The Sheik's Ruby Read online

  “Well, Miss Walker? Have you reached a decision?”

  “I don’t really have any choice, do I?”

  Shanayze nodded once. “His Highness will be pleased to hear you are coming.”

  Shelby studied the other woman’s face, but it revealed nothing. “What do I need to do?”

  “There are some security measures we need to have in place. However, I think we should be ready to leave in a few hours.”

  “Today?” A fluttering started in Shelby’s belly. “Don’t we need to figure out flights and things like that?”

  “Miss Walker, I assure you, everything will be taken care of.”

  Two hours later, Shelby was riding in a limousine with Shanayze and the two men. She had left her library book with the concierge, who promised to make sure it was returned.

  Mujir brought her basket of clothes, which the driver loaded into the trunk.

  Shelby kept her laptop bag. She packed her wallet, cellphone, camera, and passport inside, planning to guard them vigilantly on what would probably be a crowded flight.

  Nearing the airport, Shelby noticed the driver took an unfamiliar exit. She had only been to the airport a few times and assumed he knew a different route. The limo, however, pulled up in front of a building Shelby didn’t recognize. She looked out the window at the large non-descript brick warehouse and read the sign: “Billion-Air.”

  The driver steered toward a gate leading to the runway.

  But Shanayze leaned forward and pointed through the windshield toward the front doors. “Please drive to the front of the building. Thank you.”

  When the driver stopped, Jahmal and Mujir went inside, leaving the women in the car.

  “Aren’t we going to the airport?” Shelby asked Shanayze as she gazed around at the unfamiliar place.

  “This is the FBO where we will board our flight.”

  “FBO?”

  “I believe it stands for Fixed Base Operator. A private airport.”

  Jahmal and Mujir returned, nodding to Shanayze. They held the doors while she and Shelby got out of the limo and entered the building.

  Inside, Shelby saw lounges with TVs, work stations, and a bar serving drinks and snacks. Conference rooms, desks for various limousine and car rental services, and a small gift shop branched off of the main room.

  Shanayze led them to a desk where a woman with curly red hair and glasses waved her over.

  The woman maneuvered around the reception desk. “The G-650 is fueled and equipped for flight. The plane has remained under guard, per your request, in the hangar. Your pilots are making their final inspection, now. Follow me, please.”

  “Thank you,” Shanayze said.

  The group walked through the lobby through a set of double doors leading into the main hangar. They continued past various private and charter jets.

  Shelby didn’t know much about planes, but she could tell these must have been top of the line. Mechanics serviced some of the planes, while catering companies loaded others. Some planes were even being meticulously cleaned and detailed.

  The red-haired woman led them straight to the area with the largest planes. When one of the pilots saw them approaching, he opened the door, lowering the boarding stairs. Mujir climbed the steps first, carrying Shelby’s laundry basket which he stored in a closet near the front of the plane.

  When Shelby stepped into the Gulfstream, she gasped. Instead of the hundreds of uncomfortable seats she expected to see, the plane was filled with leather couches and plush recliners. She walked through the small kitchen area. Bowls of fruit sat in depressions cut out of the granite counter next to a sink. Crystal goblets hung above the bar, held in place with a latch to prevent them from falling during the flight. A long console running up the side of the plane held a large flat-screen TV, flanked by vases of fresh flowers. Stepping on the thick carpet, Shelby brushed her hand along one of the ornate mahogany tables in between the leather chairs and couches. The plane’s interior was like something straight from a movie. Instead of setting her at ease, the luxury made her realize just how out of her element she was.

  The pilot stepped into the plane behind them, speaking to Shanayze in Arabic.

  “We are cleared to take off immediately,” Shanayze told Shelby. “If you’d like, the attendant can put your coat and bag in the closet. Please, make yourself comfortable.”

  The flight attendant wore a professional-looking black uniform, complete with a small hat. Sheer fabric hung from one side and wrapped around her neck like a scarf. The headpiece reminded Shelby of a genie. The flight attendant took her coat, but Shelby held on to her laptop bag.

  Jahmal and Mujir sat in chairs near the back of the plane.

  Shelby chose a recliner across from Shanayze. A table separated them. Her seat faced the back of the plane. Through the window, she saw people scrambling around inside the hangar, preparing for the plane to take off. She reclined back in her chair. “How long does it take to get to Khali-dar?”

  “We should arrive in approximately sixteen hours.”

  After take-off, Shelby made herself comfortable. She and Shanayze both set their laptops on the table. Shelby found she could connect to the internet, so she spent a long time composing a letter to Xan. She struggled over what to say. How do you tell your boss your boyfriend’s kingdom is in danger, and you must flee from evil terrorists to protect your family? She finally told him Hakim had invited her to come for a visit, and she wasn’t sure when she’d be back. Xan would obviously be angry. When she returned, she didn’t entertain any hope of having a job. During the flight, she finished up a few articles and sent them off.

  Being Saturday, Xan was most likely snowboarding and wouldn’t check his e-mail until Monday morning.

  By then, she hoped to understand her situation better. Shutting her laptop, Shelby reclined in the soft cushion of the chair. She noticed Shanayze had also finished working. “Shanayze, what should I expect when I arrive in Khali-dar?”

  “You will need to be more specific.”

  “What will people think of me being there? Is there anything I should know? How should I act?”

  Shanayze considered her for a minute before answering. “It is obvious you are very important to the prince. That being said, we still live in a very traditional culture. Don’t be offended if Prince Hakim does not show any type of affection in public.”

  Shelby nodded. “Okay, what else?”

  “In the palace, there is a women’s section. That is where you will sleep. For the prince to come to your quarters would be inappropriate, or for you to visit him in his. You will meet in the common areas.”

  The way Shanayze watched her after she spoke seemed as if she expected her words to come as a surprise. But Shelby remembered this sort of thing from her Middle Eastern Studies class.

  “The rules are not as strict as they once were,” Shanayze continued. “I do not believe you will be required to have a chaperone, especially at the palace, although Prince Hakim’s bodyguard will always remain near.”

  Shelby felt a tinge of nervousness at the idea of seeing Nasir again. She schooled her expression. The last thing she wanted was for Shanayze to see anything less than confidence. “I’m sorry, I never asked you what your job is.”

  “I am Prince Hakim’s personal assistant,” Shanayze answered, squaring her shoulders.

  He sent his secretary to rescue me?

  “Do many people work at the palace?” Shelby asked.

  “Many are required to keep the palace and the government running smoothly. Several servants live at the palace full time, and others return to their own homes at night.” Shanayze slid her laptop into the bag next to her chair. “But aside from the servants and the occasional guest, the only people living in the palace are Sheik Rashid and Prince Hakim.”

  “What’s the Sheik like?”

  Shanayze’s expression did not change, but she raised her chin as she spoke. “He is a great ruler. He has foresight and is leading our country
toward modernization. While remaining respectful of the old traditions, he is open to new ideas. The Sheik is quite beloved by his people. Until these recent problems arose with Nahl, he was known to drive himself through the city with only his bodyguard. He is very much in touch with his subjects.”

  “I meant, what’s he like as a person? Will he be upset that I’m there?”

  “I believe he will respect the wishes of his only son. Other than that, I cannot assume to know what His Majesty’s feelings will be.”

  Shelby got the impression Shanayze wasn’t telling her the whole story. She didn’t seem to want to share opinions or any unnecessary information. Was Shanayze just being careful? Or would Shelby be in the palace against the wishes of the Sheik? The twinge of unease was growing. “Thanks.”

  Shanayze dipped her head slightly.

  Shelby took the gesture to mean that the conversation was over. She was glad. Everything Shanayze said about the palace just seemed to increase Shelby’s tension.

  The flight was peaceful and uneventful, but extremely long. They landed in Miami for half an hour to re-fuel.

  The flight attendant, Hadara, offered her a platter set with a different arrangement of food every few hours. She dimmed the lights.

  Curled up in a plush, furry blanket, Shelby sampled a few bites but had no appetite. She watched a few movies, but found herself barely able to concentrate on the screen as she worried about her unknown future. After hearing Shanayze’s warnings, she felt even more nervous about seeing Hakim. How would he act? How should she act? She didn’t want to embarrass him by saying or doing the wrong thing. What would staying in a palace where everything was so different be like?

  Chapter Twelve

  Hours later, Shelby cracked her eyes open when someone shook her shoulder.

  “We’re landing,” Shanayze said.

  A jolt of anxiety shot through Shelby.

  Shelby gazed out the plane window and admired the city built along the ocean. Filled with skyscrapers, it looked like any modern city in the U.S. Boats and ships of all sizes floated off the coast. The city was bordered on one side by water and surrounded on the others by endless sand.

  “Over there are the palace grounds.” Shanayze pointed to the largest green area in sight.

  Perfect location, close to, but away from the city. Roads lined by green trees connected the various buildings which dotted the grounds. Near the largest building, which Shelby assumed was the palace, was a sizeable body of water. A small pond or a huge swimming pool? How could there be so much water in the middle of the desert? She smiled as she remembered Hakim saying, “Khali-dar is an amazing place.”

  The plane landed smoothly, and Shelby said goodbye to the pilots and Hadara. Stepping out of the door, she choked on the heat radiating from the runway below. The sweater and jeans she wore caused her to start sweating instantly. As she followed her down the stairs to a waiting limousine, Shelby looked enviously at Shanayze’s button-down silk blouse and flowing skirt.

  Security guards with machine guns stood near the hangar and next to the limo. Shanayze spoke to them for a moment. Shelby, Shanayze, Mujir, and Jahmal climbed into the vehicle, the driver closed the door and then drove them through the city. Shelby was disappointed that nobody asked to see her passport, and she made a mental note to ask Hakim about getting it stamped.

  All these thoughts flew out of her head as Shelby stared out the window, awestruck. The city was a blend of old and new. Huge, modern skyscrapers loomed over mosques with prayer towers and market stalls overhung with woven canopies.

  Men wearing traditional white dishdashas, long shirt-dresses, with their heads wrapped in checkered cloth keffiyehs, mingled among people wearing business suits and casual clothes, who appeared as though they belonged in any city in the world. Many women wore head scarves, and Shelby even saw women wearing burqas over their entire bodies, their eyes peeking through a crocheted screen. She glanced at Shanayze. “I hope it is not offensive. I have just never understood why women must dress like this.”

  “In Khali-dar, women are not forced to wear a burqa. Many Salifi Muslims believe a woman’s face is awrah,” Shanayze explained. “Awrah means the parts of the body which should not be shown in public. This is an expression of their hijab or modest behavior.”

  “So, some women choose to cover their faces?” Shelby squinted her eyes in confusion. She thought they looked like ghosts.

  “Yes. They see it as a symbol of devotion, not oppression. Women in Khali-dar are treated better than in many countries. They are allowed to drive and to have jobs and can even attend a university if they can afford it. The unfortunate thing is there is no women’s university nearby. Sending away daughters for an education is expensive, and the cost is too much for most families.”

  “I’m surprised they can’t just go to the same school as the men.”

  “While Khali-dar continues to move toward western ways, there are still traditions that remain unchanged. That is one.”

  “Oh.” Shelby still felt baffled and turned her gaze back through the window. The city glittered, beautiful and clean with fascinating architecture. Plain buildings were not allowed, it seemed. Stone lattice work covered many of the windows in small, traditional-looking houses. But the tall, modern structures interspersed between them provided a unique contrast.

  “We are approaching the palace now.” Shanayze pointed toward the windshield.

  The limousine drove toward a giant marble arch forming the entrance to the Sheik’s compound. On top, statues of horses were sculptured in various poses. Inside the arch, between two guard towers, a pair of iron gates swung open. Forbidding stone walls stretched along either side, surrounding the property. As they passed through the gates, Shelby saw armed soldiers standing guard. The sight sent a chill over her skin. The limousine drove down a road lined with palm trees and immaculately trimmed hedges.

  “Miss Walker, I would like to remind you about the importance the royal family places on maintaining its image. Please exercise restraint, and respect the customs of our people. Proper etiquette would forbid any type of public display of affection.”

  Shelby narrowed her eyes. Exercise restraint? Does Shanayze think all Americans are depraved cretins, unable to control themselves? She bit the inside of her cheek to keep quiet. Possibly because they had been in close proximity for the better part of two days or the fact that she was exhausted, but Shelby was pretty sure she wouldn’t be able to “exercise restraint” over what she said the next time Shanayze hinted she didn’t know how to behave in a civilized manner.

  The road widened, revealing the Sheik’s palace. The vehicle stopped in a large curved driveway.

  Shelby gasped, unable to believe the sight before her.

  The driver opened the limo door, and Shelby stepped out, her neck craning as she took it all in.

  Water sprayed in elegant arches from hidden fountains. Peacocks and other exotic birds strolled the lawns. Pillars, topped with large pots overflowing with greenery and flowers, lined a wide walkway the width of a city street which led to an enormous, elegantly arched entrance. Beautiful, hedge-lined gardens filled the grounds.

  The view of the palace held Shelby spellbound. The white stone of the building was a canvas displaying balcony railings, carved with intricate geometric designs. The same arch, curved with a point at the top, surrounded all the windows. Shelby could barely see the roof of the palace where three gold domes—the largest in the center—crowned the elegant structure. She stood still, completely dumbfounded. When it came to the size, she had no point of reference. A hospital? Airport? Casino? She had simply never seen any place as imposing.

  Captivated by her surroundings, she took a moment to realize Hakim strode down the walkway, dressed in khaki slacks and a light blue tailored shirt. Shelby became painfully aware that she wore an old pair of jeans and a sweater she’d slept in. She couldn’t even imagine how her hair looked. On the plane, she had attempted to pull it back into a ponyta
il, but she knew the humidity had not done her curls any favors. Her appearance wasn’t helped because she couldn’t stop sweating, either. Shelby waved shyly at Hakim, unsure of how to approach him.

  He rushed toward her, relief evident in his face, taking her hand in both of his.

  His touch made her skin tingle. Shelby glanced toward Shanayze, who raised her eyebrows in what was quickly becoming one of Shelby’s least favorite expressions, but said nothing.

  “Shelby Jo, I am so pleased that you came.” He took a step back and glanced at her leg. “And your ankle has healed.”

  Torn between wanting to throw her arms around him and throttling him, but remembering what Shanayze said, Shelby settled on a simple smile.

  Hakim maintained his hold on Shelby’s hand and turned his attention to the people around him, speaking in Arabic.

  Shelby watched the way they all bowed and scurried off to whatever task he had assigned. The way Hakim spoke softly and still commanded respect from people impressed her. In a moment, only Shanayze remained.

  Hakim had obviously not heard the lecture about public affection from Shanayze since he continued to hold Shelby’s hand. His touch was comforting, but she hoped nobody would think less of him for not behaving in accordance with the country’s traditions. They strolled along the patterned bricks of the walkway. She noticed how quiet the palace was. Even this close to the city, the noise was unable to penetrate the walls and foliage. They climbed the wide stairs, stepping through the arched entrance.

  Shelby’s mouth dropped. Beneath the large, domed roof, the entrance hall soared at least ten stories high. An elaborate mosaic decorated the inside curve of the ceiling. She craned her neck, trying to see it all. Large pillars and potted palm trees surrounded the room which was easily bigger than her high school gymnasium. A colorful, thick rug stretched across the white marble floor, nearly reaching the pillars. Shelby couldn’t help but wonder how long vacuuming a carpet that size took.