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They reached the city no more than ten minutes later. Sheikh Solomon lived just on the outskirts of Beirut. The driver dropped off Olivia and Daya outside a large shopping mall. The mall was massive and clean. There were small palm trees in the mall. Olivia had never seen trees in a mall but it was nice. The mall was different from malls in Atlanta.
“We should go eat first,” Olivia said to Daya.
Her friend laughed.
“Of course you would say that,” Daya replied. Olivia always wanted to eat. “I am just going to use the restroom first.” Daya scurried off to the restrooms. Olivia slipped her hands in her jeans and walked towards the railings. She stood there looking around.
“Miss Grant,” a voice sounded from behind Olivia. It startled her a little bit. She turned around sharply and found Joseph standing before her. He was wearing a tab-collared navy-blue shirt and black tailored trousers. He looked good as always.
“Joseph,” Olivia breathed.
Joseph narrowed his gaze at her.
“You’re still not referring to me as Sheikh Boutros.”
Olivia smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “It’s such a long title,” she said. He did not look all that pleased.
“It’s just two words. Try saying it just once,” he said.
“Sheikh Boutros.” She decided to humor him. He smiled.
“We will work on your pronunciation later.” Joseph spoke seductively or maybe it was just how Olivia was hearing his voice.
“This is why I should keep calling you Joseph.”
“You’re here for shopping?”
“Just sightseeing.”
“I thought you were buying an outfit for when you meet my family on Sunday,” said Joseph.
Olivia raised her eyebrows.
“Who said that I am coming?” she asked. She did not want to go because she did not see the point of her presence.
“Your father.”
“I do not understand why I should I attend.”
Joseph raised his eyebrows slowly. “You will be meeting your future in-laws,” he said.
Olivia burst out laughing.
“My future in-laws,” she repeated. She shook her head. “I feel as though I stepped into the Twilight Zone or something,” she added.
“What?”
“This is an odd reality. These kinds of marriages are normal to you all but not to me. I am tired of having the same conversation again and again. There will be no marriage. I will not marry you,” she said.
Joseph slipped his hands in his pockets.
“Dinner tomorrow night,” said Joseph.
Olivia crossed her eyebrows.
“What?”
“We should have dinner tomorrow.”
