Page 37 of Her Older Sheikh

Fuck.

Our people strongly believe in omens, and I know the time has come to tell her about our betrothal. "Madeleine—-"

But her phone starts ringing again, and Madeleine looks at me apologetically. "I really have to take this..."

I force myself to smile. "Of course."

But the feeling of evil foreboding only becomes more ominous as I watch her walk away.

As soon as she's back,I vow to myself,I'll tell her the truth.

I'll make her understand that she's what matters most to me, and if I have to cancel my purchase of her grandfather's island, then so be it.

Madeleine disappears in a corner, and I force myself to focus on making my own calls. A few minutes turn into a half hour, and my worst fears are realized when I charge into the powder room and find it empty.

I try calling her, but she's already blocked my number.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I call her grandfather, and that's when I find out the truth.

"It's the young man she met earlier," Paco says painfully. "He thought you were familiar, and he texted Maddy as soon as he remembered where he saw you. Where he sawus."

"He onlysawus," I bite out. "How would he know—-"

"It'swherehe saw us," Paco cuts me off grimly. "Maddy knows I have this...this lucky ritual if you will. I only shop for tobacco to add to my collection...when I've just closed a deal."

FUCK.

"She wasn't crying when she came here, but..." Paco's voice breaks. "We broke her heart, Rashad.Badly."

My grip on my phone tightens. "I love her, Paco. I'm going there and explain—-"

"It's too late," Paco interrupts bleakly.

"Just let me talk to her," I say fiercely. "I'll make her understand—-"

"Maddy has made up her mind."

"Maddyis the love of my life—-"

But the old man goes on talking like my love is just garbage.

"Maddy says you can have the island, and in exchange...you must promise to never show her your face again."

"Didn't you hear me?" I grate out desperately. "Iloveher—-"

"But if you come see her again even once, she's made me promise to sell the island to Huzna's worst enemy."

Chapter Ten

Iloved him.

Those words used to bring me such joy, but now I use them to castigate myself as I cry into my pillow, and I only end up falling asleep out of sheer exhaustion.

I loved him.

The words stab me as soon as I wake up, and I still feel like a complete mess as I drag myself out of bed. I try to focus on taking one things at a time, but when I start brushing my teeth, I'm suddenly reminded by how this same mouth had been so, so busy suckinghisdick, and I nearly throw up.

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