you'll definitely like. Anyway, I'm taking them to the Ain Sokhna chalet. Try to make it. The drive's less than an hour." Ahmed was a devil-he always knew how to tempt me.

"I'll see, Ahmed. Who's with you from the crew?"

"Tamer, Hany, and El-Shenawy. I'll be waiting for you, Mazooon." Ahmed hung up, hoping I'd show up.

We were a tight group-all sons of businessmen-always together. But when I fell for Dina, I never told any of them about her, not even her name. I genuinely loved her and saw her as my future wife, wanted to protect her. I didn't even tell my friends about the engagement-the next day was my engagement party.

I was planning on surprising everyone with the angel I would marry.

Anyway, I finished work and decided to go for a bit. In less than 45 minutes, I was in Ain Sokhna.

As soon as I arrived, I walked into the shock of my life. Dina and a friend of hers were naked in bed, and all my friends were naked too.

And, of course, it was obvious what had just happened.

I hit her, insulted her, and threw her out, naked, like a dog. My heart was breaking. If my friends hadn't held me back, I would have killed her and buried her right there.

Since that day, I've hated all women. To me, they became nothing more than insects for me to crush under my feet.

Back to this weird day.

That dawn felt strange. I was drunk and out of it when my dad called me on my cell. I answered right away because he never calls me at that hour. I thought something might have happened to Mom.

"Yeah, Dad? Did something happen? Tell me, are you okay? Is Mom okay?" I asked, panicking, so much so that I moved away from the girl next to me. I sobered up instantly.

My parents were my whole world, even though I was twenty-nine.

"No, son, we're fine, but..." Dad stopped, his voice sad and choked. I'd never heard him sound like that before.

"Dad... what's wrong?" I asked, swallowing nervously, my anxiety spiking.

"Your uncle-my younger brother-he's dead." Suddenly Dad blurted it out, sounding like he was about to cry.

"My uncle? How? When? Are you okay?" My only concern was for my dad.

"An accident," Dad sighed.

I knew Dad had been hard on his brother, but I didn't know how much he loved him.

But Dad isn't the type to cry or talk about his feelings. He's always been a rock-strong and mysterious.

"Mazen, please come with me to the morgue. My brother and his wife died in the accident, and I can't bear to see them like this alone. Please, son."

For the first time, my dad was begging me.

Jamal Al-Homsany, known for his authority, his power, and his heart of stone.

"Okay. Okay, I'll come right now." I hung up quickly and left the girl in the street in her skimpy dress after giving her a thousand pounds.

I jumped into my Ferrari and floored it, flying down the road at 280 kph. When I got to the mansion, Dad was waiting for me. For the first time in my life, I saw him cry. He was devastated.

"Dad! Are you okay?" I was honestly in shock.

"No, Mazen. But I need you for something important. If you love me, you have to agree. Please."

"Dad, whatever you want, I'll do it." I went to him quickly-he was truly broken.

"I want you to marry your cousin-God rest her father's soul."

His words stunned me. As much as it hurt to refuse, I just said no, without even giving myself a chance to think or hear his reasons. "No way! Absolutely not."

Dad came closer and put his hand on my shoulder. "I have to keep my family together. She's my brother's only daughter, and she's just seventeen, Mazen. Please."

"But Dad... she's family, and I don't even know her..." I was calm but confused.

I decided to go along with him for now and talk about it later, so I answered smartly, "Let me think about it. Now, let's go to the morgue."

We went to the morgue. Money can make anything happen quickly. It was such a painful situation that even I cried.

I'd never seen my uncle, but my dad's tears got to me.

If I'd known how much he loved his brother, I would've tried to reconcile them before.

Anyway, we finished everything with a few thousand, got the burial permit, and quietly buried them in the family cemetery. Dad said it was more important to go see their daughter Malika than to tell the rest of the family what happened.

His heart was with her.

When I went, I was shocked by her sharp tongue, her rudeness, her shamelessness, and the way she spoke to my dad.

I found myself treating her terribly-I slapped her face and shoved her to the ground.

I might have felt sorry for her if she hadn't cursed me and my dad again.

She was challenging me, and I hate anyone who tries to stand up to me.

I found myself telling her I'd marry her next week, that I'd check her virginity, and if she wasn't a virgin, I'd kill her.

She was so bold, strong, and stubborn.

And suddenly, for the first time in his life, Mazen Gamal got slapped across the face by a girl-and not just any girl! 18-year-old!