Kidnapped by the Arab

Ahmed took some time to visit his sisters Aaminah and Aanisa. They were daughters of a minor wife of his father and were 19 and 21 years old, respectively. When he arrived at his sisters’ house, he was received by his father’s wife, who had tears in her eyes. She told him how their daughters had attempted to escape on a yacht but were intercepted on the coast of a neighboring country. His father’s men caught up with them and forced them to return to the country. Since that day, she had no news about them.

Ahmed couldn’t believe how far his father would go. He needed to find out immediately where his sisters were.

“Don’t worry, woman. I will do everything possible to find my sisters.”

Zafir was in the United States, helping Cambell with his problem, which was not going well. They couldn’t obtain videos from the bar’s cameras or the building where Cambell lived. Someone had deleted them. The only option left was to delete the video from the internet every time someone uploaded it and hope that the scandal would be forgotten over time.

Several projects were set in motion in the company by Ahmed’s orders, and new investors were sought to restore ASTECH’s stock value.

Zafir was ordered to return to Dubai as there was nothing more he could do in the United States. Ahmed needed him to investigate the whereabouts of his sisters.

His father was known for being a harsh man when it came to imposing punishments. When someone broke the law, he didn’t forgive, even if it was his own children. That’s why Ahmed was surprised when his father requested to see him before dying and insisted that he should take his place.

His first, older wife had left him years ago, and he made her life unbearable. Despite receiving refuge in a powerful nation, he kept her away from their daughter, preventing her from seeing her mother. When his daughter insisted on her mother accompanying her at her wedding, the Sheikh pretended to agree but then had her brutally beaten, ensuring that she wouldn’t show up at the wedding. That way, he appeared blameless in his daughter’s eyes by distancing himself from the incident that occurred outside of his country.

Zafir returned two days later. Ahmed was eager to find his sisters.

“Boss, I came back as soon as possible. I did my best to help Mr. Morris.”

“Thank you, my friend. I need you to locate Aaminah and Aanisa. They must be imprisoned somewhere, and I don’t believe my father would dare to harm them.”

“You must consider that they were judged according to the law by the Grand Tribunal. They must have imposed the punishment, and your father only decided where it would take place.”

“I know, but if I find them, I must get them out of the country immediately. No one should notice what I’m doing, or they will search for them until they find them.”

“That’s true.”

Ahmed felt like his head would explode at any moment. He didn’t want this position; he wanted to return to the United States and continue his life. He would fulfill the promise he made to his father, help his family stabilize, and investigate if the rumors about the Amin family were true. Once he resolved everything, he would abdicate for his brother Arkham to take over.

The country was facing increasing problems. There were meetings upon meetings. His father’s marvelous environmental initiative had failed; desertification was increasing, and arable lands were diminishing significantly. Without making the right decisions soon, the country would run out of land for grazing and crops, which would result in the need to import everything.

He couldn’t dedicate time to Mía; he only saw her at night. Arkham used any excuse to be close to her. He was an agreeable guy, but his rivalry with Ahmed was the only downside.

Carlo Morán, on the other hand, wasn’t doing well. His bad mood was increasing, and he couldn’t find a single clue about Mía’s whereabouts. He had taken out his frustration on Sonia, leaving her completely ruined.

Despite being a minor, Caroline managed to emancipate herself from her mother. She had to be under the guardianship of an adult, and Thara presented herself as an option. She had known the family for years and was a longtime friend of Mía. Caroline claimed the company, presenting documents that proved her father had left it to her and Mía. She also presented evidence that showed Sonia had misused the fortune inherited by Mía from her mother.

Ahmed’s mother considered the mourning period over and was finally able to return to social life and set things in order in the palace. Her son hadn’t allowed Aracha to enter the palace during his absence. He didn’t understand that having the Amin family as allies was for the best.

The annual horse racing championship of the country was about to begin. It was the best time of the year; everyone had fun. The championship would extend for eleven days over three months, with high-profile jockeys participating with the best horses. After each race, the audience would enjoy a concert by top international artists. Betting was prohibited in the country, so the prizes were only for the competitors. There would also be auctions to acquire beautiful horses.

Ahmed invited Mía to attend the events with him and his family, and that afternoon was the first one.

Mía left her room wearing a beautiful light blue dress, slightly fitted, with long sleeves that allowed a discreet view of her shoulders. The length was below her knees. As a tourist, she could afford to dress like that. On occasions where protocol demanded it, she had to wear a tunic. She opted for high heels to match the beautiful hat she wore, decorated with a flower in the same color as the dress.

Upon seeing her, Ahmed was impressed. That woman looked beautiful no matter what she wore. He walked towards her, intending to take her by the arm as his companion. However, his mother intervened and prevented him.

“Honey, you can’t walk with that woman by your side. It would be very improper.”

Aracha Amin approached and took Ahmed’s arm, wearing a flamboyant dress adorned with precious stones and a large feathered hat. She seemed determined to attract attention, but compared to Mía, she looked overly adorned.

“But you can walk with her. She is your fiancée, and it’s appropriate for her to be by your side. Her family will be there, and they need to see that the engagement is serious,” Aracha said.

Ahmed wanted to object, but he knew that if he did, his mother would make Mía’s life even more difficult. He took Aracha’s arm and proceeded to leave. He glanced back at Mía with an apologetic expression, and she smiled sweetly, understanding the situation.

Básima wouldn’t allow her to join them in the same vehicle and instead, Mía got into the car that Ahmed had arranged for her whenever she needed to leave the palace. Aracha joined her, and Mía knew that despite her efforts to hide it, Aracha’s behavior towards her bothered her. They were about to leave when Princess Amira ran up to them.

“Merhaba! Can I join you, girls?”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Mía replied.

“Please don’t call me ‘Your Highness.’ I hate that word. I’m sorry for the first impression; in front of my mother, I have to behave as she wishes, but sometimes I don’t care about her rules. I’m tired of being told what to do,” Amira explained.

The car started moving, but it suddenly came to a halt. The door opened, and an agitated Ibrahim appeared, standing in front of the vehicle, trying to get their attention.

“Wait, I want to travel with you, girls!”

“Sure, little brother. I don’t think you’ve been properly introduced. This is Mía, and this is Aracha,” Amira said.

“Finally, I get to meet the famous Mía.”

“Famous?,” Mía blushed. Did they already know that Ahmed was sneaking into her room every night?