Tamara glanced at her calendar which was already pulled up on her computer. “Sure. What’s this one like?” she asked.
And they were off discussing business issues. Some of the places the two of them had bought over the years were rented out for short term periods to tourists or business people in town for only a few days. Other neighborhoods didn’t allow short term rentals, so the properties they owned in those areas were rented out to long term tenants. Most were one or two bedroom condos scattered throughout the city, but over the years that Tamara and Mike had been in business together, they’d slowly bought up twenty different properties. Sometimes, they owned the whole building and other times, they only owned one or two spaces. No matter the property, she and Mike took a great deal of pride in their efforts and in the growth of their business.
If it were only business issues that worried Tamara, she would have told Mike and they could have brainstormed through the problem. Unfortunately, Tam had a bigger, more looming issue to deal with.
Chapter 1
“She’s the epitome of a sweet, docile woman, willing to do your tiniest bidding,” the man gushed, waving his hands to emphasize his point.
Sheik Jurid bin Casees of Tular silently cringed in horror. “I’m sure that your daughter is very beautiful,” he began, only to be interrupted again.
“Of course,” Idran el Hamid nodded. “She is stunningly beautiful! But her beauty is eclipsed by her compliant nature. She will adhere to your wishes, Your Highness.”
Jurid couldn’t contain his disgust. He’d heard this statement about Princess Tamara el Hamid several times over the years, which was one of the reasons he hadn’t set a wedding date. What man wanted a woman who was nothing more than a sniveling shadow? Not Jurid! He wanted a thinking, breathing, strong-willed woman who would offer her opinions and challenge him. He wanted an equal partner.
Unfortunately, Jurid’s father had agreed to the betrothal decades ago. In fact, Princess Tamara had barely been a month old when the ruler of Nadir had approached Jurid’s father about a future marriage between their children. At the time, there had been heavy fighting along the borders of their countries and the betrothal, the promise of a future union, had stopped it.
But Jurid certainly wasn’t in a hurry to marry the woman. Well, child, if she was as brainless as her father seemed to imply. It seemed to him that the status quo, this betrothal, served the same purpose, maintaining the peace along the border.
“Where is she now?” Jurid asked, assuming she was back at Idran’s palace, sequestered from the world. He shuddered at the idea of dining with a woman who had no opinions of her own, who looked to him for every thought and decision. He knew that some men might think that was ideal, but not Jurid.
Idran was still droning on about the merits of his daughter, her beauty and submissiveness. Jurid’s cousin, Hidar, who acted in Jurid’s place when he was out of the country, stepped into the room carrying a file. Jurid looked at the man still blathering, unaware that Jurid had mentally moved on to the next issue on his agenda.
Standing up, Jurid didn’t care that Idran was in the middle of a sentence. “Excuse me, Idran. I have another meeting.”
Idran looked at the taller man as he stood up, furious that his daughter wasn’t here to demonstrate what an excellent wife she would be. Sheik Idran pressed his lips together and stood as well, bowing his head even though, technically, the two men were the same rank. Yes, it rankled that his country was less powerful, but as soon as his bothersome Tamara married the arrogant Jurid, the other countries in the region would respect Idran more! An alliance with the powerful Sheik Jurid of Tular would give Idran respect and unimagined power! It would also allow him to crush the annoying factions within his government that wouldn’t bow to his will! He wanted obedience and they challenged his ideas at every turn!
“She’s flying to Athens!” he blurted.
Relief surged through Idran when Sheik Jurid stopped and turned back to face him.
“Who is flying to Athens?” the powerful sheik asked, but he looked bored and irritated, as if Idran were an annoying gnat!
“Princess Tamara,” Idran clarified. “My daughter’s friend is getting married. My daughter is beautiful and loyal! She is traveling across many countries to be by her friend’s side for this important event.”
Jurid didn’t look impressed and Idran understood. The marriage of an unknown female was of little consequence to a man of Sheik Jurid’s power and stature. “The friend is marrying Mr. Christoph Anastas,” he stated, knowing that the man’s name would surely impress Sheik Jurid.
The surprise was a relief and Idran’s shoulders relaxed slightly.
“Christoph is getting married?” Jurid laughed, looking at his cousin. “Did you know this, Hidar?”
The other man, shorter and not nearly as broad in the shoulders, shook his head. “I was not aware of that, Your Highness.”
Jurid laughed, shaking his head. “I went to school with Christoph! Damn! I can’t believe that he’s getting married. Who is his bride?” he asked.
Idran came up blank for a moment, then the name came back to him. “No one important, Your Highness,” he replied. “A woman by the name of Ms. Lana Kostas.”
Jurid nodded contemplatively. “That’s the daughter of Higar Kostas, who died a few months ago. I knew the man. His death was unexpected. I seem to remember something about a girl, but she was a blur when I last saw Higar.” He paused for a long moment, thinking back to that day. Higar had been a good businessman. But he also remembered the cute girl who had been by the man’s side. “If I remember correctly,” he replied, chuckling slightly, “Higar’s daughter was a high-energy blur with curly, dark hair and bright eyes. She had a lovely smile, too.” He tilted his head slightly. “And she liked to draw things.”
Hidar compressed his lips. “Sire, I believe you have several paintings of Ms. Kostas’s in the collection hanging in your private sitting room.”
Jurid’s eyes widened in surprise. “The ones with the objects in different places and all the colors? Damn, I didn’t realize that she was the artist.”
Hidar nodded. “It isn’t common knowledge, Your Highness,” he bowed his head slightly. “In fact, I believe that Ms. Kostas goes to great pains to maintain her anonymity.”
Jurid chuckled, thinking that Christoph might be in a bit more trouble than he realized. “Well, then, I think I need to travel to Athens. That contract with the shipping companies needs a bit of attention, don’t you think?” he suggested, smacking Hidar on the back and causing the man to stumble forward slightly.
A moment later, Jurid walked out of the meeting room, leaving behind two very confused men who looked at each other with equal revulsion.
“Excuse me,” Hidar bowed slightly to Sheik Idran. “I’ll send someone for fresh coffee.” And he walked away, not bothering with the other palace niceties that were normally given to visiting royalty. Idran didn’t care. He had other priorities and Sheik Idran was the leader of a very minor country.
Idran watched as the door closed behind them, his teeth grinding in fury. “This stubbornness from my child has to stop!” he growled, then he picked up his papers, the papers that listed so many things he’d wanted to discuss with Sheik Jurid, issues that he needed help with, and not a single one had been discussed. This whole meeting had been about his daughter!