Authors: Imari Jade
“The same thing reason you do….because of her big ass.”
Robert smirked, detecting a hint of jealousy in Halima’s tone. “Are you in love with Prince Shakir?”
Halima shook her head. “Not anymore. Our relationship is purely business.”
“Meaning?”
“He and I had a thing once but he cheated on me.”
Robert pulled the voluptuous dark-skinned beauty into his arms. “Am I your sexual revenge?”
“I won’t lie…maybe. I mean, I would love to make him jealous, but I’m a sensible woman. I know he can care less about my feelings.”
“Does he cheat very often?”
“Oh yes. Shakir likes a variety.”
Robert frowned.
So not only is he trying to take Charisma away from me, he plans to cheat on her too.
He shook Halima from his side and headed back inside the room.
“What are you going to do?”
“Go back to bed and then later I’ll get to the bottom on this.”
* * * *
The plan was working, Halima thought as she lounged around her own hotel suite an hour later. Shakir would be hers again and there was no way she was going to let some little American harlot stop her from marrying a prince. Granted, she had been a little premature in breaking up with Shakir but she was angry at the time and made a rash decision. Using Robert was only a small price to pay to fall back into her father’s good graces. The man was simply livid when he found that she had let Shakir slip away. What kind of idiot would break up with a crowned prince? Of course at the time she thought he had cheated on her and then she discovered it wasn’t true, but it was too late to do anything about it because Shakir cut himself off and only kept a civil working relationship with her. Granted, she had put her father’s partnership with Shakir in the hotel in a precarious position, but so far the hotel didn’t seem to be suffering from it. She planned to get Shakir back before anything did. The partnership would be strong as long as the prince was sharing a bed with his partner’s daughter. There was only one obstacle in the way, Charisma Romaine. The next part of the plan was to either make her jealous enough to leave Shakir or make him jealous enough to leave Charisma either way it was a win-win in her favor.
* * * *
“I saw him leave your room this morning.”
Charisma looked back at Robert. “Who?’
“Shakir.”
“So.”
“You mean you are not going to deny it? You left with him last night after the fund-raiser.”
“I don’t have to lie and I don’t owe you an explanation. You left me sitting in that bar for hours. He showed up and asked me if I wanted to see
Cairo
and I told him yes.” She walked away, but he grabbed her wrist.
“You’re supposed to be mine, not his. Your uncle promised.”
Charisma snatched her hand away. “Promised what?”
“That he would help me with my political career.”
“What does that have to do with me? Are you telling me that I’m part of a deal?”
Robert shook his head. “No, but I know getting with you can only cinch my political backing.”
“So you’re only interested in me because I can help your career?”
“Yes—no—that’s not what I mean.”
She had figured it out a long time ago but didn’t want to admit it to herself. Them not having sex was a good clue. “Sounds like it to me.”
“This is not about me. He’s just taking advantage of you.”
“He took me on a tour of the town and we talked.”
“What kind of relationship do you expect to have with him? He’s a Nubian prince and you’re a student from
Louisiana
and barely out of college. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but long distance relationships don’t work.”
She was angry enough to slap his face. She put her hand on her hip and wagged the fingers from the other one in his face. “Neither does relationships arranged for political gain. I need a man I can love and one who loves me. Whether it is here or back in the
United States
. Shakir makes me feel special. He treats me like a woman. Anyway, I’m here to take photos for my thesis, not be a part of some kinky love triangle.”
Robert took her hand and pulled her to him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any of that. You know how I feel about you. I love you, Chrissy. I always have. Just seeing you with him makes me so jealous.” He kissed her. “I’ll be going back to the
United States
in a couple of days. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks, and when I come back I want my answer.”
“What answer?” Charisma asked.
“Will you marry me?” He released her and walked back into the hotel.
She stood there stunned. Damn. She wasn’t expecting that.
* * * *
“What do you mean Robert proposed to you?” Shakir asked Charisma over the telephone.
“Just what I said. We were arguing and the next thing I knew he proposed.”
Shakir rubbed his temple. This was not going the way he expected. The two of them had shared a wonderful evening together and now this. “Did you accept?”
“No, he wants me to wait two weeks before I give him a decision. He should be back from the
United States
by then.”
“Are you going to accept?”
“I don’t know.”
He didn’t expect that either. “What do you mean you don’t know? That’s not the answer I expected after what we shared.”
“I know,” Charisma replied. “I’m so confused.”
He had suspected for a while that she still had feelings for Robert.
“What’s wrong?” Charisma asked.
“Nothing.”
“It doesn’t sound like nothing. What am I supposed to do?”
“It looks like you have a decision to make. You can’t have it both ways.”
“You don’t have to be so mean about it.”
“How do you expect me to react? Another man proposes to you and you don’t say no and then you call me and tell me about it. You are not confused my dear, you are delusional if you think I’m going to be the better man and step aside.”
“No, I thought you’d be a little more understanding. I didn’t have to tell you.”
“Well you’re wrong. He does not love you…even a blind man can see that. He is only using you to further his political career.”
“He is not. He does love me in his own way.” She paused. “You don’t understand. Robert and I have history.”
“Then what are you calling me for? It wasn’t his name you were screaming last night.”
“I know that but you didn’t have to throw it in my face. You don’t understand. My folks are expecting me to marry Robert.”
“And you always do what they expect you to do?”
“No, not always.”
“Of course you don’t. So why now?”
“I didn’t say that I was going to accept.”
“No, but you didn’t say no to him immediately, which means you are considering it.”
“Why are you being like this?”
“I think we should end this conversation.”
“Are you dismissing me like I’m some child?” Charisma asked.
“Yes. Good-bye.” He hung up the phone.
* * * *
“Ooh,” Charisma said angrily. “I hate him so much.” She stormed up to her room, ignoring the stares of the maids who were busy cleaning downstairs. She threw herself on the bed. “I have a good mind never to speak to Shakir again.” The nerve of him treating her like a child. It was a side of him she never seen before. She punched her pillow into submission. He could have at least been a little more understanding. She also had half a mind to accept Robert’s proposal. Who did Shakir think he was anyway? Sleep with a man and he thinks he owns you. She was just about to doze off when someone knocked on her door. “Come in.”
Carmen walked in. “I just heard the good news. Congratulations.”
“For what?”
“On your engagement to Robert.” She sat down in a chair. “I’m so excited for you.”
Charisma swore under her breath and sat up. “Don’t be. I haven’t accepted yet.”
“What do you mean you haven’t accepted yet? Are you crazy? Robert’s a good catch.”
“Yes, I know he is but I’m just not sure that I want to marry him. Anyway, I have two weeks before I have to make a decision.”
“I don’t see what the problem is?” She paused. “Shakir?”
Charisma nodded. “Well, he was the problem but after the way he talked to me on the phone I might just accept Robert’s proposal.”
“Wait, hold it, and back up here. What did Shakir do?”
“He’s mad at me because I’m thinking of accepting Robert’s proposal.”
“You told him?”
Charisma nodded.
“So what did he say?”
“He told met that I was delusional.”
“Why would he say something like that? The two of you are only friends.”
“No we’re not,” Charisma replied. “I think I’m in love with Shakir.”
“But the two of you just met.”
“I can’t help how I feel. That’s the problem. I know I owe Robert some type of explanation.”
“You sure do.”
“So tell me what I’m supposed to do?”
“I can’t tell you that. You have to make up your own mind, but realize you could be passing up an opportunity for a lifetime.”
“I know that too, but I also feel I’d be missing a bigger opportunity if I let Shakir get away.”
“Has he proposed?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love me.”
Carmen sighed and rose. “Your uncle and I will stand behind any decision you make.” She opened the door and left.
Charisma lay back down. Her aunt was disappointed. She sighed and wished that someone would show her a sign to help her with the decision.
* * * *
If he didn’t say it now he wouldn’t be able to do it. Robert knocked on the door of Shakir’s office. Guided by Julio’s words of encouragement he decided to let the other man know how he felt. The door was opened by Amon, Shakir’s cousin.
“Can I help you?”
“I need to talk with the prince in private.”
“Let him in,” Shakir replied.
Amon stepped aside, allowed Robert in and then the stepped out of the office, closing the door behind him.
“I’m going to make this short and sweet,” Robert said, declining the seat Shakir offered him. “I know how you feel about Charisma and I know the two of you were together last night.”
Shakir didn’t deny either accusation. “She was alone and she wanted to see
Cairo
.”
“She could have asked me.”