Chapter 30
When we step out of the elevator, back on my floor, Athol is waiting for us, though I barely register him. My focus is entirely on her.
I know I went too far. From the few kisses we exchanged before, I jumped straight into laying out what I expect from her in my bed, but Jazmina drives me insane in more ways than one.
I wanted to shock her with the intensity of my desire, but instead . . . she welcomed it.
I’m not sure she truly understands what she’s getting herself into, but I keep holding on to what Athol said—that we both have something to gain from this alliance, and that this will be a game between equals.
Even so, it still feels like fate is mocking every decision I try to make.
I had already given up on marriage, and therefore the title, and suddenly my life seems to have slipped right out of my hands.
“I’m going to assume you two worked things out,” Athol says.
“We did, but we still need to discuss the details of the wedding and then release an official statement to the press.” I emphasize official, and I see her cheeks turn pink.
This time, we need to deliver a proper, public statement to a reputable outlet, not a gossip site like Jazmina impulsively chose.
“Before anything else, I must speak to my brother and also to my father,” she says, with a calmness that surprises me.
“Let’s go to my apartment. From there, we’ll video-call him.”
“I think it’s better if I talk to him alone first.”
“No. We’ll face everything together.”
“And what are we supposed to say?” she asks when we reach my office.
“Children, you don’t need me right now, so I’ll leave you two alone,” Athol says.
In silence, we head to the terrace, where the helicopter is waiting.
I help her climb in and fasten her seatbelt. “We’ll be alone in my apartment. Any issue with that?”
“Are we really engaged?”
“Yes. You can’t back out anymore.” I have no idea why I said that, but when I glance at her, I catch the slightest curve at the corner of her mouth, as if she liked hearing it.
“Why would I back out? I’m getting everything I want,” she says, though she avoids my eyes.
I spend the rest of the flight trying to figure out whether that “everything she wants” refers to her long-dreamed-of freedom . . . or whether I happen to be part of that equation.
Ten minutes later, the helicopter lands on my building’s rooftop.
“I really should talk to my brother alone first. Explain the situation,” she insists.
“I already said that’s not happening, Jazmina. We’ll face Kaled together.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you two fighting because of me.”
Something inside me responds to that. The fact that she’s trying to defend me even though she’s terrified of confronting her brother.
“We’re a couple now, princess. What’s he going to do? You’re an adult woman. As for me, don’t worry, it wouldn’t be the first time we disagreed.”
“I am an adult. And I’m engaged,” she says, and now I’m certain that half-smile is real.
I don’t know why that pleases me so much, but it does.
She has this ability to trigger a territorial instinct in me I’ve never felt for any other woman.
“Yes, you’re engaged. You’re mine now.”
And in my own ears, that primal claim sounds like music.
“Which one of you is going to explain what’s going on?”
“What started as one of Jazmina’s pranks is now real,” I say simply.
“You and my sister? Engaged? Absolutely not!” he shouts. “You never even thought about getting married, except to keep your duke title and fulfill your grandfather’s wishes, and I know the kind of marriage you want, Rodrick. But not with my sister!”
His face starts to turn purplish, and under the table, maybe without realizing it, Jazmina slips her hand into mine. Hers is cold and sweaty. She’s trembling, which awakens every protective instinct I have.
“Out of respect for our friendship, and because we’re talking about your sister, I’ll ignore the tone you just used with me, Kaled. But don’t think this will become a habit.”
“You can be sure the only reason I’m listening instead of getting on a plane straight to London is because of our friendship. Jazmina, do you have any idea what you did with that interview? How furious our father is?”
“I’ll talk to him,” she says, for the first time joining the conversation.
“You’ll talk to me first. I’m your sheikh.”
“Yes, you are, but you’re also my brother. Don’t treat me like I’m incapable of thinking for myself. If you let me, I’ll explain, but I won’t shout so you’ll listen.”
That seems to calm him a little.
It’s hard to stay silent, giving her the space to speak, but she wants to explain and I won’t steamroll over her will. I don’t want a frightened woman beside me, but rather one who can decide and fight her own battles too.
“I was going on a boat trip with some friends. I didn’t know it was a setup by a fake friend to leave me alone with her brother.”
“What? Who’s the man?”
“Get over it, Kaled. Rodrick already handled it. And it was precisely that action that brought us here.”
“Could you be clearer? How could Rodrick protecting you end in an engagement?”
“I got furious when he texted me telling me to go to a museum, meaning he’d sabotaged my plans.
I didn’t bother to check why. I was impulsive.
I knew Rodrick needed to get married because of the duke title, and out of revenge, I announced in the newspaper that we were engaged.
Honestly, I was thrilled to mess with him. ”
I must be unwell, because hearing her tell that story turns me on like crazy. Yes, she’s reckless and unhinged, but she must have real fire under that skin to do something like that.
“Did you stop to consider the consequences?”
“No, I was mad at him,” she says, tilting her head in my direction.
“And how did that lead to an engagement?”
“It’s your fault. You called, and I panicked. So I got on my knees and proposed.”
“I take it back. You don’t deserve punishment; you deserve to be institutionalized. Why would you do something like that?”
“There’s a rule in Rodrick’s duchy that a public engagement announcement is legally binding. After he told me that, there was no way I’d embarrass him by denying it. So we were going to move forward with a fake engagement.”
“All right. I get it. You’ll maintain this farce for a while.
Our father will be upset, but I’ll explain and he’ll understand.
You two just can’t be seen in public together, because in a few months, after this fake engagement ends, you’ll have to start meeting the princes I selected for you.
Consider it punishment for your impulsiveness. ”
“No,” I cut in. “She’s not meeting any prince.”
“Have you lost your mind, Rodrick? You think you have any authority over my sister?” His face returns to that explosive fury.
“Your sister has authority over her own life, and she has chosen to accept me as her husband. I don’t want this to turn into a war between us, Kaled, but I will make it one if necessary.
You heard everything from the beginning, you just chose not to understand.
We’re engaged. This is no longer a joke.
Jazmina will be my wife. I prefer to have your consent, but if I don’t, it won’t stop me from making your sister my wife. ”
He stands, and I’m sure that if this weren’t a video call, we’d already be throwing punches like in the past. “This will never work. Beyond coming from entirely different cultures, I know the kind of marriage you want, Rodrick.”
Jazmina, who had been barely breathing beside me, finally speaks again. “The kind of marriage he wanted. Past tense. We already talked about our terms and cleared everything up.”
“In any case, it’s still a marriage of convenience,” he says.
I see Adeela step into the frame behind him. She must’ve just arrived.
“Like ours,” she says, wrapping her arms around him. “Congratulations, Jazmina. When are you two coming to celebrate?”
“Hi, my friend. We still need to settle some of the . . . uh . . . terms of the agreement.”
“I didn’t say I agreed,” Kaled mutters.
“With all due respect and love, my sheikh,” Jazmina says, “I’m not asking for your permission. I’m telling you I’m going to marry Rodrick. I’m not interested in any prince you want to introduce me to. I’ve already chosen my husband.”
“Could you give us a moment?” he asks her.
“No, Kaled,” I say. “Whatever you want to say to me, you’ll say in front of Jazmina.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then let’s be clear. You mentioned terms, Rodrick, and here are mine: if you ever cheat on my sister, I’ll kill you.”