Abo Bilal had called for an important meeting, a rare occurrence that signaled something significant was about to unfold. The heads of the east branch of the community gathered in a secluded, dimly lit room, the air thick with anticipation. Around the large, polished table sat some of the most influential figures in the country, each a pillar of their respective fields.
There was Abo Jameel, a shrewd businessman whose name carried weight in every boardroom. Beside him sat Farid, a renowned neurologist whose calm demeanor masked a sharp intellect. Vivi, a famous journalist with a reputation for uncovering the truth, leaned forward in her chair, her eyes scanning the room. Reem, a well-known lawyer with a commanding presence, sat with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. Zaid, the celebrated goalkeeper, looked out of place but no less focused, his athletic frame relaxed yet alert. Kelly, the singer and actor, exuded charisma even in silence, his presence magnetic. Ibrahim, the CEO of a tech company, adjusted his glasses, his mind already racing ahead. And then there was Omar, the newest addition to the group, sitting quietly at the end of the table, his nerves barely concealed.
This was Omar's first meeting as a head of the community. His recent promotion to manager at his company had made him a valuable asset. The community saw potential in his proximity to the higher echelons of society, and now, here he was, among legends.
Abo Bilal, the elder statesman of the group, stood at the head of the table. His grey hair and weathered face commanded respect, and his voice carried the weight of authority. "Before we begin," he said, his gaze sweeping the room, "I'd like to introduce our newest member. This is Omar.his position in the marketing department of a major corporation makes him a valuable addition to our efforts. Please welcome him."
The room erupted in polite applause and nods of acknowledgment. Abo Jameel was the first to speak, his voice warm but measured. "Welcome, Omar. We've heard good things about you. I trust you'll prove yourself worthy of this responsibility."
Farid offered a small smile. "It's not every day we get fresh blood in this room. Don't let the pressure get to you."
Vivi leaned back in her chair, her sharp eyes studying Omar. "Just remember, Omar, secrecy is our greatest weapon. Loose lips sink ships."
Reem nodded in agreement. "And if you ever find yourself in legal trouble, you know where to find me."
Zaid chuckled, breaking the tension. "Don't worry, Omar. We're not as intimidating as we look. Well, most of us aren't." He shot a playful glance at Kelly, who smirked but remained silent.
Ibrahim adjusted his glasses again and spoke in a calm, steady tone. "Omar, your role is crucial. The information you can provide from your position will help us stay ahead. Don't take that lightly."
Omar nodded, feeling the weight of their expectations. "Thank you all. I'll do my best to contribute."
Abo Khalid cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention back to him. "Now that introductions are out of the way, let's get down to business. We've called this meeting because there's been a significant change in our plans. The details are sensitive, and I need everyone's full attention."
The room fell silent, the air growing heavier as Abo Khalid began to outline the new strategy. Omar listened intently, his mind racing. He was no longer just a manager at a company; he was now part of something far bigger, far more dangerous. And as he glanced around the table at the faces of the community's most powerful figures, he couldn't help but wonder if he was truly ready for what lay ahead.
---
Abo Bilal stood at the head of the table, his presence commanding the room's full attention. The dim light cast shadows across the faces of the community's most influential members, each waiting intently for his words. He began with a grave tone, his voice steady but urgent.
"Things are moving faster than we anticipated," Abo Bilal said, his eyes scanning the room. "We no longer have the luxury of time. Our plans must escalate immediately. This meeting is about preparation. The next one will reveal everything, but for now, each of you has a critical role to play."
The room was silent, the weight of his words settling over everyone. Abo Bilal turned first to Abo Jameel, the businessman whose wealth was as vast as his influence. "Abo Jameel, we need funds. More than we initially discussed. Can you provide the necessary resources?"
Abo Jameel leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful but resolute. "Consider it done. I'll ensure the money is ready when you need it."
Next, Abo Bilal's gaze shifted to Omar, the newest member of the group. "Omar, you'll need to contribute as well. Your position gives you access to resources we can't overlook. Provide us with the amount we discussed."
Omar nodded, though the request made his stomach tighten. "Understood. I'll handle it."
Abo Bilal then turned to Farid, the neurologist. "Farid, your task is delicate. We need the health records of the prime minister and his closest assistants. Everything—medical history, prescriptions, vulnerabilities. Can you get it?"
Farid adjusted his glasses, his calm demeanor unwavering. "It won't be easy, but I'll find a way. Consider it done."
The attention shifted to Vivi, the journalist known for her sharp pen and sharper instincts. "Vivi, we need you to write more articles. Vague, but pointed. Hint at the corruption in the last elections. Stir the pot, but don't get caught."
Vivi smirked, her confidence evident. "I've been doing that for years. Just tell me how far you want me to go."
"Far enough to make people question, but not so far that they come after you," Abo Bilal replied. He then turned to Reem, the lawyer. "Reem, your job is to keep Vivi out of legal trouble. Make sure nothing she writes can be traced back to us."
Reem nodded, her sharp eyes narrowing as she considered the challenge. "I'll make sure she stays clean. No loose ends."
Abo Bilal's gaze moved to Kelly, the singer and actor whose charm made him a favorite in the media. "Kelly, during your interviews, drop subtle hints about the same topic. Let your charisma do the work. People listen to you."
Kelly leaned back, a playful smile on his lips. "Consider it done. I'll make sure the message gets across without raising too many eyebrows."
Next was Zaid, the famous goalkeeper. "Zaid, you'll do the same. Use your platform to echo the same ideas. Your influence reaches far, especially among the youth."
Zaid nodded, his athletic frame tense but focused. "I'll make sure it's done."
Finally, Abo Bilal turned to Ibrahim, the tech CEO whose role was perhaps the most critical of all. "Ibrahim, your task is the most important. Have you managed to secure a partnership with the government? We need access to their systems."
Ibrahim adjusted his glasses, his expression serious. "It's not easy. The government is extremely careful about who they trust with their infrastructure. But I'm working on it. I'll find a way in."
Abo Bilal's gaze hardened. "Time is not on our side, Ibrahim. We need that access soon."
"I understand," Ibrahim replied, his voice firm. "I'll figure it out."
Abo Bilal nodded, satisfied for now. He looked around the table, his expression grave. "Prepare yourselves. What's coming will test us all. But if we succeed, the rewards will be worth it."
The room fell silent once more, the weight of their tasks settling over each of them. As the meeting adjourned, Omar couldn't shake the feeling that they were standing on the edge of something monumental—and dangerous.
---
Omar returned home late that night, the weight of the meeting still heavy on his shoulders. The house was quiet, save for the soft hum of the television in the living room. His sister, Maram, was sitting on the couch, her brow furrowed with worry. She looked up as he walked in, her expression a mix of relief and concern.
"Where have you been?" she asked, her voice tinged with irritation. "Do you know what time it is? I was starting to think something happened to you."
Omar forced a tired smile, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry, Maram. I was out with friends and lost track of time. You know how it is."
Maram crossed her arms, clearly unconvinced. "Friends? Since when do you stay out this late with 'friends'? You've been acting strange lately, Omar. What's going on?"
Omar sighed, avoiding her gaze. "Nothing's going on. I'm just tired. I'm going to bed, okay?"
Before she could press further, he retreated to his room, closing the door behind him. The pressure of his task was overwhelming, and he needed to think. He pulled out his phone and sent quick texts to Ghazi and Khalid: *"Meet me in the park tomorrow morning. First thing. It's urgent."*
The next morning, Omar arrived at the park early, the crisp morning air doing little to ease his nerves. Ghazi and Khalid showed up shortly after, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.
"What's going on, Omar?" Ghazi asked as they found a secluded bench. "You sounded serious in your text."
Omar took a deep breath, glancing around to make sure no one was within earshot. "We've been given a task. A big one. We need to embezzle a significant amount of money from the company, and we need to do it without getting caught."
Khalid's eyes widened. "Embezzle? Are you serious? That's risky, Omar. If we get caught—"
"We won't get caught," Omar interrupted, his voice firm. "Not if we do this right. We'll set up a plan to make it look like a series of legitimate transactions. But we need to move carefully."
Ghazi nodded, though he still looked uneasy. "Alright, what's the plan?"
Omar leaned in, lowering his voice. "Khalid, your job is to convince Alia to cooperate. She needs to know this is a task for the community, but you can't let her know it's specifically for me. My identity and position have to stay hidden. Only the two of you are allowed to know the details. Understood?"
Khalid hesitated, then nodded. "Understood. I'll talk to her. But what if she asks questions? Alia's not the type to just go along with something without an explanation."
"Tell her it's for the greater good," Omar said. "She's loyal to the community. She'll understand."
Ghazi frowned. "And what about me? What's my role in all this?"
"You'll help me with the technical side," Omar explained. "We'll need to create fake invoices, reroute funds, and cover our tracks. You're good with numbers, Ghazi. I need you to make sure everything adds up."
Ghazi nodded, though his expression was still tense. "Alright. But if this goes south, we're all in trouble."
"It won't go south," Omar said firmly. "We can't afford for it to. This is bigger than just us. The community is counting on us."
The three of them spent the next hour ironing out the details of their plan, each step carefully calculated to minimize risk. By the time they parted ways, Omar felt a small sense of relief. They had a plan, and for now, that was enough.
As he walked home, though, the weight of what they were about to do settled over him once more. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking a fine line—one misstep, and everything could come crashing down.
---
Khalid found Alia outside the office during her lunch break, sitting on a bench under the shade of a large tree. The sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light on the ground as he approached her. She looked up from her phone, her expression a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
"Khalid," she said, raising an eyebrow. "What brings you out here? This doesn't look like a casual chat."
Khalid sat down beside her, his tone calm but serious. "We need to talk, Alia. Meet me at 8 PM today in the July cafe"
Later that day :
Alia's eyes narrowed. "I knew it. That wasn't just a clerical error, was it? What's really going on?"
Khalid hesitated for a moment, then leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "You're right. It wasn't an accident. We made that error on purpose."
Alia's eyes widened, and she leaned back, clearly taken aback. "On purpose? Why would you do something like that?"
"Because we needed a precedent," Khalid explained. "When it happens again, it'll look normal. We can point to the previous error and say it's just a recurring issue. No one will suspect it's intentional."
Alia shook her head, her voice rising slightly. "That's insane, Khalid. Do you realize how risky that is? If anyone finds out—"
"They won't," Khalid interrupted, his tone firm. "We've covered our tracks. Last time, we used a hacker to create a bug in the system. If anyone investigates, the blame will fall on the tech team, not us."
Alia stared at him, her mind racing. "So that's what the other day was about? You planted that error to set this up?"
"Yes," Khalid admitted. "And now we need your help to make sure everything goes smoothly."
Alia crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "And what about Omar? Does he know about this?"
Khalid shook his head quickly. "No. Omar doesn't know anything. This is just between me, Ghazi, and now you. He's completely in the dark."
Alia studied him for a long moment, trying to gauge his honesty. "Why are you telling me this? Why involve me at all?"
"Because we trust you," Khalid said, his voice softening. "You're loyal to the community, Alia. We need someone in your position to make sure this doesn't blow up in our faces. You're the only one who can help us pull this off."
Alia sighed, running a hand through her hair. "This is a lot to process, Khalid. If I agree to help, I need to know everything. No more secrets."
"You'll know everything you need to," Khalid assured her. "But for now, just trust me. This is for the greater good."
Alia looked away, her mind still wrestling with the decision. Finally, she nodded. "Alright. I'll help. But if this goes wrong, I'm not taking the fall for you."
Khalid smiled, relief washing over him. "You won't regret this, Alia. We're doing the right thing."
As they stood up to head back inside, Alia couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than Khalid was letting on. But for now, she had no choice but to trust him—and hope that she wasn't making a mistake.
---