The Dinner Party

It Begins

The sounds of the muffled chatter and clinking of cutlery from the guests downstairs soon vanished once he realized how serious the situation was. It had been about twenty minutes since Omar had excused himself from the dinner table and he knew that it was only a matter of time before his guests would be asking for his whereabouts.

Within the darkness of his study, the light from the laptop screen now luminated his face like a torch. It was as if all his secrets, lies and deceit were now exposed in their entirety and now it was his turn to make the next move.

The Perfect Life

It had been just over three years since Omar purchased the house with his newly pregnant wife. It was situated within an affluent neighborhood and was surrounded by old pine trees overlooking a creek. The sound of the trickling water was one of the key selling points made by the real estate agent at the time, and it successfully seduced him into the sale.

Omar had recently been promoted to oversee the Emergency ICU Dept at St Anthony's Hospital and while he did feel proud of the accomplishment, a part of him questioned whether the stresses which came with the job was really worth it.

"Three more years, then get out", he would say to himself.

"Three more years..."

Born in America, Omar was a second generation Iranian who's life looked perfect on the surface. He came from an affluent family of doctors and lawyers who fled Iran just before the revolution. Yet underneath the fancy cars and perfect Instagram pictures, simmered a bitterness and distaste towards the whole arrangement. He could feel the pressure of keeping face and appear perfect to everyone which only increased steadily with age and it unknowingly quickly began to metastasize throughout his entire being.

A New Partnership

"Here's to new beginnings", said Mark nervously as he signed the agreement. It had been almost a year since both he and Omar and talked about starting a consulting company together and the day had finally come to sign the contract. Both were sick of the bureaucracy and politics that came with working in the public health sector and they wanted to try something new to commence new beginnings.

"Lets celebrate over dinner...Why don't you and Susan come over next Saturday...I'll invite Sameer too", said Omar.

"Dinner sounds great...but Sameer? You are too nice to him.. we'll see you next Saturday ".

Omar winced inside but brushed Mark's comment off as friendly banter. Sameer was a long time family friend of Omar who worked as a nurse at the same hospital. Human Resources had already reprimanded him on several occasions for 'disorderly conduct', and was only still employed because of Omar's intervention and influence within the organization.

Dinner For Six

Sameer was unusually quiet during dinner but by this time most of the guests were intoxicated by the wine and vibrant conversation that no one really noticed.

"Omar tells me you bought a new dog"

"Yes, I've been hassling Mark since last June for one and he finally caved in", said Susan.

As Omar listened to both his wife and Susan he felt the buzzing of his phone next to his leg. "This better not be work", he said to himself as he carefully reached into his pocket.

"Excuse me everyone, I will be back in a minute"

As Omar stood up and excused himself, he noticed Sameer was gazing at him in an unusual way. Yet he had no time to think about this, and proceeded to go upstairs to his study to check the message.

The Discovery

After arriving within the sanctity of his study, he pulled out his phone to read the message in detail.

I know what you have been up to. I know everything. I ask for $1,500,000 and your secret will be kept with me.

For proof that I know everything, check your email

-S

Within a blink of an eye, Omar logged onto his laptop and checked his email. There it was. Photos, bank statements and all his transactions for the past 12 months.

A rush of adrenalin filled his body and he knew his secret was now on the verge of exposure.

Who was this "S"? Was this Susan? Was this Sameer? Who else knew? How was this message sent during dinner? His mind raced in a panic and he stood up to catch a breath.

It was only a matter of time before the guests downstairs would question his whereabouts and he needed to think fast.

"Calm down Omar... you got this... calm down", he repeated over and over again. The room began to feel like the oxygen was running out, and in a panic he opened the window to stick his head out and breathe.

Breathe in... breathe out...

As he leant out the window, gasping for air, an owl perched on the pine tree stared at him with curious eyes. It was like the owl was witnessing all that was happening and piercing into Omar's soul.

"What the fuck do I do? Who is S? How much do they know? How the fuck do I get out of this?"

The sounds of police sirens could be heard in the distance.

It was now Omar's next move.