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Laine sat on a bed so large she couldn’t reach two ends of it even if she stretched herself from tip to toe. The duvet was lusciously silky to the touch, and a rich emerald green canopy hung over the bed and down the sides, the end tied back for the moment with wide sashes. It would be like sleeping in a sequestered tent.
Once she’d taken in the sheer enormity of her room, Laine turned her attention to the racks of clothing waiting for her. She had to admit that the ornate dresses, blowing slightly with the breeze of an air conditioning vent looked a lot more comfortable than the business wear that she had packed. Her luggage was already sitting meekly by the bed, delivered by some invisible staff member. The red upright she’d gotten on sale from a big box store held just enough for her daily routine for a week or so. She’d brought far more samples and materials for her work decorating the palace.
Laine ran her hands over the dresses and skirts that Aziz had provided. How had he known what she would like? Even though he’d introduced himself based on the dress she’d been wearing, she hadn’t imagined that he was that interested in women’s clothing. Perhaps one of the designers, or a personal assistant? Regardless, each was lovely, and seemed to be close to her size.
With a little smile, Laine selected a long dress that was purple on the sleeves and sides and faded to a pretty pink in the middle. She would shower, change, and wear this one to dinner. She could consider it a perk of the job, after all, and she needed to refresh herself, so that she could explore the palace properly and begin sketching and taking notes for her designs.
***
The palace seemed endless. Laine got lost twice wandering through room after room, trying to wrap her head around designing for a home this large. Should she give each room a separate theme? Should the themes progress from room to room? Should she try to infuse Aziz’s culture and family history, or should she steer clear of things she knew nothing about?
The task was daunting, both in its size and for the fact she was jeopardizing her career to be here. There really was no option but to do a magnificent job.
Eventually, one of the servants approached her and offered to show her to the dining room. Deciding that she should tackle the problem in the morning after a good night’s sleep—provided Aziz made good on his promise not to enter her room—Laine followed the servant as she reviewed her notes in her head.
The dining room, like all the rooms, was enormous. The table stretched so long that Laine imagined no fewer than fifty businessmen sitting around it and chatting about sales and import tariffs. Instead, only one person sat at the table, and when Laine drew closer, she realized that it wasn’t Aziz. It was a young woman, perhaps in her early twenties, wearing a flowing scarf over her head, with a row of jewels sewn along the edge where her hairline would be.
The woman rose as Laine approached, raked her eyes over Laine, and tilted her head to the side. “I thought that one would look lovely on you,” she said. “I told Aziz you would like it, and he would like you in it.”
Laine’s chest tightened as she found herself arrested by the young woman’s large green eyes. She was captivating, almost doll-like in her features. These were, in turn, enhanced by dark sweeping eyeliner and a well-contoured cheek, which didn’t need much enhancement to begin with. Laine might have burned in envy for those cheekbones even if they were bare. The woman’s long dress only enhanced her beauty and fell kindly over soft curves suggesting a lush figure hidden by modesty. Laine was both jealous and mesmerized.
“Oh,” she murmured. She was sure her cheeks were turning red under the woman’s approving scrutiny. Where was Aziz? “Thank you.”
The woman took another step toward Laine, parting her plump, mauve lips, and squeezed Laine’s shoulder affectionately. “I am sorry that Aziz will not be joining us for dinner tonight. He was called to the capital on business, and he’s been traveling so long that it could not be postponed. But I assured him that you and I could very well introduce ourselves.”
Her smile exuded warmth and a vibrancy of spirit.
And that was when Laine realized who this woman was.
“Are you Hadiya?” Laine asked. When the woman nodded, Laine grew warm again, but this time with embarrassment for having grown so jealous of Aziz’s little sister.
Hadiya took Laine by the arm and led her to a seat. “We’ll dine together. Our rooms are close. We don’t keep entirely separated from the men, but I told my brothers you would likely feel more comfortable in the house with a woman for company. Aziz is so silly, bringing women here on their own.”
