One year had passed since I started working at the International School of Barcelona. Ever since I left the hospital with Kaique, my life had been a whirlwind of changes. Settling in Spain and securing a teaching job was challenging, but every effort was worth it. Carmen was instrumental in helping me secure this opportunity, and I was deeply grateful to her.
Kaique was growing healthily. Every day, I saw more of his father in his eyes. At just one year and nine months old, he was already a charming boy with big amber eyes, curly hair, and fair skin, inheriting the Khalil family's characteristic intelligence. He was perfect.
Carmen had been his nanny since I started working.
Today, the school was abuzz. Students were excited about the lecture scheduled for later in the day. Whenever we had speakers sharing their life and career experiences, the students were deeply engaged.
Mid-afternoon, Mirian, a colleague and friend since I started, approached me in the staff room.
"Valeria, I heard that today's speaker is a very influential businessman. I heard he's quite famous," she said with a curious smile.
"Is that so?" I replied, trying to hide my lack of interest. My mind was focused on finishing grading some papers before the end of the day.
"Yes, I think he's from the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, I don't know. Who knows, he might end up inspiring our students," Mirian continued.
"I hope so," I replied, finally looking up at her with a smile.
Later on, the hallways were filled with students heading to the auditorium. As I gathered some papers and got ready to find my group of students, I noticed an unusual commotion among them. I moved closer to see what was going on and heard one of the students say:
"I think the speaker has arrived. He looks very impressive!"
I tried to ignore the comment and focused on organizing my class. After all, it was just another normal day at the International School of Barcelona.
But one couldn't ignore the enormous limousine parked in front of the school. A wave of curiosity swept over the people around, inside and outside the school. The students were whispering excitedly, trying to peek at who was inside the luxurious car.
I myself couldn't help but feel curious. Limousines weren't a common sight here, especially at a school. I took a moment to breathe deeply and try to focus on my tasks, but curiosity got the better of me.
"Who could it be?" I heard one of the students ask as I walked past them.
"Must be someone very important," another replied.
I observed a man emerge from the limousine, walking around it to open the door. The onlookers grew more intense, taking pictures with their cell phones and reprimanding others who were in front to get a better glimpse.
As the car door opened, it revealed Khalil Al-Hassan, adjusting his sunglasses on his face, drawing even more attention to himself. The impeccable sheikh, with his 6'3" stature, an incredibly handsome man, dressed in a white suit that perfectly outlined his muscular physique. He looked even more impressive than before.
My heart skipped a beat. Khalil, here at my school. I felt a mix of emotions and memories flooding my body. He seemed unchanged, still carrying that air of authority and magnetism that made everyone around him fall silent and pay attention.
I froze in place, unable to process the reality of what was happening. People around me were murmuring and pointing, but I could only focus on him. Could he be here for me? Did he know about our son? Or was he the important man expected for the lecture?
As my thoughts raced, Khalil began walking towards the school entrance.
His steps were calm, determined, and alluring. That sophistication contrasted with his cold and reserved personality, leaving people nervous, just as I was at that moment. Quickly, I slipped away, hoping that everyone would be in their seats so I could join the crowd of over a thousand students without being noticed by him.
I entered the crowd, trying to control my breathing and the whirlwind of emotions that flooded me. Khalil always had that effect on me, but now it was different. There was a son at stake, a truth he was unaware of. As he approached the stage to begin his lecture, I hid among the students, hoping he wouldn't notice me.
His every word echoed through the auditorium, his deep, authoritative voice capturing everyone's attention. I forced myself to focus on his words, trying to understand what he was saying about leadership and success, but my mind kept going back to our history, to what we had and what was lost.
Behind him, a huge panel displayed his photo and projects. It was fascinating to see him talk about his success to dreamy-eyed students, who often express a desire to grow in the business and hospitality industries. It hadn't even crossed my mind that he would be the great mentor of this lecture.
As he answered questions and interacted with the students, I realized how much he had grown since I last saw him. He wasn't just a business leader, but also a mentor and inspiration to many. This Khalil was different from the man I knew, but at the same time, so familiar.
Khalil concluded his speech, but before sitting down, the school principal mentioned that there was a teacher in the crowd he wished to introduce to Khalil, someone who was very important and had helped many students.
"Mr. Khalil, allow me to draw your attention to an extraordinary person in our school," the principal said, raising his voice to be heard by everyone in the audience. "We have a dedicated teacher here who is not only highly intelligent and practical, but also tirelessly dedicated to the success of our students. And the incredible thing is that she lived in Dubai, where you mentioned that your success began." The principal smiled.
Murmurs began to spread through the crowd as curious eyes turned in the direction indicated by the principal. I shrank back slightly, feeling uncomfortable with the sudden attention.
"This exemplary teacher is Ms. Valeria," the principal continued, pointing to me. "She has done a remarkable job in inspiring and guiding our students, and she deserves all the recognition for her commitment to education."
I felt my face flush with the public praise as Khalil turned his gaze towards me. An expression of surprise and anger crossed his face. The smile he had moments ago quickly disappeared as I approached the stage.
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