Diana Rodrigues"I called you yesterday, but you didn't answer. I know you were working, daughter," I felt like a horrible daughter."What happened?" - I sat with her on the couch and Jose on the other side. She was crying and couldn't say what had happened - "Why are you like this? Have you been here all night?" - Her dark circles under her eyes gave it away."Your brother, my child. I don't know what he's got himself into this time.""Where is he? I can't believe he..." - Was Alex already getting into trouble?"Daughter listen to me" - She didn't let me finish."Are you going to defend Alex, again mum? You have no idea what your son is in for.""He told me everything.""And yet you can't see what that reckless bastard is up to, can't you see that I give up living my life so I can fix your darling son's things?" - I stand up and look at her with tears in my eyes."Last night he was with me, sitting on the couch in the living room and watching TV, a movie on that thing there that you

Diana RodriguesI took a taxi when I left the hospital and I was extremely nervous. I had so many debts and I had no doubts of what to do, I went on to my destination. I already had everything in my mind. The car stopped in front of the hotel where I work, I was late and Jose wouldn't even come to work today to help me with those two members of my family that only give me work, but I love more than anything in life. I took a deep breath and walked through the front door. Some guests looked at me and whispered among themselves. I was in plain, dirty clothes in a luxury hotel."You know employees aren't allowed in here, not to be a pain, but you know the rules," the guy covering Jose told me, "Why didn't you call me in the back and I'd come to you?""Hi Patrick, I didn't come to talk to you but to someone else.""Here from the hotel? Diana, that manager of yours is going crazy today, wanting to kick everyone's ass. And when I warned her you weren't coming, my God, that woman turned into

Aslan MurabakOf course someone would follow Diana's every move, for her safety and mine. When she signs that contract, she will be my wife and she will no longer be able to talk to men who are not from my family. If I want to lock her in the house and not let her go anywhere, she won't. This is my culture, and this is how she will live in my country. Aisha, my sister, will be able to help her. My mother, who must already be planning the most pompous wedding for me and Bern, will be surprised at my choice.In fact, she and my father are extremely angry. I don't know what their reaction will be. He will probably want to remove me from the front of the country as an authority, but I have already guarded against that. Of course my lawyers have looked everywhere, searched every line of those papers, and there is nothing to stop me marrying the woman I want. The only thing that would stop me from marrying Diana would be if she had a child. I know how much she will suffer, for in her countr

Diana RodriguesAs I was writing down my demands, I noticed that he was pensive. In fact, I didn't know what was going on in his mind, nor in mine. I did not know what to do or how to act.I included in my demands the full payment of my bills and a safe place for my mother and brother to live, since I was going to another country and I was afraid that Juninho might do something against my brother. I wanted someone to help me and, of course, I would take José with me. I wouldn't go to another country alone with a man I didn't know. I asked for the right to come and go, without being prevented from leaving the country or kept in private custody. I was afraid of some stories I had heard of women who went to Middle Eastern countries and were forced to prostitute themselves and had their passports confiscated. I knew I would have no rights there unless my husband allowed me to. Although I knew that we cannot generalise, I have heard reports of women who married men from the region and got

"I know he's rich, but I don't want to be taken advantage of and I asked him to leave my family safe.""Your family probably already has a new house, an armoured car and security guards at the door, of that you can be sure.""Where did you get all this from, Said? Armoured car?" - I give a laugh."All his cars are armoured, except the Blue Thunder." - he gives a sideways smile and shakes his head as if he remembers something."What's Blue Thunder?""Nothing. Never mind. Let's go to the hospital and I'll provide an outfit for you."We headed to the hospital. I needed to be with my family a little longer. I was so worried about my mother, how she would stay here alone and sick. And my brother like that made me more worried by the minute. When I got there I had a big surprise. My mother was sitting next to my brother's bed and apparently she was healthy. She didn't even look like the woman who was lying in bed a few hours ago. I decided not to tell them about my marriage, not yet. What w