She watched him cross the room to take his phone from his bag. He made the connection, then wandered out onto the verandah to speak with his father.
Olivia lay back in the vast bed and stared up at the ceiling. He’d done it. He’d really done it. She was going to be CEO of Saqat Oil, and with Khaled as chairman, it would be revolutionary in its approach. He would do everything possible to protect the seas he loved, and Olivia would work out how to help him. He’d set this up for her, she knew he had, and she loved him for it. She would have given up anything for him, but he had found a way of ensuring that she didn’t have to. He’d given her a future that was beyond anything she’d dreamed. A company to run, a husband who believed in her capabilities, and a man who trusted her with his dreams. It was almost too much to comprehend.
…
Khaled leaned against the French windows and watched her. The grin on her face matched his own. They were going to be unbearable for everyone else, he realized. Madly in love, and wholly incapable of hiding it any longer.
“Happy?” he asked in mock solemnity when she finally noticed him standing there.
“A bit,” she replied with a wide smile and bright eyes that told a different story. “Are you?”
He went to join her on the bed, gathering her into his arms and tangling his hand into her hair.
“Happy to be with you, yes.” He pressed a kiss on her temple.
“But?”
He grimaced. She was too perceptive not to notice. “My father.”
“He doesn’t want you to marry me? I knew it.”
“Hush.” He stroked his hand down Livvy’s back. “Not that. His health has deteriorated since you left Saqat.”
“Oh, Khaled. You shouldn’t have left him. Should we go back now?”
She was amazing. He’d promised her until the end of the week, which was little enough, but she was willing to sacrifice even that.
“No. We’ll stay until Saturday, but I do have a favor to ask you.”
She nodded. “Of course.”
He kissed her lips and took her hands in his. “My father would like us to be married as soon as possible. He’d like to be there, and we don’t know how much time is left.”
She saw the deep sadness in his eyes. “Yes. Yes, we’ll do that. Next week?”
“You’ll need a dress. And there are arrangements to make.”
“I’ll find a dress and the rest of it isn’t important. Your father being there is important.” Her hands squeezed his. “We’ll go back on Saturday and be married as soon as we can.”
Chapter Twelve
The wedding took place just a week later. Sadiah announced the engagement to the nation on her radio show, and both Khaled and Olivia were overwhelmed by the responses from the Saqati people. Every day brought bags full of letters, cards, and gifts to the palace wishing them well. Khaled told Olivia that it was her doing; he had never been so popular without her.
She shook her head. She knew that the people loved their prince and were glad to see him happy and smiling.
It was a small, quiet ceremony at the palace, with only a few close friends and family in attendance. The bride wore ivory Scottish lace patterned with thistles and roses. The groom wore traditional Saqati robes. Olivia’s father led her down the aisle, resplendent in his full Highland dress, more than a match for the grandeur of the Arab robes. The emir was present for the ceremony, but he was too unwell even to attend the celebratory dinner afterward.
“It’s as though he was waiting for us,” Khaled said once they were alone together in his rooms at the end of the day. “The doctors tell me that can happen. People cling on to life for a particular reason and then they let go.”
“He was waiting for you. He wanted to know that you would be happy.” Olivia looked at her husband. “And now you are.”
“No, he was waiting until the throne and the succession were secure.”
She shrugged. “Think that if you want. Although I should point out that the succession is not yet actually secure.”
Khaled gave her an indulgent look. “Well, we can work on that. Your father was happy for you too, Livvy.”
She pursed her lips. “He told me he wished my mother could have seen me today.”
“She would have been so proud.”
“That’s what he said. Then he told me he was proud. Quickly and gruffly, almost as though he didn’t want me to hear it, but that’s what he said.”
“I’m glad.”
“But I don’t know, Khaled. I wanted him to be proud of my career, not my marriage.”
“He will be. When Saqat Oil overtakes MCI Oil, then he will be extremely proud.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t want that. I want to do this job, and I want to do it well, for your sake and for the people of Saqat. I don’t want to spend any more days worrying about how to impress my father. I don’t want to be afraid to fail any more.”