Page 16 of Hired Husband

I was saved by the bell, my phone ringing just as my brain scrambled for an answer. Relief swept through me when I saw my assistant’s name light up the screen. “It’s Sasha. I should take this.”

“Of course.” Mom smiled. “Duty calls.”

Instead of rolling my eyes again, I slid my finger across the screen, practically feeling Sasha’s panic reaching for my throat through the phone. “Jasmine, where are you?”

“I’m at breakfast. Why?”

“The textile team moved the final fitting forward. The photographer is already here and everyone is freaking out because they can’t find you.”

I sighed, immediately pushing back my chair. “I’m leaving now. Just breathe, Sasha. Everything will be fine.”

Hanging up once I’d assured her that I’d be there in just a few minutes, I slung my purse over my shoulder and looked back at Mom. “I have to go now. You know, since my family has been working me to the bone lately.”

She smiled at me. “You poor thing. At least you have the whole summer to relax in the sun and go adventuring. Just be a dear and remember to take Isaac with you sometimes. Who knows, you might even find yourself enjoying the company.”

CHAPTER 7

ISAAC

One thing that had stood out to me from the very first time I’d landed in Egypt was how old seamlessly blended with new here. Just driving down the street was like taking a journey through time. In some parts of the city especially, the roads themselves were too narrow for modern-day vehicles to fit comfortably and they were lined with buildings that had seen empires rise and fall.

Those very same buildings, however, suddenly had wide glass front doors and state of the art lighting. The renovations done to some to keep them structurally sound, relevant, and inviting were mind-blowing, and that was without even mentioning the brand-new shopping malls, luxury car lots, and art galleries interspersed between them.

I’d never imagined living in one of those buildings that had seen modern amenities installed in the old stone shell. Yet somehow, thanks to some not-so-gentle encouragement from Basel, that was exactly where I’d ended up.

I stood in the middle of a sea of half-unpacked boxes in my new living room, marveling at the stunning blend of luxury and old-world architecture. It was the kind of building I could stare at for hours, just standing still on the street, admiring the cream-colored stone and elegant balconies, the intricate wrought-iron railings and carved cornices.

Even my windows were a work of art. Long and wide, they were practically the entire wall, letting in the spectacular Egyptian summer sunlight.

There were definitely worse ways to spend a day than moving through these spacious rooms, deciding where to put what and pausing every so often to gawk at the view. This was only my second time in Egypt. The first had been for Colin’s wedding and I hadn’t really had much time to explore, so this was my first true experience of the place.

While it was absolutely breathtaking, getting my bearings was proving to be tougher than I’d thought and the jet lag wasn’t helping. With that thought in mind, I opened a map of the city on my phone and wandered out to the balcony.

There were ancient churches and mosques, markets, palaces, and workshops within walking distance of my front door. Unbelievable.

I swept my gaze further afield, but despite the help of the map, I struggled to differentiate between the neighborhoods. Soon, it would be easy, but for now, I wasn’t high enough up or knowledgeable enough about my new, temporary home to know one thing from another just yet.

Eventually, I walked back inside and sliced open another box, wondering what the next twelve months would bring. That was the deal I’d made with Jane—to give me a year before I made any permanent decisions. Since she and Colin were expanding some operations to Egypt for Basel’s use anyway, this seemed like a natural next step. Someone had to be on the ground to manage it all, and for once, it didn’t have to be one of them.

This gave my older siblings the chance to stop boarding international flights every other week. Some might even call it a break—and both Colin and Jane desperately deserved one of those. So here I was, stepping up while also exploring some opportunities of my own. It was a win-win. Aside from the fact that I was currently staring into a box filled with engineering texts after already having wasted most of the afternoon inside.

The sun was starting to dip over the horizon. The light spilling in grew warmer with that golden, early evening glow, and I had the city of Cairo at my fingertips.

Yeah. I think I’ve had enough unpacking for one day.

Instantly, adrenaline shot through me like it had been injected straight into my veins, banishing the jet lag at the thought of getting to go out there with nothing and no one rushing me. It was still hot enough that I didn’t even have to grab a jacket and people here seemed to live in flip-flops or sandals, so I shoved my feet into a pair and took off, only pausing for a second to lock the door behind me.

I hit the sidewalk enthusiastically, with the intention of seeing as much as I could before dark to get the lay of the land, but nope. Heliopolis, the neighborhood I now lived in, almost immediately demanded I slow down.

It took all of about thirty seconds before I stopped for the first time, staring into an arcade that bordered my building but I’d somehow missed before. A lively little market sat behind the building neighboring that and across the street were a spate of sleek cafes.

The scent of fresh bread and spices wafted through the air, and palm trees swayed in the slight breeze. Down one alley I passed, kids were playing soccer while old men sat in a sidewalk tea shop crammed into the corner, watching the kids play and blowing out sweet-scented smoke from a massive glass Shisha pipe they were sharing.

It held a place of pride in the center of their table, several tubes leading from it with mouth pieces at the end. I hadn’t tried it, but maybe I would since it seemed to be central to the social culture on Egyptian streets.

A culture I fully intended on immersing myself in.

Everything here was new and different. There were so many things to see, do, and try that I would never get to experience back home and I wasn’t leaving until I’d seen, done, and tried it all.