Page 11 of The Billionaire's Timed Wife

Since that night, he’s only been in Rheadur three times, and each time, he arrives and leaves so quickly I don’t even get the chance to see him.

“I’m sorry,” Jazmina says, pulling me back to the present. “I never meant to cause you trouble. I only wanted to make my father happy and win us our freedom.”

“I wouldn’t have done anything differently. I’ve never felt so free as I did that night, Jazmina. It was the best night of my life.”

“I promise we’ll get everything we want, my friend. I’ve been praying even harder lately, and I know my prayers will be heard. And when we finally leave, that night you call the best of your life will fade into a pale memory compared to all the ones we’ll create together.”

A Month and a Half Later

“There’s something going on, Adeela,” my friend says as soon as I enter, pulling me by the hand and leading me out to the balcony of her quarters. Jazmina is naturally restless, but lately, she’s been even more anxious than usual.

“I noticed, but I was waiting for you to decide when to tell me.” I know her as well as I know myself, but it’s not in my nature to force anything, so I’ve been waiting for her to confide in me on her own.

Despite the tension on her face, she comes closer and hugs me. “You’re so good, Adeela. You never pressure me. You’re truly the person I love most in the world after my parents. You know I adore you like myukht[20] by blood, right? The smallest toe on your foot is worth more than all my sisters combined.”

Jazmina, like me, has five sisters, but I can’t say that either hers or mine are people I’d want to spend even an hour with. Still, it’s not wise for her to make such comparisons; it could anger her father’s wives.

“Don’t say that,” I warn gently. “If one of your father’s wives hears you, you’ll be in trouble.”

“Why? It’s true.”

Trying to steer the conversation in a different direction, I pour us some tea. It’s not unusual for her to invite me to breakfast in her room. In fact, it’s almost a ritual for us.

“Hungry?” I ask.

“No, I’m too anxious to eat.”

I settle the napkin on my lap. “Tell me. You’re so nervous that now I can’t eat either. And I’m starving.”

“My brother Naim has disappeared.”

I had just picked up a piece of lavash[21], but I set it back down on my plate, startled. “What do you mean, disappeared?”

It’s not uncommon for Sheikh Naim to vanish for long periods since he took power, much to the people’s frustration.

Even Rheadur’s conservative, radical faction, which my father belongs to and which supported the new sheikh’s harsh restrictions on women’s rights, has begun to feel embarrassed by its leader.

It seems Naim’s traditionalism applies only to Rheadur’s women, since Jazmina has shown me, through various Western magazines—access to which she somehow regained—photos of him partying on his yacht.

I know both Naim and Prince Kaled own yachts, as well as private helicopters and jets.

They both seem to live life to the fullest, but while the prince is free to do so, as his only responsibility is his shipbuilding company, the sheikh, in theory, shouldn’t have that luxury. Our country needs a present, active ruler.

I don’t know how much of the population is aware of these scandals, but the upper echelons of government certainly are.

More than once, Jazmina has told me she’s overheard her father saying how ashamed he is of his son’s behavior.

About six months ago, there were rumors of unrest within the country. We’ve always been a wealthy nation, but lately, with the sheikh’s lack of investment, unemployment has risen. No one wants to visit Rheadur anymore, when once, people from around the world came to buy the unique jewelry sold in our gold souks[22]. Hospitals have stopped being built, and the supreme leader doesn’t even attend traditional ceremonies anymore.

I think the final straw came when word spread that he had broken the Ramadan fast[23] attending a daytime lunch in Paris and indulging in French cuisine.

“He’s gone,” she says. “I heard my father talking with the advisors. Apparently, they’ve already organized a task force to find him. Naim’s never been gone this long. It’s been over a month since he last visited his wives and daughters.”

I listen carefully, unsure what to think, but nothing could prepare me for what she says next.

“There’s a rumor he ran away with a Western mistress. If that’s true, the emirate has no ruler.”

“What? Are you saying our sheikh’s gone for good? Why would he do that? I mean—didn’t he have everything he wanted here?”