Rima Makhlouf is not your average university lecturer. Standing at 5"9' with fair white skin, dark eyes and light brown hair, the 28-year old looks like a typical Mediterranean beauty. When abroad, she can easily pass for Italian, Spanish, Greek, Turkish and other Arab nationalities. Her stylish dress senses, which include all the major designer labels, make her stand out among the factuality at the American University of Beirut.
After teaching class, there is nothing more she likes doing than drinking a glass or two of red wine. Her sexual prowess is never to be underestimated, she can take most men and some women to bed, and indeed everyone wants a piece of her. Americans are often stunned by her, as they are, by Lebanon in general. They come to Lebanon expecting to see dark-skinned people like Indians and women covered head to toe and the men in white sheets- instead they get sexy tanned Mediterranean looking people in fashionable clothes. Rima, in her shorts skirts and high heels, typifies that.
But, while Rima enjoys taking Americans to bed, she has another side which alarms some and intrigues others. Rima considers herself to be an anti-Imperialist and supporter of the 'Axis of Resistance'- being a Shia woman from Al-Dahyyia, she is a firm supporter of Hezbollah. When she was a member of the Culture Club of the South, during her student days, she organised fundraisers for them.
Indeed, Rima is a complex woman with multiple faces, which comes from here liberal immediate family, but more conservative extended family. Not all her extended family are conservative, she has female cousins who are artists, models, actresses, lawyers and other professions. This is her giving a lecture on pornography, feminism and the brain. Wearing high heel leather boots, white t-shirt and black short skirt, she has the entire class enthralled by her stimulating lecture.
"Pornography objectifies women and is a male attempt to control female sexuality. It normalises violent and aggressive attitudes towards women, and it ultimately dehumanises them. Pornography physically alters the brain and it changes neuro-connections, which means, many men can only become aroused from pornographic films. Real life sex, does not match what they see on screen and they find themselves unable to make love. On the other hand, pornography has played a central role is expanding female sexual rights and normalised female sexual desire. It can be used to help people. Class with discuss these points." Rima says in her thick Levantine accent.
Rima is pleased because she has spotted a hunky American student in her class. Someone she can control and she seeks another male partner for a forced bi thing she got going. A Lebanese Christian guy called Tony, wants to be used and abused today and Rima has been looking for another male partner. Tall 6 ft, blonde hair, American man, looks like the right match because he can't stop looking at her, like he's mentally undressing her. This guy is going to get a Lebanese welcome today.
She summons him to her office after class. Rima sits at the edge of her desk and crosses her legs. "You must be Jamie?"
"Yes Ma'am, I am." Jamie responds in his thick Texan accent.
"Oh, you from Texas, very nice, I do like southern gentlemen."
"Well, I'm really starting to like Lebanese women. They are so freakin gorgeous, I've honestly never seen women this beautiful before, it's ridicules. Where do they breed women like that? I thought Miami and California were good, but this place is off the map."
"You're too kind. I bet you have a girlfriend?"
"Honestly, I do. But I want to cheat on her for a Lebanese girl."
"Naughty, naughty."
"I can't help it, I'm gonna burst, if I can't fuck a girl here."
"Maybe I can help you. I noticed you wrote a paper attacking Hezbollah. What if I convinced you to change your mind?" Rima opens her legs.
"Yes, I'm open to persuasion."
"Good, meet me at this address at this time." Rima then sends him on his way and calls Tony and informs him off the plan. She then calls a few other people.
Evening arrives and Jamie goes to the restaurant in Al-Dahiyya and waits for Rima. While waiting four sexy girls dressed in tight tops and jeans with Hijabs (headscarves), enter and approach him. One starts to speak, "Jamie?"
"Yes."