Chapter 36

--------------Los Angeles, California.

--------------------------Ritz-Carlton hotel.

" Sophia Olyster"

She announced and the crowd applauded. Yayy, the attention wasn't going to be on me anymore. The crowd's applause grew louder and screams too. She deserved the award. But I really didn't see the need of doing this, no one needs a reward for being beautiful. The tiara and sash were placed on Sophia as she smiled widely. She wanted this. She was given a plaque too as the lady in pink put tiny tiara's on my head and a sash round my body.

" Ohh...I don't know what to say, I am really grateful for this award and I really do appreciate it. This was really unexpected and I honestly thought that my sister-in-law was going to be the one to get the award, but I am sincerely grateful to everyone here, I am glad to call UCLA my home, it was my home for five years, and UCLA is a school to be in. To everyone, we're all beautiful in different ways, internally or externally, believe in yourself cause you're going to achieve many, many things, thank you everyone" Sophia said and the crowd cheered her again and she walked to hug me and the red head. The photographers were taking pictures of us and at long last we went back to our seats.

" Congrats Sophia" Khalid congratulated as I sat back beside him. " Thanks brother"

" You deserve it" Ethan said and Sophia blushed again. " You guys didn't go get some food?" I asked as I looked around the table. There were only glasses of water around and I really felt like chewing something. " Faryah you ate everyone's shrimp bowl, what else do you want?, are you sure you're okay?" Sophia asked as she kept her clutch on the table. " I am fine, I'm just feeling so hungry again, climate change maybe, or hormones" I said again. " Yeah hormones" She was still giving me the questioning look.

" Uhmm wifey, I need to go to Sandra now okay, I'll see you at home" Khalid said as he got up from his seat. " Okay" I answered as he kissed my forehead again. " Ethan, take care of her okay" Khalid said as he pecked Sophia goodbye. " Sure"

" Drive safely okay" I called as he left and I saw him nod. Sophia and Ethan were having a little moment. Letting them be was a good idea. " Guys, I want to use the rest room okay" I said as I took my clutch from the table and got up. " Okay, don't get lost, can I come with you?" Sophia asked and I shook my head. " I'll be fine" I answered with a small smile and turned to walk out of the hall.

I was glad I was out of that crowded place. I needed air. I walked through some hallways and found the ladies bathroom finally. I looked at myself in the mirror immediately I walked in. There were three sinks and I took the one on the right. I took a napkin from the sink and took off my scarf. They had made my hair into a low bun as usual. I washed the aching makeup and dried my face. After that, I wore little eyeliner and lip gloss and brushed my brows. There was no one in the restroom, it was just me. I fixed my scarf back and I looked and felt more comfortable. I and Khalid were getting married. Hopefully and definitely the halal way. In a mosque, with friends and family. Peaceful and blessed. I really couldn't wait.

I got out of the bathroom and headed to the top floor. I wanted to get a clear view of the stars. I didn't want to go back to the crowded area. I walked past a bar before I got to the elevator.

Pause.

Rewind<<<<

I just saw Khalifa.

I took a few steps back and found him there, in the middle of some boys. They were screaming " Chug!, Chug!, Chug!, Chug!" what was he doing?. I really hoped it wasn't drugs. I had to go help him out, he wasn't supposed to be here.

The bar wasn't all crowded up. Some other ladies were here and men. The place was irritating but I had to help him out. I didn't know what was going on but I was going to. " Excuse me?" I called as I got to where Khalifa was. His eyes were rolling as he through a pipe away from his mouth to the floor. He looked weak. Six guys surrounded me as I swallowed my saliva. " You want to join us?, pretty damsel" One said as he tried to touch my face but I slapped it away and walked to where Khalifa sat. " Khalifa why are you here?" I asked worriedly. He was seriously drunk. " I......I am.....am...happy" he said and laughed a little. " Are you his girlfriend?" One of the guys asked and I shook my head and he came closer to me. " Don't you dare come near me or I swear, you'll regret it" I snapped and sent death glares towards him and he moved away. " Khalifa we need to get out of here, get up" I said as I threw one of his arms around my shoulder and pulled him up from where he sat. " Where are you taking him to?" one of them asked again. " None of your business, he's not supposed to be here anyway" I said with a stagger as I pushed them away and walked out of the bar with a big burden on my shoulder. " I.....I have a room upstairs, room 240D, fourth floor" Khalifa said as he slipped a card out of his pocket and handed it to me. He was too drunk, and if I knew any better his drink was probably spiked and it led to that. A normal Khalifa knows that alcohol is haram.

He was getting too heavy. I placed him carefully to lean on a wall and I took a deep breath to regain my strength. I moved away from him for a little while. His eyes were so pale and dull. He looked horrible. " Khalifa how did you get into this?" I asked as I moved closer to him. " my..... drinkk.....they spiked it" I knew it. " what were you doing with them in the first place?" I asked and watched him bend his head backwards. " They made a bet..." He started and ended by throwing up on my dress. This really couldn't get any worse. " Ugh, Khalifa come on" I groaned. I couldn't feel comfortable anymore. " I am so sorry, I have a pair of clothes upstairs, you can use some, I am so..." He was cut off by another session of vomit on my dress again. I couldn't stand my sight. It was too disgusting. If care wasn't taken I was going to throw up too. " I'm so sorry" he said as he tried cleaning his mouth.

" Come on, lets go to your room, why do you even have a room here?" I asked as I helped me walk towards the elevator again. " My rent was due on Monday, so instead of paying again I decided to book a room here, it was best" He answered as we got into the elevator. Yeah it was.

240D.

We got out of the elevator and I luckily found his room. I slipped in the card in a machine thingy and it opened up. " We're here" I called as I pushed the door open and threw him on a bed that looked so comfy. My dress was stinking horribly. " Thank you Faryah" Khalifa said as he sat upright on the bed. " Where are your shirts that I can change into?" I asked as I used my fingers to clip my nose. " The drawer over there, first one on the right" he said as he pointed to a white shelf and I walked to it and did as he said. " I'll just wash my face in the toilet before you go in" he said as he got up staggering. He was trying so hard to ignore his drunken state.

I found a blue baggy short-sleeved shirt and black sweat pants. I could use these, luckily my scarf wasn't disgusting. He got out of the washroom and I went in. I changed out of my dress and wore the shirt and sweatpants. They were big but at least they covered me up. I washed my face before fixing my scarf back on and I walked out of the washroom and found Khalifa drinking a cup of water. I was beginning to feel dizzy again, I was tired again I guess. I really was tired.

" Don't worry about your dress, I'll send it to your house before I leave tomorrow, I'll ask the laundry to wash it" Khalifa said as I took my purse from his bed. That was the best thing to do. I was feeling really dizzy. I got a hold of my purse. He looked sleepy. " You should sleep, goodnight, Ma'assalam" I said to him as he got up and walked really close to me. He was very very close. I moved back a little and he followed. No. Not again.

" If only you weren't married Faryah, I would've made you mine" He whispered as my back hit the wall that was very close to his door. It was slightly open. He slightly leaned in and his lips brushed my cheek and I instantly pushed him away. " What do you think you're doing?" I asked as he staggered back. " I'm sorry, uhh..... I am so sorry" I was disappointed. Really. I couldn't even stand his sight right now.

I hurriedly rushed out of his room and slammed the door shut behind me. I was too stressed to go back to the event. The music and all the crowd was going to stress me out more. I took my phone from my clutch as I walked into the elevator. I was going to text Sophia and head home. They didn't need to worry about me.

Faryah.

•Hey Soph!

•I am feeling really sleepy. I'm going to head home and sleep okay. I'll see you tomorrow. Enjoy!

Sent.

I got to the lobby and requested for a cab. In less than ten minutes, it was here. " Good evening sir, sir please can you take me to the Olyster residence. I don't really know the address but I'm sure you know, they're famous" I said as I sat at the back. " Yes ma'am" he answered and started driving.

I felt sick really. Kind of dizzy. I needed to drink some water. " Sir, please do you have a bottle of water?"

" No ma'am" he answered as I sighed and leaned my head on the car window. I tried keeping my eyes open for a little while but I couldn't. I slowly fell into a little slumber as he continued driving to the mansion.

" Ma'am, we're here" I heard the cab driver say as he tapped my shoulder to wake me up. " Oh sorry, thank you" I said as I took some dollar bills Khalid gave to me and I got down from the cab.

I walked into the mansion. It was already 10:40pm. The guards were going round the house as usual and I walked into the mansion. The lights were still on but no one was in the living room. I walked up the stairs and into my room. I really needed to sleep.

Pamela

I really couldn't stand seeing Khalid and Faryah together. Even though I tried pretending and acting nice to her, I still hated the idea of the two of them being together. I was going to grab any opportunity I could to destroy what they had. I couldn't watch someone else being happy at my own expense. Everyone loved that they were the perfect couple. I was thrown out of the spot light just like that. It hurt, a lot.

I was supposed to go back to Italy but I couldn't bring myself to when I got to the airport. I resigned from the hospital and couldn't go back now. I decided to stay in a hotel at least before I would make up my mind on what was going to happen next in my life. Khalid was right at some point. I couldn't run away from my family. Eventually they were going to see the truth of matters.

I stayed in Ritz Carlton hotel for two days, hiding from almost everyone. I was in room 241D. I heard that the UCLA 2019 dinner was going to be held here, second floor. Faryah and Khalid were going to be here. Everyone was going to see the perfect couple again. I stayed in my room. I couldn't risk Khalid seeing me, he was supposed to believe that I was in Rome. It was 10:00pm. I usually went out jogging by this time. I needed to use the back exit of the hotel to leave without Khalid seeing me. I got into my black leggings and I wore a blue Adidas sports bra and my Nike sneakers. I wore my hair in a ponytail, grabbed my phone and mp3 player and headphones and headed out. I opened the door slowly to see Faryah carrying a man to the room opposite mine. Woah!.

Khalid was the jealous type. I could use this to cause a little trouble between the two. I slowly walked back into my room so she wouldn't see me and I took my phone out to take a video. They left the door open. This was perfect.

It looked like the man she was carrying was drunk and he vomited on her dress. He went into the washroom as she took some clothes out of the drawer and waited for him to come out. He did and she went for 10 minutes and finally came out wearing his clothes. She took her purse from his bed and he got up and followed her towards the door. He was trying to pin her to the wall behind the door. But not less than two minutes later she got out of the room and slammed the door shut behind her. Luckily she didn't see me as she walked to the elevator.

Khalid was going to be mad at her for this but she could easily explain and go free. I needed to do something to break them up. I could edit this video and make it look like she slept with him. Besides she wore his clothes, they went behind the door for two minutes that I can prolong and make some really good edits. Then I was going to send it to Khalid and he was going to see that his wife slept with someone else. This was what I needed to break them up and be back in his life. No one was going to suspect me cause after all I was nice to his wife and we became friends. Strong alibi.

Khalid

I got the dresses from Sandra and headed back home. Faryah was supposed to be home. I wanted to sleep comfortably with her in my arms again. I got home and took her dress, mother's dress and Sophia's dress to Mother's room. She wasn't asleep apparently.

" Aren't you supposed to be asleep right now mother?" I asked as I handed the dresses over to her. " Yeah, I just finished up in the study, I'll sleep now" she said as she stood by her door. " Okay Mother, good night" I said and pecked her cheek. " Good night son" she said and I closed the door and walked to my room to change before going to Faryah's room. The house was quiet, as usual.

I freshened up and went to Faryah's room. Her lights were still on and she was already fast asleep. She was wearing my clothes, so adorable but she was also wearing her scarf. Something was off. I moved closer to her and unknotted her scarf and loosened her hair. I took a closer look at what she was wearing and smelt her shirt. It didn't smell like my cologne. The sweatpants she was wearing too wasn't mine. She wouldn't have worn Neill's clothes and these weren't mine.

She should have a good explanation for this by tomorrow. I took off her flats and used her sheets to cover her up. I couldn't sleep with her in my arms smelling another man's perfume.

I wanted to stay positive and believe something came up but my jealous thoughts were drifting someplace else. She would never do that to me. To us.

She hopefully couldn't.