CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
After a long and tedious plane ride in Lucky’s private jet, we arrived in Saudi Arabia. I had never flown on a plane before and it was an odd and slightly terrifying experience. Lucky was a complete sweetheart throughout the whole thing as he held me in his arms and caressed my hair, trying to ease away my panic attack.
I was glad when we finally landed. The air outside was hot and dry. The sun beamed down on us and I felt like I was already sweating. Lucky wasted no time to get us into an air-conditioned car that was waiting for us at the private airport. He flew down the main streets, his car sleek and elegant compared to some of the beat-up cars that drove past us.
The landscape started to change as we reached the more affluent part of the country. “This is Riyadh.” He explained. I looked out the window, seeing beautiful glass skyscrapers and other marvelous buildings that put San Francisco to shame.
“Wow… it’s stunning…” I said, admiring all the unique architecture and twinkling lights.
Once we reached the suburbs, large houses started to pop up. At the end of the road we were on, there was a large, golden gate with the letters L and M. The gates opened as he pressed a button on the steering wheel.
I nearly gasped when I saw the estate for the first time. It was huge. I stared at it, wide-eyed. It almost looked like a temple with its sand-colored stonework and bronze trimming. There were columns in the front, framing the large entryway. I had a sense that Lucky and his family were wealthy, but I never expected anything like this.
Well cared for palm trees decorated the landscape and all I could do was stare in amazement. I couldn’t believe the opulence of Lucky’s lifestyle. This had to be a dream…
He parked in front of the building, and two men approached to open the doors for us. I got out, still in a daze. I had to crane my neck just to see the top of the house. Lucky grabbed my hand, pulling me inside. “Let me give you the grand tour.”
I followed him obediently as he took me through all the rooms. We started in the huge living room. The furniture was upholstered with expensive-looking material. The floor was a spotless, rose-colored marble. “How can you afford all of this…?” I blurted out, gawking at everything around me.
“Don’t worry about that.” He squeezed me around the shoulders and guided me to the back where a giant swimming pool filled with crystal blue water was waiting for us. One side of the pool looked like a miniature beach. In that moment, all I wanted to do was put on the Gucci bathing suit he had bought for me and jump in.
Lucky pulled me away, continuing our tour. We passed through a large, restaurant-style kitchen. There were a few people working away, cutting some fish into thin slices and garnishing them expertly.
We arrived at a pair of elevators. “Whoa… you have an elevator… in your house?”
“Of course! No one wants to climb five flights of stairs just to get to their bedroom, especially after a night out.”
I couldn’t wrap my head around all of this. I never thought someone could live this lavishly.
Together, we stepped into the elevator. The closed space instantly made me want to push him against the wall and have my way with him. My lust started to surface, but before I could make my move, we were on the top floor and he was pulling me down the hall. We stopped at the third door on the left.
He pushed it open and I stood in the doorway, completely blown away. The bedroom was easily the most beautiful room of the whole house. Soft carpet cushioned our feet. Large, glass windows decorated the walls, filling the room with natural light. The bed dominated the center of the room. It was draped with velvet from all four posters, making it look like a bed fit for a queen. I stared at it, imaging Lucky and I spending countless nights there.
“And this here will be your bedroom.”
“Don’t you mean our bedroom?” I asked him, tilting my head, thinking he had just slipped up.
He shook his head. “Every woman in the harem has their own room.”
I took a step back, my foot on the threshold. My brief conversation with Karim came flooding back to me. I was part of a harem now. I was one of many. The statement echoed through my mind. I realized that in my lovesick attraction for Lucky, I had forgotten what I had agreed to.
I gulped. “I’m… I’m part of a harem?” I asked, just to make sure I had heard him correctly.
He nodded. “Didn’t Karim tell you?” He asked, a slight frown on his face. “He told me that you understood what that meant…”
“I do… but now… I feel…” I couldn’t finish my sentence. I felt sick. My stomach tightened in a knot. I was just another girl to him, not someone special. How had I allowed myself to be fooled like this? My fists tightened by my side. This couldn’t be happening… I had come all the way to Saudi Arabia, just to be one of his side chicks…
“Please… don’t be upset.” He gently rested his hand on my shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze. “I truly do care about you, Stella.” He whispered. “But this is my way of life… the culture of my people.” He looked into my eyes and I could tell that he was being sincere, but I just couldn’t bring myself to say something. He sighed, letting go.
He walked up to a door, showing me the walk-in closet. Some of the clothes we bought were already there, as well as a few other articles. “Please get dressed and then come downstairs. I’ll be waiting for you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The moment Lucky left, it felt like the whole world was crashing down around me. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. It felt like someone was squeezing my heart too hard and that it would burst at the seams. The way Lucky had looked at me during dinner, made me feel so special… but there wasn’t anything special about me.
I tried to straighten myself out, but I simply didn’t have the energy. “This can’t be happening…” I whispered to myself, running my fingers through my hair. I had traveled half-way around the globe, just to be in a polygamous relationship. This wasn’t what I wanted. Yet… I could no longer imagine my life without Lucky… without his breathtaking smile and those gorgeous eyes. “What am I supposed to do?” I asked myself, feeling numb all over.
Finally, I managed to walk into the closet, looking through all the clothes. Maybe, if I was lucky, I wouldn’t see the other girls. Maybe it would just be something that would bug the back of my mind that I could otherwise ignore.
I pulled out a light blue color dress and I was instantly reminded of my prom night. I closed my eyes, overtaken by a powerful flashback.
I was sitting on the toilet in the bathroom. My mom had the curling iron in her hand, twisting strands of hair around the wand until I could almost hear my hair sizzle. “Mom, are you sure you’re doing this right?”
“Of course,” She answered like she knew exactly what she was doing even though she had never curled anyone’s hair in her entire life. “Although, back in my day, we used to curl our hair overnight, with curling pins.”
“I know… but don’t you remember the last time we tried that? I looked like Medusa.”
My mom laughed. The sound was carefree and light. She had always been a free spirit, constantly smiling, even though life had been nothing but cruel to her. My father had left us when I was just a baby. My mom did everything she could to raise me as a single mother, but it was difficult. She had never finished high school so it made it that much harder for her to find a job. Most of the time, she just did laundry and other chores for the wealthy people in a nearby neighborhood. It was hard work, but she did whatever she needed to do to make sure there was food on the table and a roof over our heads.
“Mom! My hair!” I screamed. This time, I could smell the burning hair.
She pulled back immediately and it was a miracle that my hair didn’t fall off.
“Sorry…” She whispered, going for another strand.
I sighed. I wasn’t happy about the current arrangement. Unlike all the other girls in my class, I didn’t have enough money to go to the salon and get my hair fixed up for prom. Hell, I didn’t even have enough money to buy a new dress. I had to go to the thrift store… buying one that was too big for me. But it was on sale… and I didn’t have much of a choice.
“I can’t believe my baby is growing up so fast. Just the other day, I was changing your diaper, and now, here you are, going to senior prom. Where did the time go?”
“Mom, I’m not that old yet, jeez. You act like I’m getting married or something.”
She finished curling one side of my head. I glanced at the mirror and nearly growled. It didn’t look good at all, but I didn’t have the heart to tell her. She looked like she was putting so much effort into it.
“No, but don’t think it’ll take you very long to go down that aisle.”
“I’m only 18.”
“I married your father when I was 21.”
I fell quiet and shook my head. I didn’t want to think about growing up. Not yet, anyway. I still had time to fool around and have my fun. I had just gotten accepted to a good college with a tuition scholarship.
“Did you say you were going with a boy?” She asked me for the millionth time.
“No. I’m just going with a group of friends.”
“Good. That makes me feel better.”
“Why?”
She stopped playing with my hair, a serious expression falling on her face. “I don’t want you to get hurt the same way I did… Men have a way of capturing our attention, drawing us in, casting their spell…”
“Mom, you’re talking crazy.”
“No, it’s the truth.” She said firmly. “They’ll try anything to trick you so that they can get what they want. Just look at what your father did.”
“Mom, I don’t want to talk about this.”
“You’re growing up, Estella. I want you to be prepared.” She leaned down, staring into my eyes. “I want you to promise me that you won’t let some guy take advantage of you.”
“I promise, mom.”
I blinked and the image of my mother faded from my mind. Even then, her memory was already starting to fade away. How had I not noticed it sooner? Guilt gripped my chest as I started to get dressed, my fingers shaking. Her words echoed through my mind. Don’t allow a man to take advantage of you.
But that’s exactly what happened, wasn’t it? I had fallen for Lucky’s good looks and the way he treated me. I had fallen for everything just to be brought back to his country and get my own room. My mouth tasted like copper as I made the realization.
No. Maybe Lucky was different. Maybe he cared for me like he said he did. He couldn’t be lying… I simply couldn’t accept it.
With the dress on, I stepped out of the closet and left my bedroom. As I passed the other doors in the hall, I knew I couldn’t keep lying to myself. I was just one of many.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
When I stepped out of the elevator, a well-dressed man guided me toward a room I hadn’t seen in the tour. To my amazement, it was even more opulent than my bedroom. Everything sparkled as if it was made from precious metals. A large, decorative fireplace captured my eye. Valuable pieces of artwork hugged the walls. Vaulted ceilings soared overhead. A crystal chandelier bigger than I had ever seen before swayed slightly, sparkling like a midnight star.
“Wow…” I mumbled under my breath, still amazed at how lavish Lucky’s lifestyle really was. I wondered just how much money someone needed to afford all of this.
“Ah, Stella…” Lucky’s voice broke me out of my trance. I looked up to see him standing there with five other women flanked around him. They were all very beautiful in their own unique way. I timidly glanced at each one before my eyes settled on a redhead whose hair flowed down her back in soft ringlets. She was sitting beside Lucky, his arm wrapped around her waist like she was his favorite. I shied away from her gaze, feeling inadequate in comparison. If Lucky had a woman like her by his side, why did he need someone like me?
“Come, sit beside me.” He patted the cushion next to him. Some of the other women had to scoot over to make room for me. The redhead stayed exactly where she was like she knew she belonged there.
Hesitantly, I walked over, conscious of everyone looking at me. Lucky started to pour me a glass of wine as I sat down. I took it nervously, my fingers still shaking. With everyone’s eyes on me, I took a sip, trying to savor it. I just hoped the alcohol would do something to soothe my mind.
The wine went down smoothly, leaving behind a warmness that settled in my chest. I smiled, quickly downing the rest of the glass. My nerves were still on edge, especially since the green-eyed girl was throwing daggers in my direction like I was competition or something. What was her problem anyway?
“That good?” He laughed, taking the glass. With a practiced air, he refilled it. He gave me a friendly smile, which helped me calm down. I took a deep breath, trying to settle, but it was difficult. The woman moved closer to Lucky, giving me what I thought was a clear signal to stay away. How would I ever survive in a place like this if I was expected to compete with someone so beautiful? “We might as well take this time for introductions.” He motioned toward the redhead and smiled lovingly. “This is Laila.”
I turned toward her and with my cheeks already getting warm from the alcohol, I felt myself loosen up a little. She was very beautiful with her soft, round face, button nose, and fair skin. Inside my chest, a spark of what felt like jealousy flared. Lucky had no doubt slept with this woman, done things to her like he had done to me back at Breslyn’s. If not more…
I leaned in a little closer to Lucky, almost like I was claiming my territory. I rested my hand on his chest, making almost a show of it, clinging to the fabric of his shirt, my body pressed against his. Lucky wrapped his arm around my shoulders pulling me closer. “This here is Estella, she will be staying with us.” He told Laila, kissing the top of my head. The woman’s cheeks turned pink, her lips pressing together into a tight line. It felt like I had already made an enemy within the household, which made me a tad bit nervous.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Laila held out her hand, mock politeness painting her words.
Hesitantly, I took it in mine.
Lucky smiled brightly, thinking that we were getting along. “Isn’t she just as beautiful as I said she was?” He asked Laila, his eyes sparkling, like a child showing off a new toy.
My cheeks colored at his compliment, especially in the presence of this woman. I could almost feel the tension growing between us. I had no idea how we would live together if we couldn’t get along, but at the same time, I didn’t know if I would ever feel comfortable sharing Lucky with another woman.
“Very beautiful,” Laila answered if only to make Lucky happy. She forced her pink lips into a flirtatious smile as she rested her hand on Lucky’s knee, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Now, I was the one getting jealous. My fingers tightened around my glass of wine and I quickly downed it, trying to avoid her piercing gaze. Lucky refilled it yet again. I was already starting to get lightheaded and tipsy.
Upon Lucky’s insisting gaze, she ventured to start a conversation with me. “What was it like living in America?”
I sipped on my third helping of wine. “Like any other place, I suppose…” I pronounced my words carefully, trying not to make a fool of myself. The alcohol was getting to me, and in a way, I liked it. I studied Laila’s face, admiring her light sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of her nose. She looked like a porcelain doll. She was so pretty. How was I supposed to compare?
“Oh, please, I’m sure it was exciting.” She said, leaning forward like she was interested but her real intention was clear. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched her creep her hand further along Lucky’s leg, nearing his crotch.
“It was… I don’t know…”
“It’s okay. We can talk about it some other time.” Her eyes twinkled with mischief, squeezing Lucky’s thigh.
“O-Okay.” I was about halfway done with my third glass when she leaned in really close, her nose almost touching mine.
Lucky seemed to take our closeness as a sign that we were comfortable around each other. A pleased grin spread across his face, his eyes moving from me to her like there was a plan brewing in his head. “Why don’t we take this to my private chamber?” We both looked at him and nodded, unable to disobey him.
He got up and Laila instantly reached for his hand, pulling him forward as she giggled, like she was bent on leaving me behind. Lucky chuckled, grabbing me by the ass, making sure I wasn’t forgotten. Together, all three of us squeezed into an elevator and I could tell by Lucky’s growing erection that he was dying to get into the bedroom.