"Please tell me why I have neither Jenna, Muhsin, and no one knows where Omar is? Are all of the men I have working for me idiots!?" Jamaal exclaimed, taking an angry drag from the lit cigarette in his hand.

"Hey, I did my job, I gunned the bodyguard." Louis said from where he sat on the couch and Jamaal shot him an agitated glance.

"And he lived!"

Louis shrugged.

"Not my fault Hud's sister was a doctor. He should have warned us."

As all eyes turned towards him he resisted the urge to run away. Jamaal had called an emergency meeting, and he had managed to slip away under the pretense of going to the grocery store. He couldn't stay long, as now everyone was expecting him to return with ice cream.

"Well red snake," Jamaal said sarcastically as he put out his cigarette, and the other men snickered. "You're the one who has full on access, yet you are not really being much help. Do you know where Omar is?"

Lie.

"No."

Jamaal kicked the table in front of him.

"Damn it!" he exclaimed. "Hudayfah must be hiding him somewhere." Jamaal turned his gaze back towards him. "Find him. How is Jenna doing?"

He swallowed deeply.

"She's fine."

Jamaal smiled slightly.

"She will be more than fine once I have her." He lit another cigarette, and blew a ring into the air. "Hudayfah doesn't deserve her. Just the thought that he gets to touch her and hold her makes me sick! She needs a real man. I want her. Now." He stood up, and began to pace back and forth across the room. "Today is the launch of Hudayfah's new product, they are having a big party tonight, and I assume he is taking her?"

He nodded.

"I think so."

"You want us to grab her boss?" Issam, one of the other men asked, and Jamaal shook his head.

"Oh no. I have a plan for her. But I don't want Hudayfah to have a good time tonight." He gave a slightly sinister smile. "Some of you are going to crash this party, and cause chaos."

His heart began to pound in his chest.

No! They couldn't do this to Hudayfah!

"Why do you hate Hudayfah so much? Just because he is married to Jenna?" he asked, and Jamaal took a few steps until he was practically in his face.

"That's one reason." He blew out a stream of smoke into his face, causing him to choke, and his eyes to water and burn. "But he was also once the best friend I ever had."

***

"It is a wonderful honor today for me to introduce this great man. It is not often that we get him here in New York, and I confess to freaking out just a little bit when I was told he was attending tonight's festivities." The room laughed. "Let's give a round of applause for Hudayfah Sulayman!"

The room erupted into cheers as Hudayfah let go of Jenna's hand and walked up to the podium. They had just arrived at the banquet hall, and so far Jenna was feeling overwhelmed. People everywhere were taking their pictures, pausing to ask Hudayfah questions and for quotes. She hadn't realized it before, but her husband was famous! She couldn't help but think of how handsome he looked up there as he stepped up to the microphone, and she felt the butterflies return.

"Welcome! Welcome to all of you! On behalf of myself and my new bride, I thank each and every one of you for coming tonight!" his said, his deep voice booming over the room.

"Why would he say his new bride?" Farris whispered, and Ali scoffed.

"What is he supposed to call her? His old bride?"

Farris rolled his eyes.

"He could just call her his wife."

"Well maybe he just wanted to show off that he was recently married."

"Why would he need to show it off, it was in all the magazines!"

"Why do you always have to argue with me?"

"I'm not arguing! You're arguing!"

"Be quiet you two!" Jenna exclaimed with a laugh as they continued bickering, and they instantly fell silent, turning their attention back to Hudayfah.

"It is a great honor for me to be able to attend this function today. I know that when people think of The Palm Reader and HudCo they think of me, but in reality I would be nowhere without the amazing people on my team. The people who work every day to help make my dreams come true. So today I dedicate our new accomplishment to them. To those who stayed up late into the night perfecting the design, testing it out, and giving it their all. To them, I give the highest of thanks and praise, and know that without you, I would be nothing!"

The room exploded in another round of applause and cheering, Ali even whistling loudly above the noise. As Hudayfah raised his hands, it fell silent again.

"Thank you to all of you for your support! Now if you could please take your seats, dinner will be served momentarily!"

As he descended from the stage, he kept his gaze locked on Jenna, wrapping an arm around her waist once he had arrived next to her.

"You were brilliant." She said with a smile, and he grinned.

"Thank you darling. I always hate talking in front of everyone. But," he said giving her a light squeeze, "let's go introduce you around!" he said excitedly gripping her hand, and pulling her towards a group of smartly dressed men.

"Hud!" one of them, a portly elderly gentleman exclaimed as they approached, and Hudayfah let go of Jenna briefly to hug the man, before shaking hands with all the others.

"Professor! I am so glad you could make it!" he turned back towards Jenna, pulling her forward. "Professor, this is my wife Jenna. Jenna, this is Professor Toby Rogers. He was my favorite teacher back in college!"

Toby let out a loud laugh, and extended his hand towards Jenna.

"Nice to meet you Jenna!" he exclaimed, and she glanced at his hand for a second, wondering what she should do, but Hudayfah pulled her into a backwards hug, putting his hands over hers.

"Hey Professor, get your own girl!" he exclaimed, and Toby threw his head back and laughed.

"I see you two are still in your honeymoon phase!"

Hudayfah grinned.

"Only been married a month." He turned to look at Jenna. "Professor was actually the first person to back me financially when I was first starting out."

The Professor nodded.

"Yes, and it was the best decision of my life. It's so amazing to see how far he has gotten! I am immensely proud of him, as I am sure you are too!" he exclaimed and Jenna turned her head back to look at Hudayfah.

"That I am." She said quietly, and as he kissed her forehead, the Professor laughed.

"Ah, cherish these moments! Before children arrive and take the romance away!" he gave another bark of laughter and as Jenna reddened slightly, Hudayfah gave her hand a squeeze, before introducing her to the others in the circle. After that they traveled around the room greeting business partners, and designers, and engineers and many others, all of whom obviously adored Hudayfah. After half an hour of working the giant crowd, Hudayfah let her to their table, where Ali and Farris were already sitting and eating.

"Wow you guys have been gone awhile." Ali said, taking a bite out of his shrimp, and Hudayfah rolled his eyes.

"Have you been keeping watch or were you just too busy stuffing your face?"

Ali grinned sheepishly.

"I'm sorry bro. You know how I get with shrimp. But Farris was watching!"

Farris looked up from where his own mouth was filled with the seafood and Jenna laughed.

"What is your guys' obsession with shrimp!?" she asked and as the two men began to explain how amazing shrimp was, someone from across the room called Hudayfah's name and he stood up.

"I'll be back in a couple of minutes." He said to Jenna, and she nodded, giving him a smile. Once he had walked away she started eating, striking up a conversation with the woman sitting next to her. They were talking about Robert Frost, and Jenna, being an English major, was so engrossed that it took her a second before she realized someone was screaming, and as she glanced up in the direction of the noise, the lights went off, and the room was filled with multiple people screaming.

"Jenna?! Jenna where are you!?" came Ali's panicked voice.

"Jenna!" Farris exclaimed.

"I'm over here!" she called.

"Okay follow my phone screen." Farris said, and as she saw the light, she followed it, walking around the table, and standing in between them.

"Don't go anywhere." Ali ordered standing in front of her, and she peered around his shoulder looking for Hudayfah though it was too dark to see anything.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know." He said craning his head before turning towards Farris.

"Do you see Hud anywhere?"

Farris shook his head.

"No." he ran a hand through his hair. "We need to get her out of here."

Ali nodded, before turning towards her.

"Come on Jenna, let's go."

"What?! No! We can't leave Hudayfah!"

He shook his head.

"Yes we can. I have my orders to protect you no matter what is going on."

She shook her head.

"No! I won't leave him!" she exclaimed in a panic, and he crouched slightly to look into her face.

"Okay, Farris will go look for him. Okay? Will you leave now?"

Before she could answer, the screaming intensified, and suddenly masked figures holding red flashlights, appeared, pushing over tables and chairs, pulling people, and just causing over all chaos.

"Oh my God." Jenna whispered as she saw the figures, and Ali cursed under his breath before turning towards her.

"Jenna start walking. I know I'm not supposed to touch you but I swear if you don't start moving, I will carry you out if I have to!"

That got her moving.

The two of them pushed through the crowd of people all rushing towards the door, yet before they could make it, the horde pushed them apart.

"Ali!" she exclaimed in a panic and he tried to get back to her.

"Go to the car!" he shouted, and she watched as he kept trying to make his way towards her but failing. When he realized she was still standing there he groaned. "Go Jenna!"

She turned around, taking off her heels so she could move faster, trying to find an exit but all she could see was people, hooded and normal. Just as she was starting to panic, she felt someone grab her arm, and as she looked up she screamed to realize it was one of the hooded people.

"Don't hurt me!" she pleaded, but to her astonishment, he dragged her towards one of the doors, pushed her outside, and closed it behind him. She stared in shock for a few seconds before dashing outdoors, letting out a sigh of relief as the car came into view. The driver, who had been pacing back and forth, let out a breath when he saw her.

"Mrs. Sulayman! Hurry get in!"

She shook her head.

"I won't leave without Hudayfah."

He gave her a pained expression before opening the door.

"I have orders to take you home. Please don't make this hard on me."

"Jenna!"

She turned around as she heard Ali call her name, and she felt her stomach drop as she saw him and Farris coming towards them, Farris's lip split open and bleeding.

"Where is Hudayfah?!" she exclaimed, and Farris shook his head.

"I couldn't find him, then one of those men totally just punched me in the face." He touched his lip lightly before grimacing and pressing his jacket back to it.

"Let's go." Ali said and she shook her head.

"I won't leave without him!"

Ali sighed and ran a hand over his face.

"Get in the car Jenna."

"No!" she exclaimed knowing that they wouldn't touch her. "Please can we wait just a little more?!" she cried, and after a few seconds, he nodded.

"Ten minutes. Ten minutes then I force you in this car if you don't go yourself." He warned, and she nodded in agreement, watching as people began to flee towards their cars. Soon the sound of police sirens reached their ears, and as four cop cars came to the curb, they watched as at least fifteen officers went rushing into the building.

Jenna put her arms around herself tightly shivering not because of the cold, but because she was terrified that Hudayfah wasn't here yet.

Was he okay?

What if those men had taken him?

And who was that guy who had helped her?

"What the hell!? Do you not understand orders?! Why the hell is she still here?!"

Jenna swung around as she heard Hudayfah's voice, and as he limped towards them she swung herself into his arms, sobbing hysterically.

"Shh, it's okay." He whispered, holding her tightly.

"W...we c...c...c..couldnt find you!" she cried, and he winced slightly as she pressed herself tighter into him.

"I know darling I know." He turned towards his two men. "Why didn't you take her home!?"

"She wouldn't go without you!" Ali exclaimed, and Hudayfah brought both of his arms around Jenna.

"Calm down Jenna. We need to get in the car now."

She pulled away from him, dabbing at her eyes and nodding.

"Okay." She said quietly and as they got into the car, the driver hurriedly pulled away.

"What happened!? Where were you!?" Farris asked and Hudayfah sighed.

"Making sure everyone got out. It was my event, I couldn't just leave them there."

"Who were those people?" Jenna asked with a hiccup.

"Jamaal's men of course."

A string of profanities came out of Farris's mouth, before he glanced at Jenna apologetically.

"Sorry I forgot a lady was present."

She gave a watery smile before leaning into Hudayfah.

"Did they leave?"

He nodded.

"Yes they left somehow. I'm guessing by the fire escapes."

She shook her head.

"Are you hurt?" she asked touching his face where there was a small cut, and he shook his head.

"I think I sprained my ankle but nothing big."

She nodded, burying her face in his neck, and he pulled her onto his lap, pulling his seatbelt around both of them.

The four of them rode the rest of the way home in silence, the somberness in the air so different from the cheerfulness that they had arrived with.