(A few days had passed since Ridwan's last encounter with Hannah in his office. As usual, he remained occupied with the affairs of Zaydan Holdings, determined to expand the company's influence while keeping his private business interests away from unnecessary attention.)
(Inside his spacious office, Ridwan sat behind his desk, studying a pile of documents. His expression was focused, and the room was quiet except for the occasional sound of papers turning.)
(Suddenly, the door swung open without warning.)
(Ridwan raised his head sharply, his expression immediately darkening.)
Ridwan: Have you forgotten how to knock?
(His secretary stopped abruptly. She looked flustered, but the urgency on her face was unmistakable.)
Secretary: I'm sorry, sir. I sincerely apologize, but I need you to see something immediately.
(Ridwan leaned back in his chair, visibly displeased.)
Ridwan: Whatever it is, couldn't it wait until I finished what I was doing?
Secretary: I'm afraid it can't, sir.
(She approached his desk and placed a tablet in front of him.)
Secretary: This just came to our attention. I thought you needed to know before anything else happens.
(Ridwan stared at her for a moment before picking up the tablet.)
(As he read through the information displayed on the screen, his expression gradually changed. The calmness on his face disappeared, replaced by disbelief and growing anger.)
(He scrolled through the information again, carefully examining the details as though hoping he had misunderstood something.)
(He had not.)
(Ridwan slowly lowered the tablet.)
Ridwan: Who is behind this?
(The secretary swallowed nervously.)
Secretary: I'm afraid we haven't been able to identify the person responsible, sir.
Ridwan: You haven't been able to identify them?
(His voice rose slightly.)
Ridwan: Someone is making moves against a company that is supposed to remain confidential, and nobody knows who they are?
Secretary: I understand your concern, sir. We are still investigating how the information got out. That's why I brought it to you as soon as I received it. We need to decide what action to take before the situation gets worse.
(Ridwan stood up abruptly, grabbing his car keys from the desk.)
Ridwan: Get my car ready.
Secretary: Yes, sir.
Ridwan: And I want a complete report on everything connected to this matter. Every name, every transaction, every lead. I don't care how long it takes. Find out who is doing this.
Secretary: Understood, sir.
(Ridwan picked up his phone and slipped it into his pocket.)
Ridwan: Nobody makes a move without my approval. Is that clear?
Secretary: Perfectly clear, sir.
(Ridwan walked past her and headed straight for the door.)
(His secretary watched him leave, then looked down at the tablet with a troubled expression.)
(Whatever had begun was no longer a minor business concern. Someone had discovered the existence of a company that was never meant to attract this kind of attention.)
(And Ridwan was determined to find out who.)
-------------
(Ridwan entered his car moments later. His driver was already waiting, and the door closed behind him with a quiet thud.)
Driver: Where to, sir?
Ridwan: Take me to Hannah's mansion.
(The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror, surprised by the destination but wise enough not to ask questions.)
Driver: Yes, sir.
(The car pulled away from the office.)
(Ridwan sat rigidly in the back seat, his eyes fixed on the passing buildings. His mind was consumed by the information he had just received.)
(He had spent years building his business interests. Every decision, every sacrifice, every risk had contributed to what he possessed today. Now, someone was attempting to interfere with an enterprise whose existence was known only to a select few.)
(And there was one person he could not stop thinking about.)
(Hannah.)
(His mind returned to her unexpected visit to his office weeks earlier. The questions she had asked. Her insistence that she had a right to understand his company. The way she had reacted when he refused to give her confidential information.)
(His jaw tightened.)
Ridwan: So, the rumors were true after all.
(He spoke so quietly that the driver barely heard him.)
(Ridwan leaned back, his thoughts becoming darker.)
Ridwan: You wanted information about my company. You wanted to know what I was hiding. And now this happens?
(He let out a bitter laugh.)
Ridwan: I should have known better.
(He had entered the marriage believing that, whatever Hannah's personal intentions might be, they could at least maintain a professional understanding. Their arrangement was simple. They would pursue their individual interests without interfering with each other's lives.)
(But perhaps he had underestimated her.)
(Perhaps the woman he had dismissed as merely ambitious was far more dangerous than he had imagined.)
(Ridwan turned toward the window, watching the road pass by.)
(Then, something caught his attention.)
(A young woman was walking along the roadside with another woman. She held several books against her chest, smiling at something her friend had said.)
(Ridwan's gaze lingered.)
(There was something familiar about her.)
(He leaned forward slightly, trying to get a better look.)
Ridwan: Wait...
(The woman adjusted her eyeglasses as she continued walking.)
(Ridwan's eyes widened faintly.)
Ridwan: Hazeemah?
(He was not entirely certain. The car was moving, and the woman was already beginning to disappear from his line of sight.)
(But he could not stop looking.)
(For a few seconds, his anger seemed to recede into the background. He watched her walk away, smiling with her friend, completely unaware that he was passing by.)
(The driver glanced at him through the mirror.)
Driver: Sir?
(Ridwan did not answer immediately.)
Driver: Sir, should I stop?
(Ridwan finally pulled his gaze away from the window.)
Ridwan: No. Keep driving.
(The driver continued along the road.)
(Ridwan turned back toward the window, but Hazeemah had disappeared from view.)
(He exhaled slowly and rubbed his forehead.)
(What was happening to him?)
(He barely knew the woman. They had exchanged only a handful of words during their first encounter, yet the sight of her had managed to interrupt his thoughts at the very moment his mind was consumed by something far more serious.)
(He looked away from the window and straightened his clothes.)
Ridwan: Just drive.
(The driver nodded.)
(Ridwan returned to his thoughts, but something had changed. His anger remained, and his suspicions had not disappeared. Still, the brief sight of Hazeemah had left him with a strange feeling he could neither explain nor dismiss.)
(The car continued toward Hannah's mansion.)
--------------------
(Hannah arrived at her mansion later that day, exhausted from the demands of her work.)
(She stepped inside, handed her bag to a maid, and let out a tired sigh.)
Hannah: Has anything important come up while I was away?
Maid: Nothing urgent, ma'am. Your lunch is ready whenever you want it.
(Hannah gave her a grateful smile.)
Hannah: Thank you. I'll freshen up first.
(She headed upstairs, changed out of her work clothes, and returned downstairs a short while later.)
(As she approached the dining area, she heard hurried footsteps coming from the entrance.)
(Before she could turn around, the front door opened abruptly.)
(Hannah spun around in surprise.)
(Ridwan stood in the doorway.)
(His face was tense, his eyes hard with anger. He did not greet her or offer any explanation for his sudden arrival.)
(Hannah stared at him, momentarily confused.)
Hannah: Ridwan? What are you doing here?
(Ridwan walked toward her.)
Ridwan: I never knew this was who you truly were.
(Hannah frowned.)
Hannah: What?
Ridwan: How dare you?
(His voice echoed through the room.)
Ridwan: I helped you, and this is how you repay me? You actually have the audacity to go after something I spent years building?
(Hannah stood motionless, trying to understand what he was talking about.)
Hannah: Ridwan, what are you saying?
Ridwan: Don't play innocent with me!
(He pointed toward her, his anger growing.)
Ridwan: How dare you attempt to take over my company? Something I built with my own effort, my own money, and my own time!
(Hannah's confusion deepened.)
Hannah: What company?
(Ridwan let out a disbelieving laugh.)
Ridwan: You still want to pretend you don't know?
Hannah: I genuinely don't know what you're talking about.
Ridwan: Badmus Holdings isn't enough for you, is it? Now you've decided to go after the other company as well?
(Hannah stared at him.)
Hannah: What other company?
(Ridwan shook his head in disgust.)
Ridwan: Unbelievable.
Hannah: Ridwan, you walked into my house without warning, started shouting at me, and you're accusing me of something I don't even understand. At least tell me what has happened!
(Ridwan took another step toward her.)
Ridwan: Someone is making moves to take over a company under my control. A company whose details are not publicly available. And suddenly, I remember a certain woman who came to my office asking questions about my business.
(Hannah's expression changed slightly.)
Ridwan: Now tell me, should I believe this is a coincidence?
Hannah: Yes, if you have no evidence connecting me to it!
Ridwan: Evidence?
(He laughed bitterly.)
Ridwan: You think I'm going to stand around and wait until you've taken everything before I act?
(Hannah tried to speak, but Ridwan continued before she could get a word in.)
Ridwan: I should never have trusted you. I thought we could maintain our agreement without unnecessary complications, but clearly, I was wrong.
Hannah: Ridwan, listen to me—
Ridwan: No! You listen to me.
(His voice became sharper.)
Ridwan: Whatever game you're playing, stop it now. I don't care what your intentions are, and I don't care what you think you're entitled to. You will not touch my company.
(Hannah's face hardened.)
Hannah: You cannot come into my home and accuse me of trying to steal your property without even allowing me to explain myself.
Ridwan: Then give me an explanation!
Hannah: An explanation for what? You haven't even shown me what you're talking about!
(Ridwan stared at her, breathing heavily.)
Ridwan: I came here to warn you.
(He straightened his clothes, attempting to regain some control over himself.)
Ridwan: If you try anything against me or my company, I will take the necessary legal action. Do not think that being my wife will protect you.
(Hannah's eyes narrowed.)
Hannah: Your wife?
Ridwan: Yes. Your wife in a contract marriage, if that is what you prefer to call it. Don't mistake our arrangement for permission to interfere with my affairs.
(Hannah looked at him in disbelief.)
Hannah: You have no idea what you're talking about.
Ridwan: We'll see.
(He turned toward the door.)
Hannah: Ridwan, wait!
(He stopped briefly.)
Hannah: Ridwan!
(For a moment, he stood still, his back toward her.)
(Hannah took a step forward.)
Hannah: At least tell me the name of the company you're accusing me of trying to take over!
(Ridwan's shoulders stiffened.)
(He seemed to consider answering, but after a few seconds, he shook his head.)
Ridwan: Stay away from my business, Hannah.
(He walked out without another word.)
(Hannah remained where she was, watching him leave.)
(The door stayed open for a moment before the maid hurried forward to close it.)
(Hannah's expression was a mixture of anger and disbelief.)
Hannah: What on earth was that?
-----------------
(The maid approached Hannah cautiously.)
Maid: Ma'am?
(Hannah turned toward her.)
Maid: Your lunch is getting cold.
(Hannah glanced toward the dining table. The food had been served, but she suddenly had no appetite.)
Hannah: I heard you the first time.
(The maid lowered her head.)
Maid: I'm sorry, ma'am.
(Hannah took a deep breath and looked toward the entrance through which Ridwan had just left.)
Hannah: Just leave it.
Maid: Should I keep it warm for you?
Hannah: No. Thank you.
(Hannah turned and walked upstairs.)
(Once inside her room, she shut the door and began pacing.)
(She replayed Ridwan's words in her mind. His accusations. His anger. The company he claimed she was trying to take over.)
(She stopped walking.)
Hannah: Another company?
(She frowned, thinking carefully.)
Hannah: What company is he talking about?
(She moved toward her desk, opened her laptop, and sat down.)
(Her fingers moved quickly across the keyboard as she began searching through the information she had already gathered.)
(She opened one document, then another.)
(Nothing immediately explained Ridwan's outburst.)
(Hannah leaned back, her eyes fixed on the screen.)
Hannah: So, you have another secret, Ridwan Badmus.
(She returned to the keyboard and began typing again.)
(Whatever had happened, she was no longer willing to dismiss it as an ordinary misunderstanding.)
(Ridwan believed she was after something he owned. But if he was wrong about her involvement, then someone else was making moves against him.)
(And if someone else had discovered a company he had kept hidden, the question was no longer simply what Ridwan was protecting.)
(It was who else knew it existed.)
(Hannah continued working, determined to find an answer..
----------------------------
(A few minutes after leaving Hannah's mansion, Ridwan sat in the back seat of his car, his expression still clouded with anger. He had instructed his driver to take him somewhere quiet, away from the noise of the city and the thoughts that had been troubling him.)
(When they arrived at a secluded spot, Ridwan stepped out of the car and walked toward a nearby bench. He sat down, loosened his collar slightly, and exhaled deeply. His confrontation with Hannah replayed in his mind, but rather than bringing him relief, it only made him more determined to uncover the person attempting to interfere with his business.)
Ridwan: (Rubbing his forehead.) How could someone be bold enough to attempt something like this? And why does everything seem so suspicious?
(He reached for his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he found his secretary's number. He immediately placed the call.)
Secretary: Assalamu alaikum, sir.
Ridwan: Wa alaikum salam. Do you have any updates for me?
Secretary: Not yet, sir. We're still investigating the properties, the transactions, and the individuals connected to the attempted takeover. We've been going through the available records, but we haven't been able to establish who is behind it.
Ridwan: (His expression hardens.) What exactly have you people been doing since I gave that instruction? I expected something more concrete by now.
Secretary: I understand, sir. We're doing everything possible to trace the transactions and identify whoever is responsible. Some of the records are complicated, and we're trying to make sure we don't overlook anything.
Ridwan: I don't want assumptions. I want facts. Whoever is behind this has access to information they shouldn't have, and I need to know how far they've gone.
Secretary: Understood, sir. We'll continue the investigation and contact you immediately if anything comes up.
Ridwan: And until then, nobody makes any decisions concerning that company without my approval. I want every transaction monitored. If you notice anything unusual, no matter how insignificant it seems, I want to know about it.
Secretary: Yes, sir. I'll make sure of that.
Ridwan: Good. Keep me updated.
(He ended the call and remained seated for a moment, staring at his phone.)
(He still had no answers. Whoever was behind the attempted takeover had managed to remain hidden, leaving him with suspicions but nothing substantial enough to act upon.)
(For a brief moment, Hannah's face crossed his mind. He remembered her visit to his office and the questions she had asked about his business. His jaw tightened as he recalled their confrontation, but he pushed the thought aside.)
Ridwan: (Quietly.) I'll find out who you are. Whoever you are.
(He slipped his phone into his pocket, stood up, and returned to his car. The investigation was still ongoing, and until he had concrete evidence, there was little else he could do except wait.)
(As the car pulled away, Ridwan remained unaware that the answers he sought were not going to come as quickly as he expected.)
----------------------------------------
(At Charles , Mr. Charles sat alone in his private office, examining a stack of documents on his desk.)
(The room was quiet, save for the occasional sound of papers being moved. He had been unusually distracted that afternoon, his thoughts repeatedly returning to Sophia's recent behavior and the growing tension within the family.)
(He leaned back in his chair and removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose.)
Mr. Charles: (Muttering to himself.) What is going on with this family?
(He had noticed the changes in Sophia over the past few months. Her anger, her obsession with Ridwan, and the bitterness she directed toward Hannah had become increasingly difficult to ignore. Yet whenever he attempted to understand what was happening, Sophia either avoided his questions or responded with hostility.)
(He placed his glasses back on and returned to the documents in front of him.)
(Just then, his phone rang.)
(He glanced at the screen. The number was unfamiliar, and for a moment, he considered ignoring the call. However, something made him answer.)
Mr. Charles: Hello?
(There was a brief silence on the other end before a male voice responded.)
Unknown Caller: Good afternoon, Mr. Charles. I hope I'm not calling at a bad time.
Mr. Charles: Who is this, please?
Unknown Caller: I believe we need to have a conversation. There is something you should know, but I would prefer that we discuss it privately.
(Mr. Charles straightened in his chair. The tone of the caller's voice was calm, but there was something about the way he spoke that immediately caught his attention.)
Mr. Charles: What is this about?
Unknown Caller: It's about a matter that concerns you and your family. I cannot explain everything over the phone, but I thought you deserved to be informed before things go any further.
(Mr. Charles's expression changed.)
Mr. Charles: What exactly are you talking about?
Unknown Caller: Please, Mr. Charles. I need you to listen carefully. Whatever happens after this conversation, I want you to remember that I contacted you because I believe you have a right to know.
(Mr. Charles slowly rose from his chair and walked toward the office window.)
Mr. Charles: If you have something important to tell me, then stop speaking in riddles and tell me what it is.
(The caller paused briefly.)
Unknown Caller: Very well. But before I say anything else, I need your word that this conversation will remain between us.
Mr. Charles: (His voice becoming stern.) You have my attention. Now tell me what is going on.
Unknown Caller: Not a word about this to anyone, Mr. Charles. Not even Sophia.
(At the mention of his daughter's name, Mr. Charles went completely still.)
Mr. Charles: Sophia? What does my daughter have to do with this?
(The caller did not answer immediately.)
Unknown Caller: That's precisely why we need to speak in person.
(Mr. Charles tightened his grip on the phone. His earlier irritation had disappeared, replaced by a growing sense of unease.)
Mr. Charles: When and where?
Unknown Caller: I'll contact you again with the details. Until then, please, keep this conversation to yourself.
Mr. Charles: Wait. You can't call me, mention my daughter, and expect me to sit here without an explanation!
(The line went dead.)
(Mr. Charles stared at his phone in disbelief. He tried calling the number back, but the call did not go through.)
(For several seconds, he remained beside the window, trying to make sense of what had just happened.)
Mr. Charles: (Quietly.) What have you gotten yourself involved in, Sophia?
(He returned to his desk and sat down slowly. His eyes drifted toward the closed office door as though he suddenly feared someone might have overheard the conversation.)
(He knew his daughter well enough to recognize that she had been hiding something. But he had never imagined that a stranger would call him and insist that he keep a matter involving Sophia a secret.)
(He picked up his phone again, stared at the unknown number, and then placed it face down on the desk.)
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