Page 14 of Queen of Barrakesch
He frowned doubtfully. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.”
“You’re not talking about actually getting married, but pretending we want a future together?”
Imani nodded.
“And then when my father passes…?”
“We wait a while and then split up, going our separate ways, amicably. What do you think?”
6
He thought she was crazy.
Despite that, Imani’s idea could work. Though Wasim hated to think about it, his father only had a few weeks to live. He’d considered putting together a list of potential wives, but the truth was, he didn’t want to get married now, and with less than a week to find someone before his father’s announcement, that idea had quickly been dismissed.
But this idea—pretending he and Imani were going to get married—would allow him to accomplish everything he wanted to—take the throne which was rightfully his and ease his father’s concerns.
“We already know a lot about each other,” Imani continued, pressing her advantage. “How many siblings do I have?”
“Six brothers,” Wasim answered.
“What’s my favorite color?”
“Lavender, though gold runs a close second.”
“What’s the one thing I want to accomplish more than anything else?”
“You want to close the deal on the oil drilling project.”
“See, you know me.” She grinned at him.
“And you know me.” He sighed heavily and thrust his fingers through his thick hair. “I wish we didn’t have to do this. I wish I had more time.”
Imani stretched her fingers toward him but quickly pulled back and let her hand fall to the seat beside her.
His jaw tightened because he wanted her comforting touch, but he understood her reluctance. Though no one could see them, they adhered to the rules of the country when here. They were not married. Except to shake hands, they were not supposed to touch.
“I can’t remember the last time I lied to my father,” Wasim said quietly.
Imani looked at him with kind and thoughtful eyes. “Don’t think of it as a lie. You deserve to be king, Wasim. There is no one else better to lead the country than you. Your father knows this, so think of what we plan to do as a way to give King Khalid the peace that he needs. ”
The plan involved deception but would be best for both he and Imani, as well as his father, and allow Wasim time to concentrate on learning as much as he could before having to take control of the kingdom. He would be the one to lead his country into the next decades. He would be the one to take up the mantle of his father’s projects and see them through to the end. And he would be the one to continue their lineage when he found the right wife.
There was so much for him to learn, and the expectations would begin right away—had already begun. The past two days had been filled with private meetings between Wasim, his father, and his father’s closest advisors.
“Your parents would be pleased. Your potential husband would be a future king instead of a businessman.”
“Certainly an upgrade, and would get them off my back for a while. When you and I break up, I’m sure they’ll leave me alone so I can nurse my broken heart. There’s so much I could accomplish during that period.”
“What about your Senegalese suitor?” Wasim asked, the thought of her and any other man souring his stomach.
“He’s not a problem now, and we could start dating and getting to know each other later.”
Wasim stood and moved restlessly, rubbing the back of his neck. “So we break up, at a time of our choosing?”
“Yes. Amicably, of course.”
