noting that all of the windows had been
shuttered. Guess they were worried she’d plot out an escape route if she got a
good look at the surrounding countryside, she thought bitterly.
The blast of heat that engulfed her as
she stepped from the plane caused Lexi to hold her breath. She kept her head
down, not in subservience, but in an attempt to keep her feet from getting
caught up in the heavy unfamiliar robe. She doubted that tripping on it would
garner a smile out of her stern entourage; instead, it would more likely
encourage a kick in the shin. A quick glance at Hana showed that the woman was
unaffected by the inconvenient cloak, although her swift tread suggested an
eagerness to close the space to an awaiting vehicle. Good God, why should the
male population feel a need for additional torture of their females when the burqa
seemed effective enough?
A short drive brought them to a
beautiful courtyard surrounded by stone walls. In its midst, situated aside an
oasis, stood a stately palace. It was a two-story dwelling spread out to take
advantage of the lush plant life flourishing from the underground springs that
feed into a small lake. When the car stopped, a man clothed in a pristine white
traditional dress with a white scarf-like head cover, stepped out of the front
entrance. He spoke briskly to Hana and turned to lead them inside.
Lexi was led to an office where a stocky
middle-aged man wearing a similar garb to the first, sat behind a desk. Her new
owner, she presumed. His attention was centered on the activities outside the
window where several scantily clad women and small children frolicked in a
shaded pool. He turned his chair in their direction, glanced quickly past Lexi
to Hana, and raised his eyebrows as if to say, “well?” Hana nodded her head and
began removing Lexi’s burqa until she stood before them in the clothing she had
been abducted in – jeans and a turquoise blouse.
“Ah, Miss Alberton,” he arrogantly proclaimed
his recognition.
“Your highness,” Lexi replied in same.
She remembered meeting him and his young son at a business function with her
father. Alex Alberton had not been impressed with the overly supercilious Sheikh Saleh of Hejd.
“I
am delighted that I may present you to my eldest son, Ahmad, on the day he is
officially announced as heir to the throne of Hejd.”
“A
simple invitation would have sufficed,” she offered in a bland voice.
“I’m
afraid not; you see, you are not an invited guest. You are a gift – something
my son has coveted since the first time he laid eyes on you.”
“Surely
I’m too old,” Lexi returned, blatantly. “It’s my understanding that your males
prefer their women be fresh out of the cradle.” The Sheikh’s face turned red
with anger. He abruptly stood and stepped out from behind his desk.
“You
have much of your father in you,” he growled, his face close to hers. “He
refused my generous offer for his daughter when he was alive. Your uncle was
much more receptive, but he got greedy, decided to dangle you in front of the
highest bidder.”
“I
am not anyone’s to sell! If you return me to America I will see that you are
fully reimbursed.”
“Why
would I want to do that?” His face was upon hers, nose to nose. His hot moist
breath fanned her cheeks. “I have what I want.”
“It
is against the law. Criminal charges will be filed…” Lexi’s accusations were
drowned out by his smooth retort.
“I
shall take great pleasure in watching my son tame you into submission.” He took
a step away from her. “Strip her, I wish to make sure there are no blemishes on
my son’s gift.” Turning, he went back to watching the activities outside.
Lexi
fought, but was overpowered, and when her clothes lay shredded on the floor the
sheikh turned his attention back to her. She covered her body the best she
could with her hands, as he slowly paced around her. Hana grabbed one of her
fingers and pulled it back causing Lexi
shuttered. Guess they were worried she’d plot out an escape route if she got a
good look at the surrounding countryside, she thought bitterly.
The blast of heat that engulfed her as
she stepped from the plane caused Lexi to hold her breath. She kept her head
down, not in subservience, but in an attempt to keep her feet from getting
caught up in the heavy unfamiliar robe. She doubted that tripping on it would
garner a smile out of her stern entourage; instead, it would more likely
encourage a kick in the shin. A quick glance at Hana showed that the woman was
unaffected by the inconvenient cloak, although her swift tread suggested an
eagerness to close the space to an awaiting vehicle. Good God, why should the
male population feel a need for additional torture of their females when the burqa
seemed effective enough?
A short drive brought them to a
beautiful courtyard surrounded by stone walls. In its midst, situated aside an
oasis, stood a stately palace. It was a two-story dwelling spread out to take
advantage of the lush plant life flourishing from the underground springs that
feed into a small lake. When the car stopped, a man clothed in a pristine white
traditional dress with a white scarf-like head cover, stepped out of the front
entrance. He spoke briskly to Hana and turned to lead them inside.
Lexi was led to an office where a stocky
middle-aged man wearing a similar garb to the first, sat behind a desk. Her new
owner, she presumed. His attention was centered on the activities outside the
window where several scantily clad women and small children frolicked in a
shaded pool. He turned his chair in their direction, glanced quickly past Lexi
to Hana, and raised his eyebrows as if to say, “well?” Hana nodded her head and
began removing Lexi’s burqa until she stood before them in the clothing she had
been abducted in – jeans and a turquoise blouse.
“Ah, Miss Alberton,” he arrogantly proclaimed
his recognition.
“Your highness,” Lexi replied in same.
She remembered meeting him and his young son at a business function with her
father. Alex Alberton had not been impressed with the overly supercilious Sheikh Saleh of Hejd.
“I
am delighted that I may present you to my eldest son, Ahmad, on the day he is
officially announced as heir to the throne of Hejd.”
“A
simple invitation would have sufficed,” she offered in a bland voice.
“I’m
afraid not; you see, you are not an invited guest. You are a gift – something
my son has coveted since the first time he laid eyes on you.”
“Surely
I’m too old,” Lexi returned, blatantly. “It’s my understanding that your males
prefer their women be fresh out of the cradle.” The Sheikh’s face turned red
with anger. He abruptly stood and stepped out from behind his desk.
“You
have much of your father in you,” he growled, his face close to hers. “He
refused my generous offer for his daughter when he was alive. Your uncle was
much more receptive, but he got greedy, decided to dangle you in front of the
highest bidder.”
“I
am not anyone’s to sell! If you return me to America I will see that you are
fully reimbursed.”
“Why
would I want to do that?” His face was upon hers, nose to nose. His hot moist
breath fanned her cheeks. “I have what I want.”
“It
is against the law. Criminal charges will be filed…” Lexi’s accusations were
drowned out by his smooth retort.
“I
shall take great pleasure in watching my son tame you into submission.” He took
a step away from her. “Strip her, I wish to make sure there are no blemishes on
my son’s gift.” Turning, he went back to watching the activities outside.
Lexi
fought, but was overpowered, and when her clothes lay shredded on the floor the
sheikh turned his attention back to her. She covered her body the best she
could with her hands, as he slowly paced around her. Hana grabbed one of her
fingers and pulled it back causing Lexi
Similar Books
