“Very well,” Nahid said mildly. “My advice still stands. Trust your gut instinct. The simplest solution to the problem is usually the correct one. If you keep making changes, it will look nothing like you imagined.” He lounged on the arm chair in Kamal’s office.
Kamal watched his father impatiently. It was clear he wanted something. “Yes?” he asked as he tried to keep his temper in check.
“I’m pleased with your choice in Jada. She’s make a good wife for you both as a person and as Sheikh. I am not, however, pleased with your actions this week. You have not visited her, given her a tour of the place, or shown her off in public. Instead, you lock yourself in here and work. May I ask why?”
“She ran theses halls as a child. She has no need for a tour. And I do not need to show her off the people. Thanks to the press, everyone knows of our impending wedding,” Kamal said tiredly. “We spoke at the party. She’s adjusted to this arrangement. I see no need to visit her before the wedding.”
His father’s face tightened in anger. “Kamal, you are marrying a woman. Simply because she has adjusted does not mean that she doesn’t require your attention.”
“I am marrying the woman that you picked out for me. And she’s getting everything she wants in life. She’ll have my attention for the rest of our lives,” Kamal said stiffly.
“Everything she wants in life? And what exactly do you that will be?”
Kamal gave his father an incredulous look. “She’ll soon be the Sheikh’s wife. She’s fulfilling the role she’s been bred to have. She’ll be rich, at the side of a powerful man, and she’ll have everything she needs to maintain her beauty. I see no reason to parade her around before the wedding simply so she can simper over me.”
“I did not suggest you marry her so that you could insult her,” Nahid said. His face was dark with anger, and his tone was low.
His father was right. Kamal closed his eyes and shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.
“You’re mother would not be happy if she heard the words coming out of your mouth. You will go and spend some time with Jada. Get to know her. She might surprise you.”
Kamal doubted that very seriously, but Jada didn’t deserve the words that came out of his mouth. He pushed back his chair and stood. “I’ll see if she’d like to get lunch,” he muttered as he grabbed his presentation and slid it into the drawer.
“Very good. Kamal, I realize that this isn’t the life you had planned. But sometimes the life that is thrust upon us is better than anything we could have planned.”
Kamal doubted that very seriously, but he wasn’t about to talk about the life he had planned. It wasn’t an option anymore, and there was no reason to discuss it with anyone. Instead, he nodded curtly to his father and strode out the door. He didn’t bother with calling Jada first. Nahid would no doubt already have Jada’s father on the phone to tell him the news. He considered stripping out of his professional wear for something more formal, but then he dismissed the idea. He was a businessman. Jada would simply have to get used to that.
Her father greeted him warmly. “Kamal! It is good to see you. Your father and I were worried that you were getting lost in this big presentation of yours. Care to give an old man a sneak peek?” he said as he embraced Kamal.
Kamal laughed appropriately. So long as it was business they were discussing, he was comfortable. “I won’t even give my father a sneak peek,” he said with a smile.
“Ah, but I am not your father. You can trust me,” he said with a wink. “Come. Have a seat. Jada will, no doubt, be awhile before she finds herself presentable. You know how women are.”
Kamal laughed again, but his time it was more hesitantly. Sara used to take forever to get ready, but then, he had no one to compare to. Secretly, he hoped his future wife would not take too long to pamper herself. He had no intentions of drawing this meeting out.
Lunch. He needed to remind himself that it was a meal for his bride, and not a conference.
“Your mother hounds me with wedding questions,” he muttered. “I’ve told Nahid that he must do something, but he swears it will only get worse if I don’t comply.”
“Sound advice,” Kamal said dryly. “What did you think of the meeting last week? Do you suppose the board will allocate the funds for this new project?”
Jada’s father wrinkled his nose. “I doubt it. Most of the board are stuffy old men who do not advocate change. Why do you ask? Are you concerned that we won’t be able to fund whatever it is that you’re working on?”
Kamal spoke carefully. “My project won’t really need funding,” he said carefully. “But if they approve an idea so close to my presentation, they may not be open to something else new so soon.”
The old man smiled fondly. “And you’re idea can’t wait?”
“Oh it can. But I am not a patient man. Besides, it is the optimal time to set everything in motion.”
“And what would it be?”
“Oh no you don’t,” Kamal said with a hearty laugh. “You won’t get me that easily.”
Someone cleared their throat, and Kamal turned in his chair to see Jada standing in the doorway. She looked stunning in a periwinkle blue dress. As usual, her eyes were cast to the floor.
“Jada!” her father boomed. “It’s about time, woman. We were growing old waiting for you.”
Kamal rolled his eyes. He’d hardly been here five minutes. “He’s joking, of course. You look lovely.”
“Thank you, Kamal. You look well, yourself. If you would like to continue discussing business, I can return at another time.”
“That won’t be necessary,” he said hastily as he stood. “Your father is trying to pry some information out of me, and I’d prefer to spend some time with a beautiful woman.” The compliments were rolling off his tongue, and they almost surprised him. He didn’t expect to be so at ease in her presence.
Or so flirtatious.
He saw the flicker of surprise in her own eyes as well. “I’ll call the car around to pick us up.”
“No need. My driver is ready.” He turned and smiled at her father. “It’s always a pleasure.”
“Enjoy yourselves,” her father said with a nod of his head. Kamal held out his arm, and Jada linked hers through. He thought he heard a small sigh come from her, but when he turned to her, she was looking away from him.
“Everything all right?” he asked once they were situated in the car.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” she responded, and he sensed some impatience in her voice. Looking at her shrewdly, he noticed that was almost hastily put on. Not that she wasn’t beautiful, but she wasn’t wearing nearly as much as the night of the party. Of course, what did he know of make-up?
“I interrupted something,” he said with narrow eyes.
“Your invitation was rather prompt, but of course, I am happy to join you,” she muttered.
Kamal’s eyes widened in surprise. She was angry. He could feel it simmering just below the surface. He’d been so wrapped up in the fact that he didn’t want to do this that he didn’t even consider how she would feel. Once again, he was treating her like she was nothing.
With a shake of his head, he reached over and took her hand. She looked up, startled, and even he was surprised at the zing of electricity when he touched her. Her skin was soft and smooth beneath his, and he wanted to rub the pad of his thumb over the inner palm of her hand. Immediately, he banished the thought. Clearly it had been too long since he had a woman. “I’m glad that you’re happy to see me, but I should have notified you first and made sure that it was okay with you. My father insisted on this meeting, and I wrongly assumed that you would be available.”
“I appreciate the apology,” she said softly. Her eyes held genuine appreciation, and he felt almost relieved. It occurred to him that she might not be happy about the match, and how he was acting was making things worse. First he ignored her, and then he was rude to her. He didn’t love the idea of marrying her, but he didn’t n
eed to make it worse. He was going to spend the rest of his life with her. He should be making things more pleasant for the both of them.
“Where would you like to go for lunch?” he asked suddenly.
She chuckled. “We’re on our way to a restaurant, and now you want to know where I would like to go?”
“I should have asked soon, but that, at least, is easily remedied. We can go wherever you would like.”
Jada cocked her head and studied. After a moment, she leaned forward and whispered something in the driver’s ear. He met Kamal’s eyes in the rearview mirror, and Kamal nodded.
“Does it have to be a secret?” he asked, amused.
“You seem like the type of man who has everything planned. A little spontaneity and surprise never hurt anyone,” she said with a smile. He saw the mischief twinkling in her eyes and could not help but laugh. Sometimes she was so different than she first appeared. He hoped that after the wedding, she would feel relaxed enough to be herself.
When the car finally stopped, he looked out the window and frowned. “Jada, there isn’t anything here.”
She didn’t say anything but smiled secretively. After an exaggerated suffering sigh, he got out and held out his hand. Even after she got out, he held on and let her drag him around the corner until he saw an opening in the alley. When they ducked in, he was delighted to see a little café that held only ten tables.
“What is this place?” he asked as she guided him to a table in the back.
“This is one of my favorite places. It’s a hole in the wall and pretty poor, but the owners are magnificent and the food is remarkable. You will not regret trusting me on this.”
He took her word for it and ordered from the small paper menus. While they waited for their food, he stared at her from across table. “When we were kids, you said that if you ever left this place, you would never come back. What happened?”
Jada shrugged. “I was too young to understand the politics behind our play dates. You have responsibilities and obligations as the future Sheikh, and I have obligations as the proposed future Sheikh’s wife. You must have known that this is what they were planning.”
Kamal shook his head. “The thought had occurred to me when we were younger, but then you left for Europe and I left for America. I thought that was all there was to it. What did you do in Europe?”
“I was educated. I made friends, I read books, and I wrote articles. I, of course, also had private tutors that worked with me to teach me politics and how to conduct myself as the Sheikh’s wife. It was very structured, but I got to travel and learn new cultures, and that was beautiful. What did you do in America?”
He grew quiet as he thought of a response. He also was educated, but outside of his studies, he only had Sara. He didn’t travel or socialize with other people. It was almost sad now to think of the life he could have led. But then he would never have met the woman that he so desperately loved, and he wouldn’t give that up for the world. “Same as you, only I imagine what I learned about culture is very different from what you learned about culture,” he said wryly. “If you didn’t marry me, what would you be doing?”
There food came at that moment, and he was surprised to see the change over her. Where she’d been smiling and comfortable, she was now veiled and quiet. “I can imagine many different paths for my life, but there’s no point in speaking things out loud. Talking about what could be is to talk of dreams, but to talk about what could never be is just awkward. Now, tell me that this isn’t the best food that you’ve ever had. I have no doubt that while your cooks are the best in the country, this place is even better!”
He felt his heart break a little as he listened to her, but instead of prolonging the conversation, he dug into his couscous and chicken. His eyes widened in surprise at the robust flavors. “This is amazing,” he said with his mouth full. “Do you think I can hire them?”
Jada rolled her eyes. “I’m sure they’d love to pass up their dream of owning their own place so they can hide away in the Sheikh’s kitchen.” Immediately, she looked down. “Sorry, that was rude.”
Kamal could only shake his head. “No, please. I prefer you to be genuine. Stop being what you think I want you to be, and just be the woman that you are.”
His bride-to-be only took another bit of her food and avoided his gaze. He blew out his breath in frustration, and they ate the rest of their meal in awkward silence. Whatever spell they’d been under was now broken. Instead of Kamal and Jada, they were future Sheikh and future wife. The pressure squeezed his chest, and he finally nodded curtly to the owners when their meal was over. He was almost anxious to return her so he could get back to the comfort of his office.
“I enjoyed lunch very much, and I’ll make an effort to see you more before the wedding,” he said formally as he helped her from the car outside her home.
Jada shook her head. “That’s not necessary. This situation is strange for both of us, and I think it might be best if we just focus on the wedding. We’ll have the rest of our lives to get to know each other,” she said lightly.
Kamal leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek. He was almost pleased to see her face warm under his touch. “Take care, Jada,” he said softly as he walked away.
She was right, of course. There was no point in courting her, and if it did nothing to ease the path into the marriage, what was the point? Still he couldn’t help but feeling a little bereft as he slid into the car. Kamal had imagined that his wife would be one who would want to spend every waking moment with him.
Now he would have one who didn’t even want to see him during the few weeks that led up to the wedding. What was he supposed to do with that information?
Chapter Four
The day of the wedding was sunny and warm. Although the festivities wouldn’t begin until after dark, her aunts and cousins gathered around her for the day of pampering. Her skin was moisturized and oiled, and she closed her eyes and tried to get into the mood as she dried. Gold chains hooked to her fingers and wrapped up to the cuffs under her arms. Her nails and face were painted, and they massaged different oils into her hair to make it silky and shiny. Finally, they tucked her into her ornate dress and fitted the veil over her hair. Although a few curls escaped, most of the strands were tucked neatly underneath.
“You look beautiful,” her aunt whispered with a smile.
Jada took a deep breath and surveyed herself in the mirror. She did look like a goddess, but it simply didn’t look like her. Every part inch of her was covered in something. She looked like the Sheikh’s wife.
But she didn’t look like Jada.
“Is it time?” she asked anxiously. She wanted to get this over with.
Her aunt gave her a disapproving look. “Jada, I know you are a hard-headed and stubborn woman, but the entire country will be watching you. This dress will only go so far. You must act the part.”
“I know,” Jada muttered. “Hence why I want to get this over with.”
“Do you not approve of Kamal Al-Basir? He is a good man.”
Jada smiled as she remember their awkward date a few weeks ago. “He is a good man, but he’s in love with another, and every time he looks at me, he wishes I were her. How would you feel entering a marriage knowing that?”
“That is his past. He will grow to love you. Everyone loves you, Jada.”
“Yes, everyone loves me. Only I’m not me. When I’m in this dress and in front of people, I’m the woman that I’ve been groomed to be. It hardly seems fair. But you and everyone have done such a good job, and I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I know how much work it takes.”
Her aunt laughed. “Jada, you are a beautiful woman. It takes no effort at all.” She reached out and enveloped Jada in a hug. “When I look at you, I see your mother. I often wonder the kind of woman you would have been had she been here to help raise you, but then I realize that she is with everyday in all of us. Your father loves you dearly, and I have no doubt that your mother woul
d be so pleased at how you turned out. I know this isn’t the wedding day that you dreamed about, but you must have faith that this is the path for you. You are so upset when Kamal looks at you, and that can only mean that you feel something with you look at him.”
Jada was careful not to smudge her make-up on her aunt’s dress, but she hid her face at her aunt’s words. It was true. She was jealous of a woman that she had never even met simply because Kamal loved her in a was that he would never love Jada.
Her aunt chuckled. “Fine. Don’t confide in me. But at least admit to yourself the real reason that you are upset about this marriage, and it has nothing to do with politics.
“I barely know him,” Jada muttered. “It makes no sense that I would react to him like this.”
“And soon, he will be yours. That should put a smile on your beautiful face.”
Jada nodded, but her heart wasn’t into it. He would be hers on paper, but his heart wouldn’t belong to her. What was worse? Wanting a man and never having him? Or being married to a man and still never having him?
She feared it would be the latter.
Now she had two things to worry about. She was a woman who wanted to rebel against the social constraints of being the Sheikh’s wife, and she feared she may love her husband who would never love her in return.
By the time they made it to the wedding, she was a mess. Kamal, like every other man in the building, was dressed in the traditional robes. She saw the tension and stress on his face, and it did nothing to help her own anxiety. As she went through the motions, she felt all eyes upon her.
ROMANCE: THE SHEIKH'S GAMES: A Sheikh Romance Page 100
