Chapter Five

"Ziza, Aziza?" Ferran shook her awake.

"Hmm?" Ziza girl groaned. He watched for as her groggy eyes scanned her surroundings. Confusion was the first emotion he read in her red eyes, then when reality kicked in, it tore at his heart when the sadness glazed over her eyes. The only thing that was stopping him from beating that bastard into a pulp was he had to stay at her side and get her back on her feet. Not even Ziza’s worst reaction to that could stop him. His little sister needed him. Maybe he’ll pay the jerk a visit tomorrow.

"Wake up, I made a snack for you. You need it after all the throwing up you did earlier." He whispered, gently nudging the small tray bearing a bowl of hummus and some pita.

Ziza rubbed the sleep from her red, puffy eyes caused by all the crying she had done for five straight hours. She told Ferran everything that transpired before she ended up a sobbing hot mess on his doorstep. Ferran's fiancée hadn't minded the girl’s unannounced arrival, she’d seen the state she arrived in and immediately understood the situation, and since Ferran knew her better, he’d let her do most of the consoling.

"Oh?" She said in a small voice.

"Yeah, I brought you something to drink if you want that too. I made it just the way you like it." He smiled sympathetically down at her.

“So it really happened?” Her question tore at him and at first he didn’t want to answer, but the sooner she accepted her reality, the better, “Yeah.”

Ziza simply nodded and sluggishly sat up on the bed, took the plate in her hands before digging in. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until she had taken the first bite. The meal was history within a few minutes. She practically inhaled everything given to her, and she didn’t feel embarrassed in the least bit.

"What time is it?" She asked after having swallowed the last of the food in her mouth, washing it down with a glass of water. Her head was pounding, and it felt a bit stuffed like a pillow.

"Just after six." Ferran replied after checking his watch, "I have to go to work tonight, are you going to be okay staying with Cala and Fiya here?" He asked. Fiya was his currently sleeping five-year-old daughter.

"I'm going to work too." She yawned.

"You don't work Friday nights." He pointed out.

"Yeah, I know. I'm filling in for Lulu, she wasn't feeling well, and so she called me while you were out. I had offered to help her if she got any worse, So, I’m coming with you." She shrugged.

"Ziza, I don't think that's a good idea. You're hurting right now and I think you should rest." Ferran argued.

"Exactly. I'm hurting and what I need is to forget Kevin, so I'm going to work whether you like it. Plus, I need the extra cash." She raised an eyebrow as a way of challenging him. He didn’t need to know this, but she was barely holding herself from bawling again by a thread. It had taken her five hours to say something or even think about Kevin without crying buckets, this was progress. So yeah, she had to get on with it at some point, why delay it and mop around over a liar? A liar who’d tried to call and text her so many times to feed her more of lies. After she lost count of them, she blacklisted his number, then deleted it from her phone. Good riddance.

"Okay, okay. But know that this means I'm getting a ride from you." He stood up from the bed.

"Fezza your car is back from the garage." She cocked an eyebrow.

"You think I don’t know? I just want to save fuel." He rolled his eyes, causing both of them to laugh before exiting the guest room.

____

She’d just finished wiping down a table when she saw a waiter beckoning for her to go to him.

"Yeah?" She walked up to the young man.

"Why aren't you getting ready? We're behind time." Ghaffar was on his name tag.

"What are you talking about? Late for what?" Ziza frowned, scratching the back of her head.

"Aren't you part of the catering services team that's going to the festival?" He asked.

"Uh, what festival?" She became confused.

"Oh come on, why would Lu even put you on the list if you don't even know what this is all about," the young man sighed with frustration, "The festival that's being thrown in honour of the prince." He explained

"Oh, okay." Ziza nodded her head incomprehension.

"If the boss doesn't know the list changed, I'm going to have to scratch your name from it." He announced, already looking at the clipboard in his hands.

"No, it's fine there's no need to do that. I'll take care of it." Ziza was quick to assure the man.

"You do have your National ID and your work ID with you right?" He asked.

"Right." She nodded.

"Well then get ready please, we're leaving in 10, we have to be there half an hour early." He walked away, disappearing into the kitchen. Ziza took that minute to go outside in the alleyway and make a quick phone call.

How come Lu had not told her about this?

She didn't feel like being around many people for a while, considering the earlier events that occurred today, she could only imagine how many would be at the palace! But then again when she thought about it, perhaps it was better if she kept busy, 'cause she didn't want to think about all of that. Once she found the correct number, she pressed dial and waited. Ten rings and three tries later, Lu'lu finally answered with a hoarse voice, "Hello?"

"Hey Lu, how are you feeling?" Ziza asked with genuine concern.

"I got checked out by the doctor after work today, and it turns out I'm coming down with a severe case of the flu. My head is killing me right now. Thanks for asking though." She sniffed.

"I hope you get well soon." She said then paused before adding, "Um, I just spoke to Ghaffar and he said something about catering at the festival. I didn't know you were going to be part of that team." She chewed on her.

"Oh my, Ziza I'm so sorry, you offered to help and I-I just assumed you knew about that. Goodness, you must have had plans. I'm so sorry, let me- okay I'll try to get someone else to go in my place if-"

"Whoa. No, it's okay Lu it surprised me that’s all. I'll do it, I didn't have any plans anyway...plus I needed the extra work to get some things off of my mind." She was quick to assure the panicking woman.

"Are you sure?” She hesitated, “Because you don't have to feel obligated to do this for me Ziza, you've already done more than enough."

"No, it's cool. You just focus on getting well soon, I can take care of it." Ziza nodded.

"Okay, thank you so much you're a total lifesaver."

"Bye," Ziza ended the call and sighed before entering the building. What had she gotten herself into this time? At least the two wonderful outcomes about this whole topic, was she could go with Ferran which meant she had someone to talk to and she also had a lot of work to do to keep her more than occupied enough the entire time. Only heavens knew how much she needed to stay outside of her mind for the time being.

"Hey, seems like I'm joining the party after all." She announced to Ferran who she who was cutting vegetables so fast and furious.

"What? How?" Ferran turned to look at her, his brow raised in question. As always, the kitchen was busy and a tad noisy with people shouting out orders and the chef's scuttling around to get the orders on time. But tonight was extra.

"Yeah. Turns out Lu was part of you guys and since she's sick and I'm taking her place here? I'm going." Ziza grinned.

"Did you clear it with the boss?" He asked as he moved to his pots with Ziza following close behind.

"I will take care of it don't worry. My name's already on the list." She reassured him.

"Well, at least I will have someone to talk to." He grinned down at her.

"That's what you think. I'll be busy admiring the place." Ziza twirled, a dreamy smile on her lips.

"You idiot." Ferran laughed and bumped her away with his hip.

"Can you believe it? Abu Marad palace. I've been dreaming about this moment for my entire life. Meet the queen—"

"Whoa, now you are getting way over your head." He whistled, "stop daydreaming and go get ready, I’m sure we're about to leave." He laid his hands on her shoulders and turned her around so her back was facing his then he nudged her forward gently.

"Fine, save me a seat next to you in the van." She yelled over her shoulder.

________

"Wow. Talk about maximum security." She muttered under her breath to Ferran. If this was the amount of security at the staff entrance? She would hate to see just how much more was at the main gate where the high society guests were coming through. It hadn’t been long since their van had arrived at the palace gates. Their vehicle’s engine had barely been switched off when where they were asked to step out and walk through the metal detectors. On top of those and having their bags searched, they had dogs sniffing everyone, including the vehicle. To say the royal guards were intimidating was huge understatement, those guys knew how to do their jobs.

"Tell me about it." Ferran murmured back.

"All clear." Lifting his hand from the M16 rifle slung from his shoulder, the guard in charge draw a circle in the air with his fingers, signalling the others into letting them proceed.

Ziza sighed in relief as they all clambered into their van. In no time, they were driving up the long avenue lined with beautiful, blooming blossom trees on both sides. As expected, Ziza had her face pressed against the window like a child in a candy store, sinking everything into her mind.

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"Ready?" His mother's voice came from behind him. Rafiq gave his bowtie one last tug before spinning on his heels so he was facing the queen.

"Ready." He gave the older woman a pained smile. He didn’t want to be here, but he had little choice in the matter, so he was going to have to endure the night until it was over.

"Oh, my poor son. I know you can do better than that." The queen laughed softly at his half-hearted smile, which only broadened after her remark.

"You look, beautiful mother." He walked up to her and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. It was an effortless task as she barely reached his shoulders.

"And you look handsome tonight. Just like a prince should." She softly pulled on his jacket lapels before smoothing them against his torso.

"Now we should get going unless you want to be late for your party." She took his hand in hers, pulling him along with her as she walked down the hallway with two guards following close behind. "Now where is that brother of yours, he is going to make us late. All the other guests are already waiting for your arrival." She woman mumbled to no one in particular.

"Stop worrying yourself. When is Hassan ever late?" He chuckled.

"If I don't worry then who will—ah there he is." She said as soon as she saw the younger brother waiting for them at the large, closed doors that led to the gardens.

Like Rafiq, Hassan looked immaculate in his black tux and a matching bowtie. His burly body was snugly encased in a custom made tuxedo and the whole outfit was befit him.

"Mother, you look divine." He kisses her forehead as a greeting before acknowledging his brother's presence with a simple nod in his direction and a "Brother." The older prince reciprocated the gesture.

"Thank goodness you are early." She breathed.

"I told her there was no need to worry," Rafiq said

"We are already wasting time as it is. Let’s begin."

The queen interlocked her arms with her son's. Each one on either side of her as they stood to wait for their arrival to the festival and for the doors to be opened for them.

"Don't forget to smile." She said through her smile to which the two princes scoffed and grunted in displeasure.

Just after the master of ceremonies announced their arrival, the grand doors were pulled open for them. The red carpet had been rolled out for them. Prince Rafiq hadn't thought there would be as many paparazzi at the event but none the less, he tried to smile for the flashing cameras. People were showing love to the royals by screaming and clapping. All they had to do was keep their composure under the lens of the camera trained on them as they waved and moved on, greeting people along their way. The trio made their way to their designated seats at a long table reserved for dignitaries.

As they walked, Rafiq felt a light tap on his right shoulder, causing the tall man to turn his head to whoever had caught his attention.

"Rafiq." The girl beamed at him with a small wave of her hand.

"Rashida, you made it." He smirked, his gaze slowly drinking in her figure. She looked magnificent.