father shall offer his full support for his eldest son, and I hope he shall also announce that I have chosen my bride—Felicia.’
There was a hiss of breath from Fatiq at his side, but instead of an angry response Mohammed gave a black smile.
‘The elders would never accept her...’
‘They will have no choice.’ Omar came in then. ‘I will offer my full support.’ He glared at the feuding duo. ‘Your mother is on her way.’
Rina arrived then, with Kumu.
‘Kedah, your father tells me you have exciting news...’
‘I hope to have exciting news.’
‘But Felicia does not understand our ways...the people...’ Kumu, who rarely spoke, did so now.
‘Felicia understands people,’ Kedah said. ‘Full stop.’
‘And our people would adore to see their Crown Prince happy.’ Rina smiled. ‘Just so long as you are married here.’
‘I haven’t asked her yet,’ Kedah said. ‘I think it’s a bit early to be speaking of wedding plans.’
‘It’s never too early,’ Rina said.
‘And I happen to like a good English wedding,’ Omar mused.
And then, just as Kedah was about to roll his eyes and excuse himself, his father took his wife’s hand and spoke on.
‘What is it they say in the English service? Speak now or for ever hold your peace?’
Omar was looking directly at Mohammed as he said it, and there was challenge in his tone.
Never had Kedah admired his father more.
His father.
Kedah no longer needed proof, for Omar stood proud and strong and he maintained his sovereignty.
‘Do you have anything you would like to say, Mohammed?’ Omar enquired.
His son blinked.
‘Come on, Mohammed.’ Kumu pulled at his arm. ‘We should go and check on the children.’
Mohammed stood there. They all watched and waited, but it was Kedah who walked off.
He had rather more important things on his mind than waiting for his brother to speak...
Or for ever hold his peace.
THERE WAS NO thanking God that it was Friday.
Felicia had deposited the sample at midnight and now all she could do was wait.
Kedah had told her to go in to work as usual. The one thing she didn’t have to worry about was money. Felicia had worked hard for many years and commanded an impressive wage. But work was still important to her and, like it or not, Kedah was her boss.
Yes, her boss.
Somehow she had turned into a real PA.
She had rescheduled her meeting with Vadia and knew they would be talking at ten. Before that she had to liaise with the manager at the Dubai hotel and arrange for some signatures from the surveyor.
Felicia chose a boxy little grey suit. She usually saved it for court appearances, but she could use a little power dressing today.
Felicia came out of the underground and walked towards the office, but instead of seeing the doorman smiling at her, she saw he was obscured by the gathered press.
Felicia watched as poor Anu got out of her husband’s car and shielded her face.
Finally, after three months, Felicia was being put to work. This was the reason she was here and the reason she had been hired, she realised as she stepped in and faced the cameras.
‘The proposed hotel in Dubai—will it still go ahead?’
‘How will this affect the European branch?’
‘Is the Crown Prince stepping aside willingly or is he being forced to stand down?’
Questions were coming from every angle, and Felicia stood there as the microphones and cameras clamoured for a response and did what she did best.
She smiled.
Widely.
‘Of course I’ll take your questions,’ she said, and proceeded to answer them in turn. ‘I’m actually just about to speak with the surveyor. Absolutely the sister hotel will be going ahead.’
‘Sister?’
‘Yes, I believe the new complex is going to focus more on holidaymakers than the business traveller. Next?’
* * *
Kedah watched the live stream and knew he had been so right to hire her.
His employees could not be in better hands. She was taking the edge off the fear that would be sweeping through his empire today.
One by one she answered the questions and then, for Felicia, came the hardest of them all.
‘Is it correct that his marriage will be announced later today?’
Kedah watched her closely for her response.
It was flawless.
‘I’m more than happy to answer, where I can, your questions about the business side of things, but I would never comment on the Sheikh’s personal life without his authority.’
‘You must know...’
‘I’m his PA.’ Felicia smiled. ‘Certainly he doesn’t report to me.’
With question time over, she smiled at the relieved doorman, who held the door open for her, and took the elevator to the offices on the top floor.
Anu was crying as she walked in, and Felicia knew exactly why she had been hired.
Not for the press but for his staff.
Kedah had made provisions for them even on his darkest day.
‘He’ll be fine,’ she assured Anu.
‘You say that for the cameras,’ Anu wept. ‘But what if they choose Mohammed? Zazinia needs Kedah. We all want him to one day be King. Even when he was a little boy everyone adored him so much, but never more than now.’
And Felicia adored him too.
Which was why, when her heart was breaking, she kept on working. She fired back responses to emails from worried managers and investors
