Chapter 5 Unspoken Terms

• Rania stood frozen for a moment, staring at the sleek black car that had stopped not far from where she stood. Her mind screamed at her to walk away, to keep her distance from the man who should have been her greatest enemy. Yet her feet moved forward on their own, no longer obeying the logic she tried to hold onto. Her heart beat fast as she approached the open window, revealing a glimpse of the dark, luxurious interior. In the shadows, a pair of deep eyes looked at her calmly, yet with an undeniable sense of possession. His strong hand reached out through the gap in the window and handed back her phone. There was no greeting, no question, as if his only purpose in being there was to return the object and leave.
• Rania took the phone with slightly trembling hands. The surface still felt warm, as if it retained the warmth of his palm from moments before. She glanced briefly at his face, half-hidden in shadow, seeing his sharp jawline carved as if from fine stone.
• “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible even to herself.
• Before she could ask any more questions, before she could wonder why he had kept it for so long, the window rolled slowly up, leaving only cold glass between them. The car glided away, leaving Rania standing alone on the sidewalk, still clutching her phone, feeling confused by a brief meeting that meant nothing on the surface yet had completely shaken her composure.
• Hardly had the car disappeared around the bend when Lia ran toward her, as if she could not believe what she had just seen. She was breathless, her eyes wide with overflowing curiosity. She had caught a glimpse of his broad frame, his straight posture, and an aura of authority that needed no words, a presence so powerful it could be felt even from inside a moving car. Yet his face had remained too vague to recognize.
• “Don’t tell me…” Lia breathed, her eyes still fixed on the direction where the car had vanished. “Don’t tell me that man who just gave you back your phone is the man who spent the night with you yesterday?”
• Rania’s face flushed instantly, rising all the way to her neck. She lowered her gaze, unable to deny even a single word in front of her friend, who seemed able to see right through every secret she held.
• “Lia…”
• “Just answer me!” Lia gently took hold of Rania’s shoulders, her voice rising with uncontrolled excitement. “It is him, isn’t it? That lucky man?”
• Rania nodded slowly, her cheeks still burning hot. There was nothing she could hide from her best friend, no secret at all. Lia knew her better than she knew herself, able to read every silent change in her expression.
• “Amazing!” Lia exclaimed in wonder, her eyes still bright as she looked at the empty road where the car had been. “That car… I’ve only ever seen one like it in rare magazines. There are only a few in the world, and most ordinary people could never afford it. He is not just anyone, Rania. He is far above all the rest.”
• They walked side by side toward the classroom building, Lia talking nonstop about how wonderful it all was. She truly believed Rania deserved someone far better than the cowardly, small-hearted Arkan. This man who had just appeared seemed so calm and dignified, as if the whole world bowed to him with just a single glance. In Lia’s eyes, he was the greatest gift fate had ever sent, to heal every wound Arkan had left behind.
• “You must keep him close,” Lia said suddenly, her tone turning serious yet full of hope. “Don’t let him go. You saw how he treated you? He came himself to return your phone… that means he cares.”
• Rania let out a long breath, letting the morning wind touch her still-warm cheeks.
• “We don’t know what his intentions are, Lia. He just returned my phone and left.”
• “You left your phone behind last night, didn’t you?” Lia turned to her sharply. “He kept it on purpose. He came here today on purpose. This is not a coincidence, Rania. A man with that much wealth would never go to such trouble just to return an ordinary phone.”
• Rania fell silent. She could not argue with her friend. The thought had crossed her mind too, but she had tried to push it away. As they grew closer to the building, Lia spoke of an idea that made Rania’s head spin all at once.
• “If that is the case, you should get closer to him,” Lia whispered, her eyes glowing with a plan that seemed too good to be true. “Stay near him, don’t let him go. Who knows, he might be able to help restore your father’s failing company. With his power and wealth, it would be nothing for him.”
• Rania stopped walking immediately, looking at her friend with disbelief.
• “Are you telling me to approach him only for that?” she asked quietly but firmly. “To use his feelings just for money? That is no different from Arkan, Lia. It is insulting.”
• “That is not what I meant at all!” Lia quickly defended herself, softening her tone as she realized she had spoken carelessly. “I just… I see a good opportunity. He seems to like you. You deserve happiness and stability again. That does not mean you have to give up your dignity to get it.”
• Rania shook her head slowly and continued walking, her mind still tangled in conflicting thoughts.
• “If he truly likes me, he will speak clearly to me. He will tell me who he is and what he wants. He will not just return a phone and leave without saying a single word. I do not want to guess what he feels, let alone ask for his help when I do not even understand what is happening between us yet.”
• Lia was quiet for a moment, realizing how much more mature her friend’s perspective was compared to her own hasty suggestion. She gently linked her arm through Rania’s.
• “Forgive me. I only wanted to see you smile again. I did not want you to keep suffering alone.”
• “I know,” Rania answered softly, looking straight ahead. “And I am grateful. But let things unfold naturally. If he is truly meant for me, he will come back.”
• Hardly had Rania finished speaking when the phone she still held vibrated softly in her palm. The movement was gentle, yet enough to make her heart race once more. A new message appeared clearly on the screen, sent from an unknown number. Rania read it once, then again, holding her breath. The words were short, firm, and absolute, as if they were an order that needed no reply.
• “You keep the phone from now on. Do not contact anyone until I call you. Do not tell anyone about us. I will come for you tomorrow afternoon. Do not go anywhere.”