Chapter 3

• Although sleep was taking over Lia, she couldn't help but part her lips in wonder when she set her foot out of the luxury car that picked them up at the airport sent by the hotel.
• They both had a kind of scarf that they improvised with the help of the flight attendants, to heighten a kind of Hijab on their heads, no one stepping on Saudi Arabian soil could enter without this attire.
• This country was counted as one of the most rigid of the Arab countries, right there where the Mecca was located, and for the believers, it was considered their sacred place.
• It must have been at least seven o'clock in the morning in England, But from what Lia researched, right now in Riyadh, it was nine o'clock in the morning. Two hours difference.
• The hotel across the street from her was an exaggeration of luxury. Right now she didn't understand how they could pay Mila for her stay here, and also allow her to bring an attendant. The shudder of embarrassment instantly washed over her as she folded her arms without taking another step.
• “This is...”
• “Beautiful,” her friend finished with a smile, as they watched several people come to greet her. I've been to several places in the world, and definitely, the Arab world is striking.
• Lia turned to her without having words to reciprocate, until two men welcomed her urging them to enter to be attended to inside the facilities.
• “Good morning, my name is Mila Jones,” they reached the front desk where they placed our bags. My reservation is in the name of Land-International....
• “Good morning, welcome!” a man at the front desk answered typing on his laptop while giving a polite smile. “Perfect... your reservation is until Monday morning, may I have your ID and company card?”
• “Of course,” Mila assured, pulling out her ID, which the man took to match with the on his computer.
• “Miss Jones, two bellhops will escort you and your roommate, along with the luggage and keys. The hotel will take care of meals, and any snacks you wish... in the evenings there are drinks if you wish to order them, you can sit at the common area tables for chats, although we will always arrange for someone to accompany you, just let us know.”
• Mila's eyes widened, pinching Lia softly, while Lia blushed from head to toe.
• “Thank you very much, sir... I want to ask... Is the beach nearby?”
• The man smiled listening to our question.
• “We have a private space of it for hotel members only... I just want to warn you that even though you are a foreigner, there is no possibility to wear basic bathing suits. The hotel can provide you with a catalog if you wish, but this part will have an additional charge.”
• “Of course... I understand,” Mila replied respectfully.
• “I also want to advise you that, whenever you want to go for a walk, you should always require a guide from the hotel because it is not advisable for you to walk alone....”
• They both knew that it was part of their culture, and although they were not going to take them into custody for that reason, it was almost mandatory for a man to accompany them.
• “We understand,” Mila answered with a smile, her company had already been preparing her for this for some months, and Lia was asking her all kinds of questions about the Arab world because she had no idea, but she was ecstatic. So she had to be prepared for any questions on her part.
• For a moment she thought, “How did Lia love something she didn't know?” when she realized that everything was not a fairy tale, maybe she would fall off the cloud. “Of course, this was just the crap she imagined not the reality,” Mila thought.
• The man smiled again for them, but at this moment he was being more serious than a few minutes before. He didn't know if they understood the culture or not, and his responsibility was always to guide all the strangers staying at the hotel.
• Because this wasn't just any hotel, it was one of the first on the city magazine's list. Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, 5 stars.
• “Our city is very safe, I only give you recommendations to make your stay a pleasant one. Our men are very respectful, but you know, in every part of the world there but expect the unexpected to be on the safe side, it is better than you are accompanied since you are foreigners... and of course, you are women.”
• Lia saw that the man was a little uncomfortable and Lia pinched Mila's arms whispering in a tame voice. “Say yes to everything... I don't want them to take us out of this country before our time...”
• Mila wanted to laugh at her friend's words, and taking her papers, she thanked the man and started walking towards the elevator where they directed.
• “Don't be afraid of everything here, don't believe everything you see on the internet either. No one is dominated here, it's just a culture very different from ours, and while we're talking, we'll go right away to buy some hijab better than these scarves, I would also like some dresses more presentable than our clothes for events and to go out in the street.” Mila tried to calm Lia with her words.
• “I think the same as you...” replied Lia moving her foot as the elevator went up against each floor.
• “If someone doesn't agree with this, then don't bother girl, you have to respect them, it's their country.”
• They both expected the bellboys not to understand her, but as soon as they entered their room, they said goodbye speaking perfect English, making the two girls blush with embarrassment.
• “We are fools to them!” -Mila chuckled but stopped when she saw Lia with a shocked look on her face. “What's wrong?”
• “Mila... this is bigger than my whole house, and... look...” she pointed to the glass wall overlooking the whole landscape, or the big city, they were maybe on the 30th or 40th floor, she didn't even notice the number of the elevator. I...
• Mila smiled, “I love to see that face. We'll have a good time here, though sometimes you'll get bored when I'm at work, which will be most of it.”
• Lia lifted her shoulders, looking outward, “I knew it from the beginning, don't worry about me, the fact that I'm here is already very exciting.”
• Mila let the air out walked to the glass wall and silently gazed out over the city. She came here for work, but she knew that according to all the perfect jobs she had done, Her boss had always trusted her. And he would not be angry if Lia accompanied her on some occasions....
• “Listen,” she turned to her, “I'm having lunch with my boss here in this very hotel... I don't think it will be a problem for you to accompany me. Some new points need to be explained to me because tonight I will have to attend a meeting and in the morning with your Arab man's world.”
• “And why don't I accompany you to that meeting instead?” Lia smiled mischievously.
• “That's a big NO, but I will ask if tomorrow night at a more social gathering, you could join me.”
• Lia bit her lip. “Don't you think you'd be overdoing it, I have no problem with staying here or doing some things at the hotel. Didn't you hear the man? We can't go out alone...”
• “Well... Shall we get the hijabs before your meeting? Presence is very important,” Lia teased her again while Mila snorted.
• “I should be asleep at this hour, Miss... But come on, don't give me that sick puppy face, and get your bag. We'll find a man to exhaust with our shopping..... “
• Lia looked for her scarf again and decided to put on a jacket to match her dress. The city was magnificent, its buildings and constructions seemed unreal to Lia, and the excitement on her face only made Mila laugh all the time.
• They spent three hours in the process and bought beautiful hijabs and Arabian-style dresses that would serve her well during her stay. Even not knowing that Lia would go on Saturday night, she had ordered a more presentable one from the manager so that they would not have any last-minute mishaps.
• Both girls arrived at the hotel's lunch, accompanied by the same man from the morning who had befriended her within minutes, thanks to the many gossips on the way.
• “Mr. Almer,” the man turned as soon as he heard Mila and did not hesitate to stand up with his companion.
• “Mila, welcome... this is Mr. David Brunel.”
• “Pleasure Mr. Brunel, nice to meet you.” And turning a little, she took Lia's arm. This is my friend Lia James... she accompanies me with this opportunity.
• Both men introduced themselves without making a big deal out of the new one and then they peeked out of their seats to begin.
• “Are you also an expert in international trade and public relations?” asked Mr. Brunel with interest towards Lia, who was looking at the letter with a frown? distracted.
• Mila nudged him and as soon as she saw her blink in absent-mindedness, she intervened.
• “She is an administrator...” she thought for a moment and then added, “She works with an important lawyer in London... he is a businessman at the same time, although he didn't finish some degrees, Lia knows the law and handles accounting to the letter. I've had a lot of help with her.”
• Lia's jaw almost dropped, Linkins was no one important, let alone a significant lawyer. She swallowed hard as she asked Mila why she was saying these things with her eyes?
• “Oh, that's good...! The best thing is the experience, we are glad you accompanied Mila, maybe you will get some skills from this trip...” added the confident man at the front.
• “That's what I told her...” Mila added smiling, giving her friend an eye-roll and then eyeing the waiter who arrived to take their orders. Which Lia was grateful for. She would go about writing down all the lies, which she still didn't know to what end Mila was telling them.
• The social conversation was pushed aside when Mila's boss, Almer, began to give her details of the weekend.
• Lia was silent throughout as she eat one of the most exquisite meals she had eaten in a long time.
• As far as she could understand, Mr. Almer was informing Mila that there would be an evening meeting added to her itinerary at the last minute, with high government commissioners from Arab countries. He gave some details of the meeting, but just as he was giving her a list of the important entities, the man next to him interjected, “There is a situation Mila, why I am here,” he spoke to her with familiarity.
• “I have an influential contact in the Arab set of countries, who asked me for someone I trust to work with the ruler of Kuwait.”
• At this moment Lia's full attention stopped on Mila's somewhat shocked face. She didn't understand her silence but still saw her nod, making the man see that she liked the idea. “Why a foreigner, I've heard they are envious of their posts.”
• The man nodded in all seriousness. “There is... an internal problem. The previous head of state, who they call Emir or Sheikh, has been assassinated.”
• Lia couldn't help but be shocked at the news. Even her half-eaten meal was no longer appetizing.
• “I have a lot of staff working with me, Mila,” Almer added. “But I can't anyone in this business. And if you manage to keep this job for a few months until they need your service, our company is going to be ranked among the best."
• Lia watched as her friend reddened. Now she understood that Mila was very important to them. “Too much,” she thought.
• She understood at this point, why they would let her bring a friend on this trip. Mila was perhaps the jewel in the company, and they would never say no to anything. For a moment she was proud of her friend, but at the same time, she was afraid of the trouble she would get into for that cause.
• “Profit and trouble,” Lia thought of the phrase her father always repeated when a good reward always led to bad consequences.
• “For how long would it be?” Mila's question came out cutting through the awkwardness a bit, as both men looked at each other.
• “We don't know, but Mr. Brunel thinks the man will need you to prepare someone he trusts?”
• “Or maybe not. At least until the internal problems are resolved,” David Brunel said.
• “Is it safe to go there?” Everyone turned to face Lia, even Mila's eyes widened when Lia intervened. “Excuse me... but it's something very important for Mila to make a decision” Her friend couldn't help but smile, and Mr. Brunel nodded.
• “Of course, thank you for asking, Miss James, the Emir is responsible for providing her with the required security. She would be an important person in his cabinet, so she will have all the backing possible.”
• “Also, that Kuwait is a more liberal country than this one, you won't have much of a problem with so many parameters. Besides, it's not that you will hold a government position, because that is almost impossible here...” added her boss Almer as if he wanted to convince her.
• “Of course... I'll think about it,” Mila answered, taking her glass and putting it in her mouth.
• “Maybe we'll see him today, but the presentation won't be made until I decide on the job,” added Mr. Brunel. “I must take care of my contacts.”
• Lunch was over in a few minutes, and after Almer gave final directions, he took his leave of the women.
• “Today, we have no problem with that, it's better than leaving her here alone, isn't it?” Lia heard the whisper of Mila's boss near her, in the meantime, Mr. Brunel was taking a call.
• She knew he was trying his best to get her to take the job, and he was very sharp. "I will don't worry."
• Lia and Mila went up to their room after the goodbye, and once they entered, one went to take a shower and the other decided to sleep without any contemplation. Tiredness had already reached its limit and tonight, somehow, both of them would have to make an important decision...