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Anisah obeyed the sheikh’s words without question, her back straightening and her chin going up as commanded. She knew she was acting like a zombie, but she couldn't help it. In light of her father’s act of treason, she had done her very best to avoid getting involved in any scandal. Everything she said and did was meant to keep her life peaceful and proper.
But obviously, those days were long over.
With just one mis-sent message, her whole world had come crashing down on her. She was now a household name for the very worst reason, a public figure whose sole claim to fame was having committed a social gaffe that had instantly launched a thousand memes.
That moment you found out there’s a woman in this world stupid enough not to haul Tarif Al-Atassi all the way to fourth base and hit a homerun...SMH.
Oh come on, girl. If second base is the limit for you, strike out and lemme take your place.
Will the real Professor Anisah Kahveci please stand up?
When good girls go bad...
The memory was enough to make Anisah trip over her own feet, and she would’ve tumbled down the stairs if not for the sheikh swiftly pulling her back.
“Careful, anisdi.” He released his hold on Anisah as soon as she regained her balance, knowing that he had to tread carefully with her at this moment. While Anisah’s practical nature allowed her to receive guidance from him, he also knew her pride would make her shun anything that would make her feel like a damsel in distress.
“Thank you.”
Tarif frowned at the stiffness of her tone, but having so many eyes trained on them prevented him from reaching out to her as they descended the last flight of steps. All he could do was fall into step next to her, and bending his head, he said under his breath, “Please relax, anisdi. I mean it when I said all will be fine.”
Anisah didn’t answer. It was easy for the sheikh to say everything was fine. He was used to scandals of this sort. But she was not. This whole thing had her flailing helplessly like a fish out of water, and for the first time in her life – she simply did not know what was the proper thing to do.
This was not how it should be, she thought numbly. Their affair was supposed to be secret, harmless fun and just that. It was not supposed to be the first step to career ruin, and oh, to think that she herself was the reason this happened in the first place.
Anisah couldn’t help sneaking a worried look at the sheikh. She had lectured him about discretion just last night, and here she was –
A sudden burst of excited squeals interrupted her thoughts, and Anisah almost lost her footing again at the sight that greeted her at the foot of the stairs: a small crowd of female students had their smartphones trained on them, clicking away while they giggled among themselves.
“You have two choices here, anisdi,” the sheikh murmured. “Either pay no attention to them, or interact with them as you normally would.”
Anisah forced a smile. “Does that mean I’m allowed to confiscate all of their phones and have them write a ten-page essay on why they shouldn’t intrude on a person’s privacy?”
Tarif raised a brow. “That’s normal?”
“That’s me being lenient,” she said honestly.
“Then I stand corrected.” The sheikh’s lips twitched. “Perhaps follow my lead for now instead?”
“If that’s what you think is best,” she muttered.
“Absolutely.”
And so taking her cue from the sheikh, Anisah did her best to keep her pose relaxed while smiling for the students’ constantly clicking cameras. It made her feel like she was pretending to be someone she was not. She didn’t like it at all, but Anisah gritted her teeth and forced herself to bear with the pretense. And for a while, she managed quite admirably...or at least she did so until the questions started pouring in.
Does this mean you are the sheikh Professor Kahveci spoke of in her message?
Will there be another royal wedding soon?
Is the palace in favor of your relationship?
Catching sight of Anisah’s look of frozen horror, Tarif nodded towards one of the waiting university officials, and the older man in return motioned to his team of security officers to follow him.
“Settle down now, everyone. Please clear the way for Sheikh Tarif and Professor Kahveci as they will now be leaving.”
The girls started to protest but quieted as soon as they realized it was the dean speaking, and they reluctantly moved away when the university’s security officers formed a human barrier around the couple. Noticing Anisah’s pallor as he drew her away from the crowd, he said with a lazy grin, “They were just young girls, anisdi. Surely they couldn’t have scared my beautiful brave harpy?”
“Quit calling me a harpy,” she grumbled, “and I’m sorry to disappoint you, sheikh, but I’d rather face a death squad than go through that again—-” She stopped speaking when she noticed the sheikh grinning at her.
