Chapter 447
Ariel Drummond
My fingers trembled slightly as I adjusted the silky fabric of my dress in front of the mirror. My reflection showed an image I barely recognized: damp hair—still carrying the salty scent of the sea—cascading in waves over my shoulders, and eyes that, usually so expressive, seemed to hold a mixture of apprehension and almost childlike curiosity. I took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air fill my lungs as I tried to calm the whirlwind of thoughts churning in my mind. N'zar. He wanted to speak with me. The mere mention of his name was enough to stir up a host of conflicting emotions.
My mind drifted back a few minutes, to the moment N'zar’s voice had echoed from outside the room. I had been with Arthur. The situation was—to put it mildly—indecent. A flush rose to my cheeks at the mere memory of the scene. Arthur, with his mischievous smile and bold touch, had swept me into a state of ecstasy I hadn't expected. The closed door, the muffled sound of N'zar’s voice, and the urgency in his eyes when he realized he couldn't enter—that moment of interruption, however frustrating, had added a jolt of adrenaline to our intimacy. Now, however, that adrenaline was giving way to palpable anxiety. What did he want? N'zar wasn't one to beat around the bush, and the seriousness of his tone—even through the door—suggested this was no trivial matter.
After one last adjustment to my dress, which now felt a little too tight, I left the room. The hallway was silent, and the echo of my footsteps on the marble stairs seemed to amplify the racing of my heart. Each step took me closer to the unknown. N'zar’s study lay at the end of the hall—an imposing dark wood door that had always seemed to me like a gateway to a world of decisions and secrets. Upon arriving, I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering in the air. I knocked twice—a soft sound that seemed too loud in the silence. “Come in,” N'zar’s voice rang out, firm and inviting. I turned the doorknob, feeling the cold metal against my palm, and pushed the door open.
N'zar was standing beside his vast mahogany desk, which always seemed cluttered with papers and books. He wore a dark silk tunic that accentuated his bronzed skin and piercing eyes. His hair, usually impeccable, was slightly disheveled, as if he had run his fingers through it during a moment of reflection. A gentle smile, yet one with a hint of mystery, played on his lips as he approached.
He kissed me. Not a passionate kiss, but a soft touch on the lips—a gesture of affection and familiarity that always calmed me. The scent of his woodsy cologne enveloped me, and for a brief moment, I forgot my anxiety.
“Sit down, Ariel,” he said, gesturing to the chair across from his desk. I obeyed, feeling the soft upholstery cradle me. The desk, which had once seemed like a barrier, now became a meeting point. His eyes locked onto mine, and he asked, in a voice blending concern and curiosity, “How are you doing, after we left early?”
“I’m fine,” I replied, trying to sound as natural as possible. “Lighter, after the dip in the sea. Saltwater always revitalizes me.” And it was true. The ocean plunge—the sensation of cold water against my skin—had washed away some of the tension I’d been carrying.
“That’s good,” he said, and a genuine smile lit up his face. “I have some news.”
My heart leapt. News? My mind began to wander, imagining all sorts of scenarios. Was it something related to our business? Or perhaps something more personal? Curiosity took hold of me. “What is it?” I asked, my voice a little more eager than I had intended.
He reached out and slid an envelope across the table. It was made of thick, cream-colored paper, featuring an embossed gold seal. The design was elegant—almost regal. I stared at it, puzzled. What was this? Without waiting for an explanation, I picked up the envelope and carefully opened it, feeling the texture of the paper between my fingers.
Inside was an invitation. My eyes scanned the words, and with every line, my disbelief grew. An event. With the Sultan himself.
I was stunned. My breath caught in my throat, and the world around me seemed to slow down. The Sultan. The most powerful and influential figure in the entire region. I had always known there were incredibly wealthy men—men with fortunes that defied imagination. But attending an event with a Sultan? That was beyond any fantasy I had ever entertained. My life, up to that point, had been a succession of challenges and achievements, but always within certain limits. This invitation, however, shattered every boundary. It was as if I had been transported into a fairy tale, or into one of those epic romances I used to read in secret.