9. Yasmeena
Chapter 9
Yasmeena
T elling Enrique and answering all his questions wasn’t something I thought I had to do today but I did, I don’t really mind because what can I do about it.
Checking over my outfit, makeup and hair, I decide that this is perfect; my light emerald floor length dress makes it easy to not be too hot outside with the sun even if it’s setting. The back is backless with the shoulder straps continuing into the strings and it’s tied in the middle with the strings from the side helping my dress stay on. My black stiletto sandals show off my pedicure and my hair is up in a ponytail with fluffy bangs to complete the look. I made sure my makeup covered the bruise from falling this week, it’s not hard to do.
Taking a deep breath, I grab my small purse along with my keycard with my cell phone and leave the room.
As I walk towards the elevator, I get a phone call. Sighing, I see my mother calling me again. Twice in a month, it’s a new record.
“Hello, mother.” I answer as I press the elevator button to the main floor.
“Seems you haven’t been answering your texts or emails, so I’ve resorted to calling you. What’s this I hear about a Spa relaunching?” Baba asks me.
“Hello Baba, yes I’m doing a relaunching. Did you need something from me?”
“Yes, why would you not invite your family? You want the media to say we’re not united? Is this how we raised you or taught you? This is why we didn’t give the company over to you and gave it to your older brother.” I zone out as I walk out of the elevator towards the event where everyone is already enjoying the show.
We decided to get different demonstrations of Spa experiences and live music in the background. Baba going off reminds me of when I was younger and I decided I wanted to color but I made a mistake when I did it on his work papers.
“Are you serious, Yasmi! You think you can just do anything you want and there will be no consequences. These are important and just because you want to color, it doesn’t mean you come into my office and take whatever you want.”
He grabbed my small wrist and pulled me out of his home office practically dragging me down the hall to the grand room. Baba gave me two open palm hits on my bottom then had me stand in the corner. No lights allowed.
“You’re not coming out until I say so.”
He shut the door and left me there. The rules were I couldn’t sit down or move. I needed to stay there. My body didn’t move and I stood there… until morning when he came in and realized that he left me in here.
“What are you doing in here, Yasmeena?”
“You told me not to move until you tell me to but Baba, I couldn’t hold it in. I peed on myself.”
“Go get cleaned up.”
He forgot I was there.
Now, I can’t sleep without any lights on. I didn’t get why I was scared of the dark or why it always felt like the dark played tricks on me but after my therapist, she made me realize it.
Even though Enrique asked that question, I needed him to know I would never put my child in the dark. Even if I lacked emotion, I learned what is good and what is bad for children. As an adult, I can’t undo everything because it’s too late for me but I know it won’t be for my child.
Baba is still going off in Arabic and English. My withdrawn state is even worse when I speak with him. I know that the atmosphere has changed as I enter the event. Matthew already knows that I don’t want to be bothered by my lack of enthusiasm on my face.
I stay in the back as my eyes peruse everything and my eyes land on Enrique’s as there looks to be some tension between him and his fiancée, I do wonder what that is about but not enough to want to know. While he talks with her, his eyes move and land on mine. He stops speaking as his brows furrow and he gives me a once over. There’s a disapproving look on his face when he stares at my shoes. I wonder what that’s about and I shrug as he continues to look my way while Baba starts telling me how as a businesswoman, I am close to failure and I will never be where he is.