The Sheikh's Baby Bet

by Holly Rayner

  The woman nodded gratefully at Jasmina’s understanding before carting her little boy off. The boy waved to Jasmina as they departed, and she waved back at him, the warmth in her heart fading as her thoughts turned back to her terrible predicament.

  She could find another buyer. There were plenty of technology companies out there who would love to get their hands on her lithium supply. Even as she thought of the solution, however, she knew it wouldn’t work. It had already taken her council months to find Jenson and his deal. No one else was willing to employ only her people as a workforce, and no one else had offered the sum of money that Jenson had put on the table. Beyond that, they were already out of time. They needed that money fast, and Jasmina couldn’t waste any more time trying to negotiate another deal.

  Staring out at the park, Jasmina thought again about the last conversation she had had with her father. He had told her that he never remarried out of a sense duty to El Jayiah. He had wanted her to be the undisputed monarch once he was gone. In that moment, Jasmina realized that she would be forced to make a similar sacrifice. She would have no choice but to wed that odious man for the good of her country and her people. She would have to make her first sacrifice, not even a week into her reign.

  What would the rest of her rule look like?

  Resigned to living a lonely life, Jasmina stood, making her way back to the palace. She couldn’t run from who she was anymore. She’d had four glorious years of just being Jasmina, a college student majoring in political science. Those years were now gone, the real world had arrived, and Jasmina would do what she had to for the good of her nation. She wondered idly if this would have been her fate whether her father died or not. Would she have made the same sacrifice, if her father had asked it of her?

  She supposed she would never know.

  Reaching the secret doorway, Jasmina glanced around her before pressing the secret button and opening the portal, sliding back through. She reached the wall beneath her window and climbed until she reached the balcony, easily lifting her leg over and climbing back inside. Asha was standing at the door with her arms crossed, waiting.

  “I know, I know. I just needed to get some air,” Jasmina said, not making eye contact.

  “You know if something happens to you, the royal line is finished. Our country is in enough peril as it is, Jasmina. Do try to keep yourself out of danger.”

  With that, she turned and headed toward the exit.

  “Asha, wait.”

  Asha turned.

  “Could you please get me Jenson Black’s phone number? I have a call I need to make.”

  Asha lifted a curious eyebrow.

  “Of course. Based on what’s going on here I can’t assume that meeting went terribly well.”

  “It did not,” Jasmina said. She hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to tell Asha Jenson’s terms. “He won’t give us the deal unless I agree to marry him.”

  Asha’s expression remained neutral at that piece of information, and Jasmina waited for her to react. Finally, she sighed heavily.

  “The price of being a royal is higher than people understand. I imagine you’ll be giving him your answer then?”

  Jasmina nodded, and Asha left before quickly returning with a piece of paper, holding it out to her. When Jasmina looked at it, she found Jenson’s information typed out, nice and neat.

  She felt like throwing up.

  Asha’s hand landed on her shoulder, a small comfort for the conversation that lay ahead.

  “Everything has a way of working out, my love. You’ll see.”

  With that, she turned and left the room, closing the door behind her. Jasmina stared at it, feeling suffocated. She was trapped, and she knew it. There would be no escaping the decision she was about to make. She had the welfare of her people to think about, above her own happiness, and certainly over her pride.

  Lifting a phone, she began to dial.

  Chapter Five

  “Jenson Black.”

  His voice was deep and professional. She’d half hoped that he wouldn’t answer, but since he had, she had no choice but to press on.

  “Mr. Black,” she began, but he cut her off before she could finish.

  “Your Highness. Calling to berate me again for investing in my future?”

  His tone had her teeth on edge already. Could Jasmina really last an entire lifetime with such an insufferable person by her side? Swallowing her distaste, she charged ahead.

  “I’m calling because I’ve considered your proposal and have decided to accept it,” she said, her tone professional, as though she were simply making a supply order, and nothing more.

  She felt a small sense of satisfaction at Jenson’s own stunned silence. After a beat, he was right back in the game.

  “Well that’s quite the change of heart. And here I have my flight back to the States already booked for tomorrow. You’re telling me I need to cancel it?”

  “I’m telling you that I am willing to enter into a marriage with you in exchange for the agreed-upon sum for the lithium and the guarantee that you will maintain a local workforce. Do we have a deal, Mr. Black?”

  “Only if you call me Jenson.”

  He was teasing her. He was teasing her as she gave up a chance at love, at happiness for her country. A black, oily hole opened up in Jasmina’s chest, and her eyes narrowed.

  “We will have to make certain appearances, which we will discuss. In public, I will call you by your given name. In private, I have no need to do so. Please, rejoin me at the palace tomorrow so we can finalize this deal. I’d like to have your team moving out as soon as possible.”

  “You’re seriously going to go through with this?” he asked.

  She couldn’t read him. She hated that she couldn’t read him. What was he asking that for, after she’d already made her declaration?

  “When I give my word I keep it, Mr. Black. I sincerely hope I can expect the same courtesy from you.”

  “Well as delightful as this engagement is, I think we can end the conversation with that. I’ll be by tomorrow to discuss whatever details you want to hash out, and I will make the call to have my men start the process of moving in and hiring here. Is that amenable to you?”

  “Do you honestly care?” she asked.

  There was a hesitation that had Jasmina curious. Was there perhaps a human being beneath that cocky exterior? Dare she hope that to be the case?

  “Well you will be my wife in a few months. I believe your happiness is somewhat my responsibility.”

  “Your consideration knows no bounds, Mr. Black. Until tomorrow.”

  She hung up the phone, then, not giving him a chance to have his own say. Her spirit and her body felt numb, as though she would never know true happiness again. She would have to rely on memories for that, she supposed, resigning herself to her fate. When she looked out the window she realized that the sun had already set, though she had no appetite for food.

  Changing into a pair of pajamas, she settled into her spacious, comfortable bed and turned off the light. Staring up into the inky blackness of her room, she thought about becoming the wife of a selfish, greedy man. Would he expect her to share a bed with him? If he did, he had another thing coming!

  Time passed as Jasmina did her best to fall asleep. Sometime in the wee hours of the morning, she finally did, and was blessedly bereft of dreams.

  A firm knock on her door startled her from her dreamless slumber, and Asha walked in, ready to prepare her mistress for the day.

  “Rise and shine, another day is here,” she said, as she always had, every morning since Jasmina was born.

  “So it is,” Jasmina grumbled into her pillow, turning to face the other way.

  Asha threw the comforter off of her, tossing it aside.

  “You are meeting with the delegation from the north in thirty minutes to discuss issues pertaining to the drought. There is no time to be a lazy bum, Your Highness.”

  Jasmina groaned, knowing that she
would be exhausted for the rest of the day. She slumped like a zombie as Asha forced her to shower before taking care of her hair and dress while Jasmina obediently moved wherever she needed her. When she was done, she pulled Jasmina up.

  “Whatever happened during that phone call, you cannot let it show in front of your people. Find your inner strength, and carry on. Your father would expect it of you.”

  Those were the magic words, as always.

  Jasmina met Asha’s stare and nodded, standing a little taller. Asha led the way out of the room, showing Jasmina to a small antechamber, where a small group of men in farmer’s clothes were waiting for her. As they shifted from foot to foot, their hats wringing in their hands, Jasmina instantly realized that she had her Sheikha hat on, and it was time to get to work.

  “Gentlemen, please sit down.”

  They jumped as she entered, and she wondered why they were so fearful. One of them stayed at the front, evidently the leader.

  “Your Highness, thank you for taking the time to meet with us today. May we personally send our condolences about your beloved father—may he rest peacefully forever in the garden of the gods.”

  She nodded her head at his good wishes, gesturing again for the men to sit. Once she proceeded to do so, they followed suit.

  “What can I help you with this morning, gentlemen?”

  The leader cleared his throat, his eyes darting from her back to the ground and up again.

  “It’s the drought, Your Highness. While the rainy season is set to be good next year, we need extra funding to feed the people up north for the next several months at least. The food supply is getting more restricted by the day.”

  Jasmina nodded as she listened to his plea.

  “Have you reached out to vendors to the south?”

  “Well…no, Your Highness. We didn’t think they’d be willing to make the move.”

  “I’ll be meeting with a group of key business owners later this afternoon. Let me speak with them, and we’ll see if we can’t make a communal connection that can be of benefit to us all. If that doesn’t work, rest assured that the palace will not see our people go hungry. Does that sound good to you?”

  Heads were nodding enthusiastically.

  “Thank you, You Highness. You are a true treasure.”

  “I am no one’s treasure, but I accept your compliment,” she said with a small smile.

  The man’s grin faltered as he wondered at his misstep. She reached out a hand for him to take, which he did, gratefully.

  “Do not trouble yourself. I am happy to meet you all and make this connection. I look forward to working together for the greater good in the future.”

  A chorus of thank-yous rang around the room as Jasmina made her exit, heading toward her main office to see what she would be up to next. As she walked through the open atrium, the door opened, and Jenson walked through.

  Today he was wearing a gray suit that was no less tailored to his body than the black one had been. Jasmina was annoyed that she even noticed that, wishing that she could look anywhere but his startling green eyes. She had never in her life seen eyes like his before, and she hated the way her body reacted to him.

  “Jasmina!” he said, approaching her and pressing an affectionate kiss along her cheek.

  “For appearances,” he whispered against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.

  Jasmina took a deep step away from him.

  “We haven’t officially agreed on anything yet. There’s no need for this pony show.”

  Jenson shrugged.

  “Can’t hurt to practice,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

  “You are atrocious,” she growled, and he laughed.

  “So I’ve been told. When shall we meet about our negotiation then? I have some paperwork that will require your John Hancock.”

  “My what?”

  “Your signature.”

  “Oh.”

  An awkward pause hung between them then, and as time passed Jasmina realized she had more important things to worry about than her false marriage to this cad. She had to focus on the bigger picture, and simply get this part over with.

  “To my office, then, so we can be done with this. I assume you’ve got your transition team on route already?”

  “Not until I get that signature, my beautiful fiancée.”

  Jasmina cringed at the word. She was silent the rest of the way to her office, opening the door and walking through until she sat behind her father’s massive desk. Someday, she would come to think of the office as her own, but it simply didn’t feel right so soon after his death.

  “What do you want from me this time? An heir?”

  Jenson laughed, sitting across from her and sliding a folder over the desk.

  “Not at all; if we don’t have a single kid I’ll be perfectly content. This is all just making things official, granting full rights to the land to me as well as a small sentence in there in nice legal terms about the marriage. I wouldn’t want you to feel forced, after all.”

  Jasmina glared at him as he sat back in his chair, victorious grin still in place.

  Her teeth began grinding of their own accord.

  Picking up the folder, she opened a drawer and pulled out her reading glasses, carefully poring over the entire document, making Jenson wait as she combed through every possible detail, questioning every clause to make sure that her country’s interests were protected. When she came across the marriage stipulation, she sighed before moving on, confirming that the rest of it was straightforward and would work for her side.

  “I suppose this will serve us, then,” she said, grabbing her father’s pen.

  Her hand hovered over the document, heavy with grief. She would be signing her life away for her country. Why did this have to happen so soon? Why had she been tossed into this tempest with no way out?

  A hand came to rest on hers, and she looked up to meet the oddly compassionate gaze of Jenson Black.

  “It won’t be all bad, Jasmina. I’m a nice guy, when you get to know me. I hope we will serve each other well over the coming years.”

  Her eyes searched his. There was so much hidden behind those green pools, a mask that she could see might be made of the thickest stone. Who was this man she was promising herself to? Would all of this be worth it, in the end?

  “If you were a nice guy you wouldn’t be forcing me into this situation.”

  She tore her hand out from beneath his and signed the document. When she looked back up, his usual cocky persona was firmly back in place.

  “There, now. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

  “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

  “Well what are you, twenty-two? Plenty of terrible things will come along that will make this seem like child’s play.”

  “How very reassuring,” she deadpanned. “Now that this is done, you need to understand that in my country, marriage is regarded with a level of seriousness that we cannot ignore. If you are to marry a Sheikha, you will need to walk the walk before the ceremony, which will be held here, as all my ancestors’ weddings have been. Understood?”

  “Do we need to write up another contract?” he asked, his eyes gleaming.

  “Perhaps. I’ll see how well you hold up your end of the deal as far as our duties are concerned. If you are found to be lacking, written promises may become necessary. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other duties to attend to. I’ll have someone reach out to you when you are needed again. Good day, Mr. Black.”

  “Good day, Jasmina.”

  Frowning at his use of her first name, Jasmina rose and walked past him without looking back, heading straight in the direction of her bedroom. She didn’t want anyone to see her tears before she could hide them properly.

  After her father’s death, this might have been the worst day of Jasmina’s life. The day she sold herself for the greater good.

  Chapter Six

  Days later, Jasmina was in a meeting with
her council. Seated at the round table, she was beginning to feel a little more comfortable there, though a part of her still doubted her place at its head.

  “The contractors have arrived and have already begun the interview process for workers. Black’s money has come through, and our coffers, I’m happy to say, are much fuller than they were just last week.”

  Jasmina breathed a sigh of relief. In that moment, her sacrifice seemed worth it. The tension that had been among the members of her council from the beginning had eased, and she supposed she had Jenson Black to thank for it, even if she did loathe the man’s very existence.

  “That’s great news, Kalim. Thank you for these reports. There is something I must confide in you all now, and I’m not convinced that you’re going to like it.”

  Jasmina had considered telling her council the whole truth about her negotiation with Jenson. She’d lost a lot of sleep, in fact, pondering over the right thing to do. In the end, she had thought about her father’s betrayal, and decided against it.

  “Jenson and I knew one another before I came back to El Jayiah. We met in New York, and fell in love. I didn’t expect him to be the one to save us, but when we met privately he asked for my hand in marriage, and I have accepted.”

  There was a general rumble of protest around the table, which she had expected. Once it died down, Javir was the first to be heard.

  “Your Highness, do you really think this is wise? Your father always hoped that you would marry a man from El Jayiah, one of your own countrymen. Putting an American man on our throne is inadvisable at best—we don’t know how our people will react.”

  She met the eyes of every man at that table as she considered her words.

  “I understand your concerns. However, you must have faith in me when I tell you that marrying Jenson Black is the only way to keep this nation safe. It is something that I will do, and we will prosper as never before. When our people have full pockets and fuller bellies, they will not have room to complain.”

  Javir’s eyes narrowed at that declaration.