Tempted by Temptations

REVISED Epi Thirteen

Khadija POV

"Stop right there!" Ann exclaimed, quickly stepping in to prevent the man from getting any closer to me. "Back off!" she firmly commanded, pulling the man's hand away from me. Although I was too drunk to recognize the man's face, Ann's assertiveness gave me a sense of safety and protection.

"Let me help. I'm a friend," he said firmly as he reached out to take my hand. Without hesitation, Ann allowed him to do so. He firmly grasped my hand and placed his other hand on my waist to guide me smoothly and prevent any unsteady movements.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Carl inquired, puzzled by the man's sudden appearance and offer of assistance when Ann returned to his arms.

Georgina sneered, "Khad doesn't have any foreign friends, or any friends at all for that matter."

"It's Lucian Max," he responded, his tone solemn. "Just a new friend, I guess." At the mention of his name, I felt a surge of panic, but it was too late. He had already wrapped his arms tightly around me, and I was powerless to resist. With his commanding presence and forceful grip, Lucian Max exuded confidence and authority, leaving me feeling both intrigued and intimidated.

As I stumbled around feeling dizzy and disoriented, I saw him, and suddenly I recognized him from somewhere. His presence felt like a balm, and I felt my body begin to relax.

"Please don't move," he whispered to me, and I could hear the concern in his voice. "I'm here to help." His eyes held mine, and I could see that he meant it.

As we made our way to the Triple Towers, it took us about ten minutes to arrive, with the girls being tipsy and needing assistance from their boyfriends. Meanwhile, I was grateful to have Lucian Max by my side, even though I wasn't sure why he was helping me. Atleast!

Upon arriving at the lounge, my heart sank as I realized that Ahmed could be in a room close to ours. Being with Lucian Max might lead to him misunderstanding the situation, and I couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"I am still being assisted by Lucian Max, but I have a strange feeling in my heart. I just realized that Ahmed is in the room next to ours, which makes me feel uneasy. I can't help but keep thinking about it. I want to avoid any misunderstandings, so I feel the need to take charge of the situation."

I thought I could walk straight, but damn that tequila! It's making my steps stumble,

"You look terrible!" Lucian Max chuckled as we walked behind Georgina and Ann. Lucian Max suddenly became serious when he noticed that Georgina and Ann were eyeing him.

As we neared the rooms, my heart began to race with anticipation. I squeezed his hands in frustration and whispered, "I could punch you even when I'm like this!"

He merely muttered, "Stupid," but continued to assist me. The thought of being so close to the rooms made me feel both excited and nervous.

As I approached our room, I couldn't shake off the feeling that time was running out. Without wasting a second, I flung the door open and pulled Lucian Max inside, leaving my cousins Georgina and Ann to wonder about my urgency.

The people inside were engrossed in a movie marathon, and their excitement skyrocketed as Lucian Max abruptly appeared before their eyes, leaving my aunt pleasantly surprised.

Just then, the door opened, and Georgina, Ann, and their boyfriends walked in.Excitedly, my aunt glanced over and exclaimed, "Khady, please introduce us! Who is this charming man?" It was clear that Lucian Max had made an impression on her.

Despite facing a challenging circumstance, Lucian Maximus exhibited a positive attitude and introduced himself to my family with a smile. "Hello, my name is Lucian Maximus. I'm here to assist this young lady in getting home safely," he said in a reassuring tone.

"I gotta go ma'am," he said with a grin, looking at my aunt and cousins.

"Auntie, Lucian's gotta start his call center shift soon," I explained, giving them a lame excuse as I dragged Lucian Max to the doorstep.

"You're pulling me along like we're close, plus I was just walking you home," he teased, grinning and winking at me.

"I want to make it clear that I didn't ask you to walk me here," I said firmly, meeting his gaze. "Although I appreciate your kind gesture, thank you!"

"Understood," he replied, nodding before opening the door and leaving.

Lucian Max may have good intentions, but it's crucial to communicate and understand him.It's best if I avoid Lucian Max since I'm aware of Ahmed's issues with him. Even a small gesture like earlier could potentially cause problems. I almost forgot about my phone, but when I checked it just now, I noticed three unread messages.

(Three unread messages)

Ahmed: "Hello, my lady. It would be great to meet up tomorrow and catch up. I am your next-door neighbor and can come over anytime it's convenient for you. Please take your time to rest, and let me know when you would like to meet. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Meeting up tomorrow and taking a break sounds like an excellent plan. I can already feel the stress lifting off of my shoulders as I imagine myself in a calm and friendly environment, chatting with a nice person and forgetting about my worries for a while.

Mom: Khad, always take care of yourself, no excuses. Don't forget to thank your aunt and make prayer a priority. You better remember - I love you!

Jannah: You better show up tomorrow at your work. I'll visit you up there!

I only slept for about 5 hours but that didn't stop me from starting my day off right. My aunt cooked me breakfast and made me coffee, and I quickly took a shower at the hotel room and got ready for work. I didn't bring my uniform, assuming I could stop by my apartment and retrieve it before heading to the office.

I'm currently wearing the same shorts I wore when we arrived at the airport, paired with a black spaghetti top. It's amazing how this outfit still smells good even after wearing it just once. I just finished a delicious meal my aunt cooked for me, and I couldn't help but enjoy every bite of it. Meanwhile, my aunt seemed too tired to join me, probably because of her movie marathon last night. I highly recommend having a similar outfit and treating yourself to a home-cooked meal, especially if you have someone special to cook it for you.

As I was heading down to the lobby to leave my identity card, I saw Ahmed waiting for me. Our eyes met and he immediately came near me. It was a pleasant surprise, but I didn't let that distract me from my goal of getting to work on time. I retrieved my card and headed out, determined to make my day a productive one.

"Excuse me, My Lady? Are you free now?" Ahmed asked, nervously fidgeting with his keycard in front of the receptionist.

"I'm sorry, Ahmed, but I have work now." I replied, trying to keep my tone polite yet firm."Then why are you dressed like that?" he asked, pointing to my outfit with concern. "Are you still upset with me?"

"No, I'm not mad at you. I was just disappointed with what happened, but it's all good now. I have to go to work, Ahmed," I explained, trying to make him understand that my time was limited.

"Would you like me to pick you up from work?" he asked, his mood shifting to a more positive one as he gave me a kind smile.

"That would be great!" I replied, feeling grateful for his offer. With my main purpose in the reception being to leave my card, I could now focus on my work with the added convenience of a ride back home.

The receptionist's warm smile put me at ease as I handed her my identification card. "Noted, ma'am," she said confidently.

Ahmed's chivalrous gesture of offering to walk me out made my heart flutter. "Let me walk you out, my lady," he said, his gentle touch on my shoulder making me feel safe.Ahmed was the epitome of a perfect gentleman - his charming personality and impeccable manners were a rare find. I couldn't help but admire his qualities, which made him an ideal partner any woman would be lucky to have.

He called a taxi and open the door for me.