Crystal
She was soaking in the bathtub, preparing for the dinner, when she heard her name.
"Crystal!!!" She heard her name being yelled out. That voice was unmistakable . It was Amir.
"Who is it?" She asked, already knowing who it was. She was trying to mask the panic setting in.
She scrambled for her towel but the door flew open revealing Amir. She froze in her tracks, wide-eyed and bare.
She suddenly used her arms to cover her chest.
"Remove those hands from your chest, woman. That's my property you're covering". He thundered, his eyes shamelessly trailing her body as he licked his lips.
She immediately dropped her hands to her side, terrified.
"Wh…what a..are you doing here" she asked, trembling.
"What kind of stupid question is that?" He screamed. "Can't enter my wife's room? Or is it my own house I can't come into anymore?"
His eyes were glued to her body.
"Can you wait in the living room while I get dressed?" She asked him, flustered with embarrassment.
He burst out laughing.
Crystal wished the ground would open up and swallow her. She was stark naked in front of this man who was still practically a stranger, and he was laughing at her.
"I'll give you your privacy just for today." He sneered.
"Seems like you've forgotten the most vital part of this contract, bearing my child. Well, you'll start performing your marital duties tonight till you conceive. So after dinner, get ready and wait for me in this room".
He huffed and walked out of the bathroom.
Crystal collapsed to the floor, her heart pounding.
Amir intended to sleep with her tonight. What was she going to do?
"Ma'am?" Amelia's voice called out. "Ma'am are you done bathing?".
"Give me a minute" she called out weakly. She didn't want Amelia to see her in this state.
She took a quick shower and stepped out of the bathroom in her robe.
"Ma'am, these are the people who will get you ready for dinner," Amelia said. "This is the hair stylist and the makeup artist."
"That's fine, Amelia. Thank you." She replied, trying to compose herself.
Two hours later, Crystal could barely recognize herself in the mirror. The glam team had done a fantastic job . She swirled slowly in the black dress Amir had gotten her. It hugged her curves so tightly, like a second skin.
"Ma'am, Mr Amir is waiting for you downstairs. He wants you to join him in welcoming the guests" Amelia said through the door.
"I'll be right there. Just give me a few minutes."
Crystal took a deep breath. She was nervous and anxious. She didn't know who Amir had invited and she honestly hated playing wife to him. But she signed the contract and she had to fulfill her part.
She exhaled and made her way downstairs.
Ahmad
Ahmad was certain Amir was planning something, but he couldn't quite place it. Last he checked, Amir wasn't even dating anyone. How had he gotten married so fast?
He checked himself one last time in the mirror. After leaving the office, he'd gone straight to his tailor to get a fresh black tux. He wasn't about to let Amir rattle him.
He pulled out of the driveway himself. He had given his driver the night off.
Amir had changed houses after getting married. He wasn't surprised, Typical Amir.
Thirty minutes later, he arrived. A servant collected his keys and ushered him into the foyer.
He froze as soon as he saw her.
Crystal.
The girl who had haunted his thoughts for six weeks. The girl who made his heart ache. And she was standing beside his brother.
"Welcome, brother," Amir sneered. "Didn't think you'd show. It's nice to see you grace my humble abode."
" Thank you" Ahmad said flatly, still reeling from the shock.
"I'd like to introduce my beautiful wife, Crystal," Amir added, pride lacing his voice.
Ahmad blinked, stunned. Married? Crystal?.
He was shocked and thrown off but he couldn't let Amir see that, not tonight.
He managed to force a smile. "Hi Crystal. Nice to meet you" he extended a hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet my husband's brother," she said softly, her hand barely touching his before retreating.
Pain stabbed through his chest. All this time he thought something terrible had happened to her. But she'd married Amir?
"Come join us in the dining room. Father is already here," Amir said, pulling Crystal away by the hand.
Ahmad stood rooted to the spot, still in shock. The sight before him infuriated him so much, but he still had to keep his cool.
He followed closely behind them into the grand dining room, where a feast was spread out. The sight was enough to make him hungry but his hunger had vanished like smoke.
He made his way to where his father was seated.
"Good evening father" He greeted. Sultan Al-fayad didn't even look up.
He sat down beside his father as he watched Amir take a seat beside Crystal on the other end of the table.
" Ahmad, when do you intend to get married and give me an heir? Or do you not want to have a share in the family business?" Sultan Al-fayad asked him.
"What do you mean?" Ahmad asked, confused.
"Well, if you've not been informed before, I'm informing you now. Whoever gives me a grandchild first, will automatically become the CEO and CMD of the Al-fayad empire, taking over from me. That's the elders' decision." His father stated bluntly.
Ahmad turned to look at Amir, who wore a smug smirk.
So that was the game.
He looked at Crystal's face. She was smiling but the smile didn't reach her eyes. Something was wrong.
"And both of you will move into the family compound before the end of the month. I want my grandchild born under the Al-fayad roof," his father added.
He turned to look at his father. He wasn't joking, Sultan Al-Fayad was very serious.
"Can I be excused?" Crystal's soft voice cut through the tension. "I need to use the bathroom".
He watched her walk away. He needed to speak to her. Something wasn't right.
He needed to know if she loved his brother or if she was forced into this marriage.
He needed to calm this storm raging inside him.
Crystal
When Amir said they'd have guests, she never imagined it would be him.
The man who had filled her thoughts for six long weeks. The man who stood across the table, asking a thousand questions with his eyes.
When Sultan said they'd be moving into the family estate, she felt like choking.
"Can I be excused?" She asked.
Amir nodded, and she fled to the foyer. Tears welled in her eyes, and she struggled to contain them.
She heard footsteps behind her and spun around in fear.
Ahmad.
All the tears came flooding down.
He rushed to her side, wrapping her in his arms. His warmth. His scent. It was almost too much.
"Hey, beautiful. Calm down and tell me what's wrong," he whispered, holding her.
She pulled back, meeting his eyes. Her heart screamed to run away with him. But she couldn't risk breaching the contract, to a place no one would ever find them.
But she knew what would happen if she breached the contract.
"I'm fine, Mr Ahmad. I'm just overwhelmed by your family's kindness." She lied.
"You're lying," he said, piercing through her with his gaze.
"You look exactly like you did the last time I saw you. Empty. Sad."
He stepped closer. "Are you in trouble? Is Amir treating you well? Did he force you to marry him? Why are you even married to Amir?".
She looked at him and sighed. As much as she liked him, she couldn't bring him into her mess. He was so sweet, it broke her heart to lie to him.
"I'm fine. Please believe me. I'm just overwhelmed and tired. Thank you so much for your concern". She said, eyes shimmering.
"What's going on here?" Amir's voice froze in the air.
They turned to see him wheeling their father into the foyer.
Amir
Crystal was gone too long and he didn't like the fact that Ahmad followed after her.
"Think about what I said Amir." Sultan reminded. "You and Ahmad must move into the family's compound before the end of the month."
"Yes father. I'm sure Crystal would be thrilled." Amir replied with a fake smile.
"Let me get crystal so she'd say goodnight to you" Amir said, he wanted to please his father so badly.
"Don't worry about that. I'm sure she's tired too. Give my regards to her." His father said with a note of finality.
He stood up and went round the table to wheel his father to the car. As soon as they stepped into the foyer, he found Crystal and Ahmad, standing too close together.
"What's going on here?" he thundered.
He was going to kill Ahmad today, then kill this bitch later.
The guts!!! He was just starting with them.