The Sheikh's American Daughter (3 page)

***

A maid came to tell Daya and Olivia that breakfast was ready. She escorted them downstairs to the dining room. The dining room was big and elegantly decorated. There was large mahogany table in the middle of the room. A big chandelier hung from the ceiling above the table.

Olivia and Daya sat down at the table. The maids were still bringing the food out. Olivia felt weird about being in Sheikh Solomon’s house while he was not there. She was grateful that Daya had come with her.

“Ah, you are still here,” Jacob said as he walked into the room. He was wearing khaki chinos and a white polo shirt. He looked like a younger version of Sheikh Solomon. They both had olive skin tone.

“We are,” Daya replied.

“Only until tomorrow,” said Olivia.

Jacob sat down at the table. 

“Tomorrow?” Jacob asked. He reached for a tangerine and started peeling it.

“After your father has returned from his trip.”

Jacob studied Olivia as he peeled his tangerine. “Our father,” he said. He started eating his tangerine.

“What?” Olivia asked.

“I guess you should say our father.”

“I can’t call him father. I did not come here for recognition.”

Before Jacob could say anything else, two women walked in. They appeared to be in their early twenties. They were both slim. One was slightly taller than the other, about five foot seven. They both had long, straight jet-black hair. The taller one had her hair up in a ponytail and the other one had her hair down. They both had high cheekbones. They were beautiful but they looked unfriendly.

They both looked at Olivia and Daya. “Who are they?” the taller one asked Jacob. She pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. The other woman sat down next to her.

“This is about to get interesting,” Jacob mumbled. He finished eating his tangerine and then wiped his hands on a napkin. “Olivia and…” He paused and looked at Daya.

“Daya,” Daya said her name.

“This is Rania.” He pointed at the taller woman. “And this is Marina. My younger sisters.”

“Hello,” Olivia greeted them.

“Are you my brother’s guests?” Rania asked.

“She’s our sister,” Jacob said. He was not subtle. He went straight to the point and did not ease into the subject. He picked up the teapot and poured some tea into his cup.

“Excuse me?” said Marina.

“He’s back at his tricks.” Rania dismissed Jacob’s words.

“I am not joking,” said Jacob. Olivia did not feel like eating anymore. The air felt ominous. She did not see the breakfast ending well.

“What is he talking about?” Marina asked Olivia.

“Don’t pay attention to his tricks,” said Rania.

Olivia swallowed her food and spoke. “Apparently I am Sheikh Solomon’s daughter. I found out a few days ago,” she said. She was just like Jacob. She did not beat around the bush. She felt bad having to tell them. It would have been better if the sheikh had told them.

“This is ludicrous,” said Rania.

“She probably wants money. People will say anything for money,” Marina added.

“I do not want any money,” said Olivia. She never wanted to be mistaken for an opportunist.

“Then what do you want?”

“Nothing. I do not want anything from your father.”

Rania put her fork down. “I lost my appetite.” She rose from the table. “You are not the first person to claim that you are our father’s child. Just like the others, you will not succeed in your plans. Its best for you to give up now,” she said.

“She doesn’t even look anything like father. Pathetic,” Marina added as she rose from the table. Marina and Rania both walked out of the room. Jacob smiled and shook his head. He took a sip of his tea.

“That was so uncomfortable,” said Daya.

“There have been many people that came claiming to be our father’s child. So you can understand why they won’t even entertain this news,” Jacob said.

“It doesn’t matter. I will not be here long. I will be out of their lives by this time tomorrow,” said Olivia.

“Hopefully you do not run into my mother or my sisters in the next twenty-four hours.” Jacob rose from his chair. “If you will excuse me, I have a meeting to attend.” Jacob headed out of the room.

“This trip is too much for me,” Olivia said to Daya after Jacob had left the room. “I should not have come or I should have come at a different time.”

“The outcome would have been the same, and if you did not come, you’d have spent your life wondering,” said Daya.

“You are right but this family is too much for me. The mother and the girls are cold. I can’t figure Jacob out.”

“I can’t figure him out either.” Daya started eating some fruit. “I think he finds this situation amusing.”

“He does.” Olivia leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath. It was going to be a long day.

Olivia had waited an entire day for the sheikh to return but he had returned well after she had fallen asleep. She figured that she would speak with him in the morning but then she heard that he was entertaining a guest. So she had no choice but to postpone her departure and wait until the sheikh was free.

In her loose-fitting, grey knee-length shorts and a white T-shirt, Olivia went for a walk in the garden. The sky was clear and the sun was nice and warm. It was a beautiful day. Olivia slid her hands in her pockets. She walked slowly, looking at the grass. She was so lost in her thoughts that she almost jumped out of her skin when Sheikh Solomon called out her name.

“Huh?” Olivia looked up. She saw Sheikh Solomon standing in the garden with an unfamiliar man. The man was wearing a crisp white shirt and a pair of grey trousers. He was tall. Taller than Sheikh Solomon, by at least five inches. His body was muscular. He had strong features. His almond-colored skin looked silky. He had jet-black hair cut short at the back and sides and just a hint of a beard. He had intense, dark green eyes. He was the most handsome man Olivia had ever laid eyes on. She wondered who he was. 

“You are so deep in your thoughts,” Sheikh Solomon said to her. “What is on your mind?”

“A lot of things,” Olivia replied as she approached them.

“This is my daughter, Olivia,” Sheikh Solomon said to the man he was standing with. “This is Sheikh Boutros,” he said to her. The man raised his eyebrows slightly.

“Daughter,” he repeated. His voice was so deep and smooth like silk. He looked at Olivia so intently.

“It’s a long story,” she said. It was clear that Sheikh Boutros was shocked upon hearing the news. Olivia did not want to go into detail about it, especially since she did not look at Sheikh Solomon as her father.

Just then, Daaliyah and her daughters walked outside. They were dressed elegantly in their expensive dresses and jewelry. They looked at Olivia with frowns on their faces. Daaliyah looked displeased to see her.

“Would you like to join us for tea?” Sheikh Solomon asked Olivia.

She shook her head. 

“I won’t impose. I will just return to my room.” She smiled and left quickly.

***

Later that day, Sheikh Solomon asked his wife, Rania, Marina, Jacob, Olivia and even Daya to come meet with him in the living room. They all sat in the living room quietly for a moment. They were waiting for the sheikh to speak. The maid had served them with tea and cakes but no one was eating.

“Rania and Marina,” said the sheikh.

“Yes, Father,” they both replied.

“I understand you have already met Olivia. It would have been better if I had been the one to introduce you to her but it has already happened.”

“Is she really your daughter?” Rania asked her father. Sheikh Solomon nodded.

“You are just going to accept her without a DNA test?” said Marina.

“What’s the point? She looks like father,” said Jacob.

“No, she does not,” Rania protested.

“I am not going to accept her as my sister,” said Marina.

“How old are you?” Rania asked Olivia.

“Twenty-three,” Olivia replied. She did not like how Rania and Marina spoke about her and to her. However, she understood that they were angry.

“What?” Rania and Marina said at the same time.

“She is the same age as Jacob,” Marina pointed out.

“You had two women pregnant at the same time?” Rania shouted at her father.

“Watch your tone,” he warned. Daaliyah was not outraged about Olivia being the same age as Jacob. It made Olivia wonder why. A maid walked in with a landline telephone in her hand.

“Excuse me, sheikh,” she said softly.

“Do you not see us in the middle of something?” Daaliyah snapped.

“I am sorry. The sheikh had previously instructed me to let him know when Sheikh Boutros called.”

Daaliyah’s eyes flew wide open. Rania and Marina both gasped and looked at the maid. Sheikh Solomon immediately took the phone from the maid. Olivia raised her eyebrows. She remembered Sheikh Boutros from earlier. She was curious as to why the mood changed when his name was mentioned.

“Hello, Sheikh Boutros,” said Sheikh Solomon. His wife and his daughters had their eyes glued on him. “I did not expect to hear from you so soon,” he continued. He went silent for a moment as he was listening to Sheikh Boutros.

“What?” said Sheikh Solomon. His eyes opened wide. “Really?” he asked. He went silent for a moment. “Are you sure?” he finally asked. He nodded. “I will let her know. Okay, goodbye.”

“What did he say?” Daaliyah asked her husband.

“Who did he pick?” Marina asked. Sheikh Solomon remained silent. His face was strained with shock. He picked up his cup of tea and took a sip.

“Well, say something.” Daaliyah was clearly getting impatient.

The sheikh took a deep breath.

“Olivia,” he said quietly.

“Yes?” Olivia answered.

“Why are you bringing her into this when we are waiting for an answer?” Daaliyah asked.

“Sheikh Boutros picked Olivia,” said Sheikh Solomon.

“What?” Daaliyah and her daughters shouted at once.

Jacob burst into laughter.  “What an interesting turn of events,” he said.

Olivia and Daya looked at each other. They were the only ones that did not know what was going on.

“Why on earth would he pick her?” Rania asked. Her face was turning red. She looked at Olivia. “Why did you have to come here?” she shouted at her.

Olivia looked at Sheikh Solomon for an answer.

“What is going on?” Daya asked.

“Basically Sheikh Boutros came here to pick a wife between my sisters and it seems that he wants to marry Olivia,” Jacob explained. Marina frowned at him.

“What?” Olivia spat out.

“This man, Sheikh Boutros wants to marry Olivia? But he does not know her,” said Daya.

“Exactly. How can he say that he wants to marry me? He only saw me for like two minutes.”

“I will not allow this to happen. He has to marry one of my daughters,” said Daaliyah. She looked at Olivia. “Shouldn’t you be on your way back to America?” she asked her.

“As soon as I speak with Sheikh Solomon, I will head back,” said Olivia.

“Can’t you stay at a hotel or something?” Marina asked.

“That is enough,” said Sheikh Solomon. “Olivia is my child and she is welcome in my home. As for Sheikh Boutros, he wishes to marry Olivia. I am just as shocked as all of you. However, it is his choice. So stop chastising Olivia about it.”

“It does not matter what he wishes. I am not going to marry him. I will finish my business with Sheikh Solomon and go back home. So you all can stop worrying about my presence,” said Olivia. She rose to her feet and stalked to the exit.