BY YOUR SIDE

7

CHAPTER 7

INGRID

A wave of conflicting emotions washes over Ingrid as she stares at the thick wad of money. Gratitude mixes with a renewed sense of unease.

This unexpected sum is more money than she has ever held at once, enough to alleviate her immediate financial worries and provide much needed comfort for her ailing mother.

Yet, it also feels like a payment, a tangible representation of the disruption to her life and the dangerous secret she now carries.

She carefully places the envelope in her bag, a silent acknowledgment of the strange turn her life has taken.

With her few belongings gathered, she takes one last look around the opulent suite, a space that held both terror and an unexpected intimacy. A faint trace of Zayed's cologne still lingers in the air, a subtle reminder of his powerful presence.

Leaving the suite, she finds Zara waiting patiently near the elevator. The bodyguard's gaze is steady, offering a silent reassurance of Ingrid's safety. They descend to the lobby and step out into the bright African sunlight. The familiar chaos of the city feels both comforting and alien after the isolated intensity of the past few days.

Zara leads her to a black SUV parked at the hotel entrance. The drive back to the informal settlements is a stark contrast to the luxury she has briefly experienced. The landscape shifts from manicured gardens and grand buildings to the dusty roads and makeshift homes of her community.

As they near her familiar surroundings, a knot of anticipation and anxiety tightens in Ingrid's stomach. She is eager to see her mother, to hold her close and reassure her that she is safe.

She also carries the weight of her secret and the unsettling memory of the man who changed her life in such a dramatic and dangerous way.

Arriving at her small, she thanks Zara, a genuine gratitude in her voice despite the bodyguard's earlier warning. Zara offers a curt nod, her watchful gaze lingering for a moment before the SUV pulls away.

She steps through her front door, the familiar scent of her mother's medication and the comforting quiet of their small space washing over her.

Her mother, frail but alert, looks up with a mixture of relief and concern. She rushes to her side, the story of a cruise ship job feeling flimsy and inadequate as she embraces her beloved mother, the weight of her recent experiences pressing down on her.

"Oh, my Ingrid, you are back," her mother says, her voice weak but filled with relief. She kneels beside her small bed, taking her frail hand in hers. "The cruise was good, my child?"

She forces a smile, the lie feeling heavy on her tongue. "Yes, Mama, it was interesting but it is good to be home." She strokes her mother's hand, her gaze filled with love and concern.

The familiar scent of lavender and her mother's specific blend of medications fills the small room, a comforting anchor in the turbulent sea of her recent experiences.

She resumes her familiar role of devoted daughter, tending to her mother's needs with gentle care. She administers her medication, prepares a light meal, and listens patiently as her mother recounts the small events of her days.

She tries to maintain a semblance of normalcy, cleaning their humble dwelling, their routine a grounding force. Yet, beneath the surface of her actions, a subtle anxiety simmers.

Her phone lies on a nearby table, and her gaze drifts to it frequently. A silent, unspoken expectation lingers, a faint hope for a message or a call. Zayed said details about her new job would follow, but the hours pass with no communication.

Each unanswered notification, each silent ring, fuels a growing sense of unease. Is he truly going to follow through? Was his offer genuine, or simply a way to ensure her silence? Zara's warning echoes in her mind, a reminder of the chasm that separates their worlds.

Despite her attempts to push it away, a part of her, the foolish part Zara cautioned against, still holds onto the memory of his gaze, his unexpected kindness, and the brief, stolen kiss. The silence from him now feels like a heavy weight, a confirmation of the impossible distance between them.

NARRATED

High above the South African landscape, the private jet carrying Zayed, Karim, Ahmed, and Khalil speeds towards Durban.

A tense silence permeates the cabin, broken only by the low hum of the engines and the occasional rustle of papers as Karim reviews documents related to their Durban operations. Zayed sits by the window, his gaze fixed on the clouds below, but his thoughts are clearly elsewhere.

The image of Ingrid keeps intruding into his focus, a persistent distraction from the intricate details of their business.

Karim discreetly makes a call, his voice low and urgent.

"Elias, listen carefully. The situation has become complicated. You need to disappear, completely. Change your identity, leave the country if you have to. Do not contact anyone. I will make sure your family is taken care of, but you are a liability now." He ends the call abruptly, his face grim.

He is effectively severing ties with the man he sent to harm Ingrid, a necessary step to protect himself and their operation.

"The situation with the cleaner is resolved, I trust?" Karim asks, his tone deceptively casual. He wants to gauge if Zayed suspects anything about the attack.

Zayed looks at his brother, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes. "Zara's investigation is ongoing. Someone gained access to a secure hotel room. That is not easily dismissed."

"Accidents happen," Karim says with a shrug, his gaze unwavering. "Perhaps it was a random intruder."

"We cannot rule anything out," Zayed states flatly.

"Your involvement with this woman has created a risk. Enemies might see her as a weakness, a way to get to you."

Zayed's jaw tightens, but he refrains from arguing. He knows his brother's concerns are rooted in their dangerous reality. "The Durban deal needs to be finalized without any further complications," he says, changing the subject. "The buyers are expecting the full consignment."

The conversation shifts to the logistics of their Durban operation, the intricate dance of moving illicit goods and laundering vast sums of money. They discuss security protocols, meeting points, and contingency plans, their voices cool and professional, masking the underlying tension between them.

Upon landing in Durban, the brothers and their entourage are met by a fleet of luxury vehicles, whisking them away to a private estate nestled amidst lush, tropical gardens.

Their business partners, a group of impeccably dressed individuals, greet them with warm smiles and elaborate formalities. The negotiations that follow are smooth and efficient, years of established trust and mutually beneficial arrangements oiling the wheels of commerce.

Zayed and Karim oversee the finalization of the deal, their sharp eyes ensuring every detail is in order, every promise upheld. The exchange of goods and currency proceeds without incident, a testament to their well oiled machine.

Satisfied with the outcome, handshakes are exchanged, and assurances of continued partnership are made, their allies in Durban expressing their pleasure with the successful transaction.

With their business concluded and their partners content, Zayed and Karim, along with everyone, make their way back to the airport, the private jet awaiting their return journey to Dubai.

The humid Durban air feels heavy on their skin as they board, leaving behind the lush greenery for the familiar climate of their home.