Page 15 of The Billionaire's Timed Wife

Something in her tone puts me instantly on alert.

Jazmina might be a little spoiled and impulsive, but she’s not easily scared. Still, there’s real fear in her voice now.

“What’s happened?”

“Can you talk? This might take a while.”

“One moment,” I say. I walk back to my desk and press the intercom. “Giselle, I don’t want to be interrupted for any reason.”

“Yes, sir. Your Highness.”

“Here, I’m your boss, not a prince,” I remind her for the thousandth time since she started working for me five years ago.

I have secretaries all over the world, in every office, but I chose Paris as the headquarters of my company, and Giselle is the all-seeing eye. She runs the others with an iron hand. She’s competent, brilliant, and stubborn as hell when it comes to how she addresses me.

“Talk to me, Jazmina. What’s going on?”

“Can you come get me?”

“Get you? What do you mean?” I’ve brought her to Paris several times before. I want her to experience the Western world and make her own choices about her future. She’s been negotiating to study in England, but my brother has kept stalling, making excuses to delay her departure.

“I need to get out of here. I’ll explain when you come.”

“Now’s not a good time to bring you to Paris, Jazmina. As you know, I’ve been all over looking for Naim.”

“I know. I heard Father talking about it, and about the possibility of you becoming sheikh, which honestly makes me happy. I don’t hate our brother, and I hope nothing bad happened to him, but you’d be a good ruler for Rheadur. Naim was never right for the throne.”

I exhale deeply, exhausted as hell.

The worst part? She’s right. Naim is a terrible leader. And if Jazmina—naïve, sweet, nineteen-year-old Jazmina—can see that, imagine what the council must be saying behind closed doors.

“I know you’re overwhelmed, brother, but I need you. I don’t trust anyone except Father, and he’s lost influence with the council ever since Naim brought on one disaster after another.”

“Don’t talk like that. He’s your sheikh, and he deserves respect,” I warn her, even though I agree. Jazmina can be impulsive, and she doesn’t always think before speaking. Regardless of how much harm Naim has done, while he’s still in power, he’s our ruler. It would be dangerous if anyone overheard her speaking ill of him.

“I’m sorry, but I’m scared. And when I’m scared, I say things I shouldn’t.”

“Has someone threatened you?”

“Kaled, I swear, it’s serious. I know you’re supposed to come in three weeks to take the throne if Naim doesn’t return, but I can’t wait that long.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Come get me before that.”

“I can’t leave now.”

“Then order someone to bring me to you.”

The fear in her voice, constant since the start of the call, finally breaks my resistance.

“All right. I’ll send the jet for you tomorrow. How long do you want to stay with me?” I ask, already knowing I’ll have to say goodbye to the model I’ve been seeing this week. My sister would devour her alive if I ever made the mistake of putting the two of them in the same room.

“Until you take the throne as sheikh.”

“You sound very sure Naim won’t return.”

“Do you think he could?”