The doctor bowed deeply before Nabil. ‘Your Highness, such a pleasure to see you. Your presence here is much appreciated, and of course,’ he glanced at Yasmin, ‘we are thrilled to have another doctor who fully understands the ins and outs of hospital management.’
‘I would very much like to know more about the running of the hospital, Dr. Abdulla, and I would especially like to see the neo-natal unit.’ He heard his wife saying as she moved in front of him slightly, obviously determined to be there on her own terms.
Nabil watched her for a moment. He could see the doctor was thrilled to answer her questions and moved to show them the rest of the hospital. ‘We are pioneering a new method for premature babies, Your Highness.’
Yasmin walked ahead with Dr. Abdulla chatting and becoming increasingly animated as she and the doctor exchanged ideas and opinions. A feeling of irritation assailed Nabil. He had been effectively cut out of the conversation. It was unreasonable he knew, but something else was churning in his gut. Was it a matter of simple jealousy? No, that couldn’t be it. Jealousy was something he had never had to experience. Who would he have to be jealous of, after all?
Nabil continued to track Yasmin’s progress through the hospital wards, half listening to another medical professional drone on about something or rather next to him. He didn’t really need to know the technical details of everything he saw at the medical centre, just what amount was needed to secure equipment and more trained personnel to ensure it ran smoothly.
Once in the maternity ward, however, Yasmin showed exactly the type of passion and focus that he would have expected from any of the doctors. Her eyes sparkled, her hands moved, she was looking at equipment, asking questions, giving advice or her opinion. A large group had gathered. Nabil lost sight of her.
He looked around. Babies in their little basinets were sleeping, or crying or being fed in the nursery. Yasmin broke away from the group at one point and made her way to one of the mothers. His wife’s smile almost took his breath away. He watched her as she spoke with the new mum and fussed over her baby. She was so genuine, he thought. So real. He liked that. He liked her.
A young nurse came alongside Dr. Abdulla and he introduced her to both Yasmin and Nabil. She bowed deeply before them.
‘Your Highness,’ she said excitedly, looking at Yasmin, ‘I’ve read that you have studied medicine abroad.’
‘Yes, I have. I’m just a generalist, though but I have a keen interest in obstetrics.’ Yasmin moved closer to the nurse and began chatting. ‘Tell me, as a nurse, what are your working conditions like here?’ Nabil heard Yasmin ask.
‘Here, in the hospitals it is generally good but…..’ the young nurse paused, clearly unsure of how or whether to continue.
‘It’s ok, you can speak freely.’ Yasmin’s voice was gentle. ‘I want to become more involved in the health care system here but in order to do that I need people on the inside, people on the front line who can give me proper information so that I can know what needs to be done.’
The nurse’s eyes gleamed and she relaxed a little more. Then she turned to Nabil. She bowed deeply.
‘I hesitate to say this because I know His Highness is doing so much already, but the biggest problems are in the rural areas. The infant mortality rates are disturbingly high.’
Yasmin looked over at him. He stiffened and then put on his official mask. ‘Thank you. I will endeavour to do what I can to ensure this situation is changed.’
The young nurse bowed again. ‘Thank you, Your Hignesses,’ she said. ‘This is indeed a privilege.’
Moving his wife away from the crowd he leaned down. ‘Your presence is generating a very positive response. It is pleasing.’ And he felt a sense of pride. She was good not only for his country but for his image. His wife, his wife, was the one they were all fawning over, impressed by, wanting to speak to. He began to feel his chest swell. He had to stop this. Yes, she was impressive, but she was just doing her royal duty, after all. He had to remind himself that’s why he had agreed to this arrangement. And it was an arrangement, nothing more.
Dr. Ahmed Abbas was the head neurosurgeon and had taken over the lead from Dr. Abdullah. He took them through the different departments, explained about the new equipment, how many people could be admitted there, the emergency services they had in place and the quality and professionalism of the staff.
‘Excellent,’ she said. ‘The most up to date equipment and an area large enough to handle the busiest times.’
‘Yes indeed, Your Highness. We have everything here and it’s all state-of-the-art.’
Yasmin nodded and walked over to one of the incubators. ‘This is great. How many of these do you have?’
‘At the moment we have only three but,’ the doctor looked over at Nabil expectantly, ‘we hope to get at least two more.’
Yasmin turned and looked at him as well. Her eyes, bright with enthusiasm and excitement now that she was in an environment where she obviously thrived.
‘Consider it done,’ he said.
The nurse broke into a broad smile and two doctors bowed thanking him respectfully. He threw her a quick glance, saw the smile spread on her face and then the surprise. That irritated him slightly. Did she think he was a complete uncaring oaf of some kind? He turned and moved on to the next ward.
‘What about a family planning clinic?’ He head her ask from behind him. He stopped short.
A female doctor approached Yasmin, bowed deeply and held out her hand. ‘Your Highness, I’m Dr Ayesha Mahtoom. I am the new head of the family planning clinic here in this hospital,’ she explained. ‘His Highness has funded us for the next ten years and we are extremely grateful. It will make a big difference to many people, especially our women. He is indeed a modern and forward thinking man.’
She turned to look for him, their eyes locking. Her eyes were shining, a new respect there. She was definitely impressed. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction that he had surprised her. She obviously wasn’t expecting it. Come on, what else did she think he was?
***
The limousine seemed stifling. Yasmin adjusted her high collar.
‘You seem tense,’ Nabil spoke, looking over at her. ‘I would have thought this was what you wanted.’
She avoided eye contact. Despite initially feeling so happy about visiting the hospital, Yasmin was now coming down from her high, remembering that she would never be able to work in this field she loved. She wasn’t sure whether or not to open up to him about her feelings in that moment. Would he think her weak? Unreasonable? Would he even care? He was an enigma to her.
‘To be honest,’ she said quietly, ‘I feel sad.’ And that was the truth.
Nabil didn’t respond. She looked over at him. He was watching her but made no attempt to ask what was wrong. Well of course not. Why would he care?
‘Looking at the female doctor with her white robe and stethoscope…I don’t know. I felt…’ she wasn’t sure how to complete her sentence.
‘Jealous?’ He asked.
Yasmin could feel her blood pressure rise sharply.
‘Not jealous, Nabil,’ she bit out. ‘Sad!’
She turned her head and looked out the window, not wanting him to see the tears welling up in her eyes. He could be such an ass.
He said nothing for a long while.
All of a sudden he broke the silence.
‘You handled yourself well tonight. Of course, I knew you would. You’ve been trained for this. It’s one of the reasons I knew this marriage would work.’
‘I’ve been trained for other things too,’ she uttered.
Eyes still on her he said, ‘Yes. I know. You’ve completed a medical degree and want to specialise.’ He said it so dryly. She wasn’t sure whether he was just stating a fact or being intentionally caustic.
She had so many ideas swirling in her mind about the health system and she needed him on her side. She would need his support if she were to gain any sense of independence and right now
that seemed to lie in her getting out of the palace and getting involved with the hospital.
‘The hospital is fantastic. It’s a real credit to all those who work there. And a credit to you,’ she said looking over at him. Hopefully a compliment would soften him up a bit for what she wanted to say next. He didn’t respond, just kept his lazy gaze on her.
‘I would really like to work in some capacity at the hospital, Nabil. I…you know, I have only partially completed my studies but I can finish. I have a residency to complete and - ’
‘No.’
It was all he said. No explanation, not even time to finish her sentence.
She sat there for a moment processing the very certain response, her mouth now agape.
‘How can you just cut me down like that - ’
‘The answer is no. I’m not going to say it again, Yasmin.’ His voice low, his eyes serious.
She shook her head. She hadn’t expected such an unyielding response. She clutched her hands together tightly, her knuckles turning white. She felt like she was dying inside. He began to breathe hard. Modern, future-thinking man, my foot!
Staring at him eye to eye, not wanting to allow his will to supersede hers without a fight she kept probing. ‘Why not?’
His eyes narrowed slightly. ‘I have given you my answer and that is all you need,’ he uttered, always in control.
Now she was seething. ‘Give me a good reason.’ She wasn’t going to accept this without a good explanation. And she knew there wasn’t one.
He looked at her with an almost bored indifference. ‘The reason is that I said no. That is reason enough.’ He spoke calmly without any emotion. It was this detachment that really hurt her.
She pressed her lips together, glaring right back at him. She bit out, ‘You are a man who is well and truly stuck in the Dark Ages! I can’t believe you have a family planning clinic in your hospital but your refuse to let your wife out of the house. I knew my life would change for the worse when I married you but I never expected to feel like a caged animal to be used only for breeding purposes!’ She was shaking now from her intense emotions. Anger and frustration threatening to burst her open completely.
He didn’t respond but she could see the muscles in his jaw tensing. She turned her face away. The tension in the small cabin of the car was unbearable and she kept her face towards the window hoping he wouldn’t say another word lest she explode.
Yasmin flew out of the vehicle as the car pulled up outside the entrance, not bothering to wait for the chauffeur to open her door. She stormed up to her quarters slamming doors behind her.
Reaching her bedroom, she grabbed a few things wanting to move them into a different room. As she turned he was right in front of her, hand over the doorway preventing her escape. He was looking down at her. His eyes flashed fire.
‘What do you think you are doing?’ he asked.
‘Getting away from you. I’m going to sleep in another room.’
He moved forward then, his tall frame and strong body towering over her. ‘The only bed you will sleep in is mine,’ he growled.
‘I hate you,’ she said through her teeth.
One side of his mouth curved. ‘And yet when I touch you, you go up in flames.’
The red in her cheeks rose and she felt her anger increase along with her humiliation. It was true. She was so pathetic that this man, who didn’t even love her, could make her feel the way she did. And she hated him for it.
‘I’m not the only one affected, Nabil, despite how hard you want to deny it. Despite how cool you play it.’ She took a step back, placing her hands behind her back.
She began to slowly pull down her zipper, her eyes fixed on his.
She watched as Nabil hissed in a deep breath. His gaze darkened and a dangerous glimmer flashed in his eyes.
‘What are you doing?’ He said, his voice low, husky.
‘The only thing I’m good for, according to you,’ she said. ‘Isn’t this what you want?’
Pulling her dress off her shoulders in a deliberate tantalising slowness, she allowed it to drop low on her hips where his eyes now lingered. His chest was rising and falling quicker, his mouth set in a stern line. He raised his eyes gradually, taking in her entire form until they reached her face. They were as black as the night, hunger burning, but anger seething right below the surface.
‘You’re playing a dangerous game, Yasmin,’ he said quietly.
They stood, neither of them moved for a few moments, their eyes locked. She could feel the atmosphere thick with sexual tension and her body buzzing, responding like it always did when he was near. Then he moved, coming closer. He lowered his head. Yasmin let out a gasp as he bent and pulled her dress up to cover her again. Then he looked down into her eyes and she could see he was just holding onto his control.
‘Not like this,’ he said hoarsely. ‘Never like this.’
He turned and left the room, his absence leaving a deep hole in her heart. She stood there feeling the sharp sting of humiliation and anger.
Chapter 5
Noise in the living room alerted Yasmin that her husband was back from his very early morning Council meeting. She assumed it might have had to do with Qaman and the situation there but he didn’t offer any information and she didn’t ask.
She kept her eyes down pretending to read but she was acutely aware of every movement to her side. He was approaching. She knew it not only because of the sound but because her body thrummed to alert. His presence was unmistakable.
As he stepped out onto the balcony, the butterflies began their dance in her belly.
‘Good morning, Yasmin,’ he drawled and she held her breath. That voice, deep and powerful, could always make her insides shake.
She muttered a quick, ‘Good morning,’ without looking up from her book. She still hadn’t forgiven him for their conversation in the limo some days before.
He pulled out a chair to sit but his phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket to answer it.
‘Mahir, yes, it’s fine. I’ll see you in a minute.’
She still didn’t look up then and didn’t ask what that was about. Expecting him to say something more to her, her nerves tingled in anticipation, but he remained silent.
Noticing another person moving towards her, she looked up to see Nabil’s senior aide, Mahir, bowing deeply before them. She greeted him with a smile and a ‘good morning’ still not looking at her husband.
‘Good morning, ya sayed,’ he said to Nabil.
Yasmin could hear snippets of conversation but didn’t know exactly what was being said as they stood a little distance away.
‘Your Highness, the arrangements for your trip are in place. The cars will be here in the morning for Your Hignesses.’
Your Highnesses? Plural?
At that she raised her head, her eyes clashing with his.
‘Thank you, Mahir. I’ll let you know,’ he said, his eyes not moving from hers.
He waited until Mahir had left and then strode closer. ‘You have inspired me.’
What?
She remained silent, lips slightly parted.
‘I’ve organised a visit to the province of Al’Atan.’
‘Am I to know what this means?’ she said, with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
He exhaled, clearly exasperated by her lack of understanding. ‘I intend this visit to be the beginning of The Rural Health Project. I want all the people of Zashar to have free and immediate access to health care, no matter where they live. And I want you to come with me - as my advisor.’
His words left her dumbfounded. She stared without speaking. Yasmin was not sure whether to believe what she just heard. Could this be real? Could he be throwing her a lifeline to her medical dreams, as small as it was?
This was definitely unexpected.
Before she could say anything he spoke again. ‘Thank you. You are the one who brought the situation in rural Zashar to my attention.’
She sprang up f
rom the divan. ‘So when do we leave?’ She asked, not able to hide the enthusiasm from her voice.
She could have been mistaken but she thought Nabil looked….relieved. His smile spread and her heart raced. God, he’s beautiful when he smiles.
‘We leave early tomorrow. Al Atan is north of the capital, about a three to four hour drive. We can’t fly there due to the sudden sand storms that often occur so we are taking four wheel drives. Everything is organised.’
‘I’ll be ready,’ she said quickly, her heart racing with excitement. ‘How many of us will there be?’
‘Thirty,’ he said. ‘Security detail, medical personnel, Mahir, of course, and you and I.’ He regarded her for a few more moments then he quietly said, ‘Consider it part of my promise to your father.’
She still didn’t know what to say, but something stirred in her heart, and a small spark of fire felt like it had just been relit.
He just nodded, a non-committal motion. Again, choosing to get closer but not too close. Yasmin decided not to focus on that though. She would be going with a medical team into the desert to advise! Her heart soared and she could barely wait for tomorrow.
***
Next morning, bags were being packed into vehicles, medical supplies were being hauled into trunks and cars with special freezers to protect medicines. Staff were coming and going, co-ordinating. Nabil, Yasmin and a small entourage of medical experts and security personnel, were organising themselves in the four wheel drives preparing to head out to the north of the country.
Yasmin had donned a beige long-sleeved top that came below her waist with linen trousers and hiking boots. She walked over to one of the cars and opened the door about to step inside when a hand came down on her arm from behind and she turned suddenly, dark eyes clashing with hers.
‘You will ride with me.’ Nabil’s voice was firm and as usual just the sound of it had her heart racing. He led her to another vehicle, opened the door for her and then climbed in beside her.
‘You’re driving?’ she asked, shocked.
He turned his eyes, now shining with amusement, in her direction. ‘You are surprised?’
Duty Bound Desire: The Sheikh's Forced Marriage (Desert Desires Book 1) Page 7