Lovely Concubine Read online

  Lovely Concubine

  Misha Anderson

  Translated by Ana Cristina Rodrigues Gomes

  “Lovely Concubine”

  Written By Misha Anderson

  Copyright © 2017 Misha Anderson

  All rights reserved

  Distributed by Babelcube, Inc.

  www.babelcube.com

  Translated by Ana Cristina Rodrigues Gomes

  “Babelcube Books” and “Babelcube” are trademarks of Babelcube Inc.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Lovely Concubine

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  Lovely Concubine

  Copyright © 2016 Misha Anderson

  Cover: MK CAPAS (MIA KLEIN)

  Final revision: Sabryne Cunha

  1st Edition

  All rights reserved. The distribution or copying of any part of this work is prohibited without the written consent of the author.

  Thanks

  My lines about love, will always be written in tribute and loving memory of Elizete de Souza Silva, my mother.

  In Neuza Borges Quitete’s memory, my dear aunt, with whom I was inspired to build the character Thurayya Abdul. Thank you so much for the generosity, for the love with which you dedicated yourself to me and for the sweet memory of your wonderful foods.

  To Elize Souza, my sister, for always bringing me back to reality, when possible.

  To my husband, Vivaldo Bomfim, who patiently endured, heroically, me talking and talking, admiring and being seduced by these fantastic men, knowing that they all only exist in my imagination.

  To my children: Pietra Stephanie and Pierre Hudson, my messy team, who also patiently seize my moments of seclusion, when I need to finish a chapter and I cannot.

  To my dear father, Orlando Quitete, a friend of all hours, that watches over my hunter of joys, for the sake of me and my family.

  To Wattpad's friends and followers and to the girls from Amazon, who love my stories and always encourage me to reproduce dreams more and more.

  To the book lover, Adriana Pinheiro, I thank you immensely for your support and encouragement.

  To my dear Samuel Nogueira, for our literary moments and to SPZ EDITORA, in the person of Cristiane Spezzaferro, for believing that I am capable.

  PLAYLIST

  The songs below relate to the characters and inspired me to write each line of this book.

  1- Neither do I - Rosa Passos (Dorival Caymmi)

  2 - Still good - Vanessa da Mata (Vanessa da Mata)

  3- Petal - Djavan (Djavan)

  4- Illusion for nothing - Leny Andrade (Johny Alf)

  5- A man also cries - Gonzaguinha

  6- What is love - Simone (Johny Alf)

  7- Tattoo - Elis Regina (Chico Buarque)

  8 - Absinthe - Fátima Guedes (Fátima Guedes)

  9- Simple - Pedro Mariano (Jair Oliveira)

  10- She unites all things - Jorge Vercilo (Jorge Vercilo)

  11- Voice in the ear - Pedro Mariano (Jair Oliveira)

  12- You are beautiful - Caetano Veloso (Caetano Veloso)

  13- It’s not a bolero - Djavan (Djavan)

  14- Bare idea- Leila Pinheiro (Caetano Veloso)

  SUMMARY

  Chapters

  PROLOGUE..........................................................................................................7

  CHAPTER 1......................................................................................................... 18

  CHAPTER 3......................................................................................................... 32

  CHAPTER 4......................................................................................................... 45

  CHAPTER 5......................................................................................................... 53

  CHAPTER 6......................................................................................................... 76

  CHAPTER 7......................................................................................................... 91

  CHAPTER 8........................................................................................................ 110

  CHAPTER 9........................................................................................................ 117

  CHAPTER 10..................................................................................................... 133

  CHAPTER 11..................................................................................................... 144

  CHAPTER 12..................................................................................................... 152

  CHAPTER 13..................................................................................................... 164

  CHAPTER 14..................................................................................................... 180

  CHAPTER 15 ..................................................................................................... 188

  CHAPTER 16..................................................................................................... 195

  CHAPTER 17..................................................................................................... 203

  CHAPTER 18..................................................................................................... 213

  CHAPTER 19..................................................................................................... 225

  CHAPTER 20..................................................................................................... 231

  CHAPTER 21..................................................................................................... 240

  CHAPTER 22..................................................................................................... 249

  CHAPTER 23..................................................................................................... 256

  CHAPTER 24..................................................................................................... 270

  CHAPTER 25..................................................................................................... 286

  CHAPTER 26..................................................................................................... 303

  CHAPTER 27..................................................................................................... 329

  CHAPTER 28..................................................................................................... 354

  CHAPTER 29..................................................................................................... 370

  CHAPTER 30..................................................................................................... 381

  CHAPTER 31..................................................................................................... 387

  EPILOGUE......................................................................................................... 400

  BONUS CHAPTER............................................................................................................411

  PROLOGUE

  BY BIANCA MATTOS

  Anyway, after hours of a cruel trip, where I try to disguise my claustrophobia, the plane lands in Qatar at fourteen o'clock.

  I walk down the escalators, still a little hesitant, watching carefully if my veil is in place and if I am dressed discreetly.

  This is the first time I leave Brazil
. Unfortunately, I did not get the time off from work to come to Brenda's wedding, but after much begging my boss at the UFRJ National Museum, I got a vacation and did not even believe it when Brenda said that my brother-in-law, Youssef, would pay the cost of my trip to Qatar.

  I still do not know him, but I think he must be a guy with a lot patience, because of Jo, to put up with my sister's madness, he must be a man with a lot of Tibetan calm.

  But they deserve this happiness, only I know how much my ears have been listening to Brenda's wailing because of Youssef's difficult genius.

  We have always been very different. My older sister is an example, of a well-settled, independent, vibrant woman.

  I really wanted to be like this ...

  I'm ashamed to speak in front of the mirror. An archaeologist trained with praise, the best grades of my class of trainees, twenty-three years old, beautiful and still a virgin?! I will soon become an aberration, an object of scientific study.

  The truth is that I panic when I run into men, I just do not know how to act, what to say. This exciting game of seduction was made for lionesses, I'm more of a trembling and frightened hare.

  The doors of the airport exit open, and I get the whiff of a warm air from this warm land. I see about ten yards away, a tall man in a grey suit, very handsome and smiling.

  He holds a sign with my name written on it. I greet him with my head, I’ve researched the local customs, and I know that public demonstrations of affection are not very welcome here in the Middle East.

  -Marhaban, is it Miss Bianca Mattos?

  - Yes, it’s me.

  -Nice to meet you, I'm Youssef, your sister Brenda's husband.

  I give him a half smile and I'm being led to a Jeep Cherokee, heading to meet Brenda who's waiting for me at Antonia's house.

  Antonia, Brenda and I, have always been inseparable friends. Tonia always had more affinity with my sister, but when I needed sensible advice, it was me she was looking for, craziness and rages I leave for Brenda, I like my feet well on the ground.

  I am received by Antonia and her husband, Sheikh Hafiq.

  She looks even more beautiful and now looking at Brenda, jumping like crazy to see me, I imagine there must be some chemical element in the water of this land that makes women look more beautiful and happier.

  They both look so good, beautiful and light, without that frown on their forehead that I always carry. Maybe one day I will also learn to relax a little and let my life lead me, without debating with me like I am trapped animal.

  I'm staying at the Hassan's house, because Brenda's house is under renovation, they're renovating one room for Youssef's mother and another one for her future child. Or maybe he's on the way, and Brenda did not have the heart to tell me yet.

  Antonia and Sheikh Hafiq are preparing a dinner to commemorate my arrival.

  It’s been a long time since I felt so relaxed, in one place.

  After the end of my engagement to Miguel, I think it's the first time I've had a good night's sleep.

  Sheikh Hafiq made available one of his security guards to accompany me on a tour, and I at this very moment, I am going around the city in the Quatar’s Government official car.

  He was extremely kind, but escorted walking is completely unnecessary; however, in order not to offend him, I decide to accept his hospitality.

  I took the day off to go to the antiques trade in downtown Doha.

  Doha is a very interesting city, full of ancient monuments; for an archaeologist, this place is an amusement park, unfortunately I don’t think I will have time to deepen my visit to certain places, I would like to take photos, go to more museums and libraries to search for some old documents.

  I stop at a Tea house and two mischievous men are whispering at me, they must be confusing me with someone, I think I'd better leave.

  When we are on the way back, Thomas, the security guard, knocks my soul away from the body, when he says to me:

  -Miss, I do not want you to panic, but I'll have to take a shortcut, I think we're being followed.

  I look back and there are two black cars after us.

  I begin to sweat cold, but I must keep control, otherwise it will be worse, it may be Thomas's imagination.

  The last few minutes unfold like an action movie; the most appalling is that I am the main character.

  One of the cars drove past the car we were in, and closed the exit on the road.

  Thomas has to brake, causing the car in which we are, skidding in the middle of the street.

  Three hooded men get out of the car and point guns at us.

  My God, it's not Thomas's impression, we're screwed.

  They take Thomas out of the car, dropping a blow in the nape of his neck.

  He collapses.

  I start screaming for help, I scream and I cry tremendously unable to close my lips, my teeth beat against each other without stopping.

  My mind only revolves around three words, which hammer in my mind, like a devilish mantra:

  I will die, I will die ...

  They pull me out of the car, putting a black hood over my head and dragging me into their car.

  I feel someone squeezing my arm, an uncomfortable pressure like an injection, and then the full pinch.

  Deep sleep and nothingness.

  I now get a message on my phone, glad they were punctual, I hate waiting. All the steps are proceeding according to what I planned. The plane will soon land in Manama, and I'm about to start taking revenge on this family of murderers.

  Karim Omar, former king of Qatar, this unfortunate worm will pay for all the atrocities that he has done. Our countries were once allies, we had common interests, oil brought us together to join forces.

  But it has turned into a succession of miseries since Sheikh Karim denied the bombing that killed my family. After many investigations, it was clear that he was the head of this crime.

  So, I'll act as expected from a soulless body, a man torn apart.

  An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

  Queen Antonia will be the object of my revenge and I'm just getting started.

  I had her installed in the room next to mine, I'm going to take her body in every possible way, and then I'll make sure that she dies on the main TV and radio stations.

  I will take the necessary courage, courage takes me in the same proportion as my pain.

  Enough of mercy, it is inherent in humans.

  And I lost my humanity at the very moment I received the incomplete remains of the bodies of my wife and my little girl.

  I do not know how long they put me out for, I'm still kind of groggy. I look around me and I'm lying in a huge four-poster bed, with black satin sheets, soft and comfortable.

  Even seeing a little blurry, I realize that the walls of the room are painted in shades of gold and pale pink. All very feminine and very exquisite. It looks like a castle bedroom.

  The door opens and the light in the hallway makes me even more dizzy.

  Out of the shadows appears a very tall man, in his mid-thirties, dark-haired, beard and a short goatee, very well-trimmed, the features of his face are stiff and rough.

  His arched eyebrows and very long lashes, his frame is large, hot brown eyes, like two pieces of burning wood.

  I don’t remember ever seeing someone so handsome and at the same time, so scary.

  He walks towards me, barefoot, wearing a thin white nightgown, in the dimness of the room, I notice his athletic forms jumping through the delicate fabric.

  I dare trying to talk to him.

  - Get me out of here, please. Do you understand what I say? I do not speak Arabic, do you understand my English? Damn it, I should haved dedicated myself more to my lessons with Kevin.

  He looks at me with surprised air.

  - Who's Kevin? Your lover?

  Listening to the name of another man does not please me, I look for the reason for this discomfort and I don’t find it. By analysing her closely I see that she is pretty, not
pretty! Beautiful to be more precise. Much more than I thought. Ever since Ishna passed away, I did not find such an interesting woman. How old is she? She seems too young to be the mother of three children.

  -Oh, thank God you understand what I say. Some guys kidnapped me, I don’t know why. I'm poor, my sister will not have the money to pay the ransom. Please help me get away.

  He comes closer to my bed and his gaze undresses me uncomfortably, the "mysterious man" has a sarcastic air, I don’t know if I like it.

  -I'm sorry I cannot help you.

  Blue? Her eyes have an absurdly clear blue shade, it looks like the Aegean Sea, same as the shades of the Greek seas. Why am I admiring the damned eyes of this woman like an idiot? Why am I paying attention to her eyes, if she's going to be dead soon, anyway? Your calm sea eyes will serve for no purpose at all.

  -Why can you not help me?

  -Because I was the one who kidnapped you. You look very young, how old are you, girl?

  Is he involved in my kidnapping? Is he the principal? But why? I have no dime on me, oh my God! My good saint from Penha! Himself and his partners are going to ask for a huge ransom and Brenda will not have it. Oh, I'm going to die.

  I WILL DIE! OH, MY GOD! I WILL DIE.

  When I realize, I am speaking these words, louder and louder.

  -Yes, you're going to die, but you could be a little politer and stop yelling in my ear, it only irritates me even more.

  My God, this guy is completely crazy, why does someone so beautiful have to be so crazy?

  -But you must have a boss, the man in charge, I want to talk to him, my family has no money, why did they do this to me? Take me to my sister's house, her name is Brenda, please, her house is near the centre of Doha, it should not be late yet, probably eight o'clock at night, if you take me now...I should be at home.

  The door of the room opens and one of the men who has kidnapped me curves lightly on the trunk and speaks with the "crazy cutie":

  -Your Majesty, I must speak to you immediately, an unexpected situation happened.

  -Wait for me at the office, Jafar, I'll talk to you.

  The guy bows again, and he is still standing.

  He raises an arrogant eyebrow and tells the man to leave us alone.