The Secret Arrangement (5 page)

Back in London they spent the following days looking for the ideal house for Ali. They end up finding a house with 3 floors in total; it was a huge house in Chelsea, London. The house had a Zen garden with lawn areas, wood with a small waterfall and a dining area at the rear, a basement with pool, sauna and gym, kitchen with dining area and a skylight ceiling giving to the kitchen a natural light coming from the garden, and a bathroom. On the ground floor, there was a huge living room with dining room, and one toilet.. On the first floor, a large bedroom with bathroom and huge closet and a small office, on the second floor they could find three bedrooms with reasonable areas with one complete bathroom.

Ali thought this was the ideal home to have a new family with Laura. He bought the house on site and in cash.

Laura asked herself why he wanted a house to live alone and just for a few weeks a year, as he was always travelling for business. But the money was his, and he did whatever he wanted with it. For the money Ali had, the cost of this big house, was peanuts.

Having lawyers finalizing the process of buying the house, Ali surprised Laura, asking her if she wanted to live with him. He said, that she needed to be aware he would be out for long periods of time and if she accepted she needed to learn living like that, however he assured her that she would have all the financial support she always needed, and would have help to manage the house, including having a driver always available.

Laura didn’t know what to say to Ali, she was completely taken by surprise, she wasn’t expecting for Ali ask her to live with him. She looked shocked at him, when he invited her, but living together was not in Laura’s agenda, she just wanted his financial support.

To Ali disappointment, Laura took longer than usual to reply and the answer she gave Ali, was not what he wanted to hear:

"You got me by surprise; to be honest I am completely in chock. I never thought living with someone in my life, well at least not know, I feel I have so much to see in the world. Please let me think, on my own this evening and tomorrow I'll give you the answer. Is it possible? "She said going on the way and hugging him.

He couldn’t let her walk away, that wasn’t an option. Telling her the following news immediately, he wanted to give the house he bought to Laura. He was hoping this way perhaps so she would change her mind and wanted to live together.

After leaving Laura, Ali was feeling insecure and he needed to reassure her, that being with him was the best option.

Ali called Laura "I know you asked to think about, but I wanted you to know, that you can move to the house, as soon as possible and decide if you want me to live with you. Whatever happens, I want you to know that I want you secured. Whatever happens, I want you to stay protected. Speak tomorrow?"

"Yes, see you tomorrow, kiss"

"Kiss honey"

Ali knew exactly how to disarm Laura and give everything as she wanted, the way she wanted. He knew how important financial stability was for her.

After Laura had received Ali’s phone call, she thought carefully about everything, but she knew she could not refuse Ali’s request, after all, the house would be for her and live with him was the price to get a home of 10 million pounds. She knew it would worth the sacrifice; She knew he would be away most of the time, so she had lots of time for her and to work on her secret projects, her books which had taking off already and was going very well, she got an online publisher and with an investment £2,000, she is hitting success.

Laura had found the answer, and she didn’t want to wait until morning to talk with Ali, decided to give him the answer he wanted to hear personally.

Called one taxi and went to the hotel where Ali was staying, when she went into the hotel, crossed the lobby to the lift, she sees for her surprise Ali at the bar, he was talking to the man Laura sighed for him in the Monaco Gala, but she could not understand what they were saying, she was too far away.

What would you were both talking about?
- She questioned herself. A terrifying idea crossed her mind. -
Does Ali also like men and was that man somehow linked to him in a relationship, or was it from a previous relationship that isn’t yet fully closed?
- They had never talked about that possibility.

She was questioning now everything, does he wants to life together so he can still have other relationships?
– Laura had her thoughts confused.

At this point she realized that they never talked about Ali’s previous relationships. She questioned right now if he had been married before?

She had no idea that Ali was already married with two other women.

There is something intriguing with that mysterious man; she was wondering why Ali doesn’t introduce him to her.

Not knowing what to do, Laura didn’t know whether she should leave or go ahead and interrupt their meeting. But she was feeling in her gut that she should stay away. Leaving the hotel without being seen by them, she returned to her flat.

Meeting only the next day as agreed, they have the breakfast together, after telling him that she accepted to live with him, Laura couldn’t resist and asked Ali what he had done last night. And he just said "Nothing Special"

He didn’t mention that he had a heated meeting at the hotel bar. She didn’t make any pressure to get more out of Ali, obviously he didn’t want her to know.

But now she was nervous, now she knew that the mysterious man was from Ali circles, but she just couldn’t find out why? Was it personal or business?

Laura couldn’t understand what was happening between them, and looked Ali was decided not to tell her either.

Embracing on her own thoughts she was already front at her new house, distracted with keys in her hand when she looked down at the street and saw the mystery man again, he was coming in her direction, he went directly to her and asked for Ali.

Laura didn’t know what to answer because she didn’t know what kind of relationship they had, but obviously was intimate enough for Ali to share his new address, or did the mysterious guy find it on his own? She didn’t know what to think.

Nervous and feeling her hands sweaty with her body trembling, she didn’t know if it was that secret relationship between both men or because of his captivating physical appearance and the most beautiful smile Laura had ever seen in a man. And now he was talking to her, she was feeling nervous, lack of words, and his voice was so dawn sexy and sensual.

She tried at some cost to get out some sound from her mouth and after clearing her throat, she was able to say that Ali was not in and took the opportunity to ask him who he was, because she saw him around.

"Yes, of course, I am so sorry for rudeness. I am Mohammed, Ali’s eldest son"

"Seriously?!" asked Laura in stunned disbelief that the sexiest man she'd ever seen in his life was the son of his sugar daddy, the man she was about to move in with and was giving her financial support.

Laura felt her body shaking more than ever, her legs felt like jelly and now if she needed to take a step knew she would fall, her head was like a whirlwind still trying to absorb what she had just heard.

"I saw you at the Monaco Charity dance with my father, and who are you?" Ask him Mo.

She didn’t know what to answer him if he didn’t know who she was, if his father never told about her to his son, it was obvious he didn’t want him to know the truth, and she wasn’t the one that will tell him everything. But she could find more about Ali from his son.

"I am Laura, Ali’s assistant ..."

"Nice to meet you Laura. In the charity gala I asked my father to introduce you, but he was upset with me and he refused to introduce us. And because he refused I thought you would be having an affair or he would be shopping around for his third wife. Glad to know you are only his assistant" Mohammed said smiling at her and sighing with relief.

Laura was more nervous than ever, the man of her dreams was now in front of her, and he was the son of the man with whom she maintained a secret relationship. And now she get to know that Ali was already married, and twice? And is looking for a third wife? That was terrible news for Laura, she didn’t want to get married, not before and must less now. Laura felt her head spinning, not feeling any better.

Mo realizing she wasn’t well asked if she wanted to sit in the coffee shop nearby and drink some water.

She nodded only her head and tries to walk, but she unbalanced and Mo helps her regain her balance, when his hands touch Laura’s arms she felt electric power crossing her body. She couldn’t help but feeling so insanely attracted to him.

After sitting comfortably, drinking water she felt calmer and asks Mo:

"How did you know your father could be here?"

"I stopped at the office, and there was the team of lawyers, they told me that my father was negotiating a house here and I decided to come and see it. I wanted to have the opportunity to spend some time with him, since he spends so much time travelling on business"

"Yes your father is a very busy man, you rarely see your father?"

"Yes, very rarely. He rarely visits his family back in Iran, although he has there two wife’s and all other kids."

"I am not sure, I am following, what are you trying to tell me is that your father was married twice and has kids? So you do not have a close relationship with him?"

"I haven’t had in recent years since he married his second wife. Presently he has two wife’s in Iran"

"Really? I wasn’t aware of that." Confessed Laura visible chocked.

"Yes, he is married with two women at the same time; it’s very common in some Muslim cultures. His first wife was my mother and the second wife he married a couple years later."

Laura could not believe her ears, he omitted to her that he was married, and was married with two women at the same time; Laura couldn’t believe what Mo was telling her, but now she needed to know more. Although she couldn’t ask him to much information she didn’t want to sound to curious and arousing any kind of suspicion, she thought it would be better to leave like it is.

Laura’s head was spiral she couldn’t believe she was a mistress all this time without knowing it, and Ali didn’t even care to tell her.

"Thanks for the water, I have to go now" She said to Mo.

"Give me your phone number, I would like to invite you to dinner." said Mo.

"I do not think that’s a good idea to go out to dinner with the boss's son" She said already ready to go out. But he stops her, holding hand, he said:

"Please let me enjoy of your company for dinner. Tonight at the restaurant Mr Chow, 9p.m., I will be there waiting for you."

She looks at him, slowly she pulled her hand out of his and without giving him an answer, she leaves. Laura just needed to get out of there, so much confusion.

She couldn’t stop thinking that Ali was already married twice, and she realized that he was looking for a third one, most likely he was expecting to be Laura his third acquaintance.

No. no and no, this will not happen to me. - I thought Laura – That’s why he wishes to live together, he intends slowly to wrap me in a life I always wished and when I realize I have no escape from him and the only thing that is left is marry with him. Oh no, no. That can’t happen. 

Laura was so freak out she didn’t know what to do, she was already wrapped in Ali’s life, she had already said she wanted to live with him, and she accepted already the million house.

How would she solve this problem now? She needed to find a way, but was she ready to abdicate from riches?

Laura called Ali asking him to meet as soon as possible, but he said he was on the way to Spain for an urgent meeting and would be back only the next day. To disappointment of Laura, she had to wait until the next day to have the conversation that needed to be face to face with Ali.

Now, without Ali in London, she is considering having dinner with Mo. Knowing she you would be playing with fire if she showed up for dinner because that man could put her heart pumping like crazy in seconds and if that was not enough he was Ali’s son.

She wanted to excuse her mind that it was only a dinner between new friends.
Nothing could happen
. – She thought over and over again – The truth was, she couldn’t help but feeling tremendously attracted to him, but she wasn’t unsure if Mo was feeling the same for her.

It was already 8p.m. Laura hadn’t decided whether she would meet Mo for dinner or not. She walked from one side to the other in her cozy apartment, trying to figure out what to do. After 20 minutes she decided to put a dress, high heels, touching up her makeup and hair. Managed arriving to the restaurant 15 minutes later, and saw Mo sitting alone at a table. When he saw her, he got up and went to greet her thanking for accepting his invitation.

They sat down, read the menus, comment the favorite courses on the menu and decided to choose from the recommendation of each other.

"You know” Started Mo while he was eating. “That night of the gala in Monaco, I asked my father to introduce you to me, as I told you. What I didn’t tell you is, since I saw you that night I couldn’t forget you. I feel inexplicably so attracted to you.” Laura was eating and as she was hearing Mo talking she couldn’t believe, that he was feeling the same for her as well.

He continued: “But in the gala every time I looked at you, you seemed not interested. But I was determined not give up so easily, I needed to see you again and confronted my father again in the other night, but strangely he refused to introduce us again. After he denied me once again, I had to know where you would be to introduce myself to you.” confessed Mo.

Laura smiled slightly and looked at the plate for a few seconds, she was not upset with him, she was feeling flattered by it, she had the feeling since she laid eyes on that man that he could be the man of her dreams and knowing that he was stalking her to meet her, so such a good sensation.

She was wondering where he was thinking that it could go? During the dinner something put Laura off, she couldn’t stop thinking that Mo was Ali’s son and that she couldn’t change.

After dinner Mo took Laura's home, parked outside the building where Laura lived. Got out, opened the door of his Bugatti for Laura holding her hand to help her out of the sports car.

Laura thanked the lovely dinner and Mo’s company, and gives the excuse she needed to get up early the next day, and when she was preparing to climb the three steps that led to the door building, Mo pulled gently her hand forcing her to turn around their bodies touched like a magnet, he looked at her for a moment straight in the eyes, kissing her in a long and intense kiss, igniting a burning desire for each other. It was the deepest kiss Laura had received from a man, and she was receiving it from the man she knew she couldn’t have a relationship with.

She was in love, truly in love for him, but it was an impossible love for her.

Laura ended the kiss hastily running abruptly up the stairs, wishing him good night before opening the door, while Mo was still in the bottom steps regaining his breath and trying to understand why she was going if she had felt the same as he did, he knew she had felt like that fire burning running through their veins when he touched her.

Laura closed the door behind, went upstairs hastily to the first floor, opened the door of the apartment, entered, closing it, leaning against the door letting herself falling against the door, feeling confused and sad.

She was afraid, that that kiss had awakened in her what she didn’t want to happen, she doesn’t need to fall in love now, not right now. She needed to think with her head and not with her heart.

Involved in her thoughts, she hears the door bell.

Her thought ran for Mo.
Was it him?
– Half of her wanted to be him, the other half doesn’t, because it could mean huge problems.

"Who is it?" She asks.

"I arrived earlier and decided to stop by before I go to the hotel, as earlier you sounded on the phone a little bit anxious. Can I come in?"

Laura let Ali in, open the door and he went upstairs. Laura tried to compose mentally, took her shoes off, ruffled her hair to give the look she was at home for long.

"Hello you!" She said, trying to sound cheerful to see him. "I was going to sleep right now. How did it go today?" She asks closing the door behind.

"Hi, I wanted to surprise you. But while I was arriving at your door I saw you were with Mo. I guess you met him although I asked him not to.” Ali said to Laura visibly sad.

“I’m sorry” Was the only thing Laura could say.

He continued: “I know, I know, I'm much older than you and most likely you are not in love with me. I knew it was too early for you to move in; all this was a terrible mistake. I honestly thought I could buy you, but I was wrong.”

“I am confused Ali, I always thought you just wanted a good time with me and exchange you would help me financially. You forgot to tell me that you are already married and that you have kids and most likely you are looking for a third wife. Is that true?” - She asks nervous, she couldn’t believe Ali was there minutes ago when she was kissed by Mo, his son. Now everything was over, Ali would be gone with Mo, so would be the financial support and her dream house, everything would be gone forever. 

“I saw you with my son, Laura, my son! That’s not fair! You are so dawn lucky you are in London and not in Iran young lady" He said visibly exalted.

"Why?" Said Laura already irritated. "Because you would spank me in public because I let your son kisses me? And yes, you are right, we are in London and here men aren’t polygamies, and it’s a crime by law be married with more than one person at the time. How come can you forget to tell me that you were already married? Couldn’t I choose if I wanted to be your mistress? I was your mistress without knowing, do you think it’s fair?"

“We are finish, tomorrow I will change your name as beneficiary for the house, please stop by my office during the afternoon to sign everything”

The discussion started to heat up, and both started screaming.

Ali heard words he never wanted to hear, he couldn’t help but feeling cheated and Laura heard them too.

Ali silenced suddenly and sat on the sofa, visible exhausted and disappointed, Laura calmed down as well and asked if Ali wanted some tea, he said yes.

In the kitchen while she was preparing tea, Laura remembered the mysterious herbs that old women gave her, warning her that it was something very powerful, if she decided one day to use it. Laura inserted herbs mixed with tea for Ali. Laura was nervous from the discussion and now she was nervous, to know if the herbs would give her the result she needed.

Back in the living room, she sat on the other sofa, handles the special tea to Ali. He swallows slowly as he continued talking to Laura. “It was very nice to meet you. I need to go”

When he was about to finishing the tea, he started to feel dizzying and his heart race wildly, bending around his own arms visibly with sudden chest pain and shortness of breath, ending up falling on the floor.

Laura didn’t realize for the first seconds what was happening, but when she saw him lifeless in the middle of the room, she realized that he might have had a heart attack. At this point she knew the special herbs would be responsible for his collapse.

Now she didn’t know what to do, should she call for help or she leaves him there. Although the old lady told her that the herbs were completely untraceable, she wasn’t sure what could happened if someone found out about the tea. But Ali left her with no other option, she had her gold mine and she was not ready to abdicate from it.

In that moment she knew she needed asks for help, it was the best, she couldn’t risk if he really would die of being the first suspect. In the meantime 10 minutes had gone by and she calls for emergency and in minutes they were trying to resuscitate Ali.

They took him to the hospital, but when they arrive at the hospital, he was already dead.

Not knowing what to do, and to create an unsuspicious environment, Laura calls Mo to tell him what had happened, omitting that he was drinking tea with those special herbs she gave him on purpose and why he was excited and let it to a heart attack.

Ali was about to ruin everything and Laura couldn’t let him, she just took drastic measures in her hands, she was nervous just to find out if she succeed.

At the hospital with Mo, knowing his dad was dead because of her and she was feeling really bad. She couldn’t believe being capable of such a horrendous act, but it was what she thought would result for her needs. She just got caught in the moment of desperation afraid of losing everything. But now it was time to be strong and continue as a dedicated family friend.

At the hospital, his lover was dead and she was responsible for it, feeling worse minute after minute, she needed to throw up, and rushed into the toilet, emptying her stomach. Still feeling the worse person on face of the earth, she told to herself to calm down, it was now time to through away all venom traces she had, and the best place was the toilet hospital where no one would search for it. Down the toilet, all the herbs that this old lady gave her on her trip to South Africa were gone.

Mo didn’t know the truth about Laura and his father, she hopped it would die with Ali.

Now Ali was dead and Laura felt guilty for his death, she was shaking from what she did and feeling really miserable and sad.

Mo seeing how much she was suffering for his father's death, he felt the duty to drive her home.

She was completely silent on the way home.

He broke the silence: “The doctor said my father died most likely from heart attack, but they will do an autopsy just to be sure.”

Laura hearing this, she thought she was completely screwed, with the autopsy they would definitely found out the real cause of his heart attack. She was starting to panic on inside.

In front of Laura’s house, she broke the silence: “Please let me know the autopsy results.”

“Will do” Said Mo and drove away.

She didn’t ask Mo to get in and for Laura’s relief he didn’t ask to. She needed to wash away all evidences of venom at home, she couldn’t leave anything to chance.

Started cleaning everything, but then she stopped and put everything she touched before and close to the venom in a bag, went out and drops the plastic bag two streets down and through it in private house garbage.

That night she couldn’t sleep, every time she closed her eyes, she saw Ali drinking the tea and falling down the floor over and over again.

Laura spent following days at home, in bed, devastated by what had happened by what she had done and gradually realized that he needed to react, it didn’t matter now, she couldn’t fix the past, she couldn’t bring Ali back.

Two days had going by, when she received a call from Mo, she was nervous to answer, but she needed too.

“Hi how are you?” said Laura with sadness in her voice.

“You know, it’s sad. I am calling you because the autopsy result is finally out” Said Mo.

“And what was it?” Laura was already expecting for Mo to say that they found traces of herbs, the powerful venom the old lady give her.

“Well, they confirmed it was a heart attack.”

“That’s it?!” She asks with incredulity.

“Why? Were you expecting something else?” Asks Mo curious.

“No! Well...no, no, I am sorry, I am just not being myself these last days” Excused Laura.

“Do you need anything?”

“I am fine, thanks. I just need some time to heal from all this. I never been in a situation like this before it’s really hard to overcome. But with time I’ll get there. Thank you”

Finishing the call, she couldn’t believe, everything went well. All the desperation Laura felt in the last days of having the police coming in her house and arrest her, was now not an option anymore. She was free and would have hopefully lots of money, she just needed to remain calm and wait.

After three weeks, Laura receives a call from Ali’s lawyers asking to stop in their offices.

Laura went nervous for the scheduled meeting, she was expecting the house to be hers, but she could have a few bitter surprises.

When she arrived, she was immediately informed by the lawyers, that the house Ali bought last was on her name, and asked her what she wanted to do with the house.

Laura looked at the property papers and saw for how much Ali bought the house - £10 Million pounds. As she was still in silence, one of the lawyers said if she wanted to keep was a good investment, if she wanted to sell it he had already a client interested in the house and she could sell it for much more.

Laura didn’t want to appear to the lawyers to eager to sell the house, even if she didn’t want it. She asks them for a few days, she needed to think about it.