“The only other problem is your friend”, the sheikh said, grimacing. “If she managed to find the letters between my mother and me, she’ll know everything. I’ll probably need to pay her off for the rest of her life.”
“Katia may be a bit of a gold digger but she’s not a bad person”, Frey assured him. “She doesn’t have it in her to blackmail someone. I’ll talk to her, ok?”
“Let’s go and do this then”, the sheikh stood and offered her hand for him to take. “Besides, nothing can bring me down right now. I feel like the luckiest man in the world!”
They grinned at each other and headed towards the house. Frey’s conscience was finally clear and she felt completely elated. It was the outcome she had barely dared to even dream could come true. As long as the sheikh’s mysterious plan would work.
When they got to the sheikh’s office, Katia was still sobbing inconsolably despite hot dancer boy’s efforts to try and calm her down. She looked such a state in her oversized staff robe with her makeup smudged and mascara dribbling down her cheeks that Frey couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.
“What happened here?” the sheikh asked of the security men.
“We caught them… err… having carnal relations in one of the guest bedrooms.” The security guard blushed and looked at the floor.
The sheikh stared at the disheveled couple in amazement, “So you didn’t find anything? You just had sex in my house?”
Katia nodded miserably and the sheikh let out a loud roar. He was laughing uncontrollably and Frey saw the funny side of it too. How typical of Katia, she thought, but she knew her friend had been trying to help her. Thank goodness she hadn’t found the letters.
“Well nothing matters now anyway. We’re going to get married!” the sheikh announced happily, and hugged his bride to be. Katia stopped sniffling and looked up in amazement. “What?” she shouted. “OMG OMG OMG this is epic! Are you serious?”
“Well, hopefully!” Frey said, glancing at the sheikh, not wanting to get her hopes up too much. She smiled coyly and her friend jumped up and embraced her. “This is crazy! You need to tell me everything!” she said, smiling through her tear-stained face.
Later Katia explained that her and hot dancer boy, whose name was Ali, had come up with a crazy plan to steal staff uniforms while they were getting changed for their performance and later sneak into the house to try and find out some information from the sheikh’s office and bedroom. However, they had only got as far as the first guest room where the huge bed with silk sheets had been too much for them both to resist.
Frey in turn told her that she had owned up to everything and had told the sheikh about her job and her story. It felt like such a relief to have finally been honest with him and the outcome was better than she had imagined in her wildest dreams.
Chapter Ten: The Sheikh’s Plan
“I have my suspicions about Aliana’s boyfriend,” the sheikh confided in Frey the following morning over breakfast. They were sitting in a spacious conservatory at the rear of the house which was full of tropical and colorful trees and flowers. They sat on elegant mahogany chairs upholstered with cream velvet and the table in front of them was laden with croissants and pastries as well as steaming pots of tea and coffee and jugs of freshly squeezed juice. The sheikh waited for the last robed servant to leave before continuing.
“Aliana is sweet but unfortunately not the brightest girl…,” he said, waiting to see if Frey understood. She liked the way he obviously didn’t want to insult this girl who had inadvertently caused him so much obligation and distress.
“I arranged to speak to the young man that she is apparently in love with. He’s an unsavory character and I think he has no intention of ever marrying her, even if it was possible.”
“But doesn’t that make the situation worse?” asked Frey, confused.
“I think he’s planning on using her upcoming nuptials and future status to benefit himself. In a financial way. You see, if he has seduced her, and she is no longer a virgin, then that is a real problem for me as her fiancé.”
Frey continued to look confused and the sheikh continued to explain.
“You see, if I can prove that she isn’t a virgin and has been carrying on with a man during our engagement, I have a valid reason to cancel the wedding.”
“Oh”, Frey said, suddenly understanding. And then she frowned. “That’s awful on so many levels. You’re allowed to have sex before marriage but she isn’t. And now you want to humiliate the poor girl with the help of the man she’s in love with.”
“I don’t care about the virgin thing. It’s just an old-fashioned technicality that I can use to my advantage. And it will be done discretely. With the threat of going public if all else fails.”
Frey screwed up her face. “It’s so distasteful. And why would he help you anyway?” She realized as soon as she’d asked the question. “Money”, she said and the sheikh nodded his head as confirmation.
“I’m afraid with my money and position there are a lot of people who want to take advantage of my family and I. What with family secrets and dishonest marriage agreements, I have a lot of people to pay off. Fortunately I’m a billionaire and once all this has quietened down I want to keep you hidden and protected in our new home in the south.”
He smiled and stroked her cheek.
“Ok, well what did he say?” Frey asked, still unsure of this horrible plan.
“They meet up regularly at her parent’s summer house in the outskirts of Luxor. It’s discreet and she’s relaxed there and won’t suspect a thing. All lover boy has to do is leave the bedroom curtain slightly open and then my security man, who will have followed them there, just has to snap a few incriminating pictures.”
Frey grimaced and raised her eyebrows.
“I know what you’re thinking sweet Frey and I truly wish there was another way. But these photos will mean that you and I can be together properly, and the family secret will be kept safe forever.”
“What about lover boy?” asked Frey, “Won’t he just keep coming back for more money?”
“He will receive a substantial amount every month for the rest of his life. I don’t want to risk him running out of money and coming back to me in desperation. As far as keeping quiet is concerned, I’ve requested he sign a document detailing his part in the plan. As much as a squeak from him and I’ll reveal this fact to Aliana’s family. Her twin brothers would probably murder him if they ever found out.”
Frey remembered the two identical burly-looking men sitting near Aliana at the charity auction and decided that the sheikh was probably right.
“Well I guess that’s all the loose ends tidied up”, agreed Frey. “But what about poor Aliana?”
“Oh, don’t worry about her. She’s a pretty girl and as soon as this love rat is out of the picture and our engagement is officially ended, she’ll have no end of offers from all sorts of eligible bachelors.”
This appeased Frey and she reluctantly agreed that the sheikh’s plan was the best way forward. If it actually worked they would be free to marry, she thought excitedly.
The plan went to plan and another meeting with Aliana’s father was arranged. When he glimpsed at the implicating photographs he couldn’t do anything but agree to the sheikh’s demands. He knew that if word got out that his daughter was no longer a virgin, the list of eligible suitors showing interest in her would be short and disappointing. Even though the sheikh could have probably given him nothing, he kept to his word and promised him a huge sum of money once he was married. However the offer of the estate was retracted as a kind of punishment for forcing the sheikh to sink to such a low level. Aliana’s father was extremely angry but completely trapped, just as the sheikh knew he would be.
Frey meanwhile was overjoyed that the sheikh was finally hers and tried to put out of her head the nasty business and concentrate on her new life ahead of her. There was a lot to think about.
Chapter Eleven: The Following Months
After the drama of the charity auction and the sheikh’s plan, things calmed down a little, which Frey was very relieved about. She continued to live in his beautiful estate in Luxor and moved all her things from her old hotel room and bid farewell to the husband and wife owners whom she had grown fond of and who were obviously intrigued by her glamorous life of being picked up in limousines and being sent huge bouquets of flowers. When she told them who she was marrying they were proud as punch and elated when she promised them an invite to the wedding.
The sheikh took her to visit his land in the south and they spent days driving and hiking to different areas where he would delight her with hidden waterfalls where they would jump into the crystal clear and freezing water and enjoy a moment’s relief from the tropical climate. He took her up mountains and showed her spectacular viewpoints where you could see jungle and turquoise waters on one side and desert stretching as far as the eye could see on the other. He pointed out different species of plants, flowers and trees as well as an abundance of wildlife and insects. He was impressed that Frey wasn’t at all squeamish when it came to creepy crawlies, however once they came across a snake and he laughed as she screamed and jumped into his arms. “I’m glad to know that something fazes you”, he joked as he consoled his frightened fiancée. They discussed the merits of different areas for the site of their new house which they were still going to build, despite the fact that they would keep the Luxor estate. They agreed upon a hillside spot where there was a perfect-sized clearing in the trees and a magnificent view of the Red Sea. It would be ideal for escaping the hustle and bustle of Luxor and Cairo, and was walking distance from the water but high enough up to provide a refreshing breeze in the Egyptian heat.
There was also the night of the official proposal, where the sheikh had taken her to Abu Simbel and had got down on one knee. He presented her with a stunning sapphire and diamond ring in front of the majestic Great Temple with multiple statues of Rameses II towering 60 feet above them. It was sunset and they had arrived by helicopter for dinner on the steps of the incredible temple which was built into the face of the mountain. The ring was his mother’s and Frey felt honored and flattered to put it on. It fitted perfectly and Frey couldn’t help glancing at it constantly and admiring its beauty.
Katia and Ali had continued dating and had visited Luxor several times since the dreaded night of the charity auction. This time they entered the sheikh’s house invited and he amused himself by giving them the same room where they had been caught unawares by his security team. They made an attractive and vivacious couple and were great fun to be around. Frey thought it was ironic that she had been the one to end up with a rich man when that was all Katia had wanted and was pleased that her friend was so happy without the riches she had previously aspired to. Of course she took full advantage of her new status as best friend to the sheikh’s fiancée and soon the news was out and Frey started to notice photographers and reporters wherever she went, with or without the sheikh. She saw photos of herself in Egypt Today and other such magazines where she was complimented on her beauty and style. She couldn’t believe how much her life had changed and was glad that she and her future husband would have their private abode in the south to escape all the attention and fuss.
Then there was Frey’s story. She had called her boss back in New York tentatively wondering how on earth to explain everything. The story should have been almost done and dusted, but of course in reality it hadn’t even been started. As she began to explain the situation and what had happened, her boss had at first thought she was joking. When she realized Frey was really telling the truth her reaction was to shriek in delight. “An Egyptian love story!” she cried, “Rags to riches! Famous sheikh falls for small-time journalist! This is going to be a double spread story for sure.” Frey wasn’t too sure about the use of the words rags and small-time journalist but she came up with a beautiful story entailing their chance first meeting and the amazing dates the sheikh had taken her on. Of course she left out the parts about blackmail and deceit, which would have made for an even better story, but she would have never sold out her beloved sheikh. He was proud of her story but told her that it was her last job as from now on she would never need to work again. Frey objected to this and it was the first argument they almost had. She had worked and studied for her entire adult life and she needed more of a purpose than just being his wife. They eventually came to a compromise where she would take a photography course and focus on freelance travel writing and photography instead, which in truth was the perfect job for her.
Meanwhile the sheikh had spoken to his mother and made arrangements for them to visit her before the wedding so that she could meet his new fiancée. She was over the moon that he had found true love and couldn’t wait to meet Frey. She was living in a small house in Marrakech in Morocco so they took the sheik’s private plane and spent a few days in her cozy abode. The sheikh enjoyed his relative anonymity and Frey and his mother hit it off immediately. She was a modern woman and took Frey on numerous trips through the winding market streets known as souks. They were colorful bustling alleyways full of all sorts of beautiful trinkets and knickknacks to buy and to try and the sheikh would laugh when they returned home again and again with armfuls of packages. She couldn’t bear the idea of missing the wedding so they came up with an idea to disguise her so that she could enjoy their day. There were going to be so many guests invited that she could easily blend in but the sheikh decided that the best way for her to go unnoticed was to copy Katia and Ali’s idea and go as one of his robed servants.
The new house was well under way in the south and Frey had selected ornate and sumptuous rugs and throws from Marrakech and Cairo to give the place a homely feel. They had spent hours poring over the architect’s plans, having minor disagreements on various things. The sheikh wanted to build a palace for his soon-to-be ‘sheikha’ which was what he had jokingly started to call her. However Frey insisted that they should have something a little more low-key with slightly lower ceilings, smaller doorways and less water features. Of course, it was still a palace, and Frey couldn’t believe the size of it every time she visited to check on the progress. They decided to use it as the venue for the wedding and started making plans and coming up with ideas for their exciting big day ahead.
Frey also broke the news to her parents who were surprised but happy for their daughter. They had taught her to be independent and to make her own decisions in life and were confident that this sheikh must be something special if their beloved Frey had chosen him. They each made arrangements to travel to Egypt for the wedding, from the US and Sweden respectively. Frey also phoned around some other relatives and friends to update them on what had happened before they found out for themselves by reading the paper. A select few were invited to the wedding and Frey generously explained that all transport costs would be covered. She couldn’t expect people to take valuable vacation leave as well as spend a fortune and it was important to her to have her few loved ones close to her to share her big day. Everything was coming together and several times Frey had to pinch herself to check she wasn’t dreaming!
Chapter Twelve: The Wedding
Frey opened her eyes slowly and stretched her arms. Then suddenly it dawned on her and her eyes widened quickly. Today was her wedding day! She smiled and glanced at her phone. Still time to enjoy a few more minutes alone before…
Her door flew open and Katia bounded into her room squealing with excitement. Frey grinned, she almost thought Katia was more excited about her wedding than she was, but she charmed by her enthusiasm and delight. “How are you feeling?” she asked. “And how are you still in bed? I’ve been awake for ages!”
“I’m fine!” Frey insisted, “Chill out. I’ll just be glad when all the fuss is over.”
“You do not mean that!” Katia replied looking shocked. She was living her dream through her friend and Frey could see how much it frustrated her that she didn’t seem to appreciate it. It wasn’t that
she didn’t appreciate it at all, but for her the wedding day was the start of the rest of life. She didn’t particularly like being the center of attention and she was nervous about all the aristocrats of Egypt that would be in attendance, especially the sheikh’s father. She had only met him briefly a couple of times and he seemed rather cold and disapproving of her. However, she decided to put her worries aside and at least enjoy getting beautiful for her handsome sheikh.
“I’m only joking. Of course I’m excited! Come on then, make me beautiful!” she said as she jumped out of bed and stuck her tongue out at her friend.
They were in the house in the south which had now been finished, made of stone and wood with large airy spaces and luxurious décor. Frey adored it. Her and the sheikh had designed it themselves and had made sure it was as ecologically friendly as possible in order not to disturb the delicate ecosystems surrounding them. She wandered out of the huge glass doors which lead to the terrace and gazed at the beautiful jungle and sea view which she knew she would never tire of. She was sleeping in the grand master bedroom which she would start to share with her sheikh from that night onwards.
Soon trays of coffee and fresh orange juice were brought up and Frey’s mother appeared too, eager to help and fuss and fret as any mother-of-the-bride should.
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