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Basil joined Saja for dinner in her quarters. He was definitely seeing her that night. There was plenty to discuss. She was standing by the dinner table when he walked in. She was wearing a long purple dress with a square neck and lace sleeves. The dress hugged her hips in just the right way. It was not too tight or too loose. She wore a silver necklace that complemented her complexion. Her hair was tied up in a high bun. She curtsied and bowed her head as he approached her. He raised his eyebrow. She was up to something. Saja sat down after he was seated.
“Good evening, your highness,” Saja said gently.
“What are you up to?” he asked her.
“Whatever do you mean?” Saja asked as she picked up her cutlery and started eating.
“Why are you dressed up?”
“Because my fiancée prefers for me to dress modestly,” she replied demurely.
Basil actually burst out laughing. Either she was losing her mind or she was planning something. He started eating. He watched her as he ate. He did not trust her. He noticed there were a few fabric swatches next to her.
“What are those for?” he asked her. Saja looked to see what he was talking about.
“Ah, the swatches. I intend to redecorate your quarters,” she replied and smiled at him. Basil closed his eyes for few seconds. He reopened them and carried on eating. Saja was slightly disappointed. She expected a different reaction from him. The two of them finished the rest of their meal in silence. Basil picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth.
“You have to stop changing things around here,” Basil said in the calmest tone he could. Saja stood up and walked over to him. She touched both of his shoulders.
“Basil, as your future wife, I should have the right to change things around here. I am the lady of the house after all.” Her tone was rather patronizing. She bent down and kissed his cheek. She could tell that he was about to explode. She turned to walk away but he grabbed her hand. “You have to stop man handling me,” she added.
“Whatever you are up to, stop it,” he told her.
Saja turned face him. Her expression grew darker. “It's either this or send me back home,” she said. He stood up and looked her in the eye.
“Then enjoy being the lady of the house. What's mine is yours.” He kissed her forehead and headed for the door. Saja's jaw dropped. Her short-lived plan had backfired.
“Are you serious?” she shouted as she followed him. He stopped and faced her. He had a smirk plastered across his face. “It's really not funny,” she said to him. She started fanning herself. The angrier she got, the more her body temperature rose.
“Do not play games with me because you will lose,” Basil said to her and walked out. Saja stormed off to her bedroom. She felt like giving up. She had tried everything and it was not working. She threw herself on her bed and curled into the foetal position. This man was so infuriating! But as she drifted off to sleep, all she could think of was Basil standing there in his towel.
Chapter 11
Throughout the day, Basil's mind kept drifting back to last night's events. The image of Saja in her purple dress was burned in his brain. The feel of her hands when she touched him, as chaste as it was, set his skin on fire. He tried to forget about it but he couldn't nor could he focus on his work, his mind was cluttered. That was unlike him. His secretary informed him that El-Tamar was on the phone with an important message. Basil reluctantly took the phone call. He found himself disliking him more and more.
El-Tamar spoke about their treaty and other business. Throughout the conversation, Basil noticed that he did not ask about his daughter's well-being. The last time they had spoken, El-Tamar always referred to Saja as “she”. He never called her by her name, or as ‘daughter’ and that bothered Basil. He was pleased when the conversation ended. Speaking with him always left a bad taste in his mouth. He dreaded the thought of meeting him. They were to meet with the other sheiks in a few weeks’ time.
Basil left his office and headed back to his quarters. He walked into his sitting room and Saja was sitting there. Basil found himself positively anticipating their conversation. He sat down across from her. She was sitting there lifeless. She sighed before she spoke.
“I give up,” Saja said quietly. Never in her life had
she ever given up on anything. She could not give up and be this man's wife. It seemed like she was not going home, so she had to control how she was to stay here. It had to be her choice.
“Give what up?” Basil asked calmly. He was studying her from the moment he sat down. She was wearing a halter neck black maxi dress and sandals. The dress flattered her figure, just like the purple dress from last night. He felt that familiar warm feeling resurfacing in his groin. He shifted uncomfortably as he awaited her response.
“Clearly, you will not let me go home. So I might as well stay here.”
Basil smirked. She was acting as if she had a choice. From the moment she walked into his home, she had lost all free will. He had to admit it was interesting to see her put up a fight. “Is that so?” he asked.
“I'll stay and work alongside Marina,” Saja said.
“What? Work with Marina for what?”
“As your servant,” Saja watched his face change from calm to confusion to shock. She smiled internally. She knew she'd always have the ability to surprise him and throw him off his game.
“My servant?” Basil did not expect her to offer herself up as his servant.
