Chapter 19
The drive back to Rodrick’s castle was filled with silence, even though I occasionally felt his eyes on me.
Not talking is unnatural to me—I’m always the one who starts a conversation—but in that situation I had nothing to say.
Too many emotions were tangled inside me, so instead of trying to understand them all, I pushed everything to the back of my mind and decided to forget that kiss ever happened.
When I told him I preferred returning to my apartment the next day instead of Monday, he didn’t argue, but he did make me promise I wouldn’t leave without at least one bodyguard once I was back in London.
Of course I agreed, because from now on, I’ll try to stay off his radar. The less we see each other, the better, and for that, I need to behave.
I keep telling myself his marriage has nothing to do with me. We are nothing to each other, and that kiss probably meant absolutely nothing to him.
The best thing I can do is forget it and live my life.
Still, the thought that keeps circling in my head is that Rodrick seems like the last man alive who’d marry for convenience.
He looks like someone who only does what he wants. A ruler of his own world. King of his territory.
Then I remember what that woman said about him needing to marry or risk losing his title.
I’m not na?ve. I grew up knowing I wasn’t the owner of my destiny, that I had duties to my people. That’s the very reason I came to Europe before having to bind myself to a life that probably won’t be the one I dream of.
Even so, I can’t imagine Rodrick being with someone he feels nothing for. On the other hand, arranged beginnings can change over time. My own brother married Adeela because he had to, not because he loved her. But over the months, love grew and overpowered everything else.
It’s not unusual in our circles for people to marry out of duty instead of burning passion, though passion is exactly what I want for myself: a marriage born of love.
“You have no idea how happy I am to see you okay,” Josephine says before she even reaches my table.
We arranged to meet at a café near the university. I was only going to call, but she insisted she needed to see me in person to make sure I was really fine.
“I am, thank you. Rodrick told me what happened, but things are still fuzzy.”
“I don’t know if you want to hear what I found out, Jazmina.”
“Tell me.”
“Since I started college, there’ve been rumors about this kind of drugging happening at fraternity parties.
Some girls reported being assaulted, but the administration always hid it to avoid damaging the university’s image.
The campus police investigates, and guess what?
In one hundred percent of cases, nothing happens because the victims have no proof. ”
“You mean they know assaults are happening and look the other way?”
“Yes. And there’s more. The assaulted girl still ends up with a bad reputation on campus.”
“That’s outrageous.”
“I know. And I found out that particular fraternity has multiple cases like that.”
“Is there no organization that helps these girls?”
“If there is, I haven’t heard of it.”
“Do you know who my brother was? Not Kaled. The other one.”
She looks away, uncomfortable. “The whole world knows, Jazmina. A monster with power.”
“Exactly. With a lot of power. Even so, the victims still came forward. Why don’t the girls here do the same?”
“Can I be honest?”
“Yes.”
“Your brother is probably dead, if the news is true, so maybe those women finally feel safe enough to speak. It’s awful to say this, but when there’s corrupt authorities protecting abusers, the victim is blamed for having ‘made it easy’.”
“The world isn’t a safe place for women,” I say, devastated.
“No, it’s not. In the States, I carry pepper spray in my bag, but here I don’t even know if that’s legal. Though in cases like ours, it wouldn’t help anyway if we were drugged.”
I shake my head, horrified. How do these guys get away with it?
Just like Naim did, a voice inside me whispers.
Money, power, influence . . . They all speak louder than a victim’s cry.
She gives me a sympathetic look, then changes the subject. “Now I want to hear everything about your weekend.”
“It was . . . weird. Rodrick took me to Scotland.”
“Can I say something about your guardian?”
“He’s not really my guardian.”
“Your watchman?”
“I call him my jailer, kidnapper, dream-killer.”
She laughs. “There’s something between you two.”
“Of course not. Why would you say that?”
“Your eyes sparkled when you said his name.”
“You imagined that. Besides, he’s getting married.”
I tell her everything that happened in Scotland, from the plane to the kiss.
And then the ending: the revelation he’ll soon choose a bride of convenience.
“Holy shit—sorry, Your Highness.”
Despite my mood, I burst out laughing. “I don’t curse, but I don’t faint if I hear one, Josephine.”
“I couldn’t think of another word! The man is gorgeous! Why would he need a wife of convenience? I get the title thing, but still, why not just do it the normal way?”
“Maybe he doesn’t want to. Maybe it’s just for show.”
“Oh, come on. Do you think a man like that is going to marry a woman without touching her? He must be a scorching sex god.”
My face heats instantly. “Don’t be nosy. This is none of our business.”
“If you say so . . .” she teases.
“What does that mean?”
“It means what I already said: there’s something between you two. You should’ve seen your duke’s face when he found you unconscious.”
“Because he’s my brother’s friend and feels responsible for me.”
“Maybe. Or maybe not. I might be overthinking, but he looked furious. And when he punched Richard—”
“He did what?”
“Punched him. The guy who supposedly drugged you. Only stopped because you started waking up and I told him we needed to get you out.”
“I had no idea,” I whisper. Then I remember something. “By the way . . . this part you won’t like. When I got back from Scotland, the head of my security told me Rodrick assigned guards to watch me on campus at all times now. And . . .” I swallow, embarrassed. “There’s one assigned to you too.”
I wait for her to explode, but instead she laughs.
“And you thought I’d be mad? Jazmina, I work late shifts at the library. I’m relieved someone will be watching out for me.”
“Oh good. I felt terrible involving you.”
My phone rings with the ringtone I set for Rodrick. I frown. He never calls. He only texts.
“Jazmina?”
“Hi.”
“How are you?”
It feels like someone’s hit me over the head and dropped me into an alternate universe. This is not how he usually speaks to me. Is this guilt from kissing me? Regret?
I decide to test it. “I think you called the wrong number, sir. Based on the ringtone, I thought it was a moody duke, but this formal tone doesn’t match him.”
I hear a sigh on the other end—could be a laugh or a grunt—but anything is better than cold misery.
“What am I supposed to do with you, girl?”
“Ah, yes. Now I know it’s my duke talking.”
My duke?
Oh God! Why did I say that?
Josephine covers her mouth, trying not to laugh.
“What did I do this time, Rodrick? I haven’t left my apartment since I got back to London except for classes, and now I’m in a café, being perfectly well-behaved with my friend. As your security must’ve told you, I’m having lunch with Josephine.”
“I know,” he says, arrogantly, and I roll my eyes. “That’s not why I’m calling, or it is, in a way. I’m throwing a party on my yacht in three weeks to celebrate my new whiskey brand, and you’re coming.”
“Wow, what a lovely invitation. I’m touched. Shame it wasn’t actually a question. Still, here’s my answer: no, thank you.”
“Did that sound like an invitation?” he asks dryly. “I must be out of practice. It was an order, princess. You’re still grounded for the next few weekends. If you want to socialize, you’ll do it with me.”
My stupid heart, instead of backing my decision to tell him to mind his own business, races like I’m about to drop dead. Traitorous organ. “Can I bring Josephine?”
“Yes. Tell her we’ll be sleeping in Italy.”
“Does Kaled know I’m going?”
“I told him I would take you, and he didn’t ask why. But you owe him answers—you can’t avoid that forever.”
“I know. I plan to call him today.”
“Good. I’ll send the exact date and time I’ll pick you up. Good afternoon, princess.” He hangs up before I can reply.
“Where am I going?” Josephine asks.
“A party on Rodrick’s yacht to launch a whiskey brand or something. He said we’ll probably sleep in Italy. Thoughts?”
“A party in Italy? I’m so in.” She looks at me mischievously.
“What?”
“You might not have noticed, but you smiled from ear to ear while talking to him.”
“Are you crazy? Did you forget what I said? Rodrick will be engaged soon.”
“I don’t know, Jazmina . . . I have a feeling about you two.”
“Absolutely not. He’s only taking me because he doesn’t trust me alone in London.”
“Maybe that’s the excuse he gave himself, but I’d bet keeping you close has nothing to do with making sure you behave.”
“Then what does it have to do with?”
“Who knows? But if you want my advice . . . dress to kill.”
“I don’t follow.”
“I mean wear something very sexy.”
“I don’t have many sexy clothes. Expensive ones, yes. Sexy, not really.”
“Then we’re going shopping. And if your duke is stupid enough to marry someone else, at least he’ll have burned into his memory exactly what he’s losing.”
“You’re insane. Things don’t work like that in my culture. Even if I’m dressed seductively, nothing will happen. Women in my country don’t engage sexually outside marriage.”
“And I don’t think he’d cross that line with you either, out of respect for your brother. But you can still look stunning and leave your duke drooling.”