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mariacallous · 1 year

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Protests in Iran spurred by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of the country’s so-called morality police have continued, with escalations by the regime—including the executions of a well-known wrestler and a dual national—failing to dampen public anger. Looking for a silver bullet to silence its restive public, Tehran has failed to find one. But the Iranian people have failed equally, being yet unable to find their own silver bullet to topple the ayatollahs for once and for all.

But it may be that bullet exists: corruption. And it’s lacking only a responsible Western power to pull the trigger.

Before digging into the ordure of Iranian official thievery, take a moment to recall the tales of other deposed regimes. In too many cases, leaders and cronies of various tyrannies were fully fledged members of the community of nations—with a seat at the United Nations, reception at the White House, and/or a nose at the U.S. taxpayer’s trough, among other seals of approval—only to be ousted and for the world to discover with shock—shock!—that the despot had been skimming billions of dollars from their country’s coffers.

Remember Washington’s dear pal, former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak—a Camp David attendee who conducted annual visits to Washington and received tens of billions of dollars in U.S. military and economic assistance? He was ousted in 2011, but his corruption was legend inside Egypt—unofficially, of course—with only the smarmiest of admirers ignoring its manifest evidence. It should have been obvious in Washington as well. Mubarak owned property in Beverly Hills, a share of resorts in the Egyptian seaside city of Sharm el-Sheikh, and houses in London and New York. Experts estimated his fortune at a cool $70 billion, with his two kids also allegedly billionaires.

Or how about former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who had been Washington’s darling before that embarrassing 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Throughout the 1990s, he used a United Nations-administered oil-for-food program to skim millions of dollars for his and his sons’ personal profit, with some of his dealings also reportedly enriching then-Russian President Boris Yeltsin and a young Vladimir Putin. The U.S. government was also well aware of Saddam’s evasions of oil sale restrictions, including to U.S. allies in Jordan, Turkey, and the Persian Gulf. (By the way, guess who was also profiting from Saddam’s dirty business? Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC. Also, one-time U.S. ally in the war on terrorism Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.)

And then there was former Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi, the same Qaddafi who sponsored the downing of U.S. carrier Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, killing all 259 people aboard as well as 11 people on the ground. True, he was no one’s darling, even after a brief post-9/11 rapprochement with the West. But after then-U.S. President Barack Obama finally turned on the aging Qaddafi in 2010, implicitly supporting the Libyan mobs that ultimately captured and killed him, the press professed itself shocked: “As Libya takes stock, Moammar Kadafi’s hidden riches astound,” the Los Angeles Times marveled. The mercurial Qaddafi was discovered to have more than $200 billion stashed around the world. The kicker? Around $37 billion were reportedly in U.S. banks.

And like his neighbor Mubarak, the Libyan dictator shared with his kids, as did everyone seeking to curry favor with the leader. A friend of his son Saif earned $58 million in “advisory fees” from French financial services firm Société Générale, per Transparency International. The international anti-corruption watchdog also noted a Canadian company with Qaddafi’s daughter-in-law on its payroll. In 2019, the Independent reported on a “deadly web of global corruption” that risked entangling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The stories go on and on and on. And apparently, someone is still stealing the money Qaddafi stole first.

As this litany makes clear, any exposé of kleptomania in the Middle East could stretch for terabytes. Lebanon alone suffers from titanic levels of elite and government corruption that have destroyed what little Iran and Syria have left for the Lebanese people. Also clear is that most (though not all) such corruption is revealed after the fact; serious U.S. government action against corruption in, for example, Russia only came after Putin’s second invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Which brings us to Iran.

There was a time when both Sunni and Shiite Islamists prided themselves on their resistance to the corruption endemic in the Middle East, but those days are long gone. Infamous former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was said to have millions of dollars to his name. Anti-regime organization United Against Nuclear Iran runs through a timeline of official thievery, detailing billions of dollars stolen inside the Iranian oil ministry, billions more embezzled from state banks, tiny percentiles of government appropriations for health actually spent on medicine and supplies. After current Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was appointed to run the nation’s judiciary in 2019, his predecessor was nailed for depositing bail money into 63 different bank accounts to the tune of almost $100 million.

Some of this corruption has been detailed in domestic newspapers and reports inside Iran. But the closer to the top the miscreant gets, the less likely there is to be any news. Infamously corrupt former senior IRGC officer and Tehran mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf allegedly bribed state officials to avoid fraud charges. Former IRGC-Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani was also implicated, with all revealed in a leaked recording.

The story received extremely limited coverage inside Iran because of Ghalibaf’s ties to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Soleimani’s so-called martyrdom. Indeed, Khamenei slammed newspapers for reporting the story at all, labeling the leaks as enemy efforts to “[slander] the central elements that played a role in the advancement of the revolution; one day it’s the Majles [Iran’s parliament], one day it’s the Guardian Council, and one day it’s the IRGC. Today, it’s the IRGC’s turn. Today, they slander the IRGC and try to tarnish it and the great martyr Soleimani.”

Khamenei similarly swept sexual assault charges away in the case of a favored Quranic orator, censured newspapers and ministers that reported on corruption within the government, and denounced charges of corruption against former Chief Justice Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, who was accused of tolerating widespread theft. (His former deputy was actually arrested for financial crimes in 2019.) Larijani was ultimately replaced by Raisi, who is now considered a likely candidate to replace the ailing supreme leader after his death. And when Rafsanjani began detailing Khamenei’s sons’ vast wealth in 2016, his own son was quickly arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Opposition cleric Mehdi Karroubi, who has been under house arrest since 2011, wrote an open letter to the supreme leader in 2018, accusing him of tolerating systemic corruption and impoverishing tens of millions of Iranians while enriching a small elite. “Under such conditions,” he warned, “it is natural that the lower classes, who were the grassroot supporters of the Islamic Revolution, will turn into a gunpowder barrel.”

Given widespread awareness of corruption inside Iran, curious people may wonder why additional sordid details could tip the balance of what is already a widespread revolution inside Iran. But there is a huge hole in reporting on graft at the most senior levels of Iran’s government, with allegations about Khamenei’s own crimes appearing only on exile and hostile foreign websites.

In short, Khamenei does not want his citizens (or lesser government officials) to know about the breadth of his own sins. And small wonder: Iran’s own Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare reported in January that around 60 percent of the country’s 84 million people live below the poverty line, with one-third living in “extreme poverty”—double the number of the previous year.

Far from blaming the United States or international sanctions for their strife, Iranians have made clear they blame their own government. Were they to know in real time—rather than after the fact, Qaddafi- and Mubarak-style—just how much money their supreme leader and his cronies had stolen, it could, as Karroubi warned, tip the balance and finally turn the regime’s remaining supporters in the security forces and the public against them.

How could this happen? Trump administration officials accused Khamenei of being worth around $200 billion. (A previous Reuters investigation detailed assets worth at least $95 billion.) But that’s the extent of U.S. government jabs at the supreme leader. Much as the Trump administration began detailing Khamenei’s personal wealth, the U.S. and European governments could begin unraveling the web of concealed assets owned by the supreme leader and his family—and act on the information.

Subsequent to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, the U.S. government froze Saddam’s assets. Ditto the assets of Qaddafi and his cronies once the United States decided he had to go. True, some of these assets were sovereign—nominally the foreign government’s money. But not all. So why wait? If corrupt enemies of the United States can have their assets frozen in the event of their ouster or war, then why not do it preemptively? As the Biden administration has made crystal clear in the case of Russian oligarchs and Putin’s cronies, it has the legal authority to freeze the proceeds of corruption.

Most of the Middle East’s late dictators had money and real estate in the United States under the jurisdiction of the U.S. federal government. The United States has multiple avenues to communicate details to the Iranian people, whether through whatever U.S. press leaks in, Persian-language Radio Farda (part of U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty), or the U.S. president’s own bully pulpit.

If, as senior U.S. officials have suggested to me, corruption is truly the Iranian regime’s Achilles’ heel, isn’t it time someone started exploiting that weakness to the benefit of the long-suffering Iranian people?

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twnenglish · 9 months

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Top Hottest Models In The World 2023

Indeed, style can let you express yourself without saying anything. Yet the modern world expects you to appear in current fashion. Each fashion and style has a celebrity, generally, a model, who other celebrities and fans want to imitate. We're here to talk about some of the hottest women models in the world who astound people with their success and sense of style even at a young age. Looking for the hottest female supermodels of 2023? Look no further than this list featuring Yael Shelbia, Taylor Hill, Rawan Bin Hussain, Kylie Jenner, Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Hailey Bieber, Kaia Gerber, and Jade Weber. These top models are redefining the industry with their striking looks and undeniable talent. Discover more about these women and their influence on the world of fashion. Here are the top fourteen most beautiful young models in the world in 2023.

Top Hottest Models in the World 2023

1. Yael Shelbia

One of the most beautiful women in the world, Yael Shelbia is an Israeli actress and model. As of 2023, she tops this list of the hottest young models in the world. Her birthday is August 31, 2001. She is only 21 years old, yet already the entire world is in wonder of her unrivaled beauty.

2. Taylor Hill

Taylor Hill, a delightful beauty, comes in second place among the world's hottest models under the age of 20 in 2023. She is an attractive fashion model from America and a former Victoria's Secret Angel. She was born in Palatine, United States, on March 5, 1996.

At the age of 16, Hill began modelling and completed her first project for Forever21. She then appears in stores such as Rosa Cha, Victoria's Secret, and H&M. She worked in advertising and on the covers of numerous magazines. She also appeared in movies and TV shows, such as The Fashion Fund (The Neon Demon, The Broken Hearts Gallery, Dating and New York, Good on Paper). Other than modelling, Hill is also interested in gymnastics. Everyone admires her charisma and charm. Taylor Hill, who has millions of followers on Instagram, has captured many hearts with her grace and beauty.

3. Rawan Bin Hussain

On this list of the young hottest models in 2023, Rawan bin Hussain, a well-known name in the fashion industry, is listed in third place. She was born on December 30, 1996, and currently resides in Kuwait. She was born a Muslim and has Palestinian and Kuwaiti origins. The Kuwaiti fashion bombshell is skilled at multitasking. She is well-known for her stunning appearance and fascinating charm. The allure of this gorgeous model is admired by people everywhere. She is recognized as one of the most beautiful women in the world. Her modeling skills and ability to maintain the dignity of her outfit opened several avenues for her. In addition to modelling, Rawan edits Velvet magazine and is a beauty vlogger. She separated from her husband and is now a single mother. She gained notoriety for claiming that her spouse had cheated on her.

4. Kylie Jenner

One of the most well-known models and beautiful young female celebrities in the world is Kylie Jenner. Kylie began modelling when she was quite young. She worked with Dentsu Aegis Network to change the company's name to MKTG. In addition, she was named one of the world's youngest billionaires. This gorgeous young model adores wearing fancy clothes and makeup. She introduced a number of skincare products to enhance her appearance. She is genuine and has a cosmetics fixation. Jenner recently made an ingenious discovery in the lab, and people on the internet complimented her for being true to her brand. Kylie Cosmetics, Kylie Swim, and Kylie Baby are her own brands. Internet users can visit thekyliejenner.com to learn more.

5. Bella Hadid

She is among the most beautiful women in America Bella Hadid is a model who is both beautiful and well-known across the world. In the same year, she set a record by appearing in five separate international editions. Hadid began her career in modeling and commercial work. She went on to become a well-known model after participating in prominent brands. She not only appears on several magazine covers, but she also supports high-end labels like Fendi and Tommy Hilfiger. This lovely young model is now dating. Marc Kalamand recently made it official. She has 53.9 million Instagram followers and is well-liked for her fashion sense and personality.

To Read This Full ARTICLE, Click Here

#mostbeautifulwomenintheworld #sexiestfemalemodels #adoptlatestfashion #hottestwomenmodelsintheworld #worldmostbeautifulandwealthyfemalemodels

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theentrepreneurmagazine · 10 months

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Ebraheem Al Samadi Lifestyle and Family

Online rumours about Ebraheem Al Samadi of Dubai Bling claiming to be gay have gone unanswered by the businessman. The 34-year-old is indeed single because he doesn’t seem to have a girlfriend or a significant other. He doesn’t have a spouse because he has never been married. Ebraheem Al Samadi was born on January 15, 1988. He is a 34-year-old Kuwaiti-American businessman who founded the well-known Forever Rose enterprise in the Emirati nation.

He is a businessman who wants to grow his companies and businesses and increase his fortune, but he also wants to teach future generations humanity and wisdom. Samadi enjoys visiting new places and frequently posts life-related items to his Instagram account. Ebraheem, who came from an affluent family in Kuwait, was raised there. Global Citizen claims that Ebraheem’s mother and Samadi’s hotelier father first met when the two were students in the United States, in front of a mosque.

That was the beginning of their love story. Sadly, Al Samadi’s parents’ union was short-lived, and soon after moving to Kuwait, they got divorced. According to Arabian Business, Ebraheem Al Samadi has a net worth of more than $50 million. He puts in excellent work, is committed, and is passionate about building a business empire. From the Florida apartment he and his mother shared, Samadi started his first business by selling apparel and other stuff on eBay, according to insiders.

After taking part in the Netflix reality series Dubai Bling with Brianna Ramirez, Zeina Khoury, Loujain Adadah, and DJ Bliss, this young billionaire gained notoriety in 2023. The broadcast also included a segment with Farhana Bodi. Some of the show’s viewers have recently questioned whether Ebraheem is homosexual or not. So let’s find the solution.

Does Ebraheem Al Samadi have a Wife?

Ebraheem Al Samadi’s relationship status was unclear only a few months ago, but as of the beginning of March 2023, it seems that the Netflix actor has recently wed! The Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, which features a wedding dress, wedding cake, and lots of signage with the letters “E&H” to indicate a wedding is taking place, is a stunning venue that Al Samadi recently shared a series of lovely images and videos of, most of which feature him dressed in traditional attire. Ebraheem spoke for himself and his new bride, whose name is still unknown, in the caption of one of the posts.

A special thank you to @rixospremiumsaadiyat for being so hospitable to me and my wife, @whiteseasons.ae for organizing the nicest wedding in Abu Dhabi, and @dorota_janina_photography for the best pictures ever, he stated in his message. So, who could be the wife of Ebraheem Al Samadi? There aren’t many pictures of the important event because, according to Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, all attendees at the wedding—including fellow Dubai Bling cast members Lojain Omran and Loujain Adada—were requested to turn in their phones before the ceremony...Read More

Source: The Entreprenaur Magazine

#Ebraheem Al Samadi

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nadja-antipaxos · 1 year

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Chapter 5: baby, we're the new romantics - june 2013

Previously - Chapter 4 || Masterlist || Next - Chapter 6

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: swearing, kissing, oral and PIV sex, a man being a jackass on a date

Note: Thank you for reading and enjoy. Please leave comments if you so desire!

Word Count: 7,190

june 2013 - summer

“How does this work?”

“They’re blind dates. Set up by our friends and my stupid brother.”

“But I mean, you’re not gonna be mad?”

“No. If you like someone you like them. Just bag it up.”

He looks confused, so she winks.

“Use a condom.”

“Oh my God, Nikki.”

She nearly bowls over from how red he gets. She struggles to get upright and places her hand on his shoulder.

“Have fun. Seriously. I don’t care. You’re my friend.”

“Okay.” There’s still skepticism in his voice. Her eyes narrow.

“Dude, it’s okay. Why are you being so weird about this?”

“I’m not the kind of guy who—when Peggy—“

“Use your words…”

“I wasn’t with Peggy, but she saw me kissing this other woman and she kinda went…off.”

She’s no longer laughing.

“Went off how?”

“I was testing out shields with your dad and found the vibranium one. She emptied an entire round on it.”

Nicolette’s already large blue eyes grow and there’s something else coloring her features he can’t place.

“That’s fucked up, Steve.”

They both have two weeks in New York, so all of the Avengers except Thor (who is off-world) decide to set up their friends on a series of blind dates.

Nicolette meets Tony’s friend, Carrie, who is a Jewish alternative-rocker and one of the coolest people she has ever met. She was a big part of the riot grrrl movement in the 1990s: a decade of music Nicolette is obsessed with. They have the same taste in music and favorite spots in the city. However, Carrie is twelve years older than Nicolette, and considering she looks even younger, Carrie has to pass. They exchange numbers though for the next time there’s a good band playing and they’re both in New York.

Tony throws Steve a softball in the form of Myrna Byrne. She’s a friend of Pepper’s from a “women in business” conference. Pepper was her mentor for a few days. She has strawberry blonde hair like Pepper and she does PR for an eccentric billionaire, but that’s where the comparisons stop. She’s got striking cat-like blue eyes, high cheekbones, a constellation of freckles across her nose, and the contrast of her deep red lipstick against her pale skin is stunning. Her long curls are pulled back in a sleek ponytail. She’s very pretty. She’s already at the restaurant by the time he gets there typing away on her phone. She stands up to greet him in blush slacks and a tight cream blouse showing off her hourglass figure. She’s beautiful. She’s also a fully formed person with a mind and personality. He chastises himself for staring and lets the small talk begin.

“It took him a while, but he realized adopting a chinchilla would not look great.” Myrna swirls the pasta around her fork. She doesn’t want to be at the whim of a rich weirdo for her entire career, but it’s a good place to start. “So, what do you do?”

“Me?”

“Mhmm.”

“I, uh.” Steve can’t help but laugh.

“What?” Myrna reaches for her wine.

“I don’t get asked that often, sorry. I work for the government.”

“Like DoD? Your posture just screams military.” Her striking eyes widen. “Former Army brat. My mom’s a doctor for the US Army and met my dad in Kuwait. Argh. I was asking about you, sorry.”

A genuine smile forms on his lips as she winces at herself.

“No, um, it’s fine. I work for S.H.I.E.L.D. and with Tony Stark, as—um—an Avenger.”

“Ohh. Okay.”

“Have you heard of the Avengers?”

“Kinda. Well. I know there was that scary invasion in New York. I was in Sweden, so I didn’t see it firsthand. I’m sorry. I don’t really keep up on superheroes. I’m just so busy. Like aliens could come down right now and unless my boss wants to buy a pod for one of his kids, I wouldn’t hear about it.” She shrugs her shoulders with a sheepish smile.

“That’s…that’s…”

“Embarrassing?”

“No. Refreshing.”

“That has to be annoying, right? People just wanna talk to you because of all that?”

“Yeah.”

Her pale skin burns pink flooding from her neck up to her cheeks. She clutches her face in her hands.

“Oh my god. I’m such an idiot.”

“What?”

“Steve Rogers. You’re—you’re Captain America.”

Steve braces himself for how this usually goes. She presses her palms together almost like she’s praying.

“Oh my god. My dad.”

“What?” Steve hopes he’s not a super-fan and tries to hide the trepidation in his voice.

“His dad was rescued by your Howling Commandos?” Her voice tilts up in question.

“Oh.” Steve clears his throat. He hadn’t expected this at all. “Wow.”

“Thank you. Truly.” She looks him directly in the eyes.

“Is your grandfather still…” He doesn’t know how to put it.

“No. He died last year. Cancer. But he had a great life.” She sounds almost wistful as the corner of her mouth tugs upward. “Anyway, that was ridiculous. I’m sorry.”

“No. No, it’s fine.” Steve places his hand over hers. “Thank you for sharing that.”

They talk more about the different places they’ve traveled to and their hobbies. When Steve tells her about his motorcycle, she describes trying to run away from home at 15 on her dad’s bike. She didn’t get very far before it ran out of gas. She giggles her way through the entire story. Her laugh is very bubbly and lights up her face. He knows he doesn’t want to go home yet. She suggests they go dancing, so she hops on his bike and they find an underground club in SoHo. She squeals when he speeds up delighted to be on a motorcycle again.

Due to the flashing lights and loud, pounding music, no one pays attention to who he is and it’s a relief. Steve’s only had slow dancing lessons from Nicolette. He asked about how couples dance now and she burst out laughing, so that was the end of the conversation. He tries to hide the fact he doesn’t know what he’s doing by standing behind her, but Myrna either doesn’t notice or care. She places his large hands on her slim waist and rocks them back and forth to the beat. Her curvy ass brushes against his pants and he gasps. Her hand moves up behind his neck as she presses into him further. She’s average height and her heels make her even taller, so he dips down only slightly to make their lips meet. Her tongue brushes over his and she grinds into him harder. She smirks when he chokes. He isn’t one to grope a woman in public, but she’s making it difficult.

“I live a few blocks from here.” She tells him.

“G-Great.” Steve nods violently.

She leads him out of the club. The cool breeze calms him down enough to keep it together. It’s only a few minutes before they’re all over each other in her elevator. He’s really never felt like this. Pure unadulterated lust. He wants to know what his name sounds like on those lips. He wants to know how soft her skin is. He wants to bury his face in between her legs. She’s pulling him through her door until they make it to her bedroom. Steve comes up for air long enough to shrug off his jacket and unbutton his shirt. In a blink, her clothes are off and she’s kneeling on the bed taking off his pants and boxers. Before he can even admire her body, she gives him a stroke. He shudders as his mouth falls open.

“Responsive.” Her eyebrow arches as her hand keeps moving. “I like that.”

“I better not be the only one.” He pushes her into the mattress and she smiles at the sudden dominance. Now, he can take in just how sexy she is. His mouth starts at her neck and moves down her breasts. Her moans are soft and light every time his lips touch her supple skin. Her grip on his hair tightens when he slips his fingers inside her. He keeps stroking watching what she likes. He dips down to drink her in. She’s writhing and clutching her sheets above him. Her back arches and he smiles to himself.

“Oh—oh—shit—I’m gonna c—“ Her thighs tremble around his head and he doesn’t stop. He likes her whimpers too much. She leans forward and grabs him by the shoulders. He looks up, half-amused and half-bewildered.

“We need a condom. Do you have a condom?” Myrna asks, voice hoarse.

“Y-Yeah.” He moves off of her and finds his pants. Nicolette wouldn’t let him leave until he put one in his wallet. He didn’t think he’d need it. As usual, she was right. Myrna’s greedy hands help him roll it on.

“You sure you want to do this?” Steve asks as he settles on top of her.

“Absolutely.” She takes hold of him and lines him up. She isn’t wasting time.

Her nails dig into his broad shoulders as he pushes inside her. He gives her a moment but then she nips his ear.

“Ruin me, Steve.”

He pounds her into the mattress and she makes the most delicious sounds for the next thirty minutes. She can’t even speak in full sentences.

“Ah! Fuck, fuuck, oh, god.” She whimpers in his ear.

“I’m close. Are you close?” He grits his teeth. He can feel the electricity spiking.

“A-Almost.”

His thumb massages that little nub and she clenches around him. She arches her back.

“That’s it, c’mon, sweetheart.” He smiles into her throat before kissing the soft skin. The pace of his thumb is relentless. She cries out his name, fluttering around him, and it sets him off. One final thrust and he lets go grunting her name into her neck. She’s limp under him as he places soft kisses on her neck.

“You good?”

“You kidding?”

He chuckles and pushes off of her.

“Bathroom’s in there.” She nods. “Can you bring me a washcloth or towel?”

Steve throws out the condom and returns to find Myrna looking like the cat who got the canary. He cleans her up and sees her jump when he brushes the oversensitive skin.

“Sorry.”

“No, um, I usually have to do this.” She takes the washcloth from him and tosses it across the room. He gets in bed next to her and she kisses him. Before she can say anything, her phone buzzes on the floor where she dropped her purse.

“Do you need to get that?” Steve asks.

“Probably.” Myrna pouts and kisses him again. Her teeth sink into his pouty lower lip pulling into her mouth. “But I don’t wanna.”

Steve moans as she deepens the kiss and palms one of her breasts. She leans into his touch and it makes him want more. His mouth latches onto her and her eyes roll into the back of her head. The phone’s buzzing is constant and she whines as she pulls him off. She grabs her phone and types impossibly fast.

“Everything okay?”

“He’s dragging me to Milan for two months and just started a Twitter war about private jets”

Steve looks down and tries to hide his disappointment. He really wants to see her again, but that’s probably not going to happen. She travels as much as he does except he has the feeling her phone is always on.

“I thought he’d lay off for one night.” She looks up at him. Her eyes mirror his. “Work never stops, I guess.”

“Yeah. I know how that goes.” Steve stands up and gathers his clothes. He has enough sense not to try to stay. He gets dressed and sees her pull on a silky cream robe.

“Steve?” Her voice is quiet as he buckles his belt.

“Yeah?” His eyebrows lift.

“I like you. I don’t bring every date back here, you know.”

“Wouldn’t matter if you did.”

Myrna bites her lip and throws her head back.

“Shit, stop being so perfect.”

“I like you too, Myrna.” He leans down and kisses her. “Have a safe trip, okay?”

“You’re really sweet.” She grins before kissing him again. He pulls back. Her legs swing over the side of the bed and she walks him to the door.

“Oh!” She rummages around her purse until she pulls out a thin business card. She scribbles something on the back. “Next time you’re in Paris you have to try it. Best bread in the world!”

“Thanks. I will.” Steve smiles and takes the card.

“Whenever you try it, text me. I’m 9 for 9 on recommendations.”

“I wouldn’t wanna ruin that perfect record.”

“Trust me, you won’t. This was fun, Steve. Really.”

“It was.” Steve gives her a quick kiss before walking away.

He takes the stairs down and finds his bike. He revs it up and reminds himself that TriBeca is not far away, but her date might be sleeping over. He rides back to the Tower and steps into the elevator up to the top floor’s shared living room.

“Hey, Romeo,” Nicolette says in a sing-song voice from the couch. “How’d it go?”

Her skinny legs are tucked under her and she’s on her phone. She looks very comfortable.

“It was really good.” Steve sits near her, but not next to her. She rolls her eyes and beckons him closer. She stares at him for a moment and then bites her lower lip.

“You, uh, missed a button, buddy.” She reaches over and fixes it

He feels the heat climb up the back of his neck to his cheeks. He doesn’t know what to say.

“I corrupted you.” She lifts up his wrist and high fives him. “Attaboy.”

Nicolette rubs the spot over her heart and pretends to cry.

“I’m so proud of you. Dickin’ down on the first date. How far you’ve come.”

Steve laughs.

“So, we’re okay?”

“Totally. I have no claim on ya.”

Steve nods. He doesn’t know why that sounds harsher than it should.

Clint’s pick for Steve is Lucy Anderson, Nicolette’s friend, who willingly offers herself up for a date. Her slightly rumpled dark bob, pale skin, nude lipstick, and blue A-line dress reminds Steve of a painting. She’s as carefree as she seems. She’s very beautiful with large brown eyes and delicate features. Early on, they agree that they don’t have any romantic chemistry, but they’d like to get to know each other all the same. He can see why Nicolette is so close to her. She has a loud laugh every time she tells him about the scourge of hipsters in Williamsburg. She met Nicolette at Harvard and works for The Cut. She doesn’t swear as much as Nicolette does. In fact, she gets a little shy. It’s a shame Steve isn’t into her because she seems wonderful. It’s a perfectly nice date.

Clint’s choice for Nicolette doesn’t work out at all. Amir is a tall, dark-haired, Iranian- American man who works in finance. He’s smart and absolutely gorgeous with a perfectly manicured beard. He comes off pleasant at first but then doesn’t stop talking about his ruthless deals or the pop-up clubs in Midtown that only he knows about. He’s like a modern Gordon Gecko. He’s used to women being impressed with his income and smile. He’s going to make someone a very happy trophy spouse, but it’s not her. She entertains the idea of fucking him just for the hell of it, but then he tells her which whiskey she’s going to love and shuts it down.

Bruce recommends Melissa, a pioneer in STEM especially for Black women, to Steve who he has met at conferences for her exemplary work on microbiology. She’s perfectly polite and respectful. There’s no spark and they part ways as soon as dinner is done. . Bruce feels extremely uncomfortable about the idea of setting up Tony’s little sister on a date. It doesn’t feel appropriate in the slightest, but he thinks he finds someone nice in Gary. He seems likable and non-threatening. Nicolette notices how similar his haircut and facial hair are to a certain billionaire. It’s the first thing that gives her pause. Another white guy pretending to be Tony. Great. Not creepy at all. The trucker hat and vest are also not a great look. She’s in a blue, gold, and red stripe sequin mini-dress and bright cherry red heels. They definitely aren’t on the same wavelength.

“Tony Stark’s sister. Like you had the same parents.”

“Yup.”

“All the Avengers are amazing, but Iron Man is the best. I mean, he’s the original.”

“Captain America was first, but sure.”

“Have you met all of the Avengers?”

“Mhmm.”

“Has he told you about me?”

“Um, have you met him?”

“Yeah, I totally helped him last Christmas. He used my van. He didn’t mention me?”

“H-He did, but that was a really stressful time. I don’t wanna remember a lot of it.”

“Oh, yeah. That makes sense. You wanna see my tattoo?”

He rolls up his arm and shows her the strangest tattoo of her brother. It doesn’t even look like him.

“That’s certainly something. So um how did you meet Bruce?”

“Coffee shop. Told him how much I dig the Avengers.”

“Right, yeah.” Nicolette can’t believe Bruce set her up with someone he barely knows. She signals for the waiter and orders an old-fashioned. She needs something strong.

“I told him I was having a hard time meeting women. Cause of my job.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a cameraman in Chattanooga.”

“Umm, what brings you here?”

“Remote assignment.”

“So you’re not here permanently?”

“No. I wish. New York is cool. God, Tony Stark’s sister”

“Yep.”

“You don’t look alike, really. I mean, Tony’s a great looking dude, but you—you’re really beautiful and you’ve got, you know” he gestures to his chest.

“Right.”

“I haven’t been on a date in a while. I’m sorry. And you’re really hot.”

“Oh, this isn’t a date. It’s, um, a meet and greet. Tony totally remembers you and wanted to thank you. You’re also getting a headshot.”

“Oh. Okay. Can I get a selfie? No one is gonna believe I had dinner with Tony Stark’s little sister.”

Nicolette bites her tongue and nods. He moves over to her and presses his shoulder into hers. She puts on a polite smile for the photos, but he doesn’t leave when they’re done.

“Wow, the chemistry. Do you feel that?”

“I feel the air conditioning.”

“No, it’s like this heat between us.”

She blinks so rapidly she wonders if her eyelashes are going to fall off.

“We should order, right?”

She has no appetite, but she makes a small dent in her salad. Gary goes on about how hard his job is and how he really wants to be in front of the camera.

“You know…” He raises his eyebrows and leans forward.

Her fist clenches underneath the table in anticipation. She hopes this isn’t going where she thinks it’s going.

“I have my own hotel room. I know it’s kinda forward. But I think you’re crazy sexy and I’ve seen how you’ve been eyeing me. I don’t even have sex with a Stark on bucket list cause I thought it’d never happen.”

Well, shit. For a split second, Nicolette imagines shoving a drink in his face or reaching over the table to choke him, but she doesn’t. Instead, under the table, she shoots off a text and turns her silence off. It pings back immediately.

“Who was that?” Gary asks.

“Oh, my boyfriend.” Nicolette nods awkwardly.

“You have a boyfriend?” Gary narrows his eyes.

“Mhmm.” Nicolette nods vigorously. “I told you this wasn’t a date.”

Gary seems almost offended—scratch that—he’s very offended. He starts to drill her on this boyfriend and why she didn’t bring him up. Why she led him on. And finally, if it’s an open relationship. She can’t even get a word in. It’s the longest ten minutes of her life. When is he going to get here? She needs him.

Gary’s eyebrows go up when he enters probably because of his massive height. At 6’6”, he’s easily the tallest person in the restaurant. Her blond knight in zip-up sweatshirt and jeans. Nicolette jumps up from her seat and rushes to him.

“Hey, Dylan.” She waves.

“Hi…honey…” Dylan gives a polite smile before stooping down and giving her the least romantic kiss in the history of kisses. It’s like kissing her grandmother.

Nicolette bats her eyelashes and looks up at him. She touches his face and whispers:

“Sell it, bitch, so I can get the fuck out of here.”

“I’m trying, but you’re you.” Dylan smiles to mask how annoyed he is.

“Grow up and kiss me, you stupid fucking actor,” her tone is so sweet and delicate.

Dylan twists his mouth trying not to laugh at her. He takes a deep breath and looks into her eyes. He leans in slowly and places his hand on the small of her back to pull her closer. He strokes her cheek as he kisses her nearly lifting her off her feet. She kisses him back and slides an arm around his neck. When Gary clears his throat repeatedly, Nicolette knows they fucking sold this thing. Dylan pulls back and winks. She smiles up at him. For good measure, Dylan takes her hand in his and walks back to the table. Dylan gives Gary a strong handshake with his free hand. The other stays fused to Nicolette’s.

“So, uh, what are you doing here?”

“Nic and I promised our friends that we’d swing by their housewarming party. They wouldn’t stop blowing up my phone.” Dylan chuckles and brushes his nose into her shoulder. She can feel the puffs of air on her skin as he bites back his laughter.

“Oh okay. Yeah. That makes sense.” Gary looks mournfully at her legs and Nicolette wishes she had chosen a different dress.

“Tony took care of the check. He just really wanted me to thank you for your support.” She smiles without showing any teeth. Dylan removes his hand and touches his hair. Gary sees an opening and stands up.

“It was great meeting you. I can’t believe I’ve met both the Starks.” Gary pulls her into a hug, pressing his chest against hers. Thanks to her heels, she can see over his shoulder and grimaces to Dylan who makes an equally ridiculous face.

“Nice meeting you.” She peels herself out of his embrace and Dylan tugs her to his side. She walks away and once they’re out of view, Dylan lets go of her hand.

“Jesus, are you okay? He was such a fuckin’ creep.”

“Yeah. I’m fine. Thanks for coming.”

She takes his hand in earnest and he doesn’t let go. She wishes her dress was longer so she could hop on his back and let him carry her like he usually does.

“Of course. I like the dress.”

"Thanks, I did too."

Once they get to the Tower, Nicolette tries her best not to lay into Bruce. Dylan stands behind her with his hands on her shoulders like a boxer’s cornerman.

“It was terrible.” Nicolette folds her arms across her chest. “Please, please explain your thought process.”

Bruce adjusts his glasses and frowns:

“He seemed very interested in everything we do. I thought that was nice. And I didn’t wanna do this, to begin with, and I-I’m sorry.”

“Tony, I had to kiss Dylan to get out of it.”

“Hey!” Dylan raises his voice.

“Oh, shut the fuck up.” Nicolette elbows Dylan lightly in the stomach.

“For the record, I didn’t know it was Gary. Creep. I would’ve axed it.” Tony eyes Bruce.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t wanna do this!” Bruce puts his hands up and walks away.

Nicolette and Tony share a look.

“Maybe the Brunette Army can give you a freebie for your troubles.” Tony shrugs with his entire body.

“Or she could just go out with Steve,” Natasha offers.

“What was that, Romanoff?” Tony sits up as straight as a rod.

“That was gonna be my suggestion anyway.”

“You honestly want my amazing little sister to go out with Stars and Stripes on Ice?”

“Yeah…”

“Beyonce was at her Sweet Sixteen. He sorts his shirts by ROYGBIV.”

Nicolette looks back at Dylan who nods.

“Actually, it was Destiny’s Child.” Dylan corrects.

“Shut up, string bean.” Tony doesn’t even look at him to know he’s bowed his head. “I set her up with one of the coolest rockstars ever.”

“And it didn’t work out.” Natasha folds her arms across her chest. “He won’t make her feel unsafe or uncomfortable. He’s her friend, so they already know each other. After this colossal fuck up, she deserves something nice.”

“Thanks, Nat.” Nicolette smiles.

“All right, but if she starts eating the early bird special, it’s on you.” Tony scratches his ear.

“Please, if she survived sharing DNA with you, she can handle a dinner with Captain America.” Dylan raises his chin.

“Wow.” Tony puts his hand over his heart.

“Good one, D.” Nicolette hugs his waist.

Steve picks up Nicolette at her apartment building. He wears his usual dress pants and navy button-up, but she goes all out. Strappy gold block heels. Black tights showing off her killer legs. Cheetah print skirt with a black V-neck blouse. She looks so hot he wants to take her back upstairs and forget dinner. The familiar thrum of lust at the sight of her courses through his veins.

“Nikki…” His eyes move up and down her frame. He doesn’t know where to look.

“I figured I’d try out this skirt.” She spins on her heel. Her blue eyes glitter under the dark smoky makeup. He wants to smear that nude lipstick right off. He licks his lips and just nods. She giggles, shaking her head.

Steve takes her to a pizza place in Brooklyn that’s still around from the ’30s. It’s just as good since they kept it in the family. The tables are black with red and white checkered table cloths. He pulls out her chair.

“Ever the gentleman. Thank you, Captain Steve.” She smiles and sits down.

The waiter comes over to them. His eyes linger for a moment on Nicolette, but not in a way that makes her feel strange.

“Can I get you started on drinks?”

“Yeah, can we get a bottle of the Cabernet Sauvignon?”

“Absolutely. I’ll put that in while you look at the menu.”

“No beer?” Nicolette arches an eyebrow.

“Nope.” Steve picks up a menu.

“Ulterior motive?”

“Perfectly innocent. Just like those shoes.”

She winks and he shakes his head.

They get three pizzas, two for Steve, and one to share. It feels like any other time they’ve gone out. It’s easy and fun.

They decide to walk around after dinner since it doesn’t feel too unbearably hot. His fingers are itching at his side. Almost like she’s reading his mind, she offers an open palm. He threads his fingers through hers. He’s seen her do this with Lucy and Jordan. It’s nice and it stops the catcalls.

“This is fun, huh?” She tilts her head.

For no reason other than he can, he lifts her up by the waist, and she yelps.

“Lots of fun.”

He carries her for a block before she wriggles like a cat in the bath and he has to settle her down.

“You’re ridiculous.” She points a finger at him.

Steve does a lap around her building as she looks out for any of Tony’s drones. She doesn’t see any. Maybe he’s stopped spying on her dates since she’s no longer 14.

It’s a frenzy of ripping off clothes and tossing them across her penthouse. Steve requests she keep those heels on when he fucks her against her bedroom wall.

“Cap’s got a—fuck—fuck—“ He’s hitting that spot that makes her see stars. “Don’t stop.”

Steve stills his hips and pins her hands above her head with one hand.

“Oh, c’mon. What the hell?”

“What was that??”

“Cap’s got a shoe fetish.” Her muscles squeeze him to emphasize each word; “You. Goddamn. Weirdo.”

He lets out a strangled gasp and she arches an eyebrow.

“F-Fuck.” Steve breathes into her mouth as she secures her flexible legs around his slim waist.

“Captain Steve, watch your mouth.” She chuckles breathlessly.

“You watch it.” He nips at the cleavage swelled under her bra. He sets a frantic pace that rubs her back up and down the wall. Her nails tug his hair tilting his chin up.

“Don’t fucking tease me, got it?”

“Uh-huh.”

Since Nicolette doesn’t want to tell them why her night with Steve ended up being fucking awesome, the Brunette Army gives her a do-over date for her last night in NYC. Her expectations are insanely low. As in she throws on dark skinny jeans, a tight studded brown blouse, and snakeskin print wedges. Smokey eye and nude lipstick. Something she’d wear with the Brunette Army. Nothing fancy. It’s her last night in New York anyway.

“And you’re 100% sure he’s not a creep?” Nicolette cradles her phone against her neck walking out the door.

“Yes, he was totally professional, okay? If I’m wrong, we’ll set his car on fire,” Jordan promises.

“Uh, no, we’re not doing that,” Lucy chimes in.

“Seconded. No arson.” Nicolette rolls her eyes.

She finds the tiny bar in Crown Heights. It has a vintage, speakeasy feel and she worries he’s going to be insufferable. He better not lecture her on jazz. She walks over to the bar and sees a tall white man stand up in jeans and a Tom Tom Club t-shirt with bright orange Air Jordans. They look familiar and she wonders if Tony has a pair.

“Nicolette Stark?”

“Jake Murray?”

“You got it.” He shakes her hand firmly before sitting back down at the bar.

The bartender walks over to her while polishing a glass as she sits down.

“Can I get an old-fashioned?”

“Could you make that two?”

The bartender nods and walks away.

“Whiskey fan?” He drums his fingers on the bar.

“Yep.” She nods and squints one eye trying to remember. “So, you directed Jordan in that show about the woman in the cemetery. She was super weird and offbeat.”

“The Garden, yeah.”

“And she would interrupt scenes and talk to the audience, right?”

“Yes. Good memory.”

“I remember I was like ‘Oh, Jor would do this in every job if she could.”

Jake nods with a smirk and she spies two dimples. Cute.

“She was perfect.”

The bartender sets down their drinks. They both reach for them eagerly and he chuckles.

“Blind dates are the worst. I never know what to say.”

“My friends have been setting me up all week.”

“Are they trying to torture you?”

She chuckles into her drink hoping she isn’t spitting everywhere. He just tilts his head,” You sure they’re your friends?”

Nicolette nods her head.

“Well, if you aren’t into this you can leave at any time. No hard feelings.”

She cocks her head in surprise, “Likewise.”

The conversation relaxes after that. They discuss normal things like work and where they went to school. He studied theatre at Columbia and is 10 years older than her. He cards a large hand through his thick brown hair. She suggests a snooty toast to attending Ivy League universities and it makes him laugh. He remembers the viral video she made with Dylan when they were 16 causing her to turn pink. She’s proud of Dylan. It opened every door for him. She’s just not made for comedy videos. She tells him about her work for the ACLU. She handles a lot of the research and first interviews with their clients. The job she has to go back to Monday morning. His fingers settle on his chin and his brown eyes light up with interest. She’s never seen anyone so laser-focused. Even in this crowded bar, he’s really…listening. But she doesn’t wanna hear herself talk. She knows he has better stories to tell working with overdramatic actors on Broadway.

Jake’s a very engaging storyteller. He’s relaxed, but involved, and never acts like he’s the more worldly one due to his age. His brown eyes are so expressive and the subtle lifts of his brow as he gets more passionate are so endearing. Nicolette has a hard time keeping her eyes off him and she can’t blame the drinks. He shakes his head and a little tendril of hair comes loose from his otherwise perfectly coiffed look. She leans forward and pauses for a moment, so he can tell her to stop. He doesn’t. She smooths the piece back down and ignores the way her stomach squirms at how soft his hair is. There’s something in the air. A buzz of electricity. She’s sure he can feel it, but he doesn’t say a word as he leans in closer to tell her a story about Jordan’s nonsense. Ooh, she likes this game. She laughs loudly and looks down at her empty drink.

“Hey…” His teeth bite his lower lip and she inhales sharply. “There’s a secret show tonight. Panic! At the Disco. You wanna join me?”

Her body jerks so sharply she nearly falls out of her chair. “Um, fuck yes. I love them.”

“Great. I was totally gonna go no matter what, but yeah, this’ll be fun.” He nods with a crooked smile.

She bursts out laughing and he tilts his head. “Full disclosure, I don’t give a shit what you say cause I’m going.”

Jake lets out a surprising high-pitched giggle. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I’m ready to goooo,” she sings and tosses her head back and forth.

“Get me outta my mind.” He shakes his shoulders to the imaginary beat.

“I might totally ditch you if Brendon wants to hang out.” She puts cash down on the bar.

“Didn’t he get married?” Jake arches an eyebrow.

“Fuck! ” Nicolette stomps her foot. “I guess we can all hang out then.”

“I’ll take what I can get.” He puts his hands up.

The venue is small but packed. It’s not just connected people and celebrities. Regular fans are there who heard from word of mouth. They play some new songs on the album that will come out in the fall and mix in the hits. Nicolette loves pop-punk with every fiber of her being and sings along to every song. She’s surprised that Jake knows most of the words too. The band starts to jump on stage, so Nicolette follows suit even in her wedges. Jake joins her and suddenly, it dawns on her that he’s like a foot taller than her. They look at each other and she feels that buzz again. The drums pick up signaling a more radio-friendly song.

A large hand stretches out to her and she can’t take it fast enough. Jake spins her immediately. He doesn’t pull her close. He just swings her around like it’s his goal to make her laugh. She likes dancing with him.

Once the show is over, Nicolette approaches one of the bouncers and for the first time ever, does a name drop. She wants to meet the band, sure, but she kinda wants to impress Jake. And it works. They take pictures and even go to the after-party. She finds out he’s a great dancer who was totally holding out on her earlier. He’s smooth but silly. He leans in and whispers in her ear, “Wanna get out of here?”

Shit. She keeps a poker face, not letting him know she’s disappointed. Before that feeling can settle in her gut, Jake adds, “You hungry? Wanna get something to eat?”

Nicolette has to keep herself from smiling and just nods.

They find a tiny out of the way Chinese place in her neighborhood. The tables are small and huddled together like most restaurants in New York. Jake takes a sip of his beer and looks over at her, so she throws her hands up.

“Chug! Chug! Chug!”

He nearly chokes and wipes his mouth. She keeps her face neutral waiting for his reaction.

“You’re really something, little Chiquita.”

“I’m little little one?”

He just smiles and she wants to bury her face in her hair. She could scream he’s so cute. Instead, she crosses her legs and struggles with her chopsticks. He just watches her.

“What?”

“Silver spoon girl like you can’t use those?”

“Shut the fuck up.” She stabs her dumpling with a single chopstick.

“Want me to do that really fucking annoying guy thing and teach you how to do it?”

“You gonna come behind me and breath on me? Pass.”

“It’s a chopstick, not a bomb. Loosen up. You almost got it, truly. ”

Nicolette chuckles and lets her middle finger move it up and down. She grabs the dumpling and pops into her mouth. Her eyebrows shoot up and her blue eyes widen.

“See.”

“I’m so talented.”

“Yeah.”

“Oh?”

“Moshing like the rest of us in those shoes.”

“Bitch, I can run in these.”

He leans forward, taking the bait.

“Prove it.”

“What do I win?” She arches a single eyebrow.

“Depends on what you want.” He takes her plate and throws away their trash.

She wanders out of the restaurant. She knows what she wants, but she won’t make that part of the bet. He catches up with her almost instantly.

“You ever go to SNL?”

“Nope. My best friend isn’t a cast member.”

“Want tickets?”

“So, that’s what I win.” He cards a hand through his hair again. “How bout you?”

“Don’t worry. It won’t be anything you don’t wanna give.” She stalls.

Jake looks down thoughtfully past the empty sidewalk.

“I don’t think you’ll even make it to that stop sign.”

Her mouth drops open, offended. She shoves his shoulder.

“Try to beat me then, motherfucker!” She takes off not looking back.

Thunder crackles above and a downpour starts. She doesn’t stop. Her heart pounds in her chest as she passes the stop sign and keeps going. Until a rock catches the lip of her shoe and her body pitches forward. Her hands brace herself for the smack of the pavement, but it never comes. Two arms secure around her waist keeping her upright. She looks up to see Jake soaked and breathing heavily. He lifts her up away from the offending piece of rubble and places her on steady ground.

“I’d call that a draw.” His chest moves up and down.

“Uh-huh.” She turns to look at him and he doesn’t let go.

Her heavy wet hair obscures him fully from her vision. His hand moves from her waist to slip her hair behind her ear. Nicolette’s breathing hitches as he traces her jaw. The innocent touch burns through her skin making her forget about the summer rain. The buzz in her veins is so strong she feels drunk. He sighs and closes his eyes.

“Shit.”

“W-What?”

His brown eyes lock onto her blue ones.

“I’m.” His tongue runs over his bottom lip. “Uh. A little struck—by you.”

Her heart jumps at what might be the most romantic thing ever said to her. She couldn’t stop the growing smile on her face if she tried. His thumb brushes the apple of her cheek while his other hand gives her a gentle nudge closing the already tight gap between them. He ducks down and presses his forehead against hers. He’s so close the sandalwood from his aftershave fills her lungs making her lightheaded. She grips the sides of his t-shirt needing something to ground her.

“This is crazy. I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“Back to DC?”

“Yeah. You ever go there?”

“No, I’m stuck here writing mediocre plays while you’re defending civil rights or whatever.”

They both chuckle. He keeps his eyes on hers.

“Can I kiss you? Cause if I don’t I’m gonna regret it.“

“Please.”

His mouth slots over hers. It’s so simple. Soft. Tender. The kind of kiss that makes her insides light up like fireworks. His hand finds the small of her back and she slips her arms around his neck. Her fingertips run through his hair like she’s been wanting to all night. He presses his lips against hers a final time. His thumb brushes her chin as he pulls away.

Nicolette just stares up at him. For once in her life, she doesn’t have a plan. Should they keep kissing? Should she take him home? Should she call Jordan demanding why she didn’t introduce them earlier? Jake doesn’t say a thing. He just offers his hand which she takes. Their arms swing between them as they walk. The rain dies down and the smell of the wet earth reaches her nose.

“What time’s your flight?”

“Eight.”

“Jesus. On a Saturday? You hate yourself?”

“Shut up.” She giggles.

It doesn’t take her long to realize he’s walking her to the Avengers Tower. It’s over too fast. They stop in front of the ugliest building Tony has ever designed. Jake takes her hand and places a kiss on top of it. It’s like he wants her to melt into a puddle right there.

“Goodnight, Nicolette.”

“Goodnight, Jake.”

She feels something tucked under her fingers as he steps back. It’s his business card. She looks up at him.

“You owe me SNL tickets.”

She laughs, smiling widely, and watches him walk off. She flashes her key fob at the door and it opens. She sighs and closes her eyes. Did that really just happen?

Once they’re back in DC, Steve meets up for dinner. He couldn’t believe how much she actually liked this Jake guy. To the point where Tony even made a comment. She never likes anyone. All of her dates had been a bust. She just kissed him. Steve went further with Myrna and he wasn’t hung up on her at all. She seems perfectly nice, but sometimes life gets in the way, right? Why did she just kiss him? Is it strange that Steve slept with someone else and she didn’t? Not that Nicolette is moping. Whatever disappointment she has is gone by Friday. She’s her usual self sipping on her wine when he walks over to her.

“Surprised you wanna do dinner after all those dates.”

“There’s no pressure with you.”

“I’m boring. Not worth the effort?”

Nicolette rolls her eyes and flips him off. Steve laughs.

“We had how many dates and we’re both single as fuck.” Her blue eyes widen.

“It’s okay.” Steve pats her on the hand. “I’ve still got you, right?”

She raises her eyebrows in agreement with a playful smile. He picks up a menu and doesn’t notice the smirk fall from her lips.

#marvel #steve rogers #steve rogers x oc #steve rogers x ofc #oc: nicolette stark #fan fic #daylight

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dritalotto · 2 years

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Putin has denied any connection to the Black Sea palace Cirillo designed, with Alexander Ponomarenko and Arkady Rotenberg-two wealthy allies-claiming ownership from 20 respectively. His lawyers argue that the architect generated his income during a six-year period in Russia, and is not due to pay taxes in Italy, Giornale di Brescia reported. Cirillo was awarded honorary citizenship by Putin in 2014. See value fast Gain perspective Use templates Anyone can build a simple solution quickly, for any workflow. Since then, the architect has claimed in recent interviews, that he has realised projects for 43 Russian billionaires, as well as companies including Gazprom and Novatek. Airtable’s pre-made templates and intuitive design help you tackle even your most complex needs, right away. Tolla says that the previous seizure and this latest confiscation are part of the same case, adding that the investigation started “a few months ago” when police became aware of “irregularities” relating to Cirillo’s helicopter, sparking a broader investigation. The latest seizure is “preventative” rather than conclusive and the items may be returned depending on the final verdict in any court case, he says.īorn in Treviso, Cirillo relocated to Russia via Kuwait in the 1990s, where he struck up relationships with powerful businessmen including the Jordanian-Russian entrepreneur Ziyad Manasir. Cirillo’s private helicopter was also seized. Officers confiscated a dozen “highly valuable” paintings after it transpired that they had not been registered with the authorities as required by Italian law. Officials raided the 63-year-old Italian architect’s own villa in Roncadelle near Brescia in February, where they discovered and confiscated a treasure trove of works by artists including Pablo Picasso, Paul Cézanne, Wassily Kandinsky, Giorgio de Chirico and Lucio Fontana.Īround 100 agents from the Guardia di Finanza searched the villa, that is owned by Cirillo’s wife, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering and tax evasion from 2013-19, Giornale di Brescia reported. Lojacono could not be reached for further comment.Įarlier this year, we reported that Cirillo is being investigated by the Italian authorities for allegedly failing to pay a €50m tax bill. Marco Tolla of the Guardia di Finanza would not confirm the report but tells The Art Newspaper: “According to usual practice, if the court issues a guilty verdict that is deemed to be conclusive, the works of art will be confiscated by the state and ultimately entrusted to Italian museums.”Ĭirillo’s lawyer, Stefano Lojacono, says in a statement: "The architect, who is in Moscow, is very disappointed the fact that he bought some prestigious properties and works of art in Italy-and provided for his wife and daughter-are now being used to argue that he faked his move abroad." He adds that Cirillo was not guilty of any wrongdoing regarding Italian taxes. The Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera reports that around 150 works were seized by artists such as Modigliani and Picasso. Sources confirmed to Reuters that the individual is Cirillo. Cirillo is under investigation for tax crimes.Īccording to the Reuters news agency, the assets-art, cash and jewels reportedly worth around $144m-were taken from a “well known professional” in Brescia, northern Italy by the Guardia di Finanza law enforcement agency. m mansion on the Black Sea that many believe was built for the Russian President Vladimir Putin. You can use either an image or a video for your watermark.Italian police have seized the assets-including works of art-of Lanfranco Cirillo, the designer of a mysterious 18,000 sq. Place a watermark on top of a video or image. Trim a video between two different timestamps. Resize your video or image by changing the resolution and aspect ratio.Ĭreate a video slideshow from a range of images. This action allows you to build highly customised and personalised videos and images at scale. Trigger when a new video is uploaded that matches a specific search string.ĭelete hosted assets including videos, images, audio files, thumbnails and poster images.ĭynamically place an image of video overlay on top of a video or image. Trigger when a new video is added to a specific playlist. Trigger when a new video is published to a specific YouTube channel. Trigger when a new video is uploaded by a specific YouTube username.

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gaswin · 2 years

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The Low Down On Jobs In Kuwait Exposed

We must sustain the strain on the Coalition to essentially show compassion by releasing all refugees from onshore and offshore detention and provides them everlasting protection and full rights. Candidates must have a minimum of 15 years' oil and fuel experience. As you're conscious, Center east's economic system is pushed by its rich Oil and Gas reserve. We name on Joyce to place the people of Tamworth, and the folks of rural meat working communities around Australia, ahead of the assist of his rich and powerful associates. Greater than 40,000 meat working jobs have been misplaced since 1990, and 1000's of meat staff are out of work round Australia. That means, as an alternative of goods, products and expertise, we are sending thousands and thousands of our countrymen by all throughout the different continents of the world to work as professionals, expatriates, home helpers, lecturers, construction staff, etc.! Utilizing these connections, it’s been able to persuade individuals in power that sending animals overseas on ships by some means creates jobs. Priya and Nades Murugappan and their youngsters Kopika and Tharnicaa have sought protection visas since 2012. It’s been virtually 10 years and they are still waiting. Many lost jobs and some are unsure about their employment standing. These jobs can be found in several areas throughout the nation, together with 541 jobs in Al Kuwait, 25 jobs in Hawali, and 21 jobs in Al Ahmadi. With restricted English, excluded from tertiary studies (as they would need to pay full charges up front to study right here) means they are forced to take jobs that do not recognise their expertise. “The results of this examine will hopefully encourage laboratories to introduce more specific testing strategies to identify and forestall overlooking the presence of phantom superbugs. “Several clusters of the phantom superbugs had been also detected in different patients from the same hospitals, suggesting affected person-to-patient spread of infection is occurring,” Mr Zowawi stated. “We hope this may help in advancing the surveillance of superbugs by decreasing the turnaround time to determine the deadly micro organism,” Mr Zowawi stated. “This means patients aren't being treated shortly with the right antibiotics, permitting the micro organism time to spread. Joyce’s funding announcement comes at a time when Australian farmers who present the stay export cattle in the primary place are severely worried that the export business could also be sabotaging itself, thanks to the potential of re-packaged and re-branded “Australian beef” being shipped out of the overseas export locations. Australia’s deputy prime minister is more than pleased to let Australian jobs and Australian kids rot if it means more money for his mates in the Reside Export Council and for his billionaire donors like Gina Rinehart. The stay export business has highly effective mates in Canberra and deep pockets. This weekend’s announcement is extra evidence of Barnaby Joyce’s utter contempt for the meat working industry - now the most important manufacturing business in Australia after the collapse of the automobile trade, and an important a part of Australia’s economic system. In its submission to the Senate Select Committee on Temporary Migration, the Refugee Recommendation and Casework Service (RACS) reported on the impact of Australia’s short-term safety regime, and highlighted the dire mental health affect for folks compelled to dwell on TPVs and SHEVs. Every time he's questioned, Joyce resorts to the identical meaningless speaking factors supplied to him by the Reside Export Council: “live export is a two billion dollar trade that could be a priceless part of Australia’s trade market”. Reside export does not. Even the slightest quantity of digging reveals the uncomfortable fact behind the spin: the reside export trade is a parasitic, minimal-labour enterprise, which employs as few people as potential in an effort to generate massive profits for cattle firms and billionaire magnates like Gina Rinehart (who just occurs to be Barnaby Joyce’s shut personal buddy and who donated $50,000 to his re-election campaign). Native jobs are disappearing at a fast pace and local communities are feeling the pinch, as increasingly cattle are shipped overseas for processing in locations like Indonesia, Vietnam and Kuwait. TPV holders are often susceptible to exploitation from bosses. Blaming Jobs in Kuwait and attacking primary human rights, like the appropriate to have youngsters, whereas they're pressured to wait years to listen to the outcome of citizenship applications or the fitting to only apply for citizenship, highlights the merciless nature of short-term visas and the terrible impact they have on the refugees’ lives. “Exporting human labor risks our houses, the very core of our Filipino society. Filipino professionals whom we recruited to work in Singapore are as good as our personal. However, when pressed on the issue, the breakdown of what these jobs truly are and who benefits from is nowhere to be found.

#Jobs in Kuwait

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splendoreunique · 6 years

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dreaminginthedeepsouth · 3 years

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LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

July 20, 2021

Heather Cox Richardson

Today, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York indicted three men for illegally influencing the foreign policy positions of a presidential candidate and then, after the election, of the United States government.

They were acting in the interests of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a wealthy country in the Persian Gulf. The candidate was Donald Trump, and one of the three men was his ally Thomas Barrack. Another was Matthew Grimes, a 27-year-old employee who reported to Barrack. The third was UAE citizen Rashid al-Malik Alshahhi, who lived in California until 2018, leaving abruptly after the FBI interviewed him about the case.

The return of Barrack to the news recalls the outsized influence of foreign actors in the previous administration, and how U.S. policy appeared to change to suit their interests. On Twitter, Mark Mazetti of the New York Times wrote: “One of the mysteries of Trump's first six months was why the administration came out of the gate so hot for Saudi and UAE—with Trump traveling to Saudi Arabia and then going along with the Qatar blockade. The Tom Barrack indictment explains a lot.”

A billionaire private equity real-estate investor and longtime ally of Trump, Barrack was a key fundraiser for Trump’s campaign, which he advised between April and November 2016. In June 2018, New York Times reporter David D. Kirkpatrick wrote a profile of Barrack, explaining that he is the son of Lebanese immigrants to Los Angeles and so grew up speaking Arabic, which helped him do business and make contacts in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Barrack got to know Trump in the real estate world of the 1980s, and by 2010, he acquired $70 million of Jared Kushner’s debt and retired enough of it to keep Kushner from bankruptcy. When Trump launched his 2016 campaign with anti-Muslim rhetoric, Barrack calmed his Middle East contacts down, assuring them that Trump was simply using hyperbole.

Barrack urged Trump to hire Paul Manafort—fresh from his stint working for a Ukrainian oligarch—and served as chair of Trump’s inaugural committee. Grimes and Barrack proposed to contacts in the UAE that it should use “its vast economic surplus to obtain a level of influence…which the country should rightfully command.” They suggested it should use financial investments to “increase [its] influence with USA and European governments and people.”

A final draft of their proposal explained that “[w]hile the primary purpose of the platform [will be] to achieve outsized financial returns, it will also…garner political credibility for its contributions to the policies of [the recently elected Candidate, hereinafter, the ‘President-Elect’]....We will do so by sourcing, investing, financing, operationally improving, and harvesting assets in those industries which will benefit most from a [President-Elect] Presidency.”

Barrack’s investment firm raised more than $7 billion between 2016 and 2018, 24% of it from either the UAE or Saudi Arabia.

According to today’s charges, once Trump was in office, Barrack continued to lobby for the UAE until April 2018. He allegedly worked with allies in the UAE to draft passages of Trump’s speeches, hone press materials, and prepare talking points to promote UAE interests. Without ever registering as a foreign agent, he worked to change U.S. foreign policy and appoint administration officials to meet a “wish list” produced by UAE officials.

Barrack helped to tie the Trump administration to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, turning the US away from Qatar, an ally that hosts US air bases (although they are now being closed as bases and in the process of becoming housing for our Afghan allies before their US visas come through). From the beginning, the administration worked closely with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, who controls $1.3 trillion in sovereign wealth funds and essentially rules the UAE, and with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), whom Prince Mohammed championed.

In May 2017, Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Bannon, along with Saudi and UAE leaders, met without the knowledge of then–Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to talk about blockading Qatar. When Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt launched a blockade on June 5, 2017, Trump cheered them on, although the State Department took a neutral stand and the Pentagon thanked Qatar for hosting US troops.

Today, prosecutors said that Barrack provided foreign government officials “with sensitive non-public information about developments within the Administration, including information about the positions of multiple senior United States government officials with respect to the Qatari blockade conducted by the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries.”

They say he also "met with and assisted senior leaders of the KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia], a close ally of the UAE."

In May 2019, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared an emergency to bypass congressional oversight of an $8 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. After the UAE signed onto the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations with Israel, the U.S. sold them another $23 billion of arms, including 50 F-35 advanced fighter planes.

Barrack and Grimes were arrested this morning in California.

When announcing the arrests, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office, said, “American citizens have a right to know when foreign governments, or their agents, are attempting to exert influence on our government. This is especially important to Americans during a Presidential election year, and the laws on the books were created to protect our nation from such untoward influence. This case is about secret attempts to influence our highest officials.”

Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division Mark J. Lesko said, “Through this indictment, we are putting everyone—regardless of their wealth or perceived political power—on notice that the Department of Justice will enforce the prohibition of this sort of undisclosed foreign influence.”

Acting U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn M. Kasulis said, “These arrests serve as a warning to those who act at the direction of foreign governments without disclosing their actions, as well as those who seek to mislead investigators about their actions, that they will be brought to justice and face the consequences.”

Prosecutors warned that Barrack was a flight risk because of his wealth, private jet, and “deep and longstanding ties to countries that do not have extradition treaties with the United States”: Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Barrack’s lawyer says that Barrack “has made himself voluntarily available to investigators from the outset,” possibly indicating a willingness to flip.

A judge has ordered Barrack be held in custody until a bail hearing on Monday.

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Notes:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-advisor-presidential-candidate-among-three-defendants-charged-acting-agents

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/press-release/file/1413306/download

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/thomas-barrack-indictment-trump/2021/07/20/d40b64f0-e985-11eb-84a2-d93bc0b50294_story.html

https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/24/politics/trump-arms-sales-saudi-arabia-uae/index.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20210105060948/https://www.state.gov/u-s-approves-advanced-defense-capabilities-for-the-united-arab-emirates/

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/20/trump-friend-tom-barrack-arrest-puts-the-spotlight-on-united-arab-emirates.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/thomas-barrack-trump-s-inaugural-committee-chair-arrested-federal-charges-n1274533

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/13/world/middleeast/trump-tom-barrack-saudi.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/02/world/middleeast/crown-prince-mohammed-bin-zayed.html

Mark Mazzetti @MarkMazzettiNYTOne of the mysteries of Trump's first six months was why the administration came out of the gate so hot for Saudi and UAE--with Trump traveling to Saudi Arabia and then going along with the Qatar blockade. The Tom Barrack indictment explains a lot.1,732 Retweets6,683 Likes

July 20th 2021

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/08/troubling-overlap-between-jared-kushner-business-interests-and-us-foreign-policy

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/20/us-afghan-interpreters-qatar-kuwait-military-bases-500275

https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2021-07-01/us-military-closes-qatar-camps-in-move-that-could-play-into-iran-policy-2009140.html

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

#political #Heather Cox Richardson #Letters From An American #Corrupt GOP #Criminal GOP

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