Page 1 of The Sheikh's Fake Bride Scheme

CHAPTER 1

KAREEM

“Let’s make this quick, Kareem. I have a number of meetings today.”

Sheikh Kareem Nusaybah kept his face composed as his father, King Hassan, settled into his seat. He knew better than to show any emotion, even though internally he was already boiling. He didn’t feel that he should have had to schedule a meeting to talk to his father, but it was the only way he could truly hope to be taken seriously and he knew it. His father had written him off a long time ago. After all, Kareem’s two elder brothers were ahead of him in line for the throne, so presumably there was no reason his father needed to take him seriously.

He had done this his father’s way, though — he’d scheduled a meeting. And now that he had done that, he was determined to be heard out. He could see his father checking his watch, already with his mind on therealmeetings that lay ahead, but Kareem wasn’t going to be dismissed so easily.

“I’ve been thinking about our economic problems, Father,” he said.

“We haven’t got economic problems,” his father scoffed. “Our coffers are as full as they’ve ever been. How do you think you’re able to afford that expensive car you drive all over the city?”

“I’m not talking about our family’s finances,” Kareem said, frustrated. Only his father could have such an inflated sense of his own importance that he would think of his own finances asthe economy. “I’m talking about the well-being of our country as a whole.”

His father raised his eyebrows. “What would you know about Qalmar’s economy?”

“I know that unemployment is at an all-time high,” Kareem said.

“Did you read that on the internet?”

“Only because you don’t share the royal briefings with me. I’m sure it’s been mentioned in there.”

“You don’t need to read the briefings. Besides, they’re classified.”

“And I have clearance. Iamyour son, you know.”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” his father said. “And you don’t need to worry about the economy, either. These things have a way of sorting themselves out if you give them some time.”

Kareem shook his head. “We’re the leaders of this country, Father. We can’t just sit around and wait for the economy to stabilize. We owe the people better than that.”

“Well, I don’t know what you want to do about it,” his father said. “You’re not an economist, Kareem.”

“No, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have ideas. And that’s why I called you here today.” Kareem took a deep breath. “I think we should host a motorsports event.”

His father stared at him for a long moment — a moment during which Kareem actually dared to have some hope.

Then he burst out laughing, and Kareem’s heart sank.

“I should have known!” he exclaimed. “I should have known that this would just be the same thing it always is with you — another opportunity to talk about race cars. You’ll never grow up, Kareem. This is the interest of a little boy, not a man who might someday be in charge of a nation.”

“I never will be in charge of Qalmar, Father,” Kareem reminded his father, feeling stung. “You tell me that all the time.”

“Yes, and thank God for that fact. Thank God I have your brother Amir to inherit my throne,” Kareem’s father said. “You’re unfit to lead a country if the response you have to an economic crisis israce cars.”

“So you admit that there’s a crisis.”

“Kareem, I don’t want to discuss this with you. I have a meeting with my financial minister — he is the one who will help put the economy to rights.” The king began to rise to his feet.

“Wait,” Kareem insisted. “At least tell your financial minister what I suggested, Father. He’ll see the sense in it even if you don’t. All right, I have a passion for motorsports, and you don’t that’s a suitable interest for a man of my station. We can disagree on that. But you must see how a major event would boost tourism and elevate us on the world stage.”

“We would be a laughingstock.”

“No, we wouldn’t! Many nations have events like this, and nobody laughs at them.”

“The nations you’re talking about are global superpowers, Kareem. Titans of trade and innovation. They can afford to do something frivolous every now and again. But if this is the way Qalmar appears on the world stage — if this becomes the thing we are best known for — wewillbe a joke, and I won’t have that for my country.”

“You’re not even going to hear my proposal, Father? I worked hard on this, you know.”

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