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“From here on, if anyone requests for information about Professor Kahveci, please let them know that my fiancée—-”
Gasps and cries of shock filled the office, with the loudest of them coming from the woman beside him.
“—-will be glad to answer them during her first press conference, with the time, date, and place to be announced within the week.”
Chapter Thirteen
All of his cousins were already in Tarif’s private office by the time he strolled in, and the four men shared a look of disgust at the way satisfaction practically oozed from the other sheikh. To say that Tarif Al-Atassi was in a good mood would be an understatement, and when one considered the reason behind it—-
The king, seated on one of the armchairs, attempted to draw first blood as he commented with mocking disappointment, “Second base in two months, Tarif? That’s not like you at all.”
The other men snickered, but Tarif’s broad shoulders only moved in a nonchalant shrug as he claimed his seat behind his desk. “The result is all that matters, my brothers. And as she is irrefutably mine now...” Tarif’s tone was one of lazy complacence, the sound of which had his cousins almost gagging.
Malik decided to take the second shot at his older cousin, pointing out, “You may be happy about staking a claim, but does Anisah feel the same? Last time I spoke to her, you were still the sheikh she hated the most.”
“That is true,” Tarif acknowledged with indestructible good humor. “But I also seem to recall your wife once feeling that way about you as well. Did she not?” The sheikh turned to the king. “And the same goes for you, too, Your Majesty.”
Malik and Khalil grimaced, both unable to retort since Tarif had spoken the complete truth. Kyria and Malik had a major falling out that had caused them to avoid each other for two years while Harper hadn’t exactly been the king’s greatest fan before their whirlwind romance.
Rayyan shook his head, feeling inexplicably irritated at the air of contentment surrounding Tarif. “Don’t you think you were being a little too hasty in announcing a fake engagement?”
“It would seem so...if my pretend fiancée didn’t happen to be Anisah Kahveci. But as she is, regardless of the outcome, I don’t see her as the type who’d cause the kingdom any problems.” Tarif paused. “And even if she did, I honestly don’t give a fuck. I want my woman safe and happy, and if it comes at the expense of a little scandal that’s no more than a storm in a teacup...” He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “Then again, that’s how I prefer to handle things. You’re probably different, considering how you treat your women.”
Color flushed Rayyan’s cheeks at the suggestive way the other sheikh’s tone trailed off, and he said coldly, “If that is a dig about the way I treat Hyacinth—-” Khalil, Malik, and Altair turned to him in surprise, and too late Rayyan realized he had neatly fallen for Tarif’s trap and exposed his secret in the process. “Fuck you, Tarif.”
“What are you angry for?” The other sheikh dealt Rayyan a picture-perfect look of injured innocence. “I didn’t mention any names. You did.”
The normally calm Rayyan flipped him the bird in answer, and Tarif grinned. “I love you too, brother.”
And because he knew everyone had planned to gang up on him about Anisah, he raised a brow at the kingdom’s military commander, who was seated on one of the bar stools by the counter. “I’m guessing it’s your turn now, sheikh?”
The doors to Tarif’s office were thrown open before Altair could answer, and a moment later, a frantic-looking Anisah came rushing in. “Your Highness, I really don’t think—-” She stopped dead in her tracks and turned red when she saw five handsome men swing around to face her.
Oh, curse it, what were all the Al-Atassi sheikhs doing here?
Recalling her manners, Anisah quickly bowed, murmuring, “Your Majesty, Your Highness.” When Anisah straightened, she saw that the sheikhs – with the exception of a smirking Tarif – did not look happy at all to see her.
Since she was certain the sheikh would’ve informed his cousins about their engagement serving merely as a convenient cover-up, it only meant they still considered her unworthy even as a short-term fiancée. The thought hurt, but she told herself the king and his vassals had every right to feel that way.
Lifting her chin, she said stiffly, “I am deeply sorry—-”
“As you should be,” the king said heavily as he rose to his feet, with his vassals following suit.
Anisah forced herself to stay still as Khalil, Malik, Rayyan, and Altair walked towards her. Whatever they say or do, she told herself doggedly, you must accept with honor and grace.
“Lady Anisah?”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“There’s time yet to put an end to this farce,” Khalil said seriously. “Prove to us that you have better sense and taste.”
Anisah gaped. Did that mean...
“It is not too late to change your mind, anisdi. Say you will dump our bastard of a cousin, nem?”
Oh. Sheer relief had her bursting into laughter, but this only made the other sheikhs’ handsome faces crease with feigned scowls.
“Tarif is a bad influence on you,” Malik grumbled. “You never laughed like that before.”
