by Holly Rayner
“Nonsense. You look great. I need coffee! I just figured I’d tell you that you did, too.”
“Fair enough. Let’s place the order.”
Kaye pressed the magic button under the nightstand once more, and before she knew it, the aroma of freshly-pressed coffee beans filled the room as Jen worked her magic, finally dressing her in a beautiful yellow summer dress.
“This will be sure to impress the Sheikh and Sheikha,” Jen said, and Kaye smiled.
“Here’s hoping.”
“I heard they were pretty brutal while the camera was rolling. They’re really getting into this, huh?”
“So it would seem,” Kaye said, rising as Jen finished dabbing a little more makeup on her cheek.
The two of them exited, making their way down the hall as Jen’s radio informed them that they were requested in the royal viewing room. When they got there, filming was already underway, with Amalia whispering to Amir with a deep frown on her face. One of the cameras turned toward Kaye, and she fixed an expression of fear on her face as she made her way over to her future mother-in-law and husband.
“Good morning,” Kaye said, her voice shaking slightly.
The Sheikha glared at her.
“You sleep in late,” she grouched.
“Mother, we have jet lag. Give her a break,” Amir pleaded.
“You take a break! You spring this woman on us and expect us to just accept your marriage to some…American!”
She threw her hands up in the air in rage, her eyes like dark storm clouds. Kaye stepped forward, as though finding her courage.
“Your Highness. I admit that I haven’t made the best impression, but I love your son. I want to make him happy. I will do whatever it takes to do so.”
“Sing the anthem,” Amalia said, crossing her arms with a smug expression.
She thought Kaye wouldn’t have time to memorize it. She was wrong. Taking a breath, Kaye began to sing it word for word, first in Amir’s native tongue, then again in English. She was grateful for her ability to memorize lines very quickly. Amalia’s stricken expression had to have been a little bit real.
“Yes, well. You can learn a song. Good for you,” Amalia huffed before storming off.
Kaye and Amir watched her go, the two of them locking eyes afterwards. Amir placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his eyes consoling.
“It will be all right,” he said.
“Cut!”
Jesse walked forward, his eyes on Amir.
“Amir, buddy. You’ve got to be brasher, okay? We want you to be a strong, assertive character. We’ve already got enough of the gentle romance between you two. Let’s have a little more spice, okay?”
“Got it,” Amir said, squaring his shoulders. “More brash.”
Jesse nodded.
“Great, let’s pick it back up you guys!”
He jumped back behind the cameras, which flicked back on. They continued their conversation in an entirely different tone.
“You need to do more to impress my mother. Without their approval, I can’t marry you.”
“What, your life is dictated by mommy and daddy?” Kaye sneered.
“I don’t need to be patronized by you. I knew them first. You’ve still got to earn a place in this family if you want to be a part of it.”
“You can’t be serious!” Kaye cried, stomping her foot. “Amir, you’re being ridiculous. I don’t even know who you are, here!”
“I’m the same man I’ve always been. I expect a lot from the woman I love. I would hope you do the same. Please try harder with my parents. Our marriage depends on it.”
Amir stormed off then, leaving a shocked Kaye to watch him disappear before Jesse ended the shot.
“Excellent! That was much better. Now, I want to film some scenes with Amir and his father talking about the marriage. And Amalia?”
Amir’s mother poked her head back into the room.
“Yes?” she asked.
“Let’s do some more scenes with you and Kaye having a heart-to-heart. We want there to be a strong disapproval, but in the end, you’ll accept your son’s wishes.”
“Got it. Mean until we’re green.”
“Sure,” Jesse said with a chuckle.
Kaye and Amalia walked off with Jesse and a few of the crew while Amir and the others headed off in the direction of his father, presumably elsewhere in the house. Amalia squeezed Kaye’s hand as they walked.
“You’re doing great,” she whispered.
“So are you. I think you all need to get into acting after this,” Kaye said.
“Nah. Got a country to run. Someone has to do it,” the Sheikha replied, staring ahead as though this was nothing at all.
Kaye was amazed by her candor and good humor.
“Things in Al Rayyan must run pretty well under your leadership.”
“We are blessed to have a thriving economy, it’s true. It is easy to run a country when the coffers are full.”
“Ladies, this would be a great conversation to have on film. Let’s try and get some of that done in here,” Jesse said.
They filmed a scene with the two of them reluctantly bonding over family values, with Kaye slowly winning Amalia over with her discussion about children, family and love. As they were finishing up, Amir appeared in the doorway.
“I hope to love my children as I was loved, with all my heart,” Kaye said, and Amalia reached over and squeezed her hand.
“It is one of the greatest gifts a person can ever have.”
Amalia looked up and saw Amir there, then patted Kaye’s hand as she released it.
“You might have a better one here than I thought, boy.”
“I certainly think so,” he said, and his eyes were warm as they rested on Kaye.
“Cut!”
Kaye and Amir were still staring at one another as Jesse stepped forward.
“Okay, scene, you guys! Now I’d like to get a shot of the two of you running off together into the city to get away from it all. Can we start on that now?”
“Sure,” Kaye said, bidding Amalia a fond farewell.
“Let’s do dinner. I don’t believe you’ll be staying past tomorrow,” Amalia said.
“We won’t?” Kaye asked, looking back at Amir.
He shook his head.
“We’ve got to keep to the schedule. We’ll be filming with your family next. The plane is scheduled to leave for Indiana in the morning.”
“I see,” Kaye said, blanching.
“Is that all right, Kaye?” he asked.
“Sure. Of course. We’ll figure it out when we get there,” she replied. “Now, let’s run off on an Al Rayyan adventure. I’m ready for some fun!”
Amir looked as though he was going to ask more about her family situation, but Jesse took her cue and ushered them away from the room, leading them toward a massive garage.
“Now, I want you to whisk her away. Try to be daring, and again, not so…soft.”
Kaye stifled a chortle. The number of times Amir had to be reminded to be a more macho version of himself was a little outrageous, in her opinion. He simply nodded, reaching for a pair of helmets as the cameras began to roll.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said, his tone gruff.
He was like some superhero pretending to be his alter ego. Kaye fought hard to maintain a straight face as she stared up at him, appearing, for all the world, as a forlorn lover who had been rejected by her fiancé’s family.
“And go where? I don’t belong here, Amir. Maybe this isn’t going to work after all. Maybe we acted too fast.”
“Are you kidding me?” he asked, grasping her gently by the shoulders. “We’re made for each other, Kaye. It’s you and me against the world, and we’re going to win!”
“Against who? Your parents? Mine? Is that really winning, in the end?”
“We win in the end because we have love. Isn’t that enough?”
Jesse made a gesture for more masculine lines. Amir audibly sighed.
“Come on. On the bike, now. I’m taking you out.”
“And if I refuse?” Kaye asked, trying to help him out.
He leaned toward her, towering above.
“Then I will sit you on it myself and kidnap you from this palace.”
“Dangerous,” Kaye cooed, a smile in her voice.
“Don’t tempt me,” he said, wrapping his arms around her lower back and pulling her close.
Before he could kiss her, he plopped the black helmet over her head, kissing the top of it instead.
“It’s just you and me, Kaye. Let me show you what life is like in my world when my parents aren’t breathing down our necks.”
“That’s the best idea you’ve had all week,” Kaye replied.
He revved the engine, and they zoomed off, two cars filled with cameras on either side.
Chapter Fourteen
Kaye held on to Amir’s toned torso as he wove between cars, cameramen shouting from either side as he left the filming crew in the dust. A wave of excitement coursed through her as the wind whipped around them, the warm sun contrasting nicely with the breeze. Before long, she looked over her shoulder and couldn’t see either car.
Amir continued to weave through traffic, twisting and turning down a myriad of roads until Kaye was completely and totally lost. He began driving up what had appeared to be a towering dune, but was really a golden paved road that led up to the top of a monument. Amir skidded to a halt at the very top, facing the city.
“You’re going to get in so much trouble with Merle,” Kaye said as she stepped off the bike, removing her helmet.
Amir’s grin was gorgeous as he removed his own, his dark hair tousled, his eyes shining in the sunlight.
“I’m always in trouble with Merle.”
“It’s going to be tough to speak with you when you’re not your macho character.”
“I’ll have you know I am very macho in real life.”
Kaye scoffed.
“You’re certainly much more pleasant to be around when the cameras are off.”
He lifted a curious eyebrow.
“You really think so?”
“Of course I do. Have you even noticed that Jesse has to remind you to be more…”
She couldn’t find the right word.
“Rude?” he offered, and she laughed.
“Well, yes. Though I’m not sure that’s the best word for it.”
“Who knows? Anyway, look down.”
Kaye glanced down, finding her feet planted on a golden dome. Amir rolled his eyes.
“Not that far down, that way,” he said, gently taking her shoulders in his hands and facing her in the direction of the city.
Everything gleamed beneath them, as though they were standing on top of the world. Kaye inhaled, taking in the gorgeous sight. The palace was still just as sprawling from up there, but from so high up she could get a really good look at the winding gardens and myriad of pathways outlining the inside.
“It’s such a beautiful country,” she whispered.
Amir stood next to her, just close enough to have their shoulders touching. It was still enough to bring a tingling sensation to that area of her body. He stared out at the scene, that same wistful expression on his face.
“You miss it,” she noted.
Amir released a breath, crossing his arms as he stared down at the city.
“A little piece of you always misses home, I suppose.”
“Not always,” Kaye said.
He looked at her then, his expression curious.
“You are nervous about flying back to Indiana,” he observed.
They weren’t questioning each other. At this point, they knew one another well enough to simply comment in understanding. It was something Kaye noticed, and to her chagrin, she liked the feeling of closeness between them.
She liked it a little too much, given their contract.
Kaye met his gaze, her eyes heavy with the weight of her worry.
“They don’t know we’re coming. I’m afraid they would refuse to help with this project if they did.”
“You never know. People have a way of surprising you, especially when it comes to family.”
“Yeah…” Kaye said, staring out at Al Rayyan.
She felt Amir’s hand press against her arm, and she looked back up at him.
“Why did you bring me here?” she asked.
They stared into each other’s eyes, a wealth of unspoken words crossing between them. Amir let his hand drop with a sigh as he stepped back, gazing out once more.
“I thought you might enjoy a view of the city without cameras in your face, just for a moment. I have come to deeply value our friendship, Kaye. I hope you know that.”
“I do now,” she replied, doing her best not to sigh as well.
They looked out together as the sun crossed the sky, the bustling city brimming with life.
“The reason I left Al Rayyan is a little complicated,” Amir hedged. “I lived in such a shadow, all my life. As the youngest of so many children, even with an age gap between us, there was so much that I had to live up to. I never really had the chance to make my own mark on the world. To be honest, I think that’s why we’re as scattered as we are. My eldest siblings are successful and established here, and the rest of us just needed to find out who we were.”
“And did you?” Kaye asked.
He shrugged, turning away from the city and walking back in the direction of the motorcycle.
“In a way. I found my own success, and I established myself in a new way. Here, I will always be the royal couple’s youngest son. In America, I can be Amir Al-Asfour, producer and Hollywood success.”
“Don’t forget reality TV superstar,” Kaye added, attempting to lighten his mood.
It worked. He turned back to her with a helmet in his hand, tossing it at her. She caught it easily, cradling it under her arm as she approached him.
“Well, yes. That too,” he agreed with a tiny smirk. “Now, I suppose we have to go face the music. We will finish whatever last-minute filming the crew wants to accomplish before we get back on a plane tomorrow, and you can tell me what your childhood was like.”
“If my parents even let us in the house,” Kaye murmured ominously.
“I don’t think it’s going to be nearly as bad as you imagine. Still, it might be worse if you pop in on them unexpectedly. Perhaps a phone call would be a good idea.”
“I don’t think so. Let’s just go with this plan—and hey, if we need to, we can hire a fake family to play the part.”
Amir’s eyes were somber.
“You think I would go through all the trouble to marry a complete stranger for this show and then have fake in-laws? We’re kind of into integrity here. At the very least, it will make for some great television.”
“Well, there’s always that,” Kaye replied, not bothering to keep the disdain out of her voice.
Amir straddled the bike, sliding his helmet on. Kaye did the same, settling back behind him, miffed that he would be so callous about her relationship with her family. How could he not understand just how hard it was going to be for them, a simple country family, to put themselves on national television? Before she had time to dwell on it, he kicked the bike into gear and sped off the dune, winding his way carefully back down into the streets heading toward the palace.
As they looped their way back into the garage, an enraged Merle stood at the doorway, his face the color of raspberries.
“You better have a damn good explanation for this little escapade, Al-Asfour.”
His voice was muffled as he spoked through his teeth. Kaye almost didn’t hear him over the rumble of the bike, but she knew if Merle was using Amir’s last name, it couldn’t be good. Amir shut the bike off and waited for Kaye to dismount, which she did, pulling off her helmet as she did so.
“Whatever you did could have been caught on camera. What were you doing, if I may be so bold as to ask, before I fire both of yo
u?”
Amir chuckled.
“You’re not going to fire us. You don’t have time to reboot this project, and we’ve spent enough on it as it is. We have dealt with a grueling filming schedule, and we deserved a little break. That’s all.”
“And I trust nothing in the contract was broken? I don’t have time for legal issues to come up either, you know.”
His meaning was clear, and Kaye felt the heat of her blush, even though nothing had happened between them. For a moment, when he was staring into her eyes above the whole world, she thought he might throw caution to the wind and kiss her.
She was glad that he hadn’t. She would have so many opportunities, such a better life, if she could just resist him for the next few weeks. That’s all it would take, after all. Just a few more weeks, and they’d be done.
She could resist him. She knew she could.
“You know I would never risk the professional integrity of one of my colleagues, Merle. Don’t insult us with your insinuations.”
For a moment, Kaye saw the version of Amir he played up for the show. His eyes were stormy as he glared down his co-producer, and after a heavy pause, Merle shrugged and turned back to the house.
“The crew is waiting for you to film out the rest of this visit. I suggest you stop wasting all of our time by going on these ‘breaks,’ Amir.”
His portly back disappeared, and Amir and Kaye set their helmets quietly back on the bike. Then, it was back to work. They filmed some more scenes of them fighting dramatically about Amir’s parents and their traditions. They filmed a reconciliation, and a heartwarming scene with the whole family. Kaye even got to meet Amir’s eldest brother, Hadid, who had taken a break from an advisory meeting when he’d heard Amir was in town. The man was almost as handsome as his younger brother.
Almost.
“Don’t let this little tyke fool you, Kaye. He’s quite the rascal,” Hadid said with a laugh.
Kaye shot a glance back at Amir, who wasn’t smiling. She could see how he would want to get out from beneath the moniker of ‘younger brother’.
“I can assure you, he is one of the most intelligent, most professional men I have ever worked with. He’s a great success out in Hollywood, all on his own.”