by Leslie North
Chapter 7
Saja's stomach sunk and her face dropped when she saw Basil walking into her quarters. He had such arrogance and authority in his step. Mona had told her he was coming to join her for dinner and she had not been looking forward to it. The last time they had seen each other, he had accused her of being promiscuous.
“Hello, Saja,” Basil said as he sat down. He noticed that she was wearing a long dress with short sleeves.
“Hi,” Saja said. The least she could do was be civil. Maybe if she were, then he would let her go home. She joined him at the table. Mona and Amber were serving them their dinner. They shot each other looks. They were expecting something to happen. Basil and Saja were like oil and water, they did not mix.
“You are wearing a dress,” Basil said right before he took a sip from his glass.
“I have nothing else to wear. One morning I woke up and my clothes had mysteriously disappeared,” Saja replied.
“Loose fitting clothes flatter you more.”
“How so?”
“They're more modest and traditional plus they leave more to the imagination.”
Saja shook her head. She did not even want to get into this again. “Why aren't you married?” She asked, changing the topic to focus on him rather than herself. She had been wondering why he was still single, not that she was surprised.
“Marriage was not my priority,” Basil replied. He wondered why she questioned him, but for now, he was going to reply to her politely and entertain her curiosity.
“And it is now?”
“It still is not but my family thinks I should wed.”
Saja chewed and swallowed before she spoke again. “Why the arranged marriage? Have you not found a woman you love?”
Basil smirked at her before he replied. “Love you say,” he said. Saja looked at him questioningly. “I do not believe in love,” he answered her question before she asked it. Saja laughed softly. Amber and Mona were standing by the entrance, in case either Saja or Basil needed something. Amber nudged Mona when Saja laughed. The two of them were shocked to see her laughing in his presence. Amber could not tell if she was being sarcastic or genuine.
“Someone broke your heart?” she asked him.
“Like that is possible,” Basil smirked. He was always the heart breaker. Women would almost die for him or to be with him. Except for Saja.
“Are you afraid that no woman would return your love?”
Basil broke out into laughter. This conversation is getting ridiculous, he thought.
“Why does that amuse you?” Saja asked him.
“I only fear God. Fearing one-sided love? No that is not me. It is the woman who should fear me not returning her love,” Basil replied. Saja grunted. “I saw your father.” Basil said finally putting a stop to the ridiculous topic.
“Not my father and I do not care,” Saja carried on eating. Basil said nothing. He could understand her not wanting to discuss him. The man did not love his daughter and it was apparent. Basil nodded and carried on eating.
“You are twenty-four?” he asked.
“In a few months. You're thirty-three, why are we stating the obvious?” Saja asked.
“You are still young. Perhaps your punishment should be light.”
Mona closed her eyes momentarily. The speculation was over. She knew Saja was about to erupt when Basil said the word punishment.
“Excuse me? Punishment for what?” Saja asked as she wiped her mouth with a napkin. Good thing she had finished eating because it was about to kick off.
“The way you speak to me is unacceptable.”
“And keeping me here against my will is?”
Basil sipped the last of his drink. Amber quickly approached him to refill his glass but he put his hand up to stop her. “You are my betrothed, which means I can do as I please with you. However, I cannot marry a woman with no manners. You shall be tamed,” he told her, as he stood up from the table. Saja also got up.
“You can't tame me,” Saja said the word tame with such disgust.
“Watch me,” Basil headed for the door.
Saja had tried to be civil but he pushed her once again. She walked over to the sofas and picked up the pillows. She started throwing them at him. Mona and Amber gasped.
“You will regret that,” Basil said and left.
“ARGH!!! He makes me so mad!” Saja said. Mona and Amber looked at each other and stood in silence. They did not even know what to say. They wanted to stay out of it. It was every woman for herself.
***
The next morning Saja woke up and took a shower. She reluctantly slipped into a brown bat wing dress before eating her breakfast and then heading to Basil's quarters. When his guards and servants saw her, they immediately made way for her. She walked around his quarters looking for him. She couldn't help but notice how large and nice his place was. Saja walked into his bedroom. “Wow,” Saja said quietly. His room was massive, even compared to hers. The bed was almost as big as her little bedroom in London.
“What are you doing here?” Basil asked as he walked into the bedroom with nothing but a towel on. Saja turned around and saw his beautifully-sculpted, half-naked and wet body. Saja gasped and looked away but it was too late. The image of his ripped body was burned in her brain. Muscular pectorals and washboard abs. “Do not pretend like you have not seen an undressed man before,” he said.
“You don't know me, so stop making assumptions,” Saja replied. Basil grunted in response. He took another towel and dried himself.
“So, what do you want?” he asked her as he entered his walk-in closet.
“To go home.”
“You are like a dog with a bone.”
Saja wanted to throw something at him but there was nothing close by. “Don't compare me to a dog, you jerk! Just let me go home already,” she shouted with her hands on her hips. Basil walked out of the closet. She was still standing there with her back to him. He shook his head and started getting dressed.
“You aren't going home, so you might as well abandon those thoughts,” he said. Saja ran her hand through her curly hair. Frustration and anger rapidly built up inside of her.
“You are evil!” she shouted.
“You have to stop raising your voice at me,” Basil tilted his head to the side whilst looking at her. Even though she was wearing a loose fitting dress, he could still see her shape.
“Or what?” Saja spun round and faced him. She crossed her arms over her chest. Basil noticed her breasts heaved up when she crossed her arms like that. His eyebrows rose slightly. He walked over to her and stood right in front of her looking down at her.
“Recant your attitude,” he said. His voice had gone deeper. His tone was dangerous. Saja looked up at him. She was not going to let his large muscular presence looming over her intimidate her. She was going to stand her ground.
“Let me go home,” Saja said with a deeper voice. He was not the only who could deepen his voice. Basil shook his head. They stood there silently staring each other down until Basil's maid walked in.
“Oh, I am so sorry. I will come back later,” she said and turned to walk out.
“Marina, what is it?” he asked her without shifting his gaze from Saja's face.
“His majesty, the King, is on the phone and requesting to speak with you,” Marina said and bowed her head. Basil grabbed his shirt and headed out without saying a word to Saja. She ran her hand through her hair. That moment he was standing in front of her shirtless and staring at her, was intense and awkward. She was grateful for Marina’s interruption.
Chapter 8
News of the King's visit flooded the palace within the hour. The King was coming to visit his younger brother and the maids were quickly getting his quarters ready. Most of them were excited to see him. Saja too had to admit she was curious to meet him. Was he like his brother?
Saja stood out on the balcony gazing at the view. Green lawn stretched for miles. There was a beautiful stone pathway with
palm trees on both sides. The sky was clear, unlike Saja's mind. So many thoughts troubled her, but the main thing was whether she was going to return home. She couldn't leave, the place was heavily guarded and Basil was adamant that she stay.
“What is on your mind?” Saja heard Basil's voice from behind her.
“Home,” Saja replied. Basil joined her on the balcony. He stood next to her with his hands in his pockets.
“This is home now.”
Saja laughed sarcastically. “Clearly, I am not your type, so why would you want me as your wife?” she asked.
“Nobody said anything about that. You would be staying here as my bed-maid.”
“What the heck is that?” Saja turned to face him.
“A position that will require you to fulfil my needs,” Basil responded calmly. It was as if he was saying something polite and normal.
“What do you take me for?” Saja said and tried to slap him but he caught her hand. Basil pushed her against the wall and pinned her hands to her side.
“Do not act like you are not used to it,” Basil said
“Bastard! You know nothing about me,” Saja kept wiggling and squirming. She really wanted to slap him. Suddenly Basil moved closer to Saja and their bodies were touching. He looked her in the eye.
“Why must you behave like this all the time?” Basil asked. His voice was deeper and dangerous.
“Well, how else would I act? You're keeping me against my will and you make assumptions about my life,” Saja spoke through gritted teeth.
“Well if you had a better attitude then you would not be having such a hard time. This will be the last time I warn you. Do not disrespect me again.”
Saja felt his warm breath tickle her face. Strangely, it wasn't a bad feeling. She felt the hardness of his body against hers. His dark, intense stare made her feel both nervous and angry. Why is he making me feel like this?
Basil was uncomfortable so close to Saja. She made him angry. He was not used to a woman like her. He did not know how to deal with her and that bothered him. He did not like to be backed into a corner. He immediately moved away from her when he felt a familiar warm feeling in his groin and walked off. He didn't want to feel aroused around her. Saja placed her hand on her chest. She was confused. What had just happened?
***
A few days later, the King arrived at Basil's palace. Marina rushed to his office to announce his arrival to Basil. Moments later, the King walked in and smiled as he saw his younger brother. They immediately embraced before sitting down.
“It has been too long, little brother,” the King said.
“It has,” Basil smiled. Marina walked in with a range of refreshments and snacks. She placed the food on the table and poured drinks for the both of them. “How is the queen?” Basil asked. The King grunted with displeasure and took a sip of his drink.
“She is fine, cordial at the moment,” he replied. He had been having problems with his wife. Their marriage was political and beginning to affect them both.
“This is why I dislike the idea of marriage,” Basil said.
“Oh brother, you are too cynical.”
“Marriage is like life in prison.”
The King started laughing. His brother was impossible. “Hasn't your bride to be changed your views on marriage?” he asked. Basil grunted loudly and shook his head.
“If anything, she has really put me off.” Just as Basil finished saying that, Saja stormed into the room. She came to a halt when she saw the King. Basil rubbed the top of his nose. He did not want to see her, not when he was still welcoming his brother. He was relieved that she was dressed appropriately but there was no telling how long she was going to stay that way. Last time she ripped parts of her dress off in front of Badir. The King looked at Saja.
Saja stood there for a moment analysing him. She could see the resemblance between the two men, but she hadn’t met him before. Then she realised that he was the King. He was wearing a suit; she had thought that he would have been wearing something traditional.
“Can we help you?” Basil asked her. The King was still wondering who she was. Saja completely ignored Basil's question and smiled at the King. She bowed her head.
“You must be King Al-Qadir,” she said.
“I am, and who are you?” he answered. He was amused by the fact that she did not know who he was. Everyone he had ever come across knew him.
“I am Saja, your brother's betrothed,” Saja said the word betrothed with a slight frown on her face. The King's face lit up with amusement and fascination.
“Ah, please join us,” he said as he gestured towards the sofa. Basil looked at him as if he was crazy. He did not want Saja to join them. She could detonate at any moment, there was no telling.
“Err...” Saja was about to refuse but Mona shot her a warning look. No one could refuse the King. Saja quickly sat down. Mona's look was too intense; she had to sit down. Mona was standing beside Amber. The two of them shook their heads and looked at the ground.
“I hope she does not do anything in front of the King,” Mona whispered to Amber.
“There isn't a need for her to join us,” Basil said to his brother.
“Nonsense, I am intrigued to meet your future wife,” the King replied. Future wife, those two words made Saja shudder. She really did not want to be Basil's wife and there was no way she was going to let that happen.
King Al-Qadir turned his attention to Saja. He asked a few questions about her. She answered his questions politely. Basil could not believe it. This was a side of her that he had not seen and he did not trust. He felt like she was up to something.
“What is it that you do?” the King asked Saja.
“Well, your majesty, I just finished my first year of housemanship,” Saja replied. Basil's eyes flew open. That was one detail he did not know about her.
“You are a doctor? That is impressive,” the King replied with a big smile and nodded his head a few times. “I do not think my brother has been with a woman of your calibre,” he added and looked at Basil. Basil frowned and looked to the side. He had pegged Saja for an illiterate woman. It surprised him to know that she had a medical degree.
“Thank you,” Saja replied. It did not surprise her that Basil had never been with intelligent women. Of course, they had to match him. That arrogant, pretentious, insufferable jerk! He made her blood boil. She was surprised to see his brother being so polite to her. They were different and she was thankful for that. She did not think she could handle two of them.
“But aren't you a bit young to have completed your housemanship?” the King asked her.
“I went to university a year early,” Saja said. The King smiled and nodded. He was really impressed by her.
After a while, Saja dismissed herself. “It was nice to meet you, your majesty. I shall leave you to catch up with your brother. I say brother but the two of you are so different,” she said.
“How so?” the King asked.
“Goodbye, Saja,” Basil said. He could not wait for her to disappear.
“You are much nicer and more polite,” Saja said. The King raised his eyebrows slightly. She bowed her head to him and left. Basil narrowed his gaze and looked to the side.
“What have you done to her?” The King asked his brother as soon as she left.
“I have done nothing,” Basil replied defensively. He stood up and asked his brother to join him for a ride before dinner.
Chapter 9
“I am surprised that went well,” Mona said to Saja when they reached her quarters. Saja threw herself on the sofa.
“What do you mean?” she asked Mona.
“You meeting King Al-Qadir.”
Saja started laughing. “Okay, I know I am a bit hot-headed but in the presence of the King, I'd be on my best behaviour,” she said. Mona sighed with relief.
“I am relieved; he is the king after all. You have to respect him and be modest.”
Saja smiled and nodded. Maybe if she b
ehaved around him, he might help her leave? That was never going to happen. If Basil angered her as he usually did, she would probably lose her temper. Good thing she had Mona to keep her in line and fill her in on stuff. Saja was mostly clueless about everything, since she was from a different country.
***
The King joined Badir and Basil at the stables for a short, late-afternoon ride. The ranch hand had their horses saddled up and ready. The three of them mounted up and left the stables. As they were trotting, the King brought up Saja.
