Over and Over

Dune

EL-BAAZ EMPIRE,
KANO,
NIGERIA.

LAYLA'S POV

The next day was the day I would begin my internship at the empire, I was so worried that I couldn't sleep that night.

Early in the morning, I left the mansor and went to Hamidas house as I knew Hakeem would try to leave with me.

I stood in the crowd of eager students, my heart pounding in my chest.

The empire was as grand and intimidating as I had imagined, but it wasn’t the magnificence of the building or the bustling energy of the employees that made me anxious.

It was the man himself—Hakeem, my secret husband, standing at the front with an air of authority that demanded respect.

Hakeem’s eyes scanned the crowd, landing on me for just a brief moment.

I knew he had recognized me, but his expression remained unreadable.

Hakeem had always been good at masking his emotions, a trait i both envied and despised.

“Welcome, everyone,” Hakeem began, his voice commanding and smooth.

“Today marks the beginning of your internship. You will be assigned various roles within our company, allowing you to gain hands-on experience in your respective fields.”

I held my breath as he continued speaking, praying silently that I would blend into the background and go unnoticed.

But then, i heard the words that sent a chill down my spine.

“Layla Umar Sunusi,” Hakeem announced, “will be assigned as my personal secretary, as she isn't capable yet.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd, eyes turning to me with a mix of curiosity and envy.

I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. This was exactly what i had dreaded.

From my spot in the crowd, my gaze locked with Hakeem’s, and I mouthed a desperate, “Please, no.”

For a split second, his expression softened. But then he composed himself, nodding slightly before addressing the crowd again.

“On second thought,” Hakeem said, “Layla will be working with the civil engineering team.

Zubair will continue as my secretary.”

The whispers intensified, but I let out a sigh of relief.

I caught Zubair’s eye, and he gave me a sympathetic smile.

He was one of the few who knew the truth about our marriage.

Determined to prove myself, i threw myself into my work with the civil engineering team.

The projects were challenging, and for a while, i managed to push thoughts of Hakeem to the back of my mind.

But every time i saw him in the hallways or during meetings we had that day, my heart ached with a confusing blend of anger and longing.

That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, I found myself alone in my office.

Long after most of the interns had left, i remained in the office, determined to finish my project.

I was hunched over blueprints when a support staff member peered into my office.

“The President is summoning you,” he said, his tone neutral but his eyes curious.

Annoyed, I gathered my files, struggling to fix my veil.

I wore a wide-legged office trouser and a white silk shirt, the loose strand of hair escaping my hijab adding to my frustration.