I explain to Brenda my plan and she agrees.
- I will not tell Hafiq, I do not want to be the cause of a fight between the two countries, but we need to see live and in colour if everything Bianca said is true. Meanwhile, I'll find out if my father-in-law is involved in the death of Bianca's fiancé's family, you can leave it to me, if he has any guilt in this story I'll find out. As soon as Bianca says you can go to Bahrain, I'll go with you, talk face to face with this King Nahan guy.
I leave Brenda's house with a mission to fulfil, rummaging in the past and digging this story out between my father-in-law Karim and King Nahan of Bahrain.
CHAPTER 20
BIANCA
I wake up very lazy, I look at the side of the bed and Nahan is not there, I sit in bed still feeling weak and I go to the bathroom to do my personal hygiene. I start brushing my teeth and I feel like vomiting.
I vomit in the bathroom sink and my body craves attention, I've been neglecting myself for a few weeks, eating badly, late, may have contracted some virus or maybe it's just a foolish stomach discomfort.
I hear from the bathroom Nahan’s voice as he is entering the room and by the tone of his voice, my king is happy.
-Bianca, come halawi, I brought the coffee for both of us, Thura made freshly baked mahmoul, plus that rose-water cake you love.
I left the bathroom and went to Nahan, giving him a slow kiss, then nibbled on his bottom lip and he gasped smiling.
- Good morning, Nahan.
-After such a kiss, the day will be fine, for sure.
We sit down for coffee, and Nahan is excited, telling me about the new health projects, and the great masked ball that Mohamed will be organizing in two weeks.
I disguise my sickness trying to swallow the cake because I know Nahan complains about my unhealthy eating habits, but a knot has settled in my throat and does not descend at all.
I hurry out to the bathroom to keep the room from soiling, and I kneel in front of the toilet, clutching at it with my body hunched over. Nahan looks at me from the bathroom door, and I can’t speak a single sentence, but I signal him to leave the bathroom and leave me alone.
All a woman does not want is for her man to see her in such a deplorable state: thrown on the floor like a bag of potatoes, clutching a toilet, all dishevelled and sweaty, putting the "barf" out.
Nahan walks up and down the bathroom and comes toward me, despite my refusal. He brought my hair back and picked up a rubber band, holding it in a bun. As soon as I finished the gross session and my nausea passed, Nahan helped me to get off the ground and I complained, trying to get him out of the bathroom.
-No, Nahan, I vomited on my clothes, I'm all disgusting, leave me.
Nahan took off my nightgown and opened the shower, also taking off his pyjama bottoms. He walked into the booth adjusting the shower temperature the way I like it and pulled me into the shower.
-I'll give you a bath, Bianca. As soon as we finish the shower, I'll call a doctor to see what you have. After, you complain that I am stressed, but you have not fed properly, is it possible that I will have to be here at lunchtime to make you eat, halawi? Now close your eyes and turn your back, I'll wash your hair, you'll feel brand new.
Nahan poured shampoo into his hands and told me to close my eyes, pulled my hair back and rubbed the shampoo into my hair. He massaged my scalp and then took me under the jet shower, to rinse the hair.
After my hair was clean, Nahan poured liquid soap into his hands, soaping my neck, collarbone, shoulders and sliding his hands down to my breasts, stroking the tip of my nipples, slowly, waking my body for pleasure, making me gasp. His body sticking to mine and the pressure of his hard cock at the base of my spine was hot, I reshaped his hips and he pulled my body against his. I leaned my head against his chest and closed my eyes, absorbing the delicious sensation of Nahan's hands coming down my abdomen, hips and settling between my thighs.
-See halawi, how your body reacts to my touch, it's so beautiful.
I opened my thighs wider to receive the magic touch of his fingers sliding through the folds of my sex, circling my clit in slow motion. Nahan licked and nibbled at my earlobe, asking,
-Tell me what you want, halawi?
- Please ... Nahan.
Nahan slid his cock between my vaginal lips, making me arch my body, moaning, wanting his possession.
I took my hand back and held his penis by the base, making back and forth movements, teasing him.
-That's what I want, all of you inside me.
I led him to my thirsty opening and I slammed it in it. Nahan held me by the hips and with one hand continued to caress my clit, tapping with the penis on the bottom of my vagina.
I put both hands on the wall, leaning my face against the cold tile and piled up my bottom so that its rush was deeper.
Reaching an exact point on my vaginal walls. I uncrossed my thighs and squeezed my eyes tightly to withstand the intensity of the orgasm that snatched my entire body. Nahan dug his fingers into my hip and giggled at my name.
Nahan finished arranging his tie and suit, still annoyed at my refusal to receive the doctor.
-Why are you so stubborn Bianca? In the café, you ate almost nothing and now at lunch, also left the food all aside, that’s not the way to go.
-That's an exaggeration, Nahan, I've already told you that I must have the flu, you can go to work, you did not go to the office in the morning, you're going to say that I'm a bad influence for you, commitments do not wait, make no excuses, Thura will take care of me.
Thura knocked on the door and entered, speaking to Nahan:
-I'll take care of Malakatah Bianca, I'll get her some soup later, you can go to the offices with no worries.
I tightened the knot of Nahan's tie and gave him a little kiss, leading him to the bedroom door. He kissed me unsatisfied for leaving me alone and left saying:
-I'll call you, take care, understand, Bianca?
I had the soup that Thura brought to me and in the afternoon, I received a call from Nahan, but his voice was different, it seemed sad.
-Hi Bianca, how was your afternoon?
-Okay, why do you have that voice, you sound annoyed.
Nahan took a deep breath and said annoyed:
- I completely forgot about a conference that I have in Morocco. I thought about cancelling, but Sayd was talking to me and he thinks it will be bad for our relations with sister nations if I miss a compromise like that. Now that we're engaged, I see no reason why I should go alone, so I've been talking to Jafar and he told me that he can strengthen our security scheme. And that if we are discreet, you can go infiltrated in our entourage. But you would have to stay at the hotel. We can’t move around the city together, otherwise we run the risk of someone seeing us or taking pictures of us and those falling into Hafiq's hands. I know this is not the way you would like to travel with me, but until we get married, we have to be careful, do you agree to go with me to Morocco, halawi?
I think, and decide to accompany Nahan, even if that is not the best way for us to travel together, yet I prefer to be by his side, after all I need to start getting used to the government commitments of my future husband.
-When should I pack up?
-Today, we will sail to Morocco tomorrow, we will spend three days in Marrakesh. Bianca, I'm glad you're going with me.
-Me too Nahan, see you later.
Thura helped me pack a suitcase with more formal clothes, plus three evening dresses plus some personal items and my suitcase was ready.
I fix the collar of the black tailleur I'm wearing, Thura takes care of my looks, my grumpy fairy godmother, but with the heart the size of the world. It's the first time I travel with Nahan, and it makes me a little nervous. While being infiltrated as a member of the entourage, some high-ranking government officials know that I am engaged to Nahan.
Eight official cars accompany us to the airport, a plane with the coat of arms of the Bahian royal family is parked on the tarmac and th
e pilot greets Nahan. He enters with Jafar and I follow behind, next to Semira, Nahan’s secretary. Six people travel with us: Jafar, Mohamed, Semira, the foreign secretary, and two security guards.
The interior of the aircraft is very luxurious, there is a meeting table, plus a suite where Nahan can rest when needed. After an hour of trip, Jafar comes to me and tells me that Nahan wants to talk to me, he is in the back of the plane in an armchair reserved from the others. As I approach and sit down beside him, he pulls a lock of hair from my face and unscrews the belt, holding out my hand.
-Come to the suite, I saw when you left the bathroom, you look pale, are you still sick?
I confirmed reassuring him.
- I think it was because of the turbulence, but I already feel good, I'd better stay with the rest of the staff, they can notice my absence.
-Come with me, I'll get some sleep, too, and you need to rest.
Nahan led me to the suite and we walked discreetly. It was a large suite for an aircraft, with a double bed, fine cotton sheets, a dining table, plus a small closet and a toilet.
I lay down on the bed and Nahan pulled me to snuggle me on his body. We heard Jafar's voice that we were about to land in Marrakesh. We sat in the reserved seats and a few minutes later we landed in the largest city in Morocco.
Despite the capital of Morocco, being Rabat, Marrakesh is one of the most populous cities in Morocco and a major trading, industrial and hotel centre in the country. The conference in which Nahan will attend it’s related to tourism and industrial agreements between Morocco and Bahrain.
The city is well developed, combining an ancient architecture with modern buildings and monuments. Nahan and Mohamed got into a car and I went along with Semira and Jafar in another.
We continue to La Mamounia Hotel, a traditional luxurious hotel in Marrakesh. As soon as we got to the hotel, Jafar accompanied me in the elevator and whispered to me:
-Nahan is waiting for you in the presidential suite, I beg you not to leave the city unaccompanied, there are many members of the press, it may be dangerous to find out you are here.
-All right, I'll stay at the hotel, thank you, Jafar.
He smiled and nodded.
-There is no problem, malakatah Bianca.
Nahan and I settled into an elegantly and exquisitely decorated presidential suite with a huge king-size bed, Egyptian sheets, art objects and abstract pictures embellishing the walls, plus a swanky bathroom with gold faucets and a huge bathtub.
After some time resting, someone knocks at the door and it is Jafar, who needs to speak with Nahan, I hear Jafar say to him:
-It's urgent, Nahan.
What happened? Jafar's tense expression and tone made me worried. Nahan asked me for permission to leave and left with Jafar. After nearly an hour passed, Nahan returns to the suite, his features worried.
I ask him, finishing packing for lunch:
-What was it Nahan, what happened to you, worrying like that? Is it something in Bahrain, is Thura okay?
Nahan goes to the bathroom and tells me strangely:
-I'm going to take a quick shower, and then we'll talk.
I take off my clothes and go into the cold shower, I need to think, but I feel lost, not sure what to do. Jafar came to my suite needing to speak to me urgently and as soon as we got to his suite, he informed me that our intelligence service passed on information to him that Sheikh Hafiq is staying with his entourage in the north wing of this hotel. I wonder if it would be better if we stayed at another hotel, but it would completely ruin my security scheme that was previously programmed. If I tell Bianca that Hafiq is here, how will she act? Will she give up our commitment and want to return to Qatar for her quiet and organized life in Brazil. Marrying a king, for many women may be the dreamed opportunity of a life, but not for Bianca, she is not a woman who is impressed and allows to be corrupted by material goods, by status. Marrying a king for Bianca will be a tremendous responsibility, a burden hard to bear. Endless commitments, coexistence with an elitist and empty society, the loss of freedom to come and go without worries. Does she love me to the point of really embracing this life full of limitations? Or will she reflect, forget what we feel, all that we live and choose to return to her quiet life, far from me?
My head hammers with so many unanswered questions, to complete all the astral hell that took me now in a robbery, Mohamed also knew of this information and suggested to me that we should suddenly orchestrate the kidnapping of Queen Antonia. He was furious when I vehemently denied this idea and confronted him, leaving him offended.
- Mohamed, I already told you that my problems are only mine, because I am resuming our investigations and many loose points have arisen, these matters point to other suspicions, I already think that Sheikh Karim served as a scapegoat for the real responsible for this attack. There may be a chance that the attack on Ishna and Amira might have been the work of some of the leftist groups in our country, or even the action of a traitor infiltrated in our government. I will find out what has actually happened and if it is found that those responsible were citizens of Bahrain, I will not have mercy, the penalty that will be applied to the guilty, will be death.
He was surprised and then offended, asking me if I did not trust his loyalty to me, I replied that since they took my daughter and wife from me, I do not trust anyone else. I left the bathroom determined to keep quiet about Hafiq's presence at this hotel and I will have Jafar arrange a new lodging for our entourage, we need to leave this hotel as soon as possible.
I changed my clothes, silent, and Bianca asked me what was happening, I gave her an excuse that the subject that Jafar wanted to deal with me was something connected to the meeting that I will be attending tomorrow.
Nahan and I went down the elevator and headed to a reserved area of one of the hotel's restaurants.
Before pulling up the chair for me to sit, he kissed my hand and smiled looking more relaxed.
-You look beautiful, my halawi.
I winked and smiled teasing him.
-I thought you had not noticed the new dress.
-I did, but everything you wear looks beautiful, you're lovely, Bianca.
I smiled cheekily, the restaurant’s chef in charge approached us by indicating some of the menu's unique dishes, Nahan ordered a Tajine, a typical Moroccan dish made from lamb meat, and I chose a risotto with seafood and spices. We had dinner in a delicious atmosphere, talking and drinking a glass of wonderful red wine. We left the restaurant and decided to return to the suite, so Nahan explained to me that we will sleep in this hotel only tonight, tomorrow we will stay in another, because according to Jafar, the security in this hotel is compromised for our entourage.
We entered the elevator and Nahan pressed the button for the hotel roof, a couple approaches and when I look closely we stare at each other. My heart beats and my eyes are shallow with water. Brenda is standing at the hotel reception along with Youssef a few feet away from me. She looks at me and neither of us blinks, shocked at last to see each other after so long. Our mouths in unison stammer each other's name.
- Bianca.
- Brenda.
The door of the elevator closes and I collapse, feeling the darkness taking my senses.
CHAPTER 21
MARRAKECH - MOROCCO
QUEEN ANTÔNIA HASSAN
I have been walking through the lobby of the Mamounia Hotel just behind Brenda and Youssef, Hafiq had just met Egypt's foreign secretary and talks animatedly with him in fluent Arabic which makes me, both, amazed and excited at the same time, sometimes I wonder, Wow! This man pronouncing this R of the Arabic language is of an insightful musicality.
Brenda and Youssef are standing in front of the elevator, I approach and Brenda's eyes are filled with water and Youssef suddenly became a statue of salt, like those of Medusa.
Before the elevator door closes, I see in it a Bianca with a stunning air and an elegant man at her side. My mind processes everything quickly and I thank the hea
vens, Hafiq is being entertained in the conversation with the secretary of Egypt.
I hold onto Youssef's arm and he stares at me, not knowing what to say, Brenda breaks the silence, speaking quickly:
- Youssef, I can explain, let's go to the room and do not say anything to Hafiq about what you just saw here.
Youssef interrupts her irritably.
- But that was Bi ...
I pull him by the arm and whisper:
- Shhh, I know Youssef, we also did not know she would be here, go to the room with Brenda and do not give a word of what you saw to Hafiq, we can explain to you what is happening, I'm going up to our suite and as soon as I can, I go to your suite to talk to you Youssef, I need you to help me with something.
Youssef even reluctantly, did as I asked and went to the room with Brenda. Hafiq apologized to the secretary and came toward me.
-Habibi, do you mind if I come up later, I need to talk about some plans with Farid?
Thank you, our Lady of the Navigators, thank you very much for this grace, it's the time I need to try to fix this whole crap that Bianca got herself into.
-All right, habibi, I'll talk to Brenda and then I'll go to our room.
I knock on Brenda's door and Youssef opens, glaring at me with his eyes.
-So, you knew about all this, Antonia?
I walk in quickly, pulling him to sit on the small dining table next to the door.
-I knew it, but we can explain, can we Bre?
Brenda closes all the curtains and whispers toward us.
Wow! Brenda is getting more and more crazy, why the fuck did she close the curtains, is she afraid that a group of swatters will invade the windows because we're hiding the truth from Hafiq?
Brenda sits beside me and explains everything that happened to Youssef, after hearing Brenda, Youssef is still surprised and says to me:
-Antonia, I find it very unlikely that my uncle Karim was involved in this attack. He may have many faults, but why would he murder King Nahan's wife and daughter? Our relations with Bahrain have always been very friendly, I remember when this horrific attack happened and my Uncle Karim was outraged at what had happened to Nahan's family. There would be no reason for him to commit such an atrocity.
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