~
By the time seven o’clock rolled around Serena knew what she had to do and she’d made a list to put it all into action. She knew, by the way his eyes lit up when he held Rafa that Raffir would not give him up. So she was willing to make some concessions to give him that chance, not that he deserved it. But she was not prepared to hear the words Raffir uttered over dinner.
“We should get married.”
She looked for signs of humor or insanity but found none, which was weird because she couldn’t have heard him correctly. “Excuse me?”
“I think we should get married.”
“No.” The way his eyebrows rose would have been comical if his surprise hadn’t been due to extreme arrogance. A year ago she had been prepared to throw her life away to become his bride. This year that wasn’t a compromise she was willing to make.
“Why not?” He couldn’t understand her. He was prepared to make her a queen and she was refusing.
“That’s simple Raffir. I don’t want to marry you.”
He sat back, thoughtful. “You wanted to…before.”
Her smile was bitter, her tone harsh. “Yeah well you cured me of that delusion, didn’t you?”
His sigh was weary, angry. “Is it always going to come back to that?”
“It will if you keep talking marriage.” She had no desire to marry him or anyone else anymore and thinking about it will only lead her back into the hole she recently climbed out of. No thank you.
Raffir sat back and pushed his plate away in frustration. “What do you suggest then Serena? I plan to see my son and be in his life so if you won’t marry me, then what?”
“That’s how you see everything isn’t it, all or nothing?” She stood and grabbed the folder she’d been working on. “I will come to Maju-ul for six months so you can see Rafa when you are free. After that we’ll reevaluate things.” The last thing she wanted to do was go to his home country and watch as he picked out a wife, married her and became Sheikh. But for Rafa she would.
“What things will need to be reevaluated six months from now?” He didn’t want a half a year with Rafael only to lose him all over again.
“Well you’ll be married soon and I doubt having a love child running around Maju-ul will go over well with the Queen or the people.” She wouldn’t stick around and become a rumor or a dirty little secret.
“No! I won’t be away from my son, I can’t.” It would be torturous to get to know him and fall in love with him only to have him ripped from his arms.
“You don’t get to make all the decisions here Raffir. I’m willing to move to a country where I know no one, don’t speak the language and will have to find new work so you can have time with Rafa but still that isn’t enough. Well you can take it or bloody leave it, damn you!”
She was right. He was being unreasonable, but this was his son. “You can stay at the palace and I will take care of you. That should make this easier.”
Arms crossed she shook her head. “That is not happening. I will find my own place for us to live and I will pay for it.” She would not depend on Raffir ever again. “Rafa will be there for you. I will be there for him.”
Damn she looked beautiful when she was protecting their son. Her green eyes were flaming with fury, her skin luminescent in the warmth of the kitchen and chest heaving, she looked magnificent. He’d never been more attracted to any woman than he was to Serena in this moment. “Fine.”
A week later Serena was in one of the private jets that belonged to the al-Jazzari family and it was incredible. The seats were made of the softest leather and there were two bedrooms at the back of the plane with a shower. One room had been outfitted for a baby, with a crib, changing station and more toys than any baby would need in one lifetime. Several servants were on board to make sure Serena never had to lift a finger, which was nice after taking care of herself for so long. But it would get old after awhile.
She drew the line when one of the servants tried to take Rafael and put him down for his nap. She would take care of her son herself just as she had been doing since she found out she was pregnant. She would not rely on servants that she would never have again to do things she could do for herself. “No thank you,” she smiled when the woman tried to take Rafa from her arms. “I can do it myself,” she shouted at the persistent woman.
“You are allowed to relax Serena.” He found it amusing that she didn’t want to let anyone help.
“If I need help I will seek it out.” She refused to get used to all of this luxury and assistance. It would make it that much harder to get back to her normal life.
Raffir chuckled. “He is my son too Serena, which means he will have these luxuries at his disposal. Get used to it.”
She shook her head. “No I won’t. He can get used to that when he spends time with you, with me he will live my life.” She could see it now, Raffir lavishing gifts on Rafa that she could never afford. Every toy imaginable, fine cars, tailored clothes and globe hopping vacations. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. She would lose her son eventually.
“Fine Serena.” He didn’t understand why she had to make everything so difficult. He was only trying to help. “If you need anything just ask.”
The jet began its descent and she turned her attention out the window while Raffir slept peacefully in her arms. The beautiful red and gold dessert below was breathtaking. In the center of the colorful dessert was a cluster of modern buildings, skyscrapers and in the distance a gigantic palace. “Is that your home?”
Raffir smiled and leaned over her to gaze at the palace out the window. “Yes. That is the Grand Palace of Maju-ul, home of the royal family.” He sat back and watched her face. “The palace has 112 rooms, 37 bathrooms, an indoor pool and gym, a library, billiards room, several offices and a bunch of other stuff I can’t remember. It’s too big but the Sheikh used to take as many as a dozen wives and the rooms were needed. These days, it’s just a jobs program, really.”
“Nice,” she mumbled. The palace was beautiful on the outside with a domed roof, gold plated window frames and a beautiful reflecting pool leading to the front door. It was beautiful but it was also…too much.
It was going to be a long six months.
~
Raffir was in love. With each day that passed he was falling deeper in love with his son Rafael. The boy was adorable and fun and so smart. Every night after work, he showed up at Serena’s new house and spent time with his son. They weren’t able to do much, but he really enjoyed bath time and story time. He never knew how fun it was to be a father, since his father hadn’t made time for these things. They had servants for that.
“Thank you Serena, for allowing me into your home every day to be with my son.” He was so grateful, more than he could ever say.
She shrugged and picked up toys around the house. “That’s why I’m here Raffir.”
Unfortunately Serena had not warmed up to him at all. She was cordial to him but she never asked him about his day or his life at the palace. She kept him updated on all things Rafa and kept her distance when he came for a visit. He hated it. The more time he spent with her the more he was sure that Serena was the woman he wanted by his side. “Thank you anyway.”
“You’re welcome.” She kept her back to him so her stupid body wouldn’t respond to him. She knew coming to Maju-ul would be a problem since she hadn’t gotten over him yet. And seeing him every evening was as hard as those first few days after she’d left Paris. His dark hair was a little longer than it should be but
the waves were a sexy contrast to his sparkling golden eyes. His tan skin always glistened from the heat but he was always the sexiest man she’d ever seen up close.
“Let’s talk Serena.”
She turned with a sigh. “What would you like to talk about?”
He patted the seat on the sofa. “Come sit and tell me how you’re settling in to Maju-ul.”
“I’m doing fine Raffir. Work and Rafa keeps me busy.” She found translation work online, translating documents and webpages for international corporations. In between Rafa’s needs she worked and cooked and cleaned. It wasn’t the best life but it was just a few more months.
“That doesn’t sound like much of a life Serena. Have you made no friends?”
“Well I may not be royalty Raffir but it’s the only life I have so I deal with it.” She stood, not wanting to have this conversation.
He followed her into the kitchen. “I didn’t mean anything by it, love. I’m just worried about you because you seem unhappy.”
She turned to face him and gasped at his nearness. “I’m not happy or unhappy, I just am. I made this compromise for Rafa’s happiness so nothing else matters.”
He stroked her face softly with the back of his hand. “It matters to me. I never wanted you to be unhappy. Ever.”
Her resolve was weakening and she needed him to leave now. “I don’t need you to worry about me. Just focus on Rafa and your royal duties.” His father was getting older and she knew he would have to take a wife soon before he could take the throne.