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Chapter 5
Sheikh Joseph Boutros slipped into his navy-blue shirt and black trousers. He headed downstairs, as he had been told by one of his maids that Sheikh Solomon had come to see him. Sheikh Boutros made his way into the drawing room where Sheikh Solomon waited for him. The drawing room was just a room used for entertaining guests. It was beautifully furnished with white sofas and purple pillows. There was a low wooden table that sat on a grey mat in the middle of the room. Expensive paintings hung on the white walls.
“Sheikh Boutros,” said Sheikh Solomon as he rose from the sofa. He extended his hand for a handshake. Joseph shook his hand.
“Good to see you. Have a seat,” said Joseph. The two men sat down on the sofas. “Would you like anything to drink or eat?”
“Oh no, please do not worry. I will not be staying for long.”
“I suspect you came to see me about our last conversation.” Joseph leaned back on his sofa.
Sheikh Solomon smiled and nodded.
“My daughter Olivia, she was not part of –” Sheikh Solomon stopped speaking. He was clearly speechless about Joseph’s decision.
“I thought you only had two daughters. Olivia is from a different woman?”
“Yes. And I do not think your parents will be fine with you marrying an illegitimate daughter.”
“You are right but it is my decision.” Joseph was the type of man that did as he pleased. He never let others affect his decisions.
“If I may ask, why not Rania or Marina?” Sheikh Solomon asked.
“Upon seeing Olivia, I made my choice,” he said. He had seen her walking in the garden. He watched her strolling while lost in her thoughts. She was beautiful. Her long brown waves had so much character. She had an oval-shaped face and gorgeous skin. Her body was nicely shaped like an hourglass. She was not dressed in a way that he would have approved on a woman but that could be changed.
“I see.” Sheikh Solomon sighed. “I only just found out about her two days ago.”
“Is that so?” Joseph raised his eyebrows. It was an intriguing situation.
“The last time I saw her mother was twenty-three years ago. I was surprised when Olivia came to my house and told me that she was my child.”
“You believed her.”
“I did.”
“How is it that she only came to you now?”
“Her mother recently passed away. She apparently left her my details. The problem is that she wants to return to America. She does not want to have anything to do with me,” said Sheikh Solomon. Joseph raised his eyebrows again. He thought it odd that after coming all this way, Olivia did not want to have anything to do with her father. Also, if she returned, then he would not be able to marry her. He definitely did not want either one of Sheikh Solomon’s other daughters.
“That is not good news for me,” said Joseph with a half-smile on his face.
Sheikh Solomon let out a laugh.
“She is an American girl. She is not likely to agree to this kind of marriage,” he warned.
“I would like to invite her over for lunch,” Joseph said. After spending time with him, Olivia would agree to stay and marry him. No woman had ever refused him.
“I will talk to her but I cannot promise anything.” Sheikh Solomon sighed. There was no confidence in his words. He did not think he could convince Olivia to meet with Joseph for lunch.
The Boutros family and the Solomon family were close, especially Joseph’s mother and Daaliyah. It had been discussed that Joseph would marry either Rania or Marina for some time. It would bring the two families closer and it would also benefit their businesses. The Boutros family owned the largest oil company in Lebanon. The Solomon family had a much smaller company but they produced a good quality of oil that sold at a high price. The Solomon family did not have enough capital to expand their business and joining their company with the Boutros company would allow them to expand. Both families would gain extra profits.
***
“We finally get to talk,” Olivia said to her father. She had last spoken with him during what seemed to be a family meeting, even though she did not consider them to be her family. She had walked out after hearing that Sheikh Boutros wanted to marry her. So she had not gotten the chance to speak with Sheikh Solomon.
“Yes we do,” said Sheikh Solomon. He picked up the jar of iced tea and poured some into their glasses. The two of them were having lunch in the garden.
“I will leave after we talk.”
