Hana Saleh's life was a symphony of tradition and quiet contentment. At 20, she was a tapestry woven with the threads of her faith: the warmth of family dinners, the gentle rustle of her hijab as she walked through the bustling streets of New York...
I sat across from Otsuka, a man whose face held stoicism and years of age. Three years. Three years since Jamal's foolishness had cost me the loss of one of power. A man whose construction empire built the very foundation of his own success.
The olive lamp cast flickering shadows on Otsuka's face, highlighting the lines etched by years of hard work and the silent resentment I knew burned within me.
"Otsuka." I began, my voice a low rumble. "Why don't we put the past behind us and start over again?" Otsuka's eyes remained fixed on the flickering lamp.
"It is not forgiveness I require, Massimo." He finally said, his voice a low, rumbling tone that echoed the city's heartbeat. "But understanding. Why did you betray the trust we shared?"
The question hung in the air, a heavy shroud that suffocated me. My fists clenched to ends of the couch. I was blinded by my own greed, a lure of power a siren song that led me astray.
"What was his name?" Otsuka's finger taps the arm chair. "Jamal? without him, I wouldn't have known what you were doing." His gaze lingered on the ring and lifted his head to me. A smirk playing on his face.
"Married, with two kids is he not?" I nod my head not knowing where this was going.
"I am a man of business." He leaned forward, his eyes boring into mine. "I want the girl and all is forgiven. I'll be your contractor again."
A deep breath escaped me. The weight of Otsuka's words settled on me like a heavy cloak. He wants Hana. I knew he wasn't willing to forgive easily. It felt like a knife twisting in my gut. Hana with her big brown eyes that looked at me with nothing but innocence and radiating sunshine.
"You know she's off-limits, Otsuka." I growled, a low rumble that vibrated through the ornate room. I try keeping myself calm so he doesn't see how much that offer put me off. Otsuka laughed, a sharp brittle sound.
"Really? You'd put the entire deal, your empire at risk for a woman? I wouldn't be so quick to judge. She's the daughter of your thief, impressionable. Don't tell me you haven't had your fill of woman, your fill of power? And what exactly does she bring to your empire? What value does she hold?"
The words, like venomous darts, pierced my defences. I never considered the practicalities, the logic of keeping her with me. I should have tortured her. Show her father I wasn't messing around.
"And how does Hana influence you?"
"She will be a great asset to me. My oldest son does need an obedient wife. A loyal servant." I wanted to dig my knife into his eyeballs and watch him squirm.
"Think about it." He stands up and pats my shoulder before walking out. Luca walks in and scratches his beard.
"Didn't go well huh?"
"He wants Hana." Luca's face hardens and grumbles something.
"No offence Massimo but, i think you should give her to him -" The look I gave him, was like a tiger ready to pry on their prey, ripping them into nothing but bones.
His arms raised up in defence. "I mean, holding her hostage isn't making Jamal come forward." He was right, Jamal wasn't giving two fucks about his daughter being my hostage.
"What do you suggest then? set her free?"
"No. Take Otsuka's offer. Why give up everything you've done for a girl you barely know." I stand up and get in his face.
"I don't think your little pet would like you giving her friend away. It seems you two got quite close together. Instead of having fun, fucking do something for once!" I shoved past him, thinking about any of this is making my blood boil. I didn't mean anything I say to Luca, he knows that too.
I entered my car and pulled down my tie that was strangling me. I needed to let loose, alcohol, drugs, sex anything to forget this deal.
It was only 15 minute drive when I park outside my own club.
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It's been long since I entered, I stopped since the day I got into New York and met Hana. I shook her away from my head and entered the VIP area. It was lavish, black leather seats with a pole dancer in her red laced bra and thong. This is what I missed and to get rid of Hana in my thoughts i needed to let loose.
I grabbed a bottle of alcohol which was placed on the table unopened and gulped it down. Normally I wouldn't but this is desperate measures. The woman from the pole eyed me as she wraps one of her leg on the pole, giving me a slurry look. I ushered her to her to get off and sit on my lap, to which she abides.
"Been so long Massimo." She whispered and trails her fingers on my arm. Took me back to when Hana's fingers touched my bicep. I growl as everything reminded me of her.
"Why don't you let loose? you must be hot?" She undoes my button, placing wet kisses on my neck. This would have turned me on. It didn't. The image of Hana underneath me when I fucked her in my dream pops up. I get up abruptly, the bitch falling off my lap and looks at me perplexed. She gets up, scurrying back to her position.
This wasn't going to work. I needed Hana gone, she was messing with my brain. Three rings and Otsuka picks up.
"I'll make the fucking deal." Placing my phone in my pocket, I downed the drink hoping it will make me drunk. ———————————————————————————
