At shortly after six the limo pulled up outside the Egyptian Museum. Frey was delighted. She had wanted to visit earlier but when she mentioned to her friend Katia had looked appalled and had simply replied, “Yawnsville.”
This time the limo driver got out and led her to the doors of the imposing grand museum. He knocked sharply, nodded his head to her courteously, and left. The museum hours were clearly stated on a placard outside: 9:00am to 5:00pm. He’s done it again, she thought. However, this time she was excited rather than simply in awe. She would have the whole museum to herself to explore. As well as her mysterious and handsome guide of course.
Just then the doors opened and the sheikh ushered her inside. “You look beautiful.” he said as he kissed her gently on the cheek. She melted inside and smiled radiantly.
“I’m so excited to see the museum,” she said, “I asked Katia to come with me but, well, you know Katia.”
He immediately started relaying facts and figures about the various exhibits in glass displays. He obviously knew and loved his history and Frey relished in his enthusiasm just as much as the fascinating knowledge he was imparting.
He saved the best until last and after dining on caviar and seafood at a specially set up table in the atrium, they finally got to King Tut’s gold funerary mask. It was a shining spectacle of gold and blue and Frey couldn’t believe it was over 3000 years old; it was still so perfect.
“Twenty-four pounds of solid gold,” marveled the sheikh, “including blue glass for these stripes on the headdress and for the beard, and the collar is encrusted with lapis lazuli, quartz, and green feldspar.”
It was stunning and they gazed at it for several minutes before the sheikh added, “You know, he was only 19 when he died, and he had already been pharaoh for ten years by then. He was actually one of the lesser known pharaohs of his time, but thanks to his tomb remaining intact for so long, he is now the most famous of them all.”
“How wonderful to come from somewhere with such a rich and remarkable past.” Frey said. “I’m afraid nothing in the U.S. is even remotely as old or fascinating than anything I have experienced today. I feel honored and privileged to have seen all this. Thank you so much for sharing it with me.”
“I feel honored myself, to be able to share it with someone who appreciates and understands the significance of it all.” the sheikh replied proudly.
“Oh, the gift shop!” exclaimed Frey suddenly as she spotted the sign to one side. “Can we?” she asked with a childlike enthusiasm.
The sheikh rolled his eyes in mock annoyance and led her into the small store. Frey toyed with miniature souvenirs and browsed through books and postcards. As a child she had loved museum stores and had always been allowed to choose just one postcard as a souvenir. She chose one of King Tut’s mask and left a coin next to the cash register.
Frey looked around for the sheikh and suddenly cried out as a figure in a pharaoh mask loomed towards her. She backed up, horrified, and ran from the store back into the museum where the ambiance was colder and eerier than she had remembered. She relaxed slightly when she saw that King Tut’s mask was still gleaming in its display case and when the figure emerged from the store she saw clearly that it was a plastic imitation mask. How strange, she thought, remembering her dream.
“You scared me half to death!” she cried out in relief as the sheikh pulled off the mask and grinned at her. They laughed and he pulled her towards his chest, rocking her slightly. “I didn’t mean to frighten you my sweet Frey,” he said softly and her heart fluttered happily. She felt so safe and protected at that moment and she didn’t want it to end. But he pulled away and looked down into her shining eyes, “Are you ready to continue the magical mystery tour?” he asked, smiling eagerly.
Frey looked puzzled, “You mean there’s more?”
“Oh, much more! You’ve seen Tutankhamun’s death mask, but don’t you want to see his tomb?”
“But, I…” Frey started. There were so many questions going round her head. King Tut’s tomb was in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor which was a ten-hour train ride away. She had already looked it up in the hope she would have time to visit. She didn’t have any of her things with her. No clothes, not even her toothbrush. And then there was the matter of the sleeping arrangements…
“Don’t fret my dear Frey,” the sheikh said as he took her hand, “All will become clear. Now we will return to your hotel for your things and you will have private sleeping quarters, you have my word.”
Reassured, Frey allowed herself to be taken to the hotel where she quickly packed an overnight bag. Soon afterwards they arrived at the airport and she found herself sitting on a private plane being served sweet delicacies and champagne. As she popped a caramelized walnut into her mouth she thought to herself how exciting her life had become in the last few days. Usually one to shy away from extravagance and excessiveness, she now found herself surrounded by it and not as fazed as she once would have been. She didn’t know whether it was the influence of Katia, the attraction she felt towards the sheikh, or the lure of getting her story, but she was handling things pretty well, considering.
An hour later they glided over the glittering lights of Luxor and the plane touched down smoothly at a small private airport which turned out to be part of the sheikh’s family home. There was a golf cart waiting for them and they trundled away from the airport past a huge golf course and finally through magnificent landscaped gardens before arriving at an unbelievably vast estate. There was a grand sandstone mansion surrounded with palm trees and rockeries with fountains of water tumbling down to bigger pools. There was a path surrounding the impressive pillared building and Frey could see that smaller paths lead off to other beautiful edifices that were partially hidden from view by the abundant greenery and vegetation.
There was an air of activity about the place as robed staff members moved about the place quietly and efficiently, carrying various items. They would stop and bow whenever they came near or passed Frey and the sheikh. Each looked identical in their crisp white robes secured with a golden sash and completed with gold-colored slippers and a golden turban. One of them approached and provided them with delicate cups filled with sweet and refreshing mint tea.
Frey couldn’t believe the enormity and grandness of the place. “This is all yours?” she asked incredulously.
“It will be”, he replied, “Technically the estate is still my father’s but he mostly lives in Dubai these days. So yes, I will inherit everything here, as well as a large amount of land in the South.” He sighed and seemed rather troubled.
Frey decided to try her luck and probe further, realizing disturbingly that she was asking for herself rather than for her story which had taken a backseat in her mind.
“Before we go in I really need to ask you something,” she started tentatively. “I heard a rumor that you’re engaged to be married. It’s just, I don’t know if I’m comfortable continuing to spend so much time with you knowing that. Don’t you think it’s inappropriate?”
The sheikh sighed and took her hand, leading her to an intimate gazebo which was lit up with decorative oil lamps hanging from the roof. They sat on a large daybed draped in luxurious fabrics and a few of the many servants appeared quickly, setting down more refreshments on the engraved dark wood table in front of them, bowing to the sheikh, and then retreating again into the darkness and foliage.
“I knew you would find out sooner or later,” the sheikh said sadly, “and I agree that the situation we are in is not exactly appropriate given my circumstances. It’s true; I’m engaged to be married. However, it is a long-standing arrangement between my father and another family and I’m afraid it’s a commitment I am bound to out of family duty and loyalty.”
“But who is the girl you are supposed to marry? Don’t you like her?”
“She’s a girl I have known for many years called Aliana. Of course I am fond of her. But I am not in love. And her family’s plans for the land I will inherit
are not what I want either.”
“Is this the big hotel that’s going to be built? With nine pools and thousands of rooms?”
“You have been doing your homework haven’t you?” the sheikh replied with a hint of suspicion.
“Oh, you know, Katia likes to gossip about things like that.” Frey blushed and stared into her lap.
“Yes, it’s the big hotel with nine pools,” he continued. “It was part of the arrangement my father made and I have no say in that either.”
“But what would happen if you didn’t go through with it? Can’t you just tell you father that you’re not in love with her and that you don’t want to build the hotel?”
“I wish it were that easy. However, my father is not a man to defy and I’m afraid he would probably disown me and take away everything I have if I refused to go through with it. Arranged marriages are a part of our culture and that’s just the way it is.”
Frey thought it was crazy that someone with seemingly so much power and influence was actually trapped in a web of family responsibility and obligation. In comparison she was as free as a bird and she suddenly felt very lucky that her parents had never pressured her to take any particular direction in life but instead had left her to make her own decisions and choices.
“I’ve tried to discourage Aliana and her family. I’ve behaved as obscenely as possible, picking up girls in public places and portraying an arrogant and egotistic personality that isn’t me at all. I’ve postponed the wedding time and time again. But nothing will stop it in the end. They want my status and my land and no matter how terribly I try to act, nothing will change that.”
So it was all an act, Frey thought, elated that she had been right about him, but devastated by the fact that he was truly engaged and soon to be married.
“I understand your predicament, I really do,” said Frey carefully, “but I’m afraid I can’t be another of the girls you just use and throw away like trash in order to vex your future wife and in-laws. And aside from my feelings, I can’t say I agree with your method of humiliating them either.”
“Don’t you understand, my dear Frey, that I see you differently? The girls here are all the same. They want a taste of my money and lifestyle. Most of them don’t even care that I’m about to be married. And some of them think they can seduce me into marrying them instead with their pathetic compliments and sexual advances. However, here is a girl who challenges me and excites me in a way I’ve never felt before.”
Frey felt giddy and overwhelmed but managed to mumble back quietly, “It doesn’t change the fact that you’re about to be married and therefore I don’t think we should continue to see each other.”
“I’m sorry if I misled you but I never expected things to advance as they have. You intrigued me to begin with, but now I feel something more towards you. All I can ask is that we can stay friends and continue to enjoy each other’s company.”
Frey smiled although she was bitterly disappointed. It was the reaction she’d been expecting however it made her realize just how much she’d been hoping things would develop further between her and the sheikh. Even though she longed for him to pull her into those strong arms of his and feel his full soft lips again on hers, she refused to be involved with an engaged man.
“I still don’t really understand why you have to go through with it and why your father doesn’t want you to be happy,” she sighed, “but I guess it’s a culture that I’m just not familiar with.”
“He does want me to be happy,” the sheikh replied defensively, “It’s not really his fault. It’s complicated.” He grimaced and looked away and Frey sensed that she shouldn’t push the subject any further.
“Ok, well if you could do anything at all with the land, what would you do?” she said light-heartedly with a smile and a raised eyebrow.
The sheikh relaxed again and sighed. “I would leave it just as it is. It borders the Elba National Park and it’s an area of unique ecosystems and hundreds of species of plants. It’s stunningly beautiful and it’s a travesty that a huge area is to be cleared for this huge resort. Not only will thousands of plants and trees have to be destroyed in the process, but the ongoing impact of the resort will also have a devastating effect on the surrounding area. If it were up to me I would build a small ecologically friendly resort where people can go to enjoy the nature and biodiversity without spoiling it.”
Frey was fascinated by this new side that he was revealing but she didn’t have a chance to respond as the sheikh quickly stood up and ushered her into his grand residence, explaining that they must get to sleep as they had an early morning ahead of them. He showed her to her room which was about twice the size of her entire New York apartment and she drifted off anxiously pondering over Aliana, his mysterious fiancée, and this strange culture that belied true love in favor of duty and tradition.
Chapter Eight: The Valley of the Kings
Frey woke to the sound of a knock on her grandly carved wooden door and a robed servant promptly entered with a smile and a bow, turned on a lamp in the corner of her beautiful room, and set down a tray of coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice and buttery croissants. She rubbed her eyes and peered at her phone: it was 4am!
There was a card from the sheikh on the tray apologizing for the early start and instructing her to be downstairs in an hour. She had a quick but luxurious shower in the huge marble bathroom that adjoined her room and dried herself on the softest and fluffiest towel she had ever used while wondering what on earth was in store for her next. She slipped on cream tailored shorts, a sleeveless navy shirt and some cute pumps that Katia had disapproved of because they didn’t have heels. When she had brushed her hair and applied a little lip gloss and mascara, she surveyed herself in the mirror and thought that she didn’t look too bad at all for such an early hour.
The sheikh too was looking more casual than she had ever seen him before, in slacks and a polo shirt, and she thought he looked charming and boyish. His manner seemed to reflect his attire as he grinned at her and asked, “Are you ready for a real adventure now?”
As he led her outside she was amazed to see, in the mysterious shadows of dawn, a huge shape looming before them. As it billowed lightly in the breeze and her eyes adjusted she made out an enormous balloon attached to a wicker basket that was struggling to escape under the restraints of several weighted bags.
“A hot-air balloon!” she cried out, covering her open mouth with her hands in glee, “I’ve always wanted to go on one of these!”
It was the sheikh’s anticipated response and he scooped her up in his arms and gently placed her inside the swaying basket. A huge flame was roaring above her head, keeping the immense expanse of material afloat above them. He jumped in afterwards and released the weights and they lurched upwards rather frighteningly. Frey shrieked and grabbed the side but after the initial falter they swept smoothly upwards and away from the estate.
The sheikh hugged her from behind. “Sorry about that, it’s always a bit bumpy to start with!” he explained, and then went on to point out the different parts of the estate which could just be made out in the dim early morning light; the small airport they had arrived at; the polo fields and stables; the tennis courts; the swimming pool and summer house; and finally the surrounding walls of the huge and beautiful property. It was even bigger than Frey had first imagined it to be when they arrived.
“This is amazing!” she exclaimed. “But where are we going?”
The sheikh pointed into the distance and Frey could only make out the shapes of sandstone mountains in the distance. The lights of Luxor glittered all around them, the Nile glistened and twisted into the distance, and the haze of the sun slowly started to appear on the horizon. It was the most beautiful sight Frey had ever seen.
With the sun gradually lighting up the scene around them, Frey could now see that there were structures built into the mountains. Temples and statues and pyramids suddenly came into view and Frey gasped as the balloon sauntered harro
wingly into a clearing where some of the sheikh’s robed staff were waiting to secure it safely to the ground.
After being shown into many stunningly intricate tombs and temples, Frey didn’t believe that she could be more enthralled by anything else. The sheikh was showing off his historical knowledge once again and she was lapping it up, genuinely fascinated by everything he was telling her. He could even decipher the hieroglyphics on the tomb and temple walls and he knew the names of every king and queen that was laid to rest in the sacred valley. When they finally arrived at King Tut’s tomb, Frey didn’t know how much more excitement she could take. The entrance was small and the passageway dark and as they descended down the narrow staircase the air became hot and close.
The space finally opened up into several dimly lit rooms; the walls adorned with colorful murals depicting the pharaoh during his life. It was beautiful but Frey started to feel a little faint with the heat and with the aura of the surroundings. She faltered and the sheikh steadied her, grasping her in his arms and looking into her eyes to check she was alright. She didn’t know what came over her but suddenly she was kissing him, passionately, and he was kissing her back, pulling her closer and tighter into his body. She could taste the sweat on his upper lip and it thrilled her. She felt a shiver down her spine and realized that he was trembling too. Her hands were exploring his body, feeling the muscles of his shoulders, his lean back, his chest. He started pulling at her clothes. He wanted her there and then, she could feel it, and she wanted him too, so much.
The Sheikh's Secret Page 4
