Chapter 125

Ricardo knew that Catalina was right, but he could not give the opportunity to his uncle on a gold plate, announcing her to their society without making sure to get rid of Omer.

The week started and even all his busy affairs could not make him realize that. His mind was still stuck replaying the conversation that he had with Catalina the previous night.

She was right for one thing; he had a wedding announcement to masquerade for. Because this was his original plan: to hide any attempt to Catalina’s life as the elders and especially Omer. For Ricardo to settle down meant his secure line of leadership and no one could go back on that, especially the position of the maternal place would bring revolution to their country.

With Hakan’s elder daughter they could use her for their profit, he was not blind to read into his intention. They had measures for blackmailing her even if she was not one of the elder daughters. With her or any woman from Almor it meant continuing of the tradition, binding their people to their interest, not wanting to have free people because they bring no profit to their old business.

While Catalina was untouchable, since she would be loved and cherished by him and people too for protecting and helping them release them from the demanding old traditions that did not fit in with the new world rule. The country that was torn apart would unite with the south and then no shared power will be any more, but one person to govern all of them.

The tefns were free people, they did not like being oppressed like the northern ones and their way of living and surviving for so long was a witness to that fact. Even they could embrace and accept Catalina without inspecting furthermore on her.

He believed that Zuleica would keep her safe mostly because she earned her respect more, rather than not stirring problems with him.

\-“Problems boss?” – Ali came in his office interrupting his train of thoughts carrying a file on his hands.

\-“I was thinking about my grandfather, I haven’t heard from him lately. Ricardo said to dismiss his thoughts.

\- “Well, if you are thinking about his health, mister AL Yaman is doing well. But…. If you want to ask him in person you can do that in person tonight.”

That made Ricardo stop and think. Ali told him before the day started that a pile of work would keep him tied up in the office for the whole week, so how could he leave.

Ali saw his questioning face and added:

\-“Guess who is throwing an immediate meeting with all the state heads!”

Ricardo was not in mood to play puzzles, so he leaned back in his chair with a dull tone said:

\-“Surprise me!”

\-“Your great cousin Omer! And from the information I got from my most trusted men about this is nothing good. He has prepared something big.”

\-“What has that idiot planned this time?” he asked irritated now, knowing that nothing good will come out of this.

\-“One of my trusted guys said that they have captured one of the girls from the southern and she is being keep in the dungeon, I cannot say if she was tortured or not, by from what he described he told me that they are keeping very high surveillance on her.” Ali explained.

\-“And who can this girl be, what can Omer profit from a southern?”

Ali was thinking hard when Ricardo added again:

\-“Maybe the identity of that girl can give us some insight, if not for the reason of this meeting, then maybe for something else that Omer plans in the future.

\-“What about Kane? He also works in the shadows as a hiding dog for his brother. If Omer does something that Kane as well might know it.”

\-“No information about Kane sir, He is a shadow himself as you said.” Ali answered sincerely, a bit angry that he had always had to infiltrate someone near Kane.

Even though Kane was the most incomprehensible of both brothers, still for Omer he had it easier to find someone that knew something. Kane was more reserved and acted only on Omer’s order as the little brother that he was.

\-“If nothing comes out until this afternoon, then check with any southern if they can get us in touch with Zuleica. Maybe she can confirm if someone from her tribe is missing or if not, maybe she knows anything.” He then continued, but Ali was a bit skeptical this time:

\-“You sure boss? Are we going to join hands with the southern now?”

\-“I think it will be also in her gain if any of her people are being held by Omer. We all know that my cousin has crazy ideas about his prisoners.”

\-“You know that no one ever has given us the opportunity to keep us in touch with Zuleika. Ali said with his hand behind his neck.

\- “Well you better start working on finding someone as soon as you can!” Ricardo said dismissingly, while trying to focus one more time on the pile of files he had in his desk.

But after some time, he felt that Ali had not moved from his office and that made him wonder and raise his head one more time while gazing at him with his cold look.

\-“SO?”

\-“I was thinking….” Ali was fidgeting how to find his words about what he was about to say, not sure how Ricardo would react to that.

\-“how about you ask, you know… just so we can get it faster…”

\-“Would you do me the honor of finishing your thought and stop stuttering my dear friend Ali?” Ricardo asked sarcastically.

\-“Well, miss Catalina, she is the only person to get in touch with Zuleica, faster that any of us. She probably has her number so she can call her directly and ask her. If she confirms it, then we will be ahead in time and meanwhile I will try to find the identity of Omer’s prisoner if I can. Let’s see if the same person is or not.”

That made Ricardo pause.

So, while he was finding excuses in his daily life to forget about her even thought for a moment, everything came back at her again.

What casualties he was having!

While keeping his poker face, he then said:

\-“Well, you do your part, if you find no one let me know so I can go at the school latter and meet her.”

Only after he said those words did he feel more enthusiastic, but he did not want to admit that in front of Ali.

\-“Of course, boss. I will start my search right away.” And so, he left with a smirk in his mind, knowing fully well that he gave his boss and friend another opportunity to go and meet his woman, his true love that he is so hard trying to stay away from her. Seems that fate has other planes for them.