When my makeup was finally done, I held Eliyas's hand then I walked beside him to the guest hall, leaning on him not to flip and fall because of my heels.
Nana, Ines and Akrem were all ready and silently waiting for us there, when we walked inside, Ines immediately expressed her impatience saying:
_"we better head out now if we don't want to reach the party when the guests are leaving."
Then she walked out of the room without waiting for our reactions, we all helplessly followed her since, god bless her, she inherited her mother's character so no one dared to argue with her.
We went to my in-law's villa where the party was held in three separate cars: I naturally was in the same car with my husband, Nana was with Ines in the second one, As for Akrem, he drove his own personal car which, to my surprise, was a red very eye catching antique convertible car, people probably stopped driving that model in the 60's!
But I changed my mind about its functionality the moment he started it, and I heard the roar of a strong engine, Plus, he was the only one who drove his car personally, the rest of our cars were driven by chauffeurs.
When we were on the way, Akrem's car happened to cross ours followed by his protection team, and ladies and gentlemen, that man was smoking while driving!
The smoke tailed behind his car like flames in the dark lit by the white and red lights, that man was acting really against all my expectations.
_"Mr Houdil sure has an exotic taste."
I commented while observing his car vanishing in the dark in an insanely speed.
Eliyas who was sitting beside me reading some work related files on his laptop like the usual smiled faintly to my comment then replied:
_"I had the same opinion too in college, i found him quite interesting so I offered him a post in my starting company at the time, and he accepted."
Since Eliyas was in a very good mood, he put his laptop aside and he decided to chat about Akrem, he said:
_"His whole family are military people, he was trained on all sorts of martial arts during his upbringing and excelled at them, his parents were so surprised when he chose the business field, I guess he's skilled at hiding his true intentions."
The image of the not so huge Akem Houdil crossed my head, I couldn't imagine him beating people to unconsciousness. I carefully examined my husband then I asked:
_"and you still trust him?"
_"Not in a personal way, I trust his work ethics, he had so many chances to turn against me in the past, but he still chose to keep working with me although we were on the losing side."
I nodded in understanding, then kept thinking whether I should tell him about Akrem's weird behavior around Ines or not.
I finally decided not to do it, it was so early and I needed to confirm my suspicions first.
When we reached my in-law's villa, not only I was surprised with how huge it was (almost as big as ours) the atmosphere was so extragavent I thought I was at a public event instead of a private party.
The journalists were all gathered around the interior gate, taking pictures, filming videos and doing interviews, they must have been feeling very happy with such amazing opportunity.
All the arriving guests were checked by the guards, then guided towards the journalists where they would show off their expensive outfits and do interviews, but when our cars arrived, the procedures changed drastically.
Not only the media was moved away and forbidden from taking pictures, our protection team took full charge and they surrounded the whole place in mere seconds, then the path was cleared allowing only our cars to drive on it.
Without even having to see our faces, all the existing people already knew that the famous ruthless son of buelguassem filladi and his mysterious wife have finally arrived.
Was I nervous about meeting all these people? Not really, I met most of them while doing interviews in the past, I was just going to meet them with a new identity, plus I'll probably not see them again in the future, If I still had my previous job things would have been much different, since I would have to face them again after the party and my professional life would have been affected, in that case, I would have been inevitably so nervous.
The chauffeur opened the car doors for us, so Eliyas walked outside first, then circled around the car to finally stop beside my seat.
He extended his hand for me, then smiled.
Seeing his smile was so encouraging for me, I hang on his arm like if my life depended on it then I stood beside him.
My in-law's soon walked outside of the villa to receive us, my father in-law courteously nodded in greeting for us before he headed to Nana to help her out of the car, as for my mother in-law, she seized my looks up and down before she finally smiled in satisfaction and greeted us, you see, no matter how much that woman hates me, she would have had a heart attack if my looks were less than impeccable, she was going to introduce me as her daughter in-law after all.
I barely finished smiling back at her when a very surprising event happened, a third person came along as well! A man that I didn't know stepped from behind my mother in-law and he stood right beside her then greeted us.
He was a very good looking man to be honest, probably in his late twenties, as for the reason no bodyguard jumped on him and made him kneel on the ground asking for mercy, that I don't know!
I kept looking at him wondering if he was a distant relative of Eliyas or something, but I don't think it's the case, they didn't resemble each other at all.
This man had a long light brown hair which he held in a ponytail, his eyes which were looking at me at the moment were colored, either light green or hazel, their color wasn't so clear under that light, he had a high bridged nose, wide jaw, his tanned skin was contrasted with his light beard which was trimmed just perfect enough to put the lights on his exquisitely high cheek bones, even his eyebrows were shaped in a way that accentuated the attractiveness of his eyes.
To top his already irresistible face, he had a perfectly fine body as well, he looked very muscular under his suit, very tall as well.
This man ladies and gentleman is what we call " a walking temptation", he is either godly handsome since birth or the work of a very skilful plastic surgeon.
I don't think my husband would appreciate me describing another man this way, but a woman needs to be honest.
Anyways, I had no idea who he was, and why was he allowed to accompany the filladis although all the other guests weren't.
When I looked at my husband's face searching for answers, I realized he was as confused as I was!
But we soon had our answer, since this handsome man quickly continued his way towards Ines's seat, and he helped her out.
Then the couple carelessly held each other's hands and walked inside the villa not minding our existence.
_" Is this her new boyfriend?" Eliyas asked coldly.
His mother only nodded to my shock, I looked at the couple again and I admitted that my sister in-law's taste is indeed very versatile.
My mother in-law didn't seem like she was a big fan of this new boyfriend, her face started turning red of anger while observing them walk away, she obviously didn't admire their actions much.
Eliyas cleared his voice, then commented:
_" I see his manners are very poor, he didn't even properly introduce him self to us."
_"what to do, both my son and daughter have poor tastes in choosing their partners." My mother-in law sighed while eying me.
That sneaky woman!
I swear she won't live with a peace in heart unless she poisons my mood me with her awful words whenever she has the chance!
Being the calm and peaceful person that I am, IÂ ignored her, I just made sure to flex my neck in all directions to show her the necklace this woman of poor taste was wearing!
Eliyas who didn't appreciate his mother's funny comment as well properly held my arm, gently smiled for me then while leading me inside the villa he commented in his mother's ear:
_"Your taste is much worst."
I decided not to act petty about both their comments, I simply held his arm tight not to fall and embarrass my self, then we walked inside the crowded place.
Being looked at as Eliyas's wife definitely felt much different than anything I ever experienced, I never had such a large crowd staring intently at me not even when I presented my essays in college to a sea of people!
I was not part of the high society, so no one knew my background, I could hear questions like "whose daughter is she?" .."what family is she from?" .. "I saw her face before, is she an actress?" But none of those questions were answered.
Eliyas kept walking steadily until he reached a certain spot, we then stopped there.
_" We will soon be led to the dining hall and be arranged in our table, you don't have to worry about the guests, we will soon leave."
I nodded in understanding, then I watched as my in-laws and Nana slowly walked towards us.
When my father in-law reached us, he immediately led the way towards the dining hall like Eliyas has told me, we were seated in a large table at the front of the hall, while all the guests tables were in the middle facing ours.
Akrem was to my surprise already standing at our arranged table, he was speaking with our protection team leader when we were walking towards him.
I don't know why but I suddenly felt so sorry for him, there he was working hard like the usual, and the woman he was "behaving weird around" was in the company of another man, a much more handsome one, and much more immature as well.
When Eliyas and I finally reached him, he helped us sit in our seats then whispered few info in Eliyas's ear which I didn't hear of course, then right when he was going to take his seat he stopped for a moment and he stared at Ines and that unknown man.
And that look, ladies and gentlemen, was enough to confirm all my suspicions!
I hell know this look! I saw it so much on my husband's face that I became a master in detecting it: Eliyas had it when my first boyfriend appeared, he had it when Mr Ghemmari Nadir met me, and he had it every time Azziz was mentioned, the look which I should assume coming from pure jealousy!
Akrem Houdil was definitely jealous! Because he was in love!
Although I can't see why a man like him would love Ines but he was!
When he finally sat on his chair, his eyes accidentally met mine, he realized I was watching him.
I gave him " I now know your secret " look, then I looked away to watch the guests taking their seats next.
_" for your safety, you shouldn't eat or drink anything on this table." Eliyas whispered in my ear all at sudden.
While giving him a reassuring smile, I nodded in agreement.
Soon the guests were all arranged in their seats, the hall doors were closed, so all the people who wanted to act like Cinderellas and arrived late at the dinner party, they were naturally not allowed inside.
Only the filladis can act this mighty still no one dares to object.
My father in-law soon stood up, welcomed his guests then explained the purpose of the party, he told them about the accident Ines had and her current health condition, of course facts like she was hit on the head by a pottery vase by her grandmother were replaced with a falling accident instead, as for her stay at her brother's villa, it was explained as her sister in-law's, namely me, wish to personally take care of her health because we are close friends since childhood, which is hilariously funny.
My father in-law next narrated the love story of Eliyas and I, he said Eliyas and I fell for one another when we met again a couple of years ago, then we soon married under his blessings, it was my wish to not appear to the public until I familiarize my self with my new environment, which are all lies, when he finally finished telling the tearful story of our heavenly love which defied all obstacles he asked me to stand up and he said:
_"I introduce to you my most beloved daughter, Noursine Filladi."
I stood up, and I smiled for the applauses. Even I was impressed with the fake story of my endless and unconditional love for Eliyas, after such introduction, even if a piece of wood was presented as Eliyas's wife, the crowd would still admire it and applaud for it!
After I properly sat on my chair again, the public still naturally looked at me, Eliyas held my hand and asked with a worried face:
_"Are you OK?"
_"I'm fine" I smiled.
He sighed in relief, then informed me:
_"we'll leave pretty soon, after the dinner the guests would want to approach you and introduce them selves, and we absolutely don't want that."
_"what about Ines and Nana? Ines can't leave early, she's the center of the party." I asked.
He looked at Ines who was busy smiling for her boyfriend and he said:
_"It's fine, Akrem will bring her and Nana later."
Although I wanted to comment: "Akrem is the last person who should take your sister home after this party", I still preffered more not to say a word.
The dinner was soon served, the food really looked delicious but we didn't eat not even one bite, when I glanced at my mother in-law I could tell she was burning in rage, but who cares?
When all the plates were finally served and the guests were enjoying their desert Eliyas stood up, he cleared his voice then addressed his father saying:
_"we'll be leaving now, you can tell your guests I have an urgent matter to attend to."
The old man just nodded with a graceful smile while his wife cursed me under her nose as if I was the source of all the problems in the world.
As my father in-law announced the words Eliyas suggested, our "army" of bodyguards who were standing everywhere around the large hall stood in two long rows leaving a space for us to walk in the middle.
While we were walking in that space in the silent room, I turned to look at the guests who I left behind one last time, and I saw the looks of praise and envy in their eyes.
At that moment I realized one more time, that I indeed married a great man.