Page 51 of My Arabian Billionaire

Chapter Fourteen

The palace’sreception hall once again rang with the sound of gaiety and clinking glasses, with attendants going around to offer free-flowing champagne. And as was customary, the sheikh greeted his guests one by one, but now instead of his vassals flanking him it was Harper, his queen, who stood by hisside.

As the guests extended their greetings to the sheikh and thanked the royal couple for the invitation, Harper only nodded and spoke when directly addressed. Otherwise, she kept her Mona Lisa smile in place while cursing the man beside her to perdition.

Why did he always have to answer her in installment, she fumed silently to herself. Why couldn’t the damn sheikh just give it to her straight instead of bullying her all the time? She wanted him to be proud of her. That was huge, coming from a commitment-phobe like her, and still it wasn’t enough.

What else did he want, dammit?

Lunch by the garden followed right after, and Harper strove to shove the sheikh’s irritating traits out of her mind and focus on her job. While the sheikh and his vassals did their rounds among the men, she did hers with the women and the children, doing her best to be approachable rather than her usual cranky self. After a few official events, she had realized for herself that the court tutor was right. People who she thought were snobs were usually just as socially awkward as she was, and one just had to take the first step of breaking the ice, and everything would befine.

And because you’re the queen, no one will dare take the first step with you,her court tutor pointed out. So you must be the one to break theice.

But I’mshy!

You’renot.

Socially awkwardthen!

I used to believe that, until I realized you’re just socially lazy. And her court tutor had glared at her. Which is why I’ll be watching you like a hawk this weekend.

Remembering this made her glance over her shoulder---

Her court tutor was indeed there, a nondescript figure in gray standing at the edge of the crowd, violet eyes trained on the queen.

Ugh.

Harper hurriedly looked for someone to talk to, lest the damn tattletale report to the sheikh she was being “socially lazy.” Unfortunately, the first woman she chanced to talk to turned out to be a hedge fund manager, and when the other woman started discussing the potential economic ramifications of Brexit, her eyes started to glaze---

From across the hall, Rayyan’s blue eyes started shooting daggers ather.

Oh, shit.

Harper straightened and forced herself to concentrate on the conversation. It lasted another five minutes before the woman’s husband thankfully called her away. Oh, thank God. Another minute there and her brain might have started hemorrhaging.

Turning around, she bumped into a YouTube vlogger, who then asked her opinion about DCEU vs. MCU but later on appeared surprised when she answered him in all seriousness, saying, “DCEU might win it for me if they let CW’s Arrow join them in the silver screen.” And when the guy’s jaw dropped, she couldn’t help adding, “But what I’m really more interested in is seeing who wins the Chris Wars.” She had only meant this as a joke, then a hand suddenly curved around her waist from behind, and Harper almost yelped.

Oh, shit, she knew that touch.

Turning around, she saw that it was indeed the sheikh, along with all four of his vassals.

Shit, shit, shit.

Had they heard---

Tarif was openly smirking. Altair was shaking his head. Malik was grinning, while Rayyan, as always, was glaring ather.

Harper slowly looked at the sheikh, her husband.

One dark eyebrow arched at her. Are you certain you want to talk about othermen?

OHSHIT.

He inclined his head to the side. Because if you do, I’ll start talking about Wonder Woman and the Black Widow---

SHIT.

Since having the sheikh merely think of another woman was already unimaginably tortuous for Harper, she backpedaled immediately, turning to the vlogger as she stammered, “I w-was, umm, just joking. Whoever wins the Chris Wars would never compare to my husband. He’s the hottest of themall.”

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