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Being the daughter of an oil emperor some might consider her lucky, envy her even. For Aaliyah Amrohi, it was a curse. Her life revolved around being the perfect daughter. She kept her parents happy, followed their rules, and stayed home until her father found a suitable match for her to marry.
Trade her.
To make matters worse, she was the only girl among her father's children. As a result, she had different responsibilities, such as etiquette classes and wine tasting sessions, whereas her brothers traveled the world and had complete control over their lives.
When her father deemed fit, he would allow her to accompany him to his meetings. Aaliyah knew it was a faux act. Her father would only let her go in the hopes that one of his fellow investors would take interest in her.
In her adolescence, she was allowed to reject proposals. Declining date after date. Accepting a few when she had no choice but never put in effort for the next date. Refusing a marriage proposal at the age of 20 wasn't unusual for women of their status; it even amused her father a few times but now, at the age of 25, Aaliyah feared she was running out of time.
Her father was growing impatient. Anxious. In their culture, having an unmarried daughter at that age was highly uncommon, and some people might wonder if there was something wrong with her.
This is how Aaliyah Amrohi found herself in this situation, totally bored at yet another one of her father's never-ending parties, this time with a bunch of American investors. At least she got to escape from her prison-like house for a while.
Sitting next to her father while nibbling on some baklava, her ultimate favorite dessert, she had a feeling they'd be stuck here for hours. Businessmen never seem to run out of things to talk about.
With nothing to do, she turned her gaze to the person in front of her.
It was a woman.
A very attractive woman.
It was a rarity to have women present at such gatherings, but Aaliyah was an exception due to her family name. The woman seated before her was one of only three women in the room, with Aaliyah and her mother being the other two.
The woman appeared equally disinterested, leisurely picking her dessert with her fork.
She had large hands, yet she possessed delicate, long fingers. A couple of scars adorned her knuckles. Aaliyah redirected her attention from the woman's hands to her face, where she found herself met with curious eyes.
oh.
caught.
Aaliyah maintained her gaze as she unabashedly observed, appreciating the remarkable beauty before her. The woman exuded elegance and grace, commanding attention with her stature that far surpassed the average height of most women.
Her face was truly captivating.
She had soft brown eyes and a well-defined jawline, accompanied by a few scars that added character to her features. One scar stood out just above her eyebrow. It was evident from the tight suit she wore that she was incredibly fit and well-toned.
She couldn't take her eyes off of her.
The American was first to look away, turning her eyes back to the men on the table.
The remainder of the evening transpired just as Aaliyah had anticipated. Her father and fellow oil traders engaged in discussions about their assets and sought to persuade the Americans of the mutual benefits of investing in their companies.
Despite Aaliyah's efforts to stay focused on the current topics in case her father decided to make a comment, it was proving to be more difficult than anticipated.
Occasionally, she would catch herself fixating on the woman seated across from her. At times, their gazes would briefly meet before the woman redirected her attention back to her father.
After a lengthy discussion, the traders and the investors had come to a consensus. They had decided to convene once more to finalize the negotiations and then commemorate their success with a grand feast before bidding farewell to the Americans.
Aaliyah's interest was piqued by the remark. She contemplated the possibility of joining her father once more with the hope of encountering the intriguing brown-eyed woman once again.
Perhaps this time, she might even engage in conversation with her.
The Americans stood up from their seats, preparing to return to their hotel and report the outcome of the meeting to their respective companies.
The tall woman walked towards the exit, casting one final glance in Aaliyah's direction.
Aaliyah wouldn't consider herself a brave person, yet as she gradually lifted her hand and bid farewell, she experienced a newfound sense of bravery.
Much to her surprise, she was met with a gentle smile in response.
The following week crawled by at an excruciatingly slow pace. In an attempt to make time go faster, Aaliyah found herself rereading her beloved books and dedicating hours to studying.
On Friday night, Aaliyah and her parents relished their meal in silence until her father brought up the upcoming banquet with the Americans taking place the following night.
"The negotiations went smoothly during our last meeting. I can’t see why they would change their minds now," her father commented.
Aaliyah cautiously seized the opportunity, "Speaking of the banquet... I was wondering if it would be all right for me to attend as well," Aaliyah asked.
Her father casted a curious glance in her direction.
"Would you like to attend?"
"I would"
"I recall you disliking these things," Asmar asked, confused.
"Father, I don't dislike those events. I simply saw it as a good opportunity to practice my English with some investors. You know how hard I've been studying," Aaliyah said, pretending to be coy.
"I'm aware of your studies princess" her father responded, pleased with his daughter's excuse.
"Alright, be ready by evening, and we should be all set for tomorrow" her father responded gleefully.
Aaliyah tried to maintain her composure as they drove to the celebration. One wrong move would cause her father to question her change in behavior. She accepted her father's elbow and made their way to the dining room, where classical music slowly played and loud laughter echoed throughout.
She settled into her chair, finding satisfaction in the fact that they were once again occupying their usual places. But as soon as she sat down, her breath caught in her throat when she spotted the elegant brunette approaching their table.
Today, she dressed in a stylish midnight blue suit, complemented by a crisp white shirt neatly tucked into a pair of tailored slacks.
Despite her best efforts to maintain composure, it was clear that she failed miserably as the brown-eyed woman seemed to be smirking.
After concluding the discussions, dinner proceeded smoothly. A few more glances were exchanged this time, and Aaliyah noticed that the woman held her gaze for much longer.
The businessmen promptly shifted their focus to the beverages, deciding to indulge in alcohol to commemorate the occasion.
Noticing the taller woman approaching the bar, Aaliyah discreetly made her way to her. She contemplated whether alcohol would aid in calming her nerves. Once she got her drink, she meticulously surveyed her surroundings in search of the brunette.
"I bet most people would find it pretty weird if someone was staring at them like that," a playful voice interrupted her search.
Aaliyah couldn't help but grin in response.
"Yeah, you'd think so," Aaliyah replied as she turned around. “If it bothered them that much, they probably would've said something by now."
The brunette chuckled softly as she looked away.
"Cruz Manuelos," the woman introduced herself and courteously extended her right arm.
"Aaliyah Amrohi," the shorter woman replied, gracefully taking the offered hand.
"So.. you're an investor too? Aaliyah inquired, eager to gain further insight into the intriguing woman who had consumed her every thought for the past week.
"I'm not," Cruz responded smiling, "I'm a translator," she explained.
"You speak Arabic?"
"Yeah, my father is Syrian," Cruz added.
"Do you like your job?" Aaliyah probed, hoping to extend their conversation.
"I do. It allows me to travel and meet new people, of course, there are times when I miss the comfort of my bed,” Cruz admitted with a bashful smile.
"I would love to visit it one day," Aaliyah quietly admitted.
Not understanding what she meant by that, Cruz gave her a curious look.
"America," Aaliyah clarified.
"Is there a particular reason why you would like to visit?” Cruz asked curious.
"Ice skating"
"Ice skating?"
Aaliyah nodded gently.
"When I was younger, I watched this movie called 'Kiss and Cry,' which was pretty sad, but ever since then, I've always wanted to give it a try," the green-eyed woman openly shared.
“Ice skating might seem fun, but trust me, falling on your ass when you're still getting the hang of it is not fun,” Cruz couldn't help but laugh.
"Have you ever skated before?"
" I have. When I was little, there was this skating rink near my mom's workplace," Cruz replied.
The two women gazed into each other's eyes, happy to know a small part of each other. Cruz briefly parted her lips as if carefully choosing her words. Finally, she resolved to say what was on her mind.
"If you ever have the opportunity to travel to America, I'll gladly show you around and be your tour guide for the day. The winter season in New York is perfect for ice skating," Cruz said with a timid grin.
“I’ll take your offer under consideration” Aaliyah beamed.
Noticing a strand of hair falling from Aaliyah’s tight bun, Cruz reached over, and gently brushed it away from Aaliyah's face, tucking it behind her ear. Aaliyah couldn't help but blush, feeling her heart race in response.
"I should probably go back to the hotel now," Cruz said dejectedly after finishing her drink.
"Ah, yes for your flight tomorrow," Aaliyah replied with a sigh.
" Yeah.. good night Aaliyah, it was a pleasure meeting you," Cruz responded with a smile.
"Wait," Aaliyah suddenly stopped her.
Cruz turned around to face her once again.
"Let me drive you to the hotel."
"You don't have to do that," the brunette hesitated.
"I must insist," Aaliyah replied firmly, not open to any arguments.
"Alright," Cruz agreed quietly.
The drive to the hotel was serene yet filled with an underlying sense of unease as both women were aware that their time together was nearing its end.
As the car slowly halted in front of the hotel, neither woman made a move to exit. The soft melody playing in the background served as a backdrop to the stillness that enveloped them. With a sigh, Cruz lowered her gaze and released her seat belt. With a tentative pause, she opened the car door and directed her attention towards the woman beside her.
"Do you want to go upstairs?" she whispered, her voice filled with nerves and anticipation.
As their green and brown eyes locked, time seemed to stand still for a brief moment.
Aaliyah's heart raced as she took a deep breath and nodded in agreement.
They quietly got out of the car before heading upstairs. On their way to the elevator, Cruz's palms started to sweat. She hoped that the green-eyed woman wouldn't notice her slightly trembling hands.
Lost in her musings, Aaliyah could feel her body growing warmer as they approached Cruz's room. For an entire week, she had indulged in fantasies about this very moment. In a moment of weakness, she had even pleasured herself while thinking of Cruz. Now that her daydreams were coming true, nervousness washed over her like waves.
Cruz graciously held the door open for Aaliyah, allowing her to enter first. After ensuring the door was securely locked, she turned her attention to her companion.
Noticing that Cruz wasn't moving, Aaliyah approached her slowly. She searched for any signs of hesitation before delicately pressing her lips against the brunette's. As they parted, Aaliyah gazed into those warm brown eyes and slowly reunited their lips once more. Cruz gently placed her hands on the back of Aaliyah's head, turning it to the side as she tenderly pressed her lips against Aaliyah's neck. She softly nicked the skin and sucked lightly.
In return, the shorter woman placed her hands on her hips and quietly moned as teeth grazed her skin.
As they made their way to bed, Cruz carefully lowered herself onto Aaliyah.
"You are truly stunning," whispered Cruz softly in her ear after breaking their kiss.
"So are you," Aaliyah replied, gazing at her with desire and something deeper.
Longing.
Cruz gently pressed her lips against Aaliyah's, savoring the intimate act. As their kiss deepened, Cruz softly requested entrance, seeking permission to further explore her mouth. The shorter woman willingly parted her lips and welcomed the soft tongue meeting her own.
That night, time seemed to not matter as both women spent hours praising each other's bodies and whispering sweet nothings. They made promises that only time would reveal their true depth.
As the sun rose, exhaustion finally took over Aaliyah. She lazily nestled her head against Cruz's chest, finding comfort in her warm body. With a gentle kiss upon her head, Cruz whispered, "Good night darling," before succumbing to sleep.
At that moment, for the first time in her life, Aaliyah drifted off to sleep without a trace of fear of what tomorrow may bring.