Arabian Nation of Zidra
Zayed stared out through the glass windows of his sky office building in Zidra.
It has been forty eight hours since their return from Paris.
The Paris trip was supposed to be a turning point in their relationship. He was supposed to win her over and start a new life with her.
But everything went south after they made passionate love whole night.
The next morning saw a different Aveline.
A wounded Aveline.
And it was his fault. His fault alone.
"Sire, here is the tender for the new resort" Zayed's PA said, as he came in with a file.
"Which company won the tender?" Zayed asked taking the file from his PA.
"It's an Indian company, Sire. They are an upcoming group. But the one resort they built in India is a success. Their second project is under construction. So far, the work done is wonderful. I think they will be the best for our new resort. The CEOs are young blood. With creative ideas." the other man said
"SM groups?" Zayed asked, looking at the file.
"Yes, Sire. It is co owned by two friends. Shravan Maheswari and Mithran Yadav. Maheswari handles the business side and Yadav handles the architecture." The other man said
"Great. Arrange a meeting with them. If possible, have them fly over to Zidra. They need to see the place properly before building the resort" Zayed said. The other man nodded in agreement and left to do the bidding.
Basim barged into his cabin un announced making Zayed glare at him
"What is wrong with you?" Basim asked making Zayed grunt in irritation.
"Nothing wrong with me. What are you doing here?" Zayed asked, opening his laptop in an attempt to make Basim believe that he is busy.
"Zayed, you have been behaving very weirdly for the last couple of days. You are avoiding spending time with Ava and the kids. You are supposed to win them over, Zayed. Not push them away more" Basim snapped angrily.
"I have hurt her too much, Basim. Her scars are deep. I don't think she will ever forgive me" Zayed admitted, dropping all his acts of being busy
"Well, that's not news for you, is it? You knew what you have done? Then why this sudden change of heart?" Basim asked
"I didn't realise how deep the scars were" Zayed said and he realised he was saying the truth.
He had known that he hurt her badly. But he didn't realise how deep they were. Or badly affected Aveline was.
"So? You are just giving up? Just like that? Without a fight?" Basim asked, shaking his head in disappointment.
"I don't know what to do. I am scared that whatever I do will end up hurting her" Zayed confessed.
Before Basim could respond to that, Zayed phone rang. Basim frowned seeing 'B calling'
"B? Who is B?" Basim asked and Zayed averted his eyes.
Basim scrunched his eyes in suspicion.
"What's the matter? Who is it?" Basim asked
"No one. Just leave it" Zayed said offhandedly.
The phone stopped ringing and then came the notification of a voice mail. Basim snatched the phone from Zayed and played it, without heeding to the protests from Zayed
'Zayed, I have been trying to get in touch with you for a while now. Will you be flying over to US this weekend too? I really need you there, Zayed. I was so happy when you came for me last weekend. Hoping to hear from you soon'
Basim's eyes widened in horror hearing that voice.
"Brianna? Is that Brianna?" Basim asked in shock
Zayed rubbed his face with his palms in exasperation.
He didn't want anybody to know about Brianna.
"Basim.."
"Last week, you flew over to US to meet Brianna?" Basim asked
"Yes, but it's not-" Zayed began to say, but was rudely cut off by Basim
"How could you, Zayed? How could you do this to Ava? You are no different from our father" Basim accused angrily
"Basim. It's not what you think it is. Let me explain"
"Are you flying over this weekend to US?" Basim asked, instead of listening to Zayed
"Yes. I have to. There are things that need sorting out" Zayed began to say, but Basim got up from his chair, without letting Zayed continue
"You have lost it, Zayed. You have completely lost it. Instead of working out your issues with Ava, you are planning to fly over to visit your ex girlfriend?" Basim asked in disgust
"Stop judging me without knowing anything. I owe this to Brianna" Zayed said and Basim laughed out loud.
"You owe Brianna? The woman who tried to join hands with father in his pit against Salim? Unbelievable" Basim muttered, shaking his head in disbelief
"You have to trust me on this Bass. I will make this alright. I just need time. Don't let Aveline know about this. Please. I will tell her everything when the right time comes. But she can't know now. It will ruin us completely" Zayed begged
Before they could continue their conversation, Basim's PA barged into Zayed's cabin with a panicked look on his face
"Hamed? What is it?" Basim asked
"The oil plant. There has been an explosion in our new oil plant. People are injured severely." Hamed said hurriedly
"Goodness! How the hell did this happen?" Zayed asked, springing up from his chair and coming around the desk in a second.
"I have no idea, sire. But this is serious. Casualties are high and severe. We need to control the situation." Hamed said
"Right. Let's get to the oil plant real quick. Inform Salim" Zayed ordered and ran out of his cabin, with Basim hot on his heels.
****
Arabian Nation of Zidra - Bedouin deserts
"It has just begun. Zayed will be blamed, because he was supposed to be in charge of the oil plant. He relegated it to Basim, which simply shows how irresponsible he is. And Basim, the playboy Prince, obviously couldn't manage it." The evil voice said with a boisterous laugh.
"They are onto us already. The failure of the kidnap has causes unrest among our tribes too. There are chances of them finding out" another voice said, quite anxiously
"There is nothing to worry, as long as I have them inside the palm of my hand" the evil person said with a deadly smirk.
"I am getting a very bad feel about this. I can see our doom" the other person said angering the chief of their group.
"Coward. All these years, I have tried very hard to keep up the ruse. I am not going to let a set of triplet brats ruin it for me. My bloodline will continue the rule. I will not let it happen any other way" the evil person said venomously.