He stood, with some difficulty and a supportive hand from his son, but his dignity was all his own. Olivia shifted her position beside Jemimah to get a better look at the emir’s face. It was easy to see how, in thirty or forty years, Khaled would resemble his father. They shared the same slant of their eyes and set of their mouths. She recognized the dark gleam of his eyes as he silently called the room to attention.
He spoke in Arabic, but it was not hard to work out the gist of his speech when he called Khaled forward to kneel before him. The emir placed both hands on his son’s head and spoke what Olivia assumed to be a blessing. When Khaled rose, he kissed his father’s cheeks, and then turned to face the room. In a solemn gesture of humility, he bowed his head. Everyone else, including Olivia, bowed in return.
“He is proclaimed the heir,” Jemimah whispered.
Olivia sent her a grateful smile at the explanation.
“Of course, he was always assumed to be the heir, but now he is in the official place that gives him full authority with immediate effect. The emir stands down.”
She wondered whether Khaled had known that his father had planned to make such a public transfer of power tonight.
The emir continued to speak, his frail face full of joy. Olivia’s stomach clenched. This must be the betrothal announcement. She clutched her glass of wine and forced her lips into a polite smile.
Jemimah bent forward and whispered again. “He is talking about the oil in the Saqati waters. The prospect of prosperity for our country. How proud he is to leave the nation in this position. How he knows that his son will lead us well.”
Olivia held her breath as the emir took his seat and Khaled stepped forward to speak. He barely raised his voice, but everyone in the room was listening intently. She could feel the goodwill behind him as the people wished their new leader well and wanted to know what he would say.
“He honors his father,” Jemimah translated. “And he remembers his brother.”
That was typical of Khaled, to speak of others first.
“He is explaining that while the oil is there, we must be cautious. We must honor the waters that give our country its name. He has given the matter much consideration and consulted with experts in the industry.”
Olivia’s pulse beat a little faster.
“Saqat Oil will become the world leader in the next stage of the oil industry.”
She let out a long breath. That was it, then. She barely listened as Jemimah relayed the rest of Khaled’s speech. He had taken her idea and he was going to make it work. This would be the future for Saqat—wealth without exploitation. Khaled would steer the new company with a long-term vision for the people and the place he loved.
Tuning back in, she heard him talk about investment, education—the university he’d spoken to her about, developing new expertise that could be exported, just as their oil would be.
As Khaled finished outlining his plans, he paused. One person began to clap, then another. Then the whole room was clapping, even cheering. Jemimah caught Olivia’s hand.
“Oil,” she said, eyes bright. “Oil in Saqat. It will change everything.”
It would. It had already changed Olivia. The career-driven, cool-headed businesswoman she had once thought herself had given up the biggest deal of her life for the sake of the man she loved. Not to be with him, but simply so that his conscience could be clear.
“Excuse me,” she said to Jemimah. “I need some air.”
She had no idea how long she had been standing on the terrace, watching the cool white moon rise above the sea, but when Khaled appeared beside her and took hold of her wrist, it wasn’t a surprise.
“Spare me a few minutes?” he asked.
“Now?” Surely he had plenty of other people to speak to at the reception?
“You’re busy?”
“No, but I assumed you would be. Shouldn’t you be inside, winning over your admirers?”
“My admirers are already won over. And those who aren’t yet can wait. I have something more important to talk about tonight.”
He led her to a bench in the terrace garden that was carefully situated to provide a clear view of the palace, and beyond it the sea.
“Saqat al Mayim,” he murmured. “The waters surround us here.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“So are you.”
Olivia’s cheeks warmed. “You mustn’t, Khaled. You are engaged.”
“Actually,” he replied casually, “that is what I needed to speak to you about. I am not.”
“Not?” She’d seen him with Aliya earlier and assumed. “But you told me that your engagement was to be announced tonight.”
“I told Jemimah to translate the announcements for you,” he said with some frustration. “Did she not make it clear?”
Olivia reassured him. “She did. Your father has delegated his authority to you.”
“It was hard for him, but the doctors insisted. He hasn’t long left.”
“It’s hard for you as well.”
“Did she translate the other announcement?”
“Yes. Saqat Oil. Congratulations.”
“I am sorry that we will not be doing business with MCI Oil. I learned much from your company.”
She nodded. “I have learned much from your company, too.”