Zarki's mansion in Wamboli stood tall, its marble pillars shinning under the midday sun. It was a place of untold wealth, but today, there was a different atmosphere, a shift in the air that had not been felt before. The usual hum of servants, the chatter of distant business deals, and the clinking of glasses had all ceased. Only the sound of Zarki's deliberate footsteps echoed across the vast hallways as he made his way toward the meeting room.
The five women who shared his bed, his five concubines, were summoned to meet him. Each of them had been carefully chosen over the years, their youth, beauty, and charm matched only by their ambition. Zarki had been a man who lived only for himself, enjoying the pleasures of his wealth and the beauty of his women without concern for a lasting legacy. But something had shifted in him since the death of Combo. The weight of his own mortality had finally begun to sink in.
As Zarki arrived at the grand meeting room, he found his five concubines already gathered there. Each of them was dressed to impress, their attire reflecting their distinct personalities. Julia, the proud and outspoken one, sat in a chair near the window, her fingers idly twisting her hair. Mariam, always reserved and graceful, stood near the fireplace, her gaze distant. Ashally, the fiery and ambitious one, paced back and forth, clearly eager for what was to come. Tora, quiet and obedient, remained seated, her eyes cast downward, while Anna, the youngest and most innocent of the group, nervously fidgeted with the hem of her dress.
Zarki took his seat at the head of the long, polished wooden table. His eyes scanned over the women, his gaze piercing. It was clear that the time had come for a change, a change that would alter the course of their lives forever.
"You know why I've called you all here," Zarki's voice was low, commanding, as he looked each of them in the eye. The room grew still.
Julia was the first to speak, her voice tinged with curiosity but also a hint of challenge. "You've always kept us at a distance, Zarki. What's changed now?"
Zarki leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. "What has changed is the realization that my wealth, my empire, will mean nothing when I'm gone. I have lived my life for pleasure, for indulgence, but I am not foolish enough to ignore the future any longer. The time has come to have a child."
A murmur ran through the room, but Zarki raised a hand to silence them. "Not just any child. My child. The heir to my fortune. The one who will inherit everything."
His words hung in the air, and for the first time, there was a sense of unease among the women. This wasn't just about sex or love. This was about something far more significant, the future, power, and wealth.
Mariam, always the calm one, spoke gently, "Zarki, we've been with you for years. Why now? Why must it be one of us?"
Zarki's expression hardened. "Because none of you has given me a child. I've given you everything, but you have failed me. I can no longer afford to wait. I will not die without a legacy, and I will not leave my wealth to strangers. You will bear my heir."
Ashally's eyes sparkled with ambition. "Then let the games begin, Zarki. We all know the stakes now."
The others remained silent, each woman contemplating the gravity of the situation. Zarki leaned back in his chair, his hands steepled together, watching them closely. He had made his decision, and there was no going back.
"I've thought about it long enough," he continued. "And I've come to a conclusion. I will not divide my wealth among many. I will not leave it to those who are not of my blood. The one who bears me a child first will inherit everything. All of it. The empire, the businesses, the estates, everything."
A hush fell over the room. Each woman's heart began to race as the implications of Zarki's words settled in. The rules were now clear. Their futures, and the future of Zarki's wealth, depended on one thing: bearing his child.
The silence that followed Zarki's declaration was heavy, pregnant with tension. The women exchanged looks, their eyes betraying a mixture of shock, desire, and determination. They had all known that Zarki had the power to shape their lives in ways they could not control, but now, the stakes had been raised higher than ever before.
Julia, always the bold one, was the first to break the silence. "You're serious, aren't you?" Her voice was sharp, her expression both defiant and intrigued. "You really want one of us to bear your child, and the rest of us be left with nothing?"
Zarki's gaze was cold, his tone unwavering. "I've made my decision. You have all been nothing more than women to satisfy my needs, but now, you will be something more. Whoever succeeds in giving me a child will take my place, and will be the true heir to my legacy."
The others remained silent for a moment, processing the enormity of what Zarki was proposing. Tora, who had always been the most obedient of the five, looked down at her hands, unsure of what to say. Anna, the youngest, seemed the most vulnerable in the face of this challenge, her innocent expression filled with confusion and fear.
Ashally was the next to speak, her voice tinged with ambition. "And what will happen to the rest of us, Zarki? Will we be cast aside once someone else claims the prize?"
"You will receive nothing," Zarki's eyes narrowed as he regarded her. "Those who fail to bear me an heir will have to leave. I am not interested in keeping women who are of no use to me. This is about blood, legacy, and power. The first person to bear me a son will become the new mistress of this house and inherit everything."
The women were stunned into silence. Zarki's words were clear, and there was no room for doubt. His decision had been made, and they were now part of a deadly game where only one could win.
For a moment, no one spoke. The air in the room felt thick, suffocating. Then, finally, Julia broke the silence again, her voice now laced with both determination and something darker. "So, we'll see who wins this game. May the best woman bear your child."
Zarki nodded, his lips curling into a small, satisfied smile. "Exactly. You will all have your chance. But remember, only one of you will be the victor."
The tension in the room was palpable. The women knew that this was no longer just about sex. This was about survival. The prize was immense, but so too were the risks. The competition had begun, and only one would emerge victorious.
Zarki stood up, signaling the end of the meeting. "You are all dismissed. Prepare yourselves, for the days ahead will test each of you like never before. The one who bears me a child first will become my heir. The others will fade into nothing."
With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving the women behind to contemplate the new rules of their existence. They were no longer just his lovers. They were now competitors in a dangerous game, one that could make or break them. The battle for Zarki's legacy had begun.
Zarki paused at the door for a moment before stepping into the hallway, the weight of his words still lingering in the air. He knew the women would be shaken, their minds buzzing with what he had just declared. Yet, as he walked down the corridor, a heavy thought pressed against his mind. He had spoken with so much authority, with so much confidence, but deep inside, Zarki knew he was gambling.
He wasn't entirely certain that any of these women, no matter how determined they might be, would bear him a child. The reality of his medical condition was something he couldn't ignore, no matter how many times he tried to push it aside. The truth was, his chances of fathering a child had been slim for years.
Just recently, his doctor had told him something that gave him a fleeting sense of hope, a glimmer in the midst of his uncertainty. The doctor had said that though the odds were against him, there was still a chance. A slim chance, yes, but a chance nonetheless. Zarki had clung to that. It was a lifeline, however fragile, that he grasped with both hands. He couldn't allow himself to admit that his chances were gone, not when everything he had built depended on the continuation of his bloodline.
The thought of his legacy slipping through his fingers was unbearable. It had been the driving force behind his every decision, his every move. The idea that he might never have a son, that the name of Zarki might die with him, was something he couldn't stomach.
Yet, deep down, he knew he was only trying his luck. Even with the doctor's encouragement, there was a lingering fear, one that troubled him in quiet moments like this. He couldn't control everything. The women might not even be able to conceive, or worse, they might not want to. His actions, his desperate attempts to secure his future, could all come to nothing.
But for now, Zarki pushed that fear aside. He had to, or else he'd be consumed by it. He couldn't afford to think about the possibility of failure. Not yet, anyway.