Married To The Dominant King

CHAPTER 3

NORA

Throughout the entire flight I couldn’t stop thinking about my parents and their suspicious behavior. I don't really understand what was happening, and why aren’t they telling me anything specific?

I can’t believe my dad just texted me and told me not to go to Yildiz. The only thing they are actually both doing is pique my curiosity. Why should I wait for him in Istanbul? What are they really hiding?

I was restless, and I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t even talk to him since I was still on the flight to Istanbul.

“Are you alright?” Emma asked with concern.

I sighed. “I don’t know Emma. I’m just really confused right now. The way my mom behaved this morning, and then I received a strange text from my dad. I don’t know what to think anymore.”

Emma frowned, as if she was deep in thoughts. “Well, maybe it’s possible he’s too busy, and he doesn’t want to burden you with his work stress. Or better yet, he doesn’t want you to see him working under arrogant royals. You are from America, so you wouldn’t take such acts like rudeness lightly, especially if it’s done to your dad. Maybe he’s trying to protect you from getting in between their culture and the people he serves.”

I frowned at her. “Are you insinuating that my dad might be a slave to the royals?”

She rolled her eyes. “I never said slave. I mean your dad is working with royals here, not just any other employer, so the way they behave with their employees might be different from, let’s say, a company worker.”

I released a breath and shifted in my seat. “That doesn’t really make any sense.”

“I knew you would say that. Your dad might not want you to see him in a different light than you are used to. A rich dad who takes care of your every need. He might not want you to see him working as a servant to the king despite all the wealth he has.”

I rolled my eyes at her. “Couldn’t you just have said it like that. Instead of going through the corners.”

She giggled. “I like the trill of you focusing on me and what I’m saying while I talk about my theories.”

I smiled and shook my head. Emma can really be a pain in the ass sometimes. “I’ll put that into consideration then.”

“You should. Because I’m always speaking facts here.”

“Whatever.”

Emma laughed and turned her focus back to her tablet. I guess reading one of her ebooks again.

My mind shifted back to dad. Could it be that what Emma said could be the truth? What about mom then? All this can’t simply be a coincidence. Can it?

After an hour into our flight, with endless thoughts. I finally slowly began to doze off, and momentarily I was scared that I would have one of my dreams again.

I did dream as I feared, but it was different this time around. I wasn’t falling to my death or getting lost or being killed by someone.

No. This time around, I dreamed of a huge mansion surrounded by a big garden with different beautiful flowers. The house looked familiar, and I wondered why, because it didn’t look like a house you’d find in America.

Hours later, I jumped abruptly from my sleep when the operator announced our arrival in Istanbul.

“Damn.” Emma grunted beside me. “This was such a long flight. I just hope it’s worth all the time and effort.”

“Stop exaggerating Emma. It’s a free trip, remember?”

“Exactly! All the more reason why I should enjoy this trip, because it’s free, and we could have gone to many exciting places too.”

I looked around for my bag and got up once Emma walked out of the way. “I also wanted to surprise my dad. He’s been so good to me. This is the least I could do.”

Emma smiled and hugged me. “I know. I was just joking though.”

I grinned and nodded. “Of course I know you were joking.”

She smiled at me warmly. “I’m just glad you will finally see your dad here in his hometown.”

“Me too Emmy.”

We finally got off the plane. It was dark already but the sight before me caught my breath away. This place is freaking beautiful.

“Holy s**t!” Emma exclaimed behind me. “We are so going to have a blast. Gosh, I can’t wait.” She said with obvious excitement.

“I hope so too.” I said softly, thoughts of my parents quickly intruding into my mind again.

“Please don’t do that.”

I frowned. “Do what?”

“Start thinking too much, then ruin our vacation with endless thoughts.”

I rolled my eyes at her. “I’m not thinking about just any other thing. I’m worried about my parents, and it’s natural that I do.”

She nodded. “Yeah you are right. But I’m positive that there is nothing wrong.”

“Okay then. No more thinking too hard.”

She smiled brightly. “That’s more like it. Let’s go.”

We walked out of the airport and walked towards a standing taxi. But I was suddenly stopped by a huge man wearing a plain black suit. He looked more like a bodyguard with a Bluetooth earpiece clipped to his ear. He looked more like a secret agent with low cut hair, huge muscles and a sharp jaw.

“Miss Aslin?''

"Yes. Can I help you?"

''I’m here to get you to your hotel safely.” He said with his deep voice.

I frowned at him. “I never asked for an escort.”

“I’m sorry for my manners.” He said robotically. “Your dad sent me here as your bodyguard for your safety.”

“Huh?” Emma asked shockingly.

I was dumbfounded and just kept staring at him. “I… I don’t really need a bodyguard. Emma and I would manage just fine. Well, maybe you could just give us a ride to the hotel?”

Emma shrugged my hand. “Are you crazy? We have a whole bodyguard. How f*****g cool is that?”

I gaped at her. “Are you serious right now? You are willing to have a bodyguard follow us everywhere. That’s just crazy and unacceptable.”

Emma can be super childish sometimes. She’s like the sister I never had, but she’s a real pain in the ass sometimes.

She pouted her lips. “I guess you are right. I wouldn’t want to be followed to the toilet by this hunk even if he’s really handsome.”

I laughed and rolled my eyes. “Who is talking about following you to the toilet, Emmy? I’m sure that’s not his job.”

The man in black stood there still, without reacting to anything we were saying.

“I’m sorry miss, but I can’t just drop you at the hotel. It’s my job to guard you at all times.”

I sighed in frustration. “I guess I’ll just call my dad now and make him understand. We don’t need any babysitting.”

I took my phone out of my handbag and dialed my dad’s number. It kept going on voicemail.

“Goddamn it. It’s going through voicemail.”

“That’s because he’s a little busy handling some state issues. That’s why he couldn’t pick you up in person.” The man said.

I raised my head from my phone screen to look up at him. He is really handsome and muscular. I realized I hadn’t even asked him his name.

“What’s your name?”

“Burak.”

“Hard name for a hot hard man,” Emma commented with a mischievous smirk.

Burak cleared his throat and shifted to his feet, slightly flustered. “Your father is a member of the royal palace, and sorry for saying this, but they are always bound to have lots of enemies. You are part of it, as long as you are in this country. Thus, you need your own protection.”

I turned to look at Emma, whose eyes widened at the mention of enemies.

“I just hope there is nothing like shootouts and all that stuff?” She asked, looking a bit scared.

Burak smiled. “There is absolutely nothing to worry about. Such things haven’t happened in years now. But it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

I was trying to take all this in with an open mind. It was all so damn confusing.

Just then, I saw the woman who was staring at me in the airport in America. She was there too, and she was staring at me again.

Her eyes were scary, especially with those thick black eyeliners that just made her all the more scary. I don’t like the way she was studying me with her narrowed eyes.

I might just be reading too much into this, but either way, I need to get the hell away out of here.

“Burak? Can we leave now? We are a little tired.”

Emma frowned at me and raised her brow in question. I shook my head. I really don’t need one of her lectures on how I was just being paranoid. She would likely say the woman was just admiring my looks.

I know an admired look when I see one, this one right here, that this strange woman was giving me was not an admired look.

“Let’s go ladies,” Burak said and directed us to a limousine where the driver got out of the car and opened the door for us.

“A freaking limousine. Seriously?” I asked and rolled my eyes.

Burak shrugged with his dead ass face.

“This is so awesome, girl.” Emma jumped in excitement before getting into the car.

I turned to search for the woman with my eyes once and noticed her approaching us. I got into the car quickly.

“Burak. Let’s go. Now.”

Burak farrowed his brow in confusion but didn’t ask any further questions before getting into the car.

As we drove off, I saw the woman standing by the door staring directly at me. As if she could see right through the tainted windows.

I don’t understand. What does that woman want? Is she one of the threats Burak was referring to?