With the first rays of morning, Rahaf moved quickly in the kitchen, preparing a small cup of coffee before heading to work. She spotted her father sitting and reading the newspaper, so she smiled as she greeted him: "Good morning, Dad."
Issam replied with a warm smile: "Good morning, my daughter."
But before she could leave, she stopped suddenly… Something didn't feel right. She asked curiously: "Tala… is she still asleep? She didn't go to university today either? That's not like her."
Her father set the newspaper down on the table and answered: "Leave her, Rahaf. She was really upset yesterday, no one knows what's wrong. When she calms down, I'll talk to her and find out."
Rahaf nodded, trying to hide her worry, then walked out, heading to work.
Across the city, Reema sat in front of the mirror, putting the final touches on her appearance. She looked at her phone and opened the chat with Marwan for the first time in a month. She typed:
"Marwan… this is where it ends. I've decided to go my own way without you. I hope you stop sending me these messages. And by the way… I'm starting work at Al-Rayan Company. I don't know how you'll take this, but I hope you never enter my life again."
She didn't wait for a reply, hit the block button, then sighed and said to herself: "I'll make you chase me and watch me succeed… while you regret it."
She put on her coat, grabbed her bag, and headed to the company's headquarters.
Somewhere else, Marwan was lying on the couch when Reema's message arrived. He read it several times, and when he reached the part that said: "I don't know how you'll take this", his brows furrowed in confusion: "What does she mean? What's she trying to say with that?"
He quickly opened his laptop and started searching for the company name. It didn't take long before the official page appeared, but as soon as his eyes landed on the owner's photo and name… a shock hit him, making his heart pound hard.
"Rayan…?! The same man I accused her of cheating with?"
Questions rained down on his mind like a storm:
"Was she really cheating on me with him?"
"Did she leave me because I was about to find out the truth?"
"Or did she go to him willingly?"
Blood boiled in his veins, and his fists clenched so tight he nearly crushed his phone.
"No… I won't let this slide. I need to find out the truth myself."
He got up quickly, grabbed his keys, and headed to the company address he had just found. His mind was burning with anger, and every step brought him closer to a confrontation that could change everything.
Meanwhile, in Rayan's office, he was reviewing the files of applicants for the new position. The staff member in charge knocked on the door and informed him: "Ms. Reema is here for the interview."
Reema walked in with confident steps and a smile that carried a mix of mystery and self-assurance. She sat on the chair across from him. Rayan stared at her for a few seconds before suddenly asking: "I think we've met before? Your face doesn't seem unfamiliar."
She smiled with feigned innocence: "I honestly don't remember. Maybe you saw me somewhere before."
He nodded slowly, then began the interview: "How much experience do you have in administrative work?"
Reema answered calmly: "I worked for two years in an advertising company, where I was responsible for organizing files and scheduling meetings."
Rayan, wanting to gauge her skills further, asked: "What's the most difficult situation you've faced at work, and how did you handle it?"
She replied confidently: "Once, a conflict broke out between two managers right before we had an important meeting with a major client. I managed to calm the situation and organize the meeting schedules so that the client never noticed anything was wrong."
He then asked: "Alright… if your boss made a wrong decision, what would you do?"
With a slight smile, she said: "I'd politely point it out and offer an alternative… but in the end, the decision is his."
Rayan ended the interview with a brief sentence: "Alright, Ms. Reema, we'll review the files and send you a response soon."
Reema left the office with a glint in her eyes that said she wasn't just waiting for a job offer… but for the start of something bigger.
In her office at the company, Rahaf tried to focus on her work, but Tala's condition never left her mind. Her heart felt heavy, but the busy work schedule didn't allow her to dwell on it for long.
By the end of the day, Yazan sat at his desk, twirling a pen between his fingers while his thoughts were stuck on Rahaf.
"What does she feel toward me?… I can't figure her out. Or am I the only one feeling this confusion?"
He stared into the distance, unaware that tomorrow might bring answers to some of his questions… or make them even more unclear.
To be continued…