CHAPTER: 5
1277 Words
Half an hour later, Serena sat back in her chair and rubbed her stomach. "This was all wonderful, but I can't eat another bite."
"I too, am full." Amir then called the waiter over and asked him to clear the plates, then ordered a strong coffee. Serena asked for hot water and tea instead.
Once the waiter had brought their order, she got down to business again, transforming from a satisfied female to a sharp businesswoman. "All right. Let's start at the top. What is our budget?"
"Budget?" he asked.
"Yes. How much money will you spend on your wedding?"
"There is no budget. Whatever you decide will be done. I am a man of position and therefore my wedding should be extravagant. Nothing discounted or cheap," he said.
"But, I have never planned a wedding, that didn't have some budget. Even Sheikh-Adil gave me a few expenditure guidelines," she said.
"Well, now you have." Amir smiled at her stunned expression. "I am sure you have had ideas about the perfect wedding before, but have never been able to act upon them. Now you can. Plan this wedding with the same care and consideration as if it were your own. As if there were no limitations to the money that could be spent."
Serena raised her eyebrows, "You are serious?"
"Most definitely. Do whatever makes you happy," he said.
"But it is not my wedding." She shook her head and clasped her hands on the tabletop. She then asked him, "Perhaps your bride and I have different tastes."
"I doubt it." He sat back and watched her, "I imagine you would be a romantic, using lots of flowers, decorations, creating a fantasy land where the bride was the princess, and the groom the handsome prince."
She flushed the most beguiling shade of rose he had ever seen. "I have done Cinderella-themed weddings. If that is what you want, I will do it."
"This isn't about what I want." She looked up and met his gaze, a flicker of something passing through her eyes, there then gone before he could identify it. Empathy, perhaps.
Mr. AL-Aman..."
"Amir," he corrected her again.
"Amir," she kept her gaze lowered, her voice firm. "If your bride is not going to be involved in planning the wedding, I must insist you provide some guidance."
"I have. If you are happy, I will be happy," Amir said.
"And will your bride? Will she be happy too?" She pushed away from the table and stood up. "Thank you for lunch. I need to go so I can get my things moved into the palace." She turned to leave then stopped and looked back at him over her shoulder. "I hope your bride knows who she is marrying."
"She will," he said then watched as she strode from the restaurant, her head high and her movements graceful. She moved like one of his thoroughbred racehorses, sleek and refined beauty. He had always left the taming of his racehorses to the stable hands, but not this time.
Amir settled the bill then strode out to his own waiting car. This time he would very much enjoy taming this fine, charming, American filly himself.
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Tired and frustrated after she left the restaurant, Serena had directed the driver to take her to the palace. Upon her arrival, she was guided to a luxurious suite of rooms with marble floors and columns, white walls, and elegant furnishings.
Despite her job-related dilemmas, she almost felt like a princess. At least until she met Amir's secretary and the man had handed her a huge guest list, having one thousand people invited.
Royalty-related illusions gone.
Now, she was on the hunt for a venue in AL-Aman, big enough to hold such an elaborate affair.
Not exactly an easy task, given the language barrier, but her English-speaking driver had come to her rescue once more. He whisked her around to most of the popular banquet halls. Unfortunately, she had not found anything suitable. Most were either too big or too small. Nothing was just right. She sighed. This whole thing was turning into a nightmare.
Hours later, her driver delivered her back to the palace. Feet aching once more, she strode into the foyer and stopped again to marvel at the majestic elegance around her. From the domed ceiling to the mosaic wall art that shimmered and sparkled in the sunlight. Around her, servants bustled to and fro. Everyone in the palace seemed to have a job to do.
Including her. If she could just figure out the best way to delve into these wedding arrangements. A cool breeze drifted from the right side, and she spotted a set of open patio doors. Curious, she wandered in that direction, hoping she wasn't overstepping her boundaries. Technically, Amir had never told her not to explore his home, so if she would be caught, she could truthfully feign ignorance.
She neared the doors and spotted a large marble veranda beyond, which led down to the most beautiful gardens she had ever seen. As if drawn by an invisible cord, she stepped outside and walked down the steps, taking in the lush foliage, the flowers, and their exotic fragrances. Fountains gurgled and palm trees whispered in the winds high above. The whole thing was a dream landscape.
She stopped and took a three-sixty-degree turn, her tired spirits relaxing, her pulse racing with anticipation.
This. This was it. The perfect wedding venue. She pictured in her mind where the tents would be put, how to decorate the place, the perfect spot for the dance floor. Serena wandered further into the oasis and discovered a fountain with lush greenery with a palm tree growing from the middle, the sound of the water falling from one level to the next, very soothing and hypnotic.
"Serena."
She jumped and spun fast to find Amir watching her from nearby, his dark eyes narrowed, a slight frown on his tanned brow. A tingle of awareness crept at the sheer maleness of him. She tried to play it off as best as she could.
"Oh, hi. I didn't know anyone else was out here."
He didn't respond, his frown deepening.
Unsure what to do and not wanting to get in trouble for reckless snooping, she attempted to turn the spotlight back on him. "Everything all right?" she asked him.
"Fine. Tough day," he replied.
She nodded, "Likewise."
"How are things coming with the wedding plans?" he asked, stepping towards her.
"Better. I was out all day, searching throughout the city for the right venue. Then I came back here and it was right under my nose." She then gestured to indicate the surrounding gardens.
"You like this place?" he asked.
"Love it. I have never seen anything quite like it," Serena replied.
"This is where I come to think and sort out my problems. It has been my secret hideaway since I was a young boy."
"Quite a hideaway, I must say," Serena told him.
He smiled. The gesture changed him from brooding to handsome.
Serena's pulse quickened and her breath caught. She took a step back away from him and all the naughty things that filled her mind. "Well, I should probably get back to my room now."
"Not yet. It is time for dinner. Come let's dine together this evening," Amir said.
"Oh. I don't want to bother you," Serena told him hesitatingly.
"No, bother at all. You are my guest. Please, come along."
"Are you sure? You must be really busy. I don't want to intrude, Amir."
"I would have not asked if I was not sure, he replied."
- Writer
