Chapter Three

Clara stood in what appeared to be a sitting room. She was almost afraid to take another step on the pristine brown and white tiles. She was told to wait in the room for the Princess. The sound of footsteps approaching made her turn to the door. A petite young woman strolled toward her. She recognized her from photographs she had seen. She wore a brilliant smile.

“Hello, you must be Clara. I am Salma.” She rushed forward and took Clara’s hand in her own.

“Uh hi, Y-your Highness,” Clara stuttered, taken aback by the Princess’s friendly greeting.

“Oh please, none of that. Salma will do. It is such a pleasure to finally meet you,” she gushed. Looking Clara up and down, her eyes twinkled and she added.

“You are perfect.”

Clara plastered on a smile trying to calm her nerves.

“It is nice to meet you too Your H- uh Salma. Thank you so much for this opportunity.”

“I should thank you. I’m so glad you are here.” Salma frowned. “I heard you met my brother.”

“I did.”

The Princess sighed.

“If he did or said anything to offend you, I apologize. I had no idea he would be meeting you at the airport. He can be a bit…menacing.”

“Oh, no he was quite nice.”

Salma’s brows elevated.

“Tariq was nice? So he did not interrogate you?”

Clara shook her head.

“Uh no.”

“Hmmm, interesting” Salma rubbed her chin, looking satisfied.

Clara’s brows knitted. She couldn’t see what Salma found so intriguing about her brother behaving in a decent manner toward her.

“Um, okay. So, I guess we will be getting to work?”

Salma giggled.

“Don’t be silly, you just got here. We can jump into work mode tomorrow. This afternoon, I am going to give you a tour of the palace, then we will have dinner and you can rest. You must be exhausted. Tariq will be joining us for dinner. He insisted.”

Clara’s smile almost faltered. She was hoping to interact as little as possible with Tariq. The man was too lethal to her and all of womankind.

“Great,” she muttered weakly.

After Salma showed her to her quarters, Clara plopped down on the huge bed in the gorgeously decorated suite. She whipped out her phone to give her mother a quick call.

“Hello?”

“Hi mom, it’s me.”

Abril gasped.

“Clara what took you so long to call? I was worried sick. Are you ok honey? If you feel like you are ready to come home, I will pay for the plane ticket.”

Clara rolled her eyes.