The Sheikh's American Daughter (7 page)

“Good afternoon,” a tall beautiful woman said as she walked into the Boutros’s large cream and beige drawing room. She was wearing a peach boatneck dress and low heels. She had her silky jet-black hair tied up into a neat bun.

“Jasmine,” Joseph said with a smile. He rose to his feet. He walked across the wooden floor and approached her. He held her shoulders and kissed her cheeks. “This is a pleasant surprise,” he added.

“Surprise? Today is the day that we meet your wife-to-be. Of course I came,” she said and wiggled her eyebrows. Jasmine was Amir’s twin sister.

Joseph looked at Amir. 

“You told her,” Joseph said to Amir.

“Told her what?” Joseph’s mother Esther said as she walked into the room. She wore an ankle-length, long-sleeved sky-blue dress. She wore a pearl necklace and matching pearl earrings. She looked as elegant as always.

“Aunty Esther,” Jasmine said with a big smile on her face. The two women hugged and kissed each other on both cheeks.

“I’m glad you came,” said Esther.

“Of course, it’s an important day.” Jasmine looked at Joseph and grinned.

“Is there something I should know?” Esther looked at her son.

“No.” Joseph shook his head. It was clear that Amir had told Jasmine about Olivia. There were no secrets between the three of them. Joseph definitely did not want to divulge the information to his mother, not until Sheikh Solomon had told her about Olivia.

“Of course I told her.” Amir rose from his seat and approached his sister. He kissed her on both cheeks. “How was Egypt?” he asked her. Jasmine had been in Egypt doing some charity work. She enjoyed working with different charities building schools and hospitals, teaching English, teaching how to read and write.

“It was great,” she replied. “But I think this dinner will be better.”

“Don’t cause trouble,” Joseph warned. Jasmine was mischievous and liked stirring the pot a little. Jasmine laughed and crossed her arms over her chest.

A maid walked into the room.

“May I present the Solomons,” she said. Jasmine and Amir looked at Joseph and smiled.

“Here we go,” said Jasmine.

Sheikh Solomon and his wife walked into the room. Esther immediately went to greet Sheikh Solomon’s wife.

“Daaliyah,” Esther said joyfully.

“Esther, it’s good to see you,” she replied. The two women embraced each other and kissed each other on both cheeks.

“Sheikh Solomon, I trust that you have been well,” Esther greeted Sheikh Solomon. He smiled and kissed her on both cheeks.

“I have, thank you. It’s good to see you,” he replied.

“My husband is just upstairs changing. He came back late from his business trip. He won’t be a moment.”

“I understand.”

Joseph saw Sheikh Solomon’s children and an unfamiliar woman walking into the room. To his surprise, Olivia was wearing a dress. She wore a knee-length, short-sleeved black dress. It hugged her curves seductively. The dress revealed her hourglass figure and her beautiful legs. She wore platform wedges with the dress. She had no makeup and no jewelry on. Her long waves of brown tresses framed her face.

“Is that her?” Jasmine and Amir whispered to Joseph at the same time. Joseph did not bother responding. He just shook his head. Jacob approached Joseph and greeted him. He also greeted Amir and Jasmine.

“You girls have grown,” Esther said to Rania and Marina. She turned her attention to Jacob. “And you my dear, you have grown handsome,” she said to him.

“Thank you,” Jacob replied with a smile.

Daaliyah approached Joseph with a smile. She greeted him and then greeted Amir and Jasmine.

“Your… guests?” Esther asked Sheikh Solomon. He took a deep breath before he replied.

“Yes,” he said.

“Oh.” Esther looked confused. She probably wanted to ask why they had come to her house. She looked at Olivia and Daya. “Hello,” she said to them.

“Hello, Mrs. Boutros,” Olivia and Daya said at the same time. They both smiled at her.

Joseph’s father walked into the room. 

“I apologize for being tardy,” Sheikh Boutros senior said. Joseph looked like his father. They were both tall and handsome. His father had some grey in his hair. His presence was very noticeable, very demanding.

“It’s no problem, sheikh,” said Daaliyah.

“I trust that you have been well,” he said to Sheikh Solomon and shook his hand.

“I’ve been well, thank you,” Sheikh Solomon replied. He looked at Sheikh Boutros senior with so much respect in his eyes. 

Olivia looked up and found Joseph staring at her. She looked away and looked back, he was still looking at her. He slipped his hands in his pockets and allowed his gaze to wash over her slowly. She crossed her eyebrows. She looked as though she was going to ask him why he was looking at her.

A maid walked in and announced that lunch was ready. They all made their way to the dining room. Joseph’s father looked at Olivia and Daya as they walked into the dining room. He raised his eyebrows. “I don’t think we’ve met,” he said.

“I am Olivia.” She extended her hand for a handshake.

Joseph’s father shook her hand with a smile. 

“Hello Olivia.” He turned his attention to Daya. “And who is this young lady?”

“My name is Daya.” She smiled and shook his hand. Rania and Marina were watching Olivia and Daya. They did not look happy.

***

Joseph’s father sat at the head of the table. His wife sat to his right. Sheikh Solomon sat to his left. His wife sat next to him. Joseph sat opposite from his father. Amir sat to his left and Jasmine to his right. Olivia sat next to Jasmine. Joseph could see Olivia perfectly.

They all sat at the large, intricately designed, marble-topped dining table. A large crystal chandelier hung above the table. There was a variety of delicious and appetizing food on the table.

Naturally, the two older men started talking about business. They were both passionate about the oil business and were always looking for a way to expand their companies. Joseph, Amir and Jacob contributed to the conversation. They women just quietly agreed and kept eating. Joseph spotted Olivia and the unfamiliar woman she had come with whispering to each other.

Joseph wondered if she was Olivia’s cousin as they seemed so close. Jasmine leaned closer to Olivia and said something to her. Joseph wondered what she had said to her. Olivia faced Jasmine and smiled before she responded. She briefly made eye contact with Joseph, and then looked away.

The lunch was going well until Esther brought up the marriage issue. “Rania and Marina have grown into beautiful young ladies,” she said. “Don’t you think so, Joseph?”

Joseph smiled and took a sip of his drink. He did not want to answer her question because to him, Rania and Marina were just average. Amir looked at him and smiled. “It’s unfortunate that he has to make a choice between them,” he said. Joseph narrowed his gaze at him.

“You are right,” Esther said and laughed a little.

“Perhaps it would have been easier if he was to marry the eldest daughter,” said Jasmine. Joseph crossed his eyebrows subtly enough to warn Jasmine but not enough for Rania and Marina to notice. They were both staring at Joseph; smiling and tucking their hair behind their ears.

“There is something I must tell you all,” Sheikh Solomon said. He cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. Everyone whipped their heads in his direction. His wife looked uncomfortable.

“What is it?” Joseph’s father asked him. Sheikh Solomon cleared his throat again. Marina and Rania looked at each other. The atmosphere was thick with awkwardness.

“Olivia is my daughter.” He went straight to the point.

Esther gasped and placed her hand on her chest. 

“Excuse me?” she spat out.

Joseph’s father leaned forward in his seat.

“She is your daughter?” He looked at Olivia. She was just sitting there drinking her juice and trying not to get involved, as if that was possible. She was the center of the conversation.

“Yes, she is,” said Sheikh Solomon.

Esther pressed her palm against her forehead and leaned back into her chair. “That is not possible,” Esther said. It was clear that she was still trying to stay elegant but she was in shock. She did not seem pleased either. Joseph looked at Olivia. She seemed calm.

“Perhaps this is a conversation we should have in private,” said Joseph’s father. Rania looked at Olivia with a frown on her face. She looked as though she was angry at Olivia for existing.

“You were unfaithful to Daaliyah?” Esther asked.

Sheikh Solomon shook his head. 

“I met her mother before I was married to Daaliyah,” he said.

“That is disgraceful.”

“I recently found out, and so I thought it was best if you all heard it from my mouth and not someone else,” said Sheikh Solomon.

“Excuse me.” Esther rose to her feet. She looked at Olivia with disgust on her face and walked out of the room. Daaliyah scurried after her.

“I think we should leave for a private talk,” Joseph’s father said to Sheikh Solomon. The two men rose to their feet and headed out of the room.

“That went well,” Jacob said sarcastically.

“This is all your fault,” Rania said to Olivia.

“You should have just returned when you said you would,” said Marina. She sounded so irritated. Joseph knew it was because Marina did not accept Olivia as her sister, and she was annoyed at the fact that he wanted to marry Olivia instead. She shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Olivia, how old are you?” Jasmine asked Olivia.

“Twenty-three,” Olivia replied. Jasmine and Amir both raised their eyebrows.

“You are the same age as Jacob?” Jasmine asked. Olivia nodded. Amir looked at her with so much amusement on his face. She had noticed that both he and Jasmine were not surprised when Sheikh Solomon had dropped the news about Olivia’s identity.

“I guess no one wants dessert,” Amir joked.

“So, who are you?” Jasmine asked Daya.

“Oh, my name is Daya. I am Olivia’s friend,” Daya replied.

Rania rolled her eyes.

“She shouldn’t be here either,” Marina mumbled.

“Your father invited me to stay and he invited me to this lunch also.”

“Well, you are not wanted,” said Marina.

Olivia could feel another war of words about to commence. She touched Daya’s arm and shook her head as a gesture for her to not say anything. She did not want to argue with her so-called sisters in the Boutros’s residence. She was still asking herself why she had come to this lunch. Olivia knew deep down that she wanted to get to know her father and have some kind of relationship with him. She knew that was the reason she had stayed and the reason she was at that miserably awkward lunch.

“Olivia, where are you from?” Jasmine asked.

“America, Atlanta,” she replied.

Rania and Marina looked at each other. They stood up from the table.

“Where are you going?” Jacob asked.

“We would rather not share the table with her,” Rania replied.

Jacob frowned.

“I understand that you do not like her, but you do not have to display this behavior in someone else’s home,” he said sternly.

Olivia was pleasantly surprised. Rania and Marina were behaving immaturely. Olivia was pleased that Jacob had called them out on it.

“It’s alright,” said Jasmine. “It’s safe to say this lunch is over. We might as well all leave the table.” Jasmine rose to her feet. Rania and Marina walked out.

“I am sorry about them,” said Jacob as he stood up.

“Never mind it,” Joseph replied.

Jacob nodded before he left the room. Amir rose to his feet. “Jasmine, we need to catch up,” he said. Jasmine smiled.

“Yes, we do,” she said with a mischievous look on her face. Jasmine touched Olivia’s arm. “We should have lunch soon.” Olivia smiled at her. She wondered if it was genuine offer. After seeing how Joseph’s parents had to reacted to the news about her identity, she wondered if anyone in his family would be kind to her.

“No, you should not,” Joseph spat out.

“Goodbye, Joseph.” Jasmine and Amir left the room.

“So, you are Joseph,” said Daya. She leaned back in her chair and just looked at him.

“I see you’ve heard about me,” he said. He looked pleased, as if he was happy Olivia and Daya were speaking about him.

“I have.”

“I am glad to hear that.”

“You are quite handsome. I see why Rania and Marina are so into you,” she said. Olivia crossed her eyebrows and looked at her. Daya was stroking his ego and she did not want that. He was already so conceited.

“What are you doing?” Olivia whispered.

“Thank you,” said Joseph. He did not look grateful. He had a smug look on his face, as if he was saying “I know I am good looking.”

“However, that means nothing here,” said Daya. Olivia smiled a little. “Olivia will not be swayed by your looks or your money,” she added.

Joseph grunted in response. He learned back in his chair and smiled a little. “Is that so?” he asked. He did not sound as though he believed her.

“Yes, it is so. You wanting to marry her is ludicrous. You know nothing about her. She will not agree just because you are a handsome sheikh.”

“Daya, is it?”

“Yeah.” Daya frowned.

“Are you the same age as Miss Grant?”

“Yes. Why are you asking about me?”

“He has a tendency to change the subject,” Olivia pointed out.

“The two of you seem close,” Joseph said to Daya. “So learning about Olivia’s closest friend is a part of getting to know her.”

“Okay then.” Daya narrowed her gaze at him. “I hope that you do not have any ill intentions.”

“What kind of ill intentions would I have?” Joseph asked.

“Joseph, you are interested in an American woman. She is unlike the women in this country.”

“Elaborate.”

“Stop treating her as though she is from here. She thinks differently and acts differently. She doesn’t care about your prestigious family and power. That is not enough to win her over. So stop expecting her to come to you like every other woman you know and start courting her.” Daya rose to her feet.

“My girl,” Olivia whispered. She was pleased by Daya’s little speech. As always, Daya had her back.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go search for the restroom and give you two a moment to speak.” Daya smiled and headed towards the door.

“Daya!” Olivia shouted after her. She did not want to be left alone with Joseph.

“She is feisty, just like you,” Joseph said after Daya had left the room.

Olivia turned her attention to Joseph. 

“I am feisty?” she asked.

Joseph nodded.

“We are finally alone,” he said.

“Did you want us to be alone?” Olivia did not want that. She wanted to avoid him altogether.

“Of course. You owe me a dinner date,” he said.

Olivia burst into laughter. It crazy to her that even after she had stood him up and refused his last offer, he still wanted to have dinner with her.

“This was an awkward lunch,” said Olivia. It was her turn to change the subject.

“It really was.”

“This is why I did not want to come.”

“I am glad you came,” Joseph spoke so gently. It made Olivia want to believe that he actually was glad that she came. “You look nice,” he added.

“Because I am wearing a dress?” Olivia remembered him telling her to wear a dress at the mall.

“You listened to me.” Joseph barely removed his gaze from Olivia. His gaze was intense. He looked so handsome and so attractive.

Olivia had to look away. She could not afford having any part of her fall for him. 

“It was not about you. It was just appropriate,” she said.

“Look at me,” he demanded.

Olivia turned her head and looked at him. 

“Why?” She frowned.

“I want you to look at me when you are talking to me,” he ordered.

“You telling me what to do, that cannot happen. I will not stand for it,” she said. She never liked being told what to do. Joseph did not respond immediately. He just kept staring at her with a smile on his face. It confused Olivia. She wanted to stand up and get out of the room. However, the smile on his face made her feel fuzzy on the inside.

“You are an interesting woman,” said Joseph.

“I think it is time for me to leave.” Olivia rose to her feet.

“We were still speaking.”

“We spoke,” she replied cheekily.

Joseph rose to his feet also. He placed his hand gently on Olivia’s waist and kissed her on the cheek. Olivia jerked her head backwards. He had taken her by surprise. His large hand was sitting on her waist and it made her nervous.

“What are you doing?” she breathed.

“This is how we greet people or bid them farewell,” Joseph replied in a tone that suggested that she had asked a dumb question. Joseph proceeded to kiss her other cheek. He pulled away and searched her eyes. “Until next time, Miss Grant,” he said. He turned on his heel and headed out of the room.

Olivia placed her hand on her heart. She had felt so nervous. He made her nervous. Olivia felt her face warming up. She fanned herself with her hand. She wanted to slap herself for allowing him to make her perplexed. She cleared her throat and quickly left the room.