The Sheikh's Stolen Bride-To-Be(8)

"How would I find you?" she asked.



A twinkle sparkled in Mehdi's eye, as though he were laughing at his own private joke.



"Just ask anyone for Mehdi. They'll guide you in the right direction."



"That seems like a pretty common name," she said.



"It isn't."



After a moment, he finally released her hand, their fingers still touching until he stepped back one last time.



"It was an honor to meet you, Steph. I sincerely hope we do meet again someday."



"I hope so, too," she said.



"Really?" he asked, his tone hopeful.



Steph laughed. "Of course! You're my first El Farahn friend. How can I survive in this country without you to help me out?"



Mehdi smiled at her words, nodding to her. "Fair enough. Until the next time, then. Sleep well."



"Thanks," Steph said.



Finally, they could delay their departure no longer. Mehdi turned and  walked down the street, and Steph watched his retreating back until he  was out of sight. He didn't turn around.         

     



 



Turning back toward the hotel, Steph took a deep breath as she stepped into the lobby, and froze.



There was no way she could go through with the wedding. Not after meeting Mehdi.



She realized then that she hadn't managed to catch his last name. He had  told her if she needed anything to ask for him by first name only,  mysteriously keeping his last name a secret. Perhaps he really didn't  want to be found after all.



Regardless, meeting him had solidified Steph's feeling that there was no  way she would be getting married the following day. Pulling her room  key from her purse, she walked to the elevator and pressed the button  for her floor, holding her breath as she rose high into the air. She  thought about her future husband-how he had funded her family's stay in  the lavish penthouse suite she was about to sneak back into.



Was she being ungrateful, behaving in this way? She had a right to have doubts, didn't she?



The elevator dinged once it reached the top, and Steph released the  breath she'd been holding as she stepped into the hallway. A wave of  exhaustion washed over her, then; walking all over the city, jet lag,  and a new time zone made for a bad combination, and without Mehdi to  distract her she suddenly felt as though she could curl up on the floor  and fall asleep right there.



With heavy steps, she made her way to the door. She leaned forward on  her toes and slid the key gently into the lock. The light turned from  red to green, and when she opened the door, there was a loud clap that  echoed across her nerves. The door groaned as she slowly pushed it  forward, stepping in and closing it quickly to keep out the light.



Steph tiptoed into the living room, which was swathed in darkness save  for the glow from the streetlights outside. She breathed as lightly as  she could, staying on her toes as she moved closer to her own bedroom,  glad to have chosen one across the way from her parents.



She was nearly at her bedroom door when a light clicked on behind her  and she stopped cold. She turned slowly to see her mother sitting on the  living room sofa, one hand still hanging on to the lamp string as her  dark eyes stared daggers at her daughter.



Staring back defiantly at her mother, Steph felt anything but brave.  Still, she had to defend herself for once in her life, for if she didn't  do it now, she might never again get the chance. Taking a deep breath,  she said the one thing she had thought she'd never have the courage to  say.



"I'm not getting married tomorrow."





SIX



Steph





Elora's stare was unmoved as Steph shifted beneath her fiery gaze. She  had never been able to stand up to her mother. The woman was a stone  wall when she wanted to be.



"Come sit down, Stephanie. Let's have a talk."



While her voice was even and calm, her tone sent lava-hot fear down  Steph's spine. She knew she was in trouble when her mother used that  tone.



Not knowing what else to do, Steph finally made her way to the living  room and sat across from her mother, who was looking at her with  well-hidden rage.



"You will be getting married tomorrow."



"I told you that's not going to be the case," Steph said.



"Listen to me, and listen to me well. I have been sitting on this sofa  for six hours waiting for you to come home. Six. Hours. You left me to  wonder if you were alive or dead, if you'd run away and would never  return, any number of terrible possibilities, and I wouldn't have known  what had happened to you because you refused to answer your phone. After  all this, you come home to tell me you're not going through with the  marriage we arranged for you. What do you think I plan to do about  that?"



Steph quivered at her mother's words, a trickle of guilt dripping down  over her entitled anger. She hadn't meant to make her mother worry.  She'd just wanted a moment of freedom before she was cast into a  marriage she hadn't chosen for herself.



"I'm not getting married," she said again, though her voice shook.



Her mother stared her down, but Steph maintained eye contact, not willing to look away.



"Mom, an arranged marriage isn't what I want. I want to fall in love with a man that I choose, not you."         

     



 



Her mind swept to Mehdi-his kind smile, his teasing manner, all of it.  He was exactly the man she had pictured marrying in her dreams. Why  should she be forced to do otherwise?



"You think I wanted to be married to your father?" Elora hissed.



Steph's eyes widened in shock. Her mother had never used that tone with  her, ever. It was clear she was whispering to keep her father from  waking up, but the venom behind it was all too real.



"He was a foreign man with no knowledge of my culture or upbringing. I  didn't want to marry him at all. I was in love with another man. Still, I  did my duty by my parents, and I am glad I did."



Her expression softened a little, even as anger bubbled beneath the surface.



"It took some time, but I eventually fell in love with your father. He  is a kind and loving man, and he deserves to be loved back in the same  way. So, too, you will find love. I understand why you ran away, and I  don't blame you for that. I blame you for letting me sit here and worry,  but I do not blame you for your fears."



Steph sat back, running a hand across her eyes. She felt her mother  place a gentle hand on her shoulder, and she moved her own to see Elora  by her side.



"You are not a wayward dreamer, Stephanie. You are my practical girl, a  realist like me. You understand that a marriage based on initial  attraction cannot last. We can guarantee a lifetime of security and  happiness for you by choosing a man who is suitable. Why won't you let  that happen?"



Steph stared at her mother, her emotions fighting for control. She was  in turmoil, but she also felt numb. She was moments away from resigning  to her fate, but there was one last question that wouldn't be held back.



"What if I never grow to love him?" she whispered.



Elora shook her head. "Those are your fears talking. Don't listen to  them. We wouldn't pair you with anyone who wasn't completely worthy of  you. You must know that."



Steph wasn't entirely unsure of that, but she didn't want to offend her  mother, so she kept her reservations quiet. Elora ran a gentle hand  along Steph's hair, tucking it behind her ear.



"You're going to be just fine, Stephanie. Look at me. I'm happy, your  father is happy, we have you. Everything has a way of working out for  the best."



Steph gave in to her exhaustion then, resting her head on her mother's  shoulder. She allowed Elora to stroke her hair until she realized she  was dozing off. Her mother made to stand then, and Steph stood up with  her.



"Now get some sleep. You are going to need as much as you can get if you  want to look fresh tomorrow, though I'm afraid it might already be too  late for that. Still, an understanding husband will know that there is a  little trepidation involved in this process. I'm sure he'll  understand."



Steph wasn't sure if her mother was talking to her or to herself, but  she decided not to think too hard on it as she bade her a quiet good  night.



"Is there anything else you would like to say to me?" Elora asked pointedly.



Steph knew the drill. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice tired.



Elora nodded. "I forgive you. Now please get some sleep. We need you fresh for the morning."



"Yes, Mother," Steph said, opening her door and closing it behind her.



She stood with her back to the door, looking out at the crashing waves  of the ocean. With the muted lights of the city upon it, the shore was  still clearly visible, but the rest was a dark mass that stretched as  far as the eye could see. Steph stepped out to the small veranda to get  some fresh air before going to bed.



When she opened the door, a cool breeze whipped across her face, and she  wrapped her arms around her middle as she stood next to the metal bars  of her balcony, staring at the ocean and the vast, black mass of desert  that accompanied it.