Bound by the Sheik's Ring

by Elizabeth Lennox

  This was her first trip outside of the palace since the marketplace expedition and she couldn’t suppress a smile of relief. Sada wished she felt confident about her decision to head out, but the reality was, she was more than a bit nervous.

  The first stop was a hospital. It was a simple visit, one that would allow the press to officially photograph her for the first time as Zahir’s wife. She walked through the pediatric ward, handing out stuffed animals and books to the desperate and scared kids. There were so many of them, she thought as she moved from one room to the next, offering praise for their courage and prayers for their recovery. She spoke to each of the parents as well, listening to the horrible details of each child’s issues. She heard tales of cancer and accidental burns, viral infections and spinal cord problems. Each case was different but, no matter how much pain the child was in, each had a smile that melted her heart.

  The next stop was to a school where she shared lunch with the younger students. She read to a small group in the library, laughing over the silly story one of the children had chosen. The lunch she shared with the kids was nutritious, but not particularly tasty. She made a mental note to speak with the head of the meals program for the country before stepping back into the vehicle. Next was a marketplace on the south side of the city. This would be her last stop and, as she watched the sun creep lower in the sky, she was grateful. It wasn’t difficult to be with the kids and the teachers. But it was hard to maintain a smile on her face as she moved throughout the city. The press were there, waiting for any small crack in her demeanor. Anything they could report back to the world that might indicate she was unhappy or weak. She was determined to not give them that story! She would be kind and appear happy, serene and concerned.

  The reporters would only report on the sights she visited. Not on the stress that was becoming her marriage, she vowed.

  At the marketplace, Sada stepped out into the warm sunshine, tossing her sunglasses onto the passenger seat of the SUV. She didn’t want to hide behind the dark lenses. Let everyone see that she was a strong, powerful woman.

  Even if she felt like cringing inside.

  Smiling, she walked forward. The crowds milling about the makeshift stalls where fruits and spices and other items were for sale, recognized her and gather round, smiling and waving. Sada smiled back, waving and shaking hands, greeting them even as her security detail controlled the crowds. She’d spoken to them about this kind of activity, knew their signals and watched carefully. If they started to detect a problem, she knew the signal and what to do. In addition to the guards around her, there were cameras pre-positioned at strategic places within the marketplace being monitored by other guards who were watching the crowds through high tech gadgets, watching for any additional dangers.

  It wasn’t a perfect solution, but she also knew that Zahir needed to be out with the people. As his wife and his representative, her presence here in the market among the people would go a long way towards garnering good will towards his rule. She knew that the optics were good and that the timing was perfect. What she didn’t understand were the dangers her visits created. So she was putting her faith in her security team to protect her.

  Unfortunately, Zahir didn’t agree with her, which was his right. He could yell at her tonight when she got home.

  So instead of worrying about him, she went through the crowd, shaking as many hands as she could. When she came upon a sweet little girl peeking shyly around her father’s leg, she paused and bending low she could smile at the adorable child.

  “Hello!” she greeted softly, grinning at the child as she peered around her father’s legs. “What’s your name?”

  The girl giggled, and buried her face against the man’s leg. Sada laughed in delight. “My name is Sada. Can you say that?”

  The child looked up at her father for reassurance. He nodded encouragingly at her. She then turned and looked at Sada. “Desi,” she finally replied, one finger stuck in her mouth.

  “Desi is a beautiful name! I have a friend from school who is called Desiree, she goes by Desi too.”

  The girl’s eyes widened. “At school?” she whispered. “Does she live here?”

  Sada shook her head. “No, she doesn’t have the honor of living here in Ditara. She has to live far away. But I hope she might come and visit. Do you think she’d like seeing the sights of Ditara?” Sada asked.

  The girl pulled away from her father. “I have a donkey!” she announced, a complete change of subject that only the very young could understand. The crowd around them laughed, the reporters clicking away with their cameras or writing down everything that was being said.

  “A donkey? A real, live donkey?” Sada asked. The girl nodded. “What is your donkey’s name?”

  The girl once again looked up to her father for permission. Then grinned. “We just call him donkey and he likes it,” she whispered, as if she were telling a huge secret.

  Sada laughed. “Well, I guess that makes sense, doesn’t it?”

  “Do you have a donkey?”

  Sada shook her head. “No donkey, but I have a big horse called Fluffy and a whole herd of cats.”

  “A horse? You named your horse Fluffy?” Desi asked.

  “Yes. And he’s not fluffy at all. But he’s sweet and affectionate and I miss him very much. I’m hoping he can come visit me here as well.” Sada ignored the photographers, enchanted with the girl. “Where does Donkey live? And do you take good care of him?”

  The girl nodded. “Would you like to meet him?”

  The surrounding crowd chuckled, assuming that Sada would tell the small child that she didn’t have time. But Sada didn’t want to go back to the palace just yet. So, Sada smiled and nodded. “Is your home close by?”

  The small child’s eyes widened in surprise. Obviously, Desi thought that Sada would say no as well. But instead, the child pointed over towards one of the small, neat houses.

  Sada stood up. “Would it be a horrible imposition on your family to meet your donkey?” she asked the father.

  “It would be an honor!” he replied cheerfully. “But…you don’t have to meet the animal. My mother would be thrilled to meet you though. She’s having tea with her friends as we speak.” The man seemed to blush and shrugged one shoulder. “She makes lace, Your Highness. In fact, she was one of the ladies who made the lace for your wedding dress.”

  Sada was shocked. “Seriously? She wove the lace?”

  “Yes,” he replied, bowing slightly.

  Sada was amazed. “The honor would be mine! That lace was absolutely beautiful!” she gushed sincerely. “Please, would you be so kind as to introduce me to your mother?”

  The man bowed, nodding his head emphatically. “Yes! Yes, this way!”

  He gestured towards the small house as a group of elderly women stepped out. They were all nodding their heads, obviously whispering about something. After Sada’s security guards swept the pathway, Sada walked with Desi and her father towards the group of older women.

  The man quickly introduced Sada to each of the women, all of whom had helped to make the lace. They each made an awkward curtsy and Sada took each of their gnarled hand in her own and greeted them by name. The women beamed from ear to ear, thrilled with the encounter.

  “So…did you like the lace, Your Highness?” one of them asked. Sada assumed that this was Desi’s grandmother, since the small girl walked over and took the woman’s hand before leaned against her as she’d done to her father.

  “I loved it! What a surprise to have such a beautiful overlay!” Sada gushed. “I was planning just a simple dress because of the rush to marry. Zahir and I were planning the wedding,” she lied, “but not this quickly. Under the circumstances, we had to move the wedding up. And that lace,” she announced to everyone, “made the dress absolutely perfect. I felt like I was a part of the history of Ditara on my wedding day.”

  The women tittered their happiness at her compliment, but one bold soul stepped closer. “Did he r
ip it off you? Did it make our sheik crazy with lust?” she asked hopefully.

  The other ladies were horrified at their friend’s question. Sada was so shocked, she wasn’t sure what to say. She stood there, her cheeks turning a bright pink as she remembered Zahir ripping her dress that night. And yes, she remembered how much it had turned her on. And everything that had transpired after that sound. “Um….”

  “He did!” the older woman cackled, pointing at Sada’s blushing features. Giggles emanated throughout the listening crowd. “Oh, this is good!” the lady clapped. In fact, all the ladies clapped their hands victoriously. Even the men were nodding their heads, acting as if the world had just starting turning in the right manner.

  Sada looked around, trying to understand. But she didn’t want to ask. It was embarrassing enough that the elderly woman had asked the question. It was worse that she’d inadvertently given them an answer. Her wedding night had been so personal and private, she wanted to hug it against her chest, to savor the memories.

  “Yes, well…” she cleared her throat and bent down lower. “Desi, would you introduce me to your special donkey? I bet he’s a very handsome fellow!” A change of topic was definitely in order, she thought quickly.

  Desi grinned, taking Sada’s hand. The guards initially tried to stop her, but at a sharp look from Sada, they backed away.

  “He’s around back,” Desi announced.

  Sada eagerly followed, thinking to have a few moments of privacy while she examined the donkey. She’d never met a donkey before. So, this should still be a special treat. What did the donkey do for a family? Why would one have a donkey? Especially in the middle of a city?

  “This way!” Desi said, tugging at Sada’s hand. Sada walked through the back gate into a small yard filled with flowers and…yep! A donkey! The donkey was grazing contentedly, his eyes half closed as he enjoyed the afternoon sunshine.

  “Well, hello!” Sada called out, approaching the donkey carefully. “Does he bite?”

  “Only the coyotes,” Desi explained. “He goes out to my uncle’s farm at night to protect his sheep. Donkey will chase any coyotes that try to eat a sheep.”

  Sada listened intently, then nodded her head. “Huh! That’s interesting. And he stays here during the day?”

  “Yep!” Desi announced. “He has another donkey friend that he hangs out with at night.” Desi turned to look up at Sada. “They don’t like being alone. During the day, my cat stays with Donkey. I don’t know where she is, probably around here somewhere.”

  Desi laughed, delighted with Desi and her donkey friend, who carefully approached the two of them, extending his nose to sniff Sada’s hand. Once the donkey decided Sada wasn’t a threat, he moved closer, allowing Sada to scratch his ears. The animal sighed with happiness, closing his eyes, and moving closer for more affection.

  Sada thought the fellow was adorable and bent down to listen as Desi explained more about caring for a donkey. It was actually fascinating stuff. Who knew that donkeys needed friends? Although, Sada supposed that they were just like horses who needed a herd to survive.

  “Honey, the pretty lady doesn’t have time for more,” the father interrupted when Desi launched into deeper detail about caring for a donkey.

  Sada suspected that she might be intruding on the man’s afternoon plans. Standing up, she smiled at him. “It was certainly a pleasure,” she shook his hand. Then she bent and did the same with Desi. “Would you allow me to come by another time and say hello to you and your donkey?” she asked.

  Desi looked up at her father, then up at Sada. “Yes!” she replied eagerly.

  “Excellent!”

  She moved back to the street, shaking all of the women’s hands and trying very hard not to blush as she remembered their comment about the torn lace. How embarrassing!

  Next, she moved through the marketplace, buying up fabrics, spices, toys, and various other items. All of it was loaded into a canvas tote that she bought at one of the booths. By the time she got back to the SUV, she was exhausted, but thought that the shopping and other trips had been a good expedition.

  Walking into the palace that night, she fought the urge to avoid their apartment. She knew that Zahir would come to her again that night but…she didn’t want to make love with him. Not if it was going to be like last night.

  But maybe…?

  Chapter 14

  Sada woke up on the couch and looked around. She’d come out here last night, furious with Zahir after another night of…of horrible lovemaking. Yes, she’d had several orgasms. Yes, he’d been kind and tender. But Zahir wasn’t like that! She didn’t want him to be like that! She wanted what they’d shared before. She wanted passion.

  And if she couldn’t have that, she didn’t want any of it.

  She stepped into the shower. She had no plan today. Unlike yesterday when she’d been excited about what was coming, today she had nothing on her agenda.

  Nothing other than confronting Ms. Lotz, Sada thought with a sigh.

  Dressing in a white suit and pulling her hair up into a sophisticated twist, she patted down her skirt, determined to take charge of her life.

  Her first stop, the kitchen. “Good morning,” she announced as she stepped into the noisy area.

  The chef turned warily towards her, an apology on his features. “Your Highness…”

  Sada sliced the air in front of her. “Don’t!” she snapped. “The food you’ve served the last few nights has been mediocre. Boring. If you cannot follow my instructions and come up with something more interesting, you will be replaced. Do I make myself clear?” she demanded, glaring at the man. She was losing her patience with the man. She’d stated her preferences clearly and he had still listened to Ms. Lotz.

  The chef stammered for a long moment, shaking his head. “But, Your Highness…”

  “No! No buts! No excuses! Follow my orders or be replaced! I expect to see you in my office at noon today, not just with a new, creative menu for the following week, but with samples of the foods you are suggesting.” She waited a heartbeat, staring hard at the man. “Noon!”

  Sada didn’t wait for an answer. She turned and stomped out of the kitchen.

  Her next stop, the human resources department.

  As soon as she stepped into Fred’s office, the man stood up. “Your Highness…”

  Once again, she wasn’t going to deal with his excuses. “No, Fred. I’ve explained my requirements and you have failed to send me resumes that match them, even given multiple chances. I read through the resumes you gave me during our last visit and chose several candidates, but to date, I have yet to see an interview on my calendar. You have until eleven o’clock today to find me suitable resumes. If you don’t find me ten different candidates, then I will go outside of the palace to find someone. I have resources in Altair who can and will find me good candidates. So, if you don’t want your authority usurped, then get me some candidates!”

  Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked out of his office.

  Two down. One to go, she thought.

  Walking down the hallway, she made her way to Zahir’s office.

  “Is he available?” she asked of his assistant who stood outside of her husband’s office.

  The man was clearly flustered. “He is very busy today, Your Highness.”

  Sada shook her head. “I didn’t ask what his schedule was like. I asked if he was available at this particular moment.”

  When he continued to flounder, she shook her head. “Never mind,” and she stepped towards the doorway. The guards took one look at her and moved out of the way, allowing her entry to Zahir’s office.

  Sada stepped through the door only to come to a stop when she saw Ms. Lotz standing in front of her husband’s desk.

  “She’s breaking protocol and disrupting the process that was established twenty years ago,” the woman stated clearly.

  Sada must have made a sound, because they both turned and looked at her.


  “How dare you!” Sada hissed, stalking further into the room. She wasn’t aware she’d left the door hanging open. “You’ve undermined me at every turn! You’ve contradicted my orders. You’ve insulted me when talking to the staff, and you’ve attempted to make me look like a fool at every opportunity! I know that I can’t fire you, Ms. Lotz. However, you are no longer in charge of the household staff. I will determine the menus for my meals, I will select the candidates that are appropriate for my staff, and I will set my own schedule. You may not go behind my back and contradict my requests to the palace staff. You will not belittle my attempts to establish a personal staff to help me set my agenda and support my husband, and you will certainly not call the servants away when they are supposed to be assisting me. Have I made myself clear?”

  The woman actually turned to Zahir, looking for support. “Your Highness, do I need to say anything more?” she said to Zahir.

  Zahir glanced from the smug Ms. Lotz to his outraged wife. “I believe you’ve explained your position perfectly,” he said flatly.

  Ms. Lotz turned back to Sada with a triumphant smile, folding her hands in front of her.

  Sada cringed inwardly, thinking that this was the end. She would be humiliated in front of Zahir. She should have kept her mouth shut and fought her battles away from Zahir’s office. The man didn’t have time to deal with the petty issues within the household staff. He had the security of the whole country on his shoulders!

  “You’re fired,” he announced.

  Ms. Lotz’s smile widened, but when she glanced at Zahir, she realized that he was looking at her. Her mouth fell open, then she looked at Sada. Then back at Zahir. “You…what?” she screeched. “You’re taking her side?”

  Zahir crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at the woman. “Apparently, you have been maligning my wife in front of her staff and making her life more difficult. Your role in the palace is to serve the royal family. To make our lives run smoothly so we can deal with matters of state. We’re here to run the government, Ms. Lotz. If you’ve been contradicting my wife’s orders, then she’s unable to help me run the government.”