Fucking typical.
“Where is he.”
“In a meeting.” Stuttering and stumbling over his words, the servant should know better than to run after me, “Miss Malik, please. I must insist that you-
Ignoring the stammering idiot, I push through the golden doors that mark the entrance of my father’s office. Gaudy as helland equally heavy, I have to put my entire body weight behind the stupid thing just to make an entrance.
Bang!
“Daughter has arrived. Daughter has arrived.”
Squawking and flapping his wings, the obnoxious parrot sitting upon father’s desk looks about as ruffled as I would like the world’s richest oil mogul to be.
“Father. I must speak-
A finger lifts, silencing me without so much as a word.
“Your complaints have no jurisdiction in my country. Therefore, I will increase the price of your exportations as per our negotiations, andyouwill be responsible for compensating the workers’ overtime. As an apology for bringing these grievances to my door.”
Jaafar Malik smiles, listening to the furious shouts ring through the other line of the phone.
“Let me make myself clear. You have five days to implement the changes or your rigs and leasing rights will have a new logo stamped on them. Understand?”
He hangs up before any response can be made. Old, withered fingers stab at his phone screen, pressing buttons until a new dial rings through.
“Move forward with the purchase. I want that company underwater before the end of the week.” Sighing heavily, he doesn’t glance in my direction, “Send the documents over and I’ll have them signed within the hour. There’s an inconvenience I must see to.”
A squawk rings from the cage.
“An inconvenience. She’s an inconvenience.”
Gritting my teeth, I force myself to remain silent and still until the Malik patriarch decides to bless me with his attention.
“Tahira.”
I step forward and bow my head, paying my respect as any daughter should.
“Father. I must speak with you.”
Fingertips drum the top of his gold-plated desk, impatience sparking with every thump.
“It has come to my attention that you have not chosen a suitor.”
“That is what I must speak to you about.” Sucking in a breath, I lower myself into one of the many chairs decorating the ostentatious office, “I have come to plead my case. I cannot go through with these trials.”
Had years of surgery not removed Jaafar’s ability to express himself, a wrinkle of displeasure would have creased the weathered lines of his brown skin.
“You cannot or you do not want to?”
“Both.” Meeting his piercing gaze, I wring my hands together, “Father, I cannot marry a man I have never met. A suitor of your choosing, a stranger who will be competing for half of the family business, it’s not... it’s not a part of my life I wish to throw away.”
His lips twitch beneath the fine lines of his goatee.
“And you express this to me because...?”
“Because I am begging you, father. Cancel the marriage trials and I will be courted like all the other daughters from wealthy families.” Swallowing hard, I bow my head, “Anyone of your choosing, justpleasecancel the tournament.”
Remove the price tag you have hung over my head.
