*16*
Frankly, he regretted it. Habdoul regretted agreeing to let his cousin hold the party in his palace. Frankly, he wanted to kill him... Hamsen since their childhood always loved to piss him off. When Hamsen noticed that Habdoul had a crush on a girl, he would try to take the lead. It was annoying... ! Hamsen asked his father to buy the same gifts that the old Sheikh and Sheikha bought for Habdoul but bigger. He seemed to be jealous of him. And now, it seems that Hamsen had not changed a bit.
- I have to get some air. This is a disaster in my head.
Habdoul left the ballroom and went out into the garden to get some fresh air. Why was he so upset about this? She was simply an American who had broken Jaipur's rules. Habdul kept sighing. As he cursed his damn cousin for the umpteenth time, he heard footsteps and laughter coming in his direction...
- I thought you had forgotten me. You spent the evening dancing with that woman.
- This woman as you call her is called Alicia and I don't like her. She's just lovely and friendly and her company...is great and...it makes my cousin mad.
- Hamsen, frankly you're a real kid.
Habdoul saw them coming into his field of vision and had only time to hide behind a bush. From his hiding place, he could see clearly, his cousin with a blonde... his stupid cousin was impossible! He wanted to hit him even harder than the last time!
- Sorry my love. I have to get back to the party, soon. Please, kiss me!
- And if someone came and saw us!
- Why did you tell me to follow you here?
- Because I wanted to talk to you alone. Did you get my present?
- Yes, I got it. I love it. But I beg you, right now, I only want your lips...
Habdoul breathed weakly in exasperation. He watched them kiss and inwardly prayed that Alicia would come into the garden. She loved nature, by the looks of her gallery. Habdoul had both his phone and his camera, and of course he had searched both. He had seen that she photographed mundane but unique moments such as a young woman falling, a child crying, a wilted flower. But he had also noticed that the young woman had a gift for photography. She would make an excellent photographer...
- Hamsen?
Habdoul looked up and saw Alicia appear between the Lilacs... Her cousin quickly moved away from the young blonde. The latter turned her face and Habdoul could finally see her face... It was a servant who was taking care of his sister. He smiled with satisfaction when he heard his cousin's stammering voice:
- A...Alicia, I...didn't know you were here!
- Don't worry. I was waiting for you because you asked me to and then a little exhausted from the party I took the liberty of coming up for air but it looks like I wasn't the only one who was hot...!
- I'm sorry! I assure you that...
- Don't apologize! You are my friend!
- I'm...
- You have the right to kiss whoever you want, we're not a couple! Don't feel guilty!
She paused for a moment and the Sheikh saw her smile shining through the moonlight. She was glowing tonight... Goodness... Why was she so beautiful?
- Thanks for tonight, I think I'll go up to my room! I feel like I just ran a marathon! Dancing and balls are not my strong points! Good night to you!
- Good night, Miss Alicia!
Alicia left the garden at once. Habdoul wondered if the young woman was sad but he did not perceive in her voice any sadness. But hey!!! He didn't have to make much effort to see the asshole that was his cousin.
- I have to go back to the princess's room. Let's pray she doesn't tell anyone she saw me with you!
- She won't say anything. You won't get expelled.
After a few minutes, Habdoul was able to come out of his hiding place quietly. His cousin had just left the garden with an angry look on his face. He huffed with satisfaction and went back into the ballroom. His cousin stood in the corner and occasionally smiled when someone came up to him and exchanged a few brief words with that person. The party passed quietly and Alicia had just left the party. Habdoul wondered from time to time what he could be doing. He wanted to go up to see her, but to tell her what? He preferred to wait until the next day to talk to her. Strangely, he wanted to watch her leave, but it was impossible. In less than two days, she would be far from him... Just thinking about it, he felt his heart squeezing his chest. It was not love! It was just attachment! At least, he hoped so...!
The party ended late in the evening. Habdoul went up to his room after greeting the guests before they left. He was a little exhausted but happy. His cousin had left the party a few minutes before the end, probably too upset by the incident... The next morning, Sarah came to Alicia's room crying. In fact, she had made love all night with Prince Habdil. She was not part of the party because she had gone to a private house with her lover and she spent the whole night making love with him and now she was afraid that he would not want her or love her anymore. Especially since they were about to leave Jaipur. Personally, Alicia wanted to leave this country even though she still doubted it, but she felt bad for her friend. How was such a relationship going to last? The United States was half a world away from Jaipur. Anyway, she wasn't going to lose her shoulder...
- Sarah, before you cry, where is my camera? It was in your bag...
- The sheikh had taken it.
- The sheikh took it.
- Habdul took it. Alicia, I'm going to die...
- No, you're not. And he will marry you and give you three beautiful little princes!
- I want a little girl! I should have been capricious, tell me? I was too easy...
Here we go again... For the moment, she was going to focus on her best friend after she was going to have a word with this asshole! Not only that, he took her phone and now her camera. God, he wanted to kill her! After a few hours, Sarah managed to fall asleep. How had she not thought of that? She had spent the night making love, she was tired. Alicia was finally able to take a shower and put on a new outfit. A few minutes, she left her room slowly turning off the lights. At this moment, she knew exactly, the way that led to the office of the Sheikh. When she arrived at the door, she knocked softly feeling apprehension. But she pulled herself together and pushed the image of the kiss from her thoughts.
- Come in! ordered the sheikh's voice.
The young woman's heart leapt in her chest. But she had the courage to push open the door. When her eyes fell on the sheikh's, she forgot for a moment what she was there for. Not only did he look breathtaking in that traditional costume, but he had probably forgotten to brush his hair this morning. His hair was disheveled and the smell of strawberries reached her once she walked through the door. She swallowed because his look had just undressed her. She had forgotten how disconcerting this true apollo was. She wished he wasn't so BG and charming. She had to use her last bit of strength to get the courage to speak:
- I want my phone and camera.
- Good morning, Alicia... How did you sleep?
- You confiscated my camera! While it was in the hands of Sarah!
- I'll give it back to you when you leave! The search will probably be over by then!
- What? But...
- That's the way it is, Alicia. You were lucky I didn't take them away permanently!
Alicia was about to retort but held back at the last minute. As beautiful as he was, she was going to get her revenge before she left... At the latest, tomorrow morning! Frankly, he was going to hear about her! She left the office, slamming the door behind her. She was cursing the Sheikh on the way home! When she got to her room, Sarah was still sleeping. She put a movie on her computer and took a tub of ice cream from her mini-fridge. It was only her luxurious room, the wifi, the garden and the queen and princess that she would miss. Sarah... Sarah was really going to have a hard time leaving. When 2 o'clock struck, Sarah stood up even more energetic and crying. She had blocked the prince on all social networks and sincere and the young woman did not understand why she persisted in hating him so much. It was not this idiot of Habdoul...!
When Sarah left the room of her best friend. Alicia could clearly think about her situation and find a solution with this sheikh of misfortune... What could she do to him to take revenge? She had no idea. She felt like having some sweets. She should go and prepare some in the kitchen.
The kitchen manager let her prepare some. It was almost dinner time, she was too busy with the turkey...
- Vanessa? Is this for the Sheikh? Isn't it orange juice?
- Yes, it's not for the Sheikh. And besides, you told me a hundred times that he doesn't drink orange juice...
- That's good. When you bring him his glass, don't forget that orange juice is very similar to chameleon juice! I don't want him to scold me a second time!
It was the kitchen manager talking with a maid. Huh... wasn't he drinking orange juice? Alicia frowned and finished her cookies before putting them in the oven. Why did the Sheikh hate orange juice? Alicia felt a bad idea forming in her head. Giving the Sheikh orange juice. It was mean, sure! But she would have the chance to see him pissed off and get even at the same time! Alicia looked at her cookies before disappearing into the room where the drinks were being handled and changed the imdications! The orange juice was the chadeca juice and vice versa. She came out of it feeling very happy with herself!
Dinner time came and as the Sheikh's mother had requested, she went down to eat at the table with the royal family. Everyone was present except the Sheikh...! No doubt he decided to stay sulking in his room! Alicia would have liked to see his face at this moment! She smiled in the corner to avoid attracting attention! The sister of the Sheikh, Helena was a real pest! And she seemed to hate Sarah because she kept bothering her. No doubt she wanted to marry her own brother. The Sheikh's mother, Queen Elizabeth, tried from time to time to lighten the mood, but you could tell that Helena hated Sarah. Saraïe rarely spoke and only listened to what everyone else said. The Sheikh's father ate quietly without participating in the conversations. He was probably used to the fact that his wife did not respect the rule of "no talking while eating. Alicia sometimes smiled and responded to Elizabeth's jokes! Truth be told, she was burning to ask about the Sheikh.
- I should have stayed in my room, like my brother. Said Helena.
- Your brother is too busy, and he told me he wasn't feeling well. He works so hard, poor guy. Answered the queen.
Helena sighed and glared at Sarah. Habdil looked a little frustrated. He was right. Not only had Sarah blocked him on social media, but she wasn't giving him any looks. When the meal was over, the queen took them out to the terrace for dessert. They spent a lot of time talking. Then when 3 o'clock came, Elisabeth took leave of her because she had an important meeting to attend!
A few meters away, there was the Sheikh. He was wrapped up in his bed. He was coughing a lot and had a sore throat. What was wrong with him all of a sudden? He had taken a sleeping pill to be able to sleep but nothing helped. His throat was burning. He couldn't even go to the meeting. Fortunately, his father had been summoned... He told his counselor to tell his father that he would be gone and to tell his mother to come to his room after the meeting... It was probably fatigue. Why bother them for so little? The time passed and nothing improved, on the contrary, he was breathing with difficulty. It was unbearable. So when he heard his mother's footsteps coming into his room, he sighed with relief and looked up at her...
- Habdul but why... oh my God! Habdoul your face!
...
...
Why did she do that? Why did she have this bad idea? Alicia felt guilty. She was guilty in fact. The Sheikh was allergic to oranges, that's why he hated the juice. The Sheikh was in hospital mode at the moment. He had a really bad tonsillitis, which prevents him from breathing properly. He is on oxygen right now. Since Alicia had heard the news, she had not stopped crying and the worst of it was that Sarah's father asked her to come home right away. It was so urgent that he paid for tickets for tonight. In exactly 3 hours time, she should be on the plane... It was the worst day of her life... She regretted it!
- I know you can't talk, but you're going to make a tiny effort, Big brother!
Habdoul turned towards his grandbrother, and when he saw the expression on his face, the Sheikh sensed that he was about to tell him some news that he was not going to like...
- Sarah and... Alicia have to fly tonight. Sarah's father needs her daughter urgently!
Habdoul frowned and felt his throat constrict even more! His heart was splitting into a million pieces... Alicia, go... ! No! Not now! She had the right to leave but not now! He looked at his brother with a pleading look, but he didn't seem to understand.
- I have to give Alicia her camera and phone back.
He approached him and was about to take off his oxygen mask so he could talk, but a man entered the room and slowed him down:
- We found them! Sarah wants to say goodbye to you.
From there on his bed, nailed down and very weak, the Sheikh felt powerless. A tear rolled down his cheek, but his little brother was already too far away to see his grief. He didn't want her to leave! Not now! He wouldn't even be able to see her one last time. Frankly, he was cursing that servant girl! With all his might...
A few minutes later, he had managed to get his nurse to help him to the window. From there he could see her... She was wearing a little pink dress and had her camera around her neck... Why didn't she go up to see him? She probably heard that he was sick... Maybe she didn't care or was even happy about it. She hated him with all her might. He felt another tear coming, but had time to see the young woman raise her head as if she had seen him.
...
...
She probably hadn't seen him because she waved her hand in another direction and quietly got back into the car. The Sheikh's heart filled with grief and soon tears welled up in his eyes. As he tried to hold them back, he moved his throat and each time it hurt like hell. He dropped to the floor and was supported by the nurse. What was hurting him the most right now? His throat from crying? Or his heart broken by her departure?
"Dear Habdoul,
Right now I'm on my way to the United States! You probably don't know this and I should have kept my mouth shut, but I would have it on my conscience if I didn't write and tell you! I'm sorry I didn't stop by to say goodbye. Actually, it was me who changed the initials. So I'm the reason you drank orange juice! It wasn't my fault... I wanted to get back at you for putting me in jail so badly that I jumped at the chance. I only knew that you hated orange juice and not that you were allergic to it... I'm sorry! I hope you can forgive me. By the time you read this, you'll probably be cured. I really don't see you surfing on Instagram while on a bed! So sorry...get well soon! "
Sent. Alicia lifted her head and looked out the window before looking at the nightfall.She had preferred not to mention the kiss. She would hurt herself even more than she was already doing. Anyway, this story was behind her. In any case, she had won: her duty was perfect! He had left her the photos and videos.
Goodbye Jaipur, goodbye Saraïe, Elisabeth.
Goodbye Habdul... I will never forget you!