Chapter 29
“You should’ve waited for us yesterday,” I tell my sister as she walks into the library of my apartment.
I decided to work from home this morning because I want to be here when Adeela wakes up.
When we got back from the party, she was still half-asleep.
After laying her in bed and removing her sandals, I covered her.
Even though I wanted her to be comfortable, I didn’t dare take off her dress.
Just imagining her body is torture enough, but seeing her naked, knowing she wore nothing but panties beneath the fabric, would turn the weeks until our wedding into pure torment.
“You two needed some privacy after that crazy giant put on a show,” Jazmina justifies. “Besides, your grumpy friend brought me home.”
“Which one?” None of us would ever win an award for good humor, so her description could fit any of them.
“The redhead.”
“Rodrick.”
“That’s the one. Someone should tell him that smiling is good for the facial muscles.”
“What did you do, Jazmina?”
“Why do you assume it was my fault?”
“Because I know you.”
She shrugs. “I just wanted to have some fun. After your ex left, the party got boring, so I decided to dance on top of a table. Out of nowhere, he lost his mind and made me come down.”
“And you have no idea why he got upset?”
“I just wanted to have fun.”
“If there were any paparazzi on a nearby yacht, you’d be in the headlines today. They’d say you were drunk. Did you stop to think what that would do to our father?”
“No,” she says, deflating like a balloon pricked with a needle. “I just wanted to enjoy myself a little.”
I feel a hint of remorse. Girls her age usually have much more freedom. Every time Jazmina comes to Paris, she’s like a kid let loose in a candy store without supervision. Restless, eager, wanting to do a thousand things at once.
“You said you got bored after Ingrid left. Did she pull any other stunts?”
“She tried, but I didn’t give her the chance,” she says. “After you guys disappeared—”
“We didn’t disappear. We were on the yacht, but we needed to talk,” I explain, refusing to let my mind wander to last night.
“Whatever! Anyway, after you went off for your little private talk, it was my turn to talk to that Ingrid.”
“What did you do?”
“I told her I didn’t care about the past between you two but that if she hurt Adeela, I’d bury her alive in the Rheadur desert, leaving only that long neck of hers sticking out of the sand.
You should’ve seen how fast she sobered up.
In an instant, all the alcohol was gone from her system.
She even agreed to have someone call her a cab.
There was a friend with her, just as wild, who started giving me a lecture, but if I’m not mistaken, Vicenzzo managed to hold her back. ”
I shake my head, trying to calculate the extent of the damage.
We’d be lucky if there weren’t a few undercover journalists among the guests. That’s why it’s essential I announce to the whole world, and especially to our own people, that Adeela and I are engaged and will be married soon.
“How did those two lunatics even get into your prince friend’s party? I mean, you guys alone have enough bodyguards to form the army of a small country.”
“I have no idea, but I’ll find out. Either way, the damage is done. I just hope it’s the last time I ever hear her name.”
Jazmina looks at me seriously. “What I told that model goes for you too, Kaled. I love you so much it hurts, but don’t you dare hurt Adeela.
You proposed to her, so honor that. She’s not like the women you’re used to; she’s sensitive and reserved.
If you hurt her, she’ll never let you know.
She’ll suffer in silence because that’s what she’s done her whole life.
But it’s about time my friend gets to be happy. If you think you can’t—”
“Enough. To borrow your own words: I love you, Jazmina, you’re my little sister, but don’t think I’ll let you interfere in my life with my woman.
Out of respect, I’ll tell you what happened yesterday, and I hope it never happens again.
That crazy woman showed up out of nowhere.
There was nothing left between us. I’ve had many women in my life, but one at a time. I’d never expose Adeela like that.”
“I didn’t say you did it on purpose—”
“I’m not done,” I cut her off. “Adeela doesn’t need a bodyguard. She’s stronger than anyone can imagine. She survived a sadist whose favorite pastime was to hurt her. My woman is not made of glass. If you love her as much as you say, you need to let her grow and fight her own battles.”
“You really do like her,” she says, looking more shocked than if I had grown a third eye.
“If I didn’t, why would I marry her?”
“Because you’re going to be sheikh. You need a wife.”
“No one could force me to marry against my will. I want Adeela by my side as my wife. Don’t doubt that. And I won’t allow you or anyone else to interfere in our relationship.”
After all, only I know how passionate Adeela can be. Someone who responds the way she did last night, surrendering completely to desire, would never let herself be defeated easily.
If she accepted her father’s tyranny, maybe it was only because she couldn’t see a way out.
But now she’s my fiancée, and soon she’ll be my wife. I don’t want anyone labeling her weak just because her nature is gentler.
She’ll be your wife, but not the mother of your children, a voice reminds me, echoing in my head the condition she set in our marriage contract.
She doesn’t just want a divorce if I betray her; she wants total freedom. And she’d never have that if children were involved.
Her proposal should have pleased me. In theory, I should feel like the winner of a great prize. So why does it feel like I got the worst end of the deal?
One hour later
She still hasn’t gotten up, and maybe she just needs some time alone to process the transformation in our relationship.
I’ve had to restrain my nature carefully since I woke up just to avoid going to her room.
Being with Adeela has been a learning curve.
When it comes to women, everything in my life has always been simple and direct. No detours along the way.
But I know that with her I have to take it slower, until we build a connection between our minds and hearts, not just our bodies.
Being gentle isn’t my strongest trait. I tend to lay all my cards on the table, make my intentions clear, and demand the same in return, but she isn’t a one-night affair. She’s the woman I intend to spend the rest of my life with.
If there’s no love between us, we at least have to make it work, respecting each other’s limits.
And I know we’ve already gone beyond hers.
After speaking with Vicenzzo on the phone and confirming what Jazmina told me about Ingrid’s crazy friend, and what had to be done to get rid of her, I call Amin to the apartment.
If the scandal orchestrated by that model makes it to the tabloids, it’s better to contain the damage in advance, protecting Adeela.
By announcing our engagement, I’ll automatically deny any gossip that lunatic might try to spread about still being involved with me.