“Oh, she's westernised. I assume that does not sit well with you either.”
“No, it does not. She was wearing tight fitting trousers and a sleeveless top. She's not full Arabic either.”
Badir's jaw dropped. “An illegitimate child?” he asked. Badir knew El-Tamar's wife and she was full Arabic. The Prince nodded and picked up the phone. He pressed a button and asked his assistant to call El-Tamar. He wanted to speak to Saja's father. He was not pleased with the situation. A few moments later, Sheik El-Tamar was on the phone.
“Prince Al-Qadir, I trust that you are well,” El-Tamar said.
“I am. How can you send your daughter here with her unaware of the situation?” the Prince asked.
“She is aware of the marriage but not the rest. I leave her in your hands; do what you will with her.”
“You are giving me an illegitimate child. Are you aware of the repercussions?”
“My apologies your highness, but she is the only female child I have. If you do not wish to take her as a wife, then you may make her a concubine or a servant.”
The Prince was not willing to continue the conversation, so he cut it short. El-Tamar was desperate to be rid of his daughter, and this made the Prince uncomfortable. But now that Saja was his, there were a few ground rules that needed to be laid out. Her dress sense needed to change and she needed to be educated on the culture. The Prince decided to keep her for a while until he decided what to do with her.
* * * *
The next morning, the Prince summoned Saja to eat breakfast with him. Mona had informed her and was waiting for her to get ready. Saja wore shorts and a t-shirt. Mona's jaw dropped when she saw her come out of her bedroom. She bowed her head before she said anything.
“The Prince will not like it,” Mona said to Saja.
“What is wrong with what I am wearing?” Saja asked as she looked at herself in the mirror.
“Well, the Prince prefers women to cover their legs, preferably skirts or dresses. He also doesn't like body hugging clothes.”
Saja frowned. This guy seemed to be very traditional and controlling. Saja was not one to be controlled and if he thought he could do that, then he had another thing coming. She gestured for Mona to go with her. Mona escorted her to meet with the Prince. She felt apprehensive to go there with her while Saja was dressed like that; as she was afraid that she would be blamed for not informing her of the Prince’s tastes.
He was sitting at his table reading a newspaper, waiting for Saja's arrival. His maids had already set the table and were bringing out the breakfast food when Mona walked in and announced Saja. Saja walked in and stopped in front of the table. The Prince hadn't put down the newspaper. She had expected him to do so. It was the polite thing to do.
“Aren't you going to sit down?” the Prince asked without looking up from the newspaper. Saja felt a little irritated. The man possessed no basic manners. She stood there waiting for him to look up and talk to her in a more polite manner. He slowly put down the newspaper and looked up at Saja. She was standing there with her hands on her hips looking at him. He gestured for her to sit down.
“That was not so difficult, now was it,” Saja said as she joined him at the table.
“What was not difficult?” the Prince asked feeling a bit amused but kept his face expressionless.
“It is polite to look at me whilst speaking,” Saja sighed.
“Have your breakfast.” The Prince cut into his omelette and began to eat. As much as Saja did not want to dine with him, she was hungry. She took a sip of her orange juice.
“I will be leaving today,” Saja said as she began to eat. The Prince carried on eating and did not react.
“Where will you be going?” His tone was flat and he sounded disinterested.
“Home, of course, there’s nothing for me here.”
The Prince smiled to himself. It was amusing to him that Saja thought that she could simply leave, just like that. He could tell that she was not fully grasping the situation. The moment she stepped foot in his country, she became his property. Her father had already promised her to him.
After breakfast, Saja dismissed herself from the room and left. The Prince let her leave the room. It was going to be the last choice she made of her own free will. She was going to get the shock of her life when she tried to leave his palace.
The maids nervously watched Saja packing her belongings. She seemed to be in a rush. Mona approached slowly to ask her what she was doing. Saja informed her that she was packing and carried on doing so. She picked up her suitcase and headed out. Before she could even leave the room, the guards were standing in the doorway blocking her from leaving.
“What is this?” Saja asked.
“I am sorry, Ma'am, but we cannot let you leave,” one of the guards said to Saja. She stood there as realisation sunk in.
“What do you mean, I can NOT leave?” Saja asked.