The Sheikh's American Daughter (14 page)

Joseph was leaning against his car as he waited for Olivia and Amir. His jet was getting fueled up before they took off for Egypt. His phone vibrated in his pocket. He slid his hand into his pocket and fished it out. It was a message from Ruth, a woman he once had a relationship with. The message said that she wanted to see him. Joseph just erased the message and slipped his phone back in his pocket. He was used to women always vying for his attention.

Amir arrived before Olivia. He got out of the car and approached Joseph. “Hey,” he said as he stood next to him.

“You’re here,” said Joseph.

“Your lady isn’t here yet? I’m shocked that she agreed to come.”

“She’s been very cooperative recently,” Joseph said with a smile.

“She’s falling for you,” said Amir.

“She met with my father yesterday.”

“How did that go?”

“He said that she boldly speaks her mind and there is something about her that he likes.”

“Really? That is shocking.”

Joseph agreed. He too was shocked that their meeting had gone the way it did. “Yeah, but he doesn’t like the fact that she is an illegitimate child,” he added.

“That can’t be helped,” said Amir.

Olivia arrived just then. She jumped out of the car and quickly walked towards Joseph. She had on leggings and a hoody. Nothing she wore shocked him anymore. She approached him and stood in front of him and Amir.

“Good morning,” she said to Amir. “It’s been a while since we’ve met.”

“It has.” Amir leaned forward and kissed her on both cheeks. “I hope you’ve been well.”

“I have been.” Olivia smiled.

“Shouldn’t you greet me first?” Joseph asked her. He wanted to be the first person she saw and talked to. Olivia smiled guiltily.

“I haven’t seen him for a while. It is politer for me to greet him first.” She touched his arm. “How are you?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” he said. He leaned closer to Olivia and kissed her on the forehead.

After the private jet had been fueled up, they all boarded. Joseph and Olivia sat next to each other, and Amir sat opposite them. The journey only took an hour and a few minutes. There were two cars already waiting for them when they arrived. Olivia left in one car and headed to the hotel they were staying at. Amir and Joseph left in the other car and headed to their meeting. They were meeting with an Egyptian oil company to renew their contracts.

***

Later that day after their meeting, Joseph, Amir and Olivia went to visit Jasmine. She was volunteering at an orphanage just outside the capital city. The drive took them about two hours.

“Feels good to be out of the car,” Olivia said as she stretched. She had changed into a pair of shorts and a white T-shirt and white sneakers. Her hair was tied up into two ponytails.

“The journey was not that long,” Joseph said to her.

“Two hours is a long time.”

“Are you one of those people that cannot stay still for long periods of time?” Amir asked her.

“Yes.” Olivia laughed.

Joseph looked around. The orphanage was not an extravagant place. It rather looked like an abandoned place that had been long forgotten. The paint on the buildings had chipped off. There were no lawns, just dusty land.

Jasmine walked out of the building. When she saw them, she immediately ran towards them. “Hi guys,” she said.

“What kind of place is this?” Joseph asked.

“An orphanage, Joseph.”

“Even if it is an orphanage, it does not have to look so derelict,” said Amir. Olivia and Jasmine looked at each other in shock.

“An orphanage is not a five-star hotel,” Olivia pointed out.

“They are just used to seeing nice things. Welcome to reality,” said Jasmine. She opened her arms and walked towards Olivia. She wrapped her arms around her. “I am glad you came as well,” she said.

“How have you been?” Olivia asked as Jasmine released her from her embrace.

“I’ve been good,” Jasmine smiled. “You are just in time for lunch,” she said.

“You want us to have lunch here?” Joseph asked.

“Why not?”

“I can think of many reasons,” said Amir.

Olivia shook her head. “I am actually hungry. I would not mind eating now,” she said.

“Good, let’s go.” Jasmine took Olivia’s hand in hers and led the way. Joseph and Amir looked at each other before they followed.

The dining room was of modest size. The children were sitting at the long wooden tables. They were eating pita bread, chickpeas and lamb. They did not have much food on their plates. Joseph felt bad because he always ate so well.

“Today is lamb day,” said Jasmine. “They have it once a month.”

“Just once a month?” Olivia asked.

“Yes. Let’s get our trays.” Jasmine confidently picked up a tray and a plate and joined the line. Olivia followed. Joseph and Amir hesitated.

“I never thought I would be lining up in a canteen for food,” Joseph said to Amir.

“Neither did I,” Amir replied. The two of them picked up the grey trays and joined the line. Joseph felt weird as the canteen ladies dished food out for him. They stared at him oddly. They were probably wondering why he was there too.

After he got his food, Joseph followed Olivia and Jasmine to the table. There were children sitting at the table also. It was awkward for Joseph. He had never had to share a table with strangers. On this occasion, it was him that was intruding. Amir came with his tray and sat down next to Joseph.

“What do you do here?” Olivia asked Jasmine.

“I teach English,” she replied.

“What made you want to do this?”

“I come from a wealthy family. I grew up with everything,” said Jasmine. “My heart broke when I saw how other people live. So I try to give back.”

Olivia smiled and nodded. “That is amazing. We need more people like you in the world,” she said. As Jasmine and Olivia talked, Joseph realized that they were quite alike. 

“How does the food taste?” Jasmine asked.

“Odd,” Joseph replied.

“The pita bread is pretty good,” Olivia replied. She was almost finished eating.

“You can eat anything,” Joseph said.

Olivia burst into laughter. “It is because you are used to eating the finest of foods but I am not. You’re such a snob,” she said. In that moment, Joseph decided that he was going to donate money to that orphanage. It was because he knew Olivia did not have it easy growing up. Joseph wanted to be a better man for her. He wanted to be the man that understood where she came from and what she went through. He had learned that she was not impressed by money and flashy things. All she wanted was a good heart.

After they were finished eating, Jasmine and Olivia went to play basketball with the teenaged children outside. Joseph was pleasantly surprised to see that Olivia was good at basketball. Somehow, he had thought that she was not good at sports. She looked so pretty as she ran with the ball. Joseph found himself smiling.

Joseph walked off and went to the car. He retrieved his leather briefcase and searched for his checkbook. He took it with him and went to find the reception area.

“Excuse me, if I want to make a donation, to whom do I make the check out?” he asked the lady sitting behind the wooden desk that looked like it was going fall at any moment.

“To St. Mary’s Orphanage,” she said as she sprang up to her feet. Joseph quickly filled out the check. He tore it out of the book and handed it to the woman. She looked at it and gasped.

“Take care,” Joseph said as he turned on his heel to leave.

“Sir!” She called out. “Are you sure you want to donate this much?” she asked. He had made the check out for five hundred thousand dollars.

“Yes,” he replied plainly.

“Thank you so much. May God bless you,” she replied. “Truly, sir, thank you. We have never received this much money. Thank you.”

Joseph smiled and walked off. He wasn’t looking for recognition or praise. He simply wanted to donate.

Joseph and Olivia went for a stroll in Alexandria before they left Egypt. The days had flown by, she did not want to leave. It felt so nice to just be there with him. It was nice to be without the drama from Daaliyah and her daughters.

“Are you hungry?” Joseph asked Olivia.

“Why would you ask me that?” she asked him.

“You are always hungry.”

Olivia laughed a little. It was quite true. She was always hungry. “Not right now,” she replied. She was still full from the brunch they had had with Amir. 

“I guess you will be hungry soon,” said Joseph. Olivia smiled and slid her hand in the pocket of her shorts. Alexandria was beautiful, she thought to herself. They were walking along the pavement next to the Red Sea. The waters were a nice blue color. The wind was blowing through Olivia’s hair. It was a such refreshing feeling.

“I would love to come back here,” she said. She wanted to come back and explore the place. 

“If you want we can stay longer,” said Joseph.

“No, you have to return to work.”

“We can come back anytime you want.”

Olivia smiled. She did not mind coming back with Joseph. It was amazing being with him. She was able to forget all that was wrong with her life. 

“I handed in my resignation, well more like e-mailed it,” she said to him. Joseph stopped walking and faced Olivia. He gently tugged on her arm to stop her from walking. She stopped and looked at him.

“When?” he asked her.

“On Monday,” she replied. She had sent the e-mail the same day they had left for Egypt. It was now Friday and she thought it was time to tell Joseph.

“And you are just telling me now?” he asked in disbelief.

Olivia burst into laughter. 

“Sorry, it just wasn’t important at the time,” she said.

“So you will stay here?” He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. Olivia nodded as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She definitely wanted to stay in Lebanon longer, with him. Joseph smiled. He was so handsome, he made her shy every time he smiled at her.

“Jasmine told me that you donated money to the orphanage,” she said to him.

“Oh, did she?” he asked. Olivia was positively impressed and surprised when she had found out that he had donated the money without telling her or Jasmine or even Amir. He had just done it, which showed her that his intentions were pure. He hadn’t done it for praise. Jasmine had found out when she helped with the administrative work. She had seen the check.

“She did. That was such an amazing thing you did,” said Olivia.

“I guess.”

“It influenced my decision to stay. I want to be with a man that is kind-hearted.”

“I am happy that you came to this decision.” His green eyes searched her hazel eyes. He dipped his head lower and gently touched her lips with his. Olivia closed her eyes and let him kiss her. He kissed her so softly and passionately. His lips were soft. Olivia’s knees buckled with pleasure. She rested her body against his to stop from falling over.

Olivia broke off the kiss. “It was not an easy one to make,” she said to him.

“I know; you are very stubborn,” he said to her.

They kept walking, this time holding hands. Olivia felt so girly and just wanted to giggle. She had never been the girl to get a man like Joseph. He was handsome, tall, muscular and rich. He was the complete opposite of the type of men she normally attracted. She just wanted to scream at the top of her lungs that he was her man, HERS.