"You will not serve there!" Akhom boomed, mostly at his older sister, Nathifa.
"Shhhhhh, Akhom, you will wake mama." Hissed at him.
"I do not care who I awaken, you will listen to me. I am your brother."
"Soon to be a dead one if mama wakes up."
"Thifa, I will not allow you to become a slave. Not even for me. They are my debts that I must pay not you."
"My, my, haven't we gotten better with pronouns."
Akhom rolled his eyes. "Nothing will happen to me Akhom, Anzety is a good man, he will not bother me."
"And his guards? Guests? What are his values on that?"
"Do you hold me so low?" she whispered angrily.
"No, I do not wish for to be hurt, Thifa."
"You have to take care of Dakarai and mama, which means that you will need the money, this way we can be rid of our debts and take care of those we love."
"No."
"Shut up, Akhom. You know nothing. Have you no honor?"
"How can I have honor when you have stripped it away by paying my debts."
"Honor means family first."
Nathifa looked at her brother, a mixture of pain and hope shining in her eyes, she was so proud of her brother, so happy for what he had become. The debts weren't from gambling, weren't for doing the stupid things that young men did, but for food, shelter, and the little things that mattered. Her brother had more honor that anyone, more than probably her. Along with honorable, her brother was handsome, his features were strong and compassionate but could also be intense when he was concentrating.
"We'll think of something else…" he thought for a moment "I could marry someone richer."
"No." she threw the idea away instantly, he was too young for such things."
"Eighteen is hardly young."
"I'm going to do this."
"Please, Thifa, don't."
His dark unusual green eyes pleaded, his smooth mouth was turned at the corners making his face seem younger. "I have made my decision, and my contract."
"Then break it!"
"I cannot."
"We'll leave Sharm el-Sheikh, leave the trappings of poverty!"
"And go where?!"
"I don't know."
"We're staying."
Her brother suddenly looked resigned, his eyes still begged her not to go, but he didn't argue.
"I love you, Thifa."
"I know, I love you too, Akhom. Now go and check on Dakarai."
He nodded and smiled.
Two days Later: The meeting.
Two days later Thifa was ready to give in Akhom's pleading, she convinced herself that these were just the first day jitters she would feel better once she got used to the schedule. Her heart raced as she walked ever closer to Anzety's palatial home, her palms sweated and her mind felt like it was going to burst. She tried slowing her pace, she stopped for a moment to watch the sunrise but it came to slow and she started once again, nervousness made her stumble a few times and stutter as she tried to speak, rehearse.
The sun had almost risen when she arrived, she knocked on the back doors of the large and very sumptuous house, another slave opened the door and led her into the kitchen then in the living room. Thifa was amazed at what she saw, paintings and veils, silk and satin, everything was covered in wealth and yet it appeared to be lived in instead of their for show. Inside of the "living room" were three men and two women, they were dressed in silks and satins as well, rich blues and purples, greens and reds, it made her feel underdressed as she stood under their scrutiny.
"Who is this?" a tall man boomed, laughing at some joke one of the women had told him.
"My name is Nathifa." She said forcefully, a little too forcefully.
"Pure." Said one of the women.
"Yes." She said in a low voice and lowered her head.
"Look me in the eye when you speak." The older man said. "I cannot stand cowardice."
Outrage blasted through Thifa but she said nothing, she met his eyes and kept her features bland.
"Ahhh, so the young beauty has spirit." The man elbowed the other man who was starring at her intently.
"I'm sorry, sir." She said instantly, then cursed herself.
"What is there to be sorry for?" the man with the intense brown-black eyes said.
She was without words. He nodded and smiled, her knees nearly gave out underneath her, she inwardly cursed herself again.
"She is very attractive, father." The younger man said, he was also staring at her, but not in a way that she wanted, his eyes were on her breasts.
"She is still in the room, son."
Thifa remained outwardly calm but inside she was raging.
"Why are you here?"
"Do you not remember, Anzety? I hired her as personal assistant."
"Oh yes. Good. Talk to the housekeeper, she will give you your tasks."
"Yes, sir."
"No, dear, we are not known as sir and ma'am here, you will call us by our names. I am Anzety, this is my wife Keket and my two sons Ardeth and Rashidi."
Thifa nodded and followed the maid back out into the hall.
A/N: good second chap? Review.