Chapter 129
Chapter 129
Ricardo still had a poker face. The unpleasant comments from the other elders did not go unnoticed by him.
Meanwhile, Omer and Kane were counting down the minutes before they would see Ricardo crack down.
\-“A Spanish woman, applying as a choreographer for the exchange program, attract the friendship of the southern’s tribe, the infamous Zuleika herself even dances with her in their temple. Does this mean something to you gentleman?”
\-“Maybe just a tourist as the others, that was enchanted by those mamba Wamba?” another elder said dismissively.
\-“Look, from what I see this looks like an affair between youngers. I don’t see why you Hakan got warmed up so much, the leader is not married yet to accuse him of betraying his wife. I can also say that even though our law does not allow adultery, we all have done that and closed an eye to that. And if someone denies it, the walls of the Sultan’s Night Cabaret can confirm it too.” Another elder said smirking as he was afraid that his own affairs might be commented on too. Then he continued: -“Isn’t it right Omer and Kane?” he questioned them, the hiding meaning to stay there pended for them to think about adultery also. Especially Omer and Kane were known for visiting the place the most.
\-“What disturbs me the most is involving with a foreign woman, that has brought more serious problems to our business that any other, gentleman.”
The energy in the room shifted. Talking about money was their weak point, their Achilles heel.
\-“A woman who attacks someone disciplining his sister in public gives idea to the other woman to protect and encourage each other against us and our traditional law. A woman who walks freely between our land and the southern with no formal permission, because we never gave that permission to anyone before, a woman who teaches our children and fills their head with God knows what, is after our leader and we have not received any information regarding her suspicious background being the daughter of a general. What can we wait from this?” Omer said approaching his chair again.
\-“We were accused of threatening her safety and my question is why? Why is this girl so special? What are the benefits we get from this? Is it plain satisfaction for our leader to interact with her or is there something else? Are we being fooled from this woman? Is she being supported from someone else inside or outside our country to get in contact with the southern to create a massive irritation in our population?”
\-“These are very heavy accusation nephew!” Hamaz said to his nephew, trying to reprime him about the weight of his words, but Omer had none of it.
\-“No grandfather, these are questions based on my suspension of why Ricardo has never mentioned to us how a single woman can involve with those salvages that we have prohibited to all of the foreigners, especially the diplomatics. They have almost a ban on meeting them. Does because she warms the bed of our leader gives her a free pass for fun or maybe another power game is going on here and my cousin kept it from us?”
As soon as he finished, Kane intervened:
\-“And this is not all. We have a surprise for you all:” Kane pointed at his men to go and pick up the surprise. He went out and came back very soon. It seemed like the person was already waiting there, behind the door.
It was Omer’s and Kane’s prisoners for these last days. Leyla.
The one who was initially arranged by Omer to create an attack on the first night of welcoming the diplomatic representants to damage Ricardo’s image, but with the unexpected intervention from Zuleica in order to save Catalina, their plan escalated and ruined them their chance also to make Catalina pay for the offense she did in public to Jusuf, one of their most trusted man.
They had tried to accurate her face and beating sign so she would be presented with as much dignity as possible in the meeting. She was the main witness they would use to manipulate what really happened that night.
\-“This gentleman, as you can see is a southern imposter from the south tribe that was that night with the dancing group.” Omer spat venomously.
\-“She was the one to escape and after the meeting we had with our leader as you remember we were accused that we sat her in to attempt murder but was skillfully taken away from her leader in disguise.
They were all shocked now, but Omer was not satisfied yet.
\-“Ricardo asked who was the one to put her up to this act, so I went one to investigate and got in her tracts. She was hiding in the mountains and last week when the Tefn were celebrating their return to their temple that grandfather had banned them, but Ricardo decided to play the merciful lately, I went out to catch this liar. And I interrogated her and she spoke the truth about what happened.”
\-“How can, we be sure; we can trust her?” one of the elders said.
\-“Because my brother has the proofs for it, check the last papers in your folder. There are images of her running from the party that night, while no other dancer left the building.” Kane said in defense to Omer.
\-“I can tell you myself, but it is better you hear from her.” Omer fanged like he could not support the truth and brough Leyla in front of them to talk about.
She was way more dressed and her make-up in the face had covered most of her cheeks.
\-“Dear leaders of our lands, I am here to witness to you the truth and mister Omer is right. That night I really was here to create chaos and attempt an attack on any of the foreigner’s life.”
Since Kane was seated, he opened the folder in front of the desk, took out the picture of Catalina with Ricardo and asked her:
\-“Was this the woman?”
She saw it and confirmed.
\-“I was there to hurt, not assassinated that girl and the blame would be on you, looking like an intern job.” At that moment she saw Ricardo’s cold piercing gaze. He did a cross sign over his heart, short enough for her only to see and understand it, while the others were unaware, Kane and Omer included.
\-“But…. This is not the reason I came here for. I am here to witness the truth of what happened.”
At that moment Hamaz could not hear it anymore:
\-“Who gave the order? he asked furiously calmly.
She paused for a moment before answering, her throat drying and her pulse increasing.
\-“My grandfather gave you an order!” Kane said not to wait for her attempt to ruin their plans and that made her flinch.
\-“Ricardo!”
\- ”What?” They all were stunned, while Omer smiled.