Chapter 9
“Why are we going to Sydney?” Libby tried to relax as Amir’s jet climbed towards the sky. She hated taking off more than any other part of traveling, all the shaking and vibrating underscored just how safe the skies were. Once they reached cruising altitude she would be able to relax against the soft buttery leather, maybe even comprehend Amir’s words.
“We need to find you a few formal outfits before we reach Kadrishan.”
Well, if there was one thing that would take her mind off how much she hated the feel of the plane ascending to the sky. “You’re so certain I don’t have any formal clothes?”
He frowned. “I’m fairly certain you didn’t bring them with you. Besides, I thought women loved to shop.”
“I do, but when I need something. Why can’t we just stop in Paris?” She hoped that numb feeling in her legs and arms had more to do with how hard she gripped the armrests and shoved her feet as hard as she could onto the floor.
Amir sighed and she could see the frustration in the tension of his jaw, the way his nostrils flared. “Sydney is much closer than Paris Libby. What is the big deal?”
She could have explained it to him. Could have made him understand, but he was right, at least about the geographical aspect of it. “How many outfits will I need?”
“Just a few,” he shrugged. “We will arrive in time for the dinner honoring the agricultural families who work hard all year to provide the country with crops. It is a formal affair and then following day is the ball and another dinner prior to the ball. The following morning is a breakfast that is a semi-formal affair so four formal dresses.”
“I’m perfectly capable of buying my own dresses Amir.”
“This is part of our arrangement Libby so I will purchase anything you need for this trip. Don’t argue with me.”
She froze at his words, suddenly feeling as though she had been transported back to every failed relationship she ever had. She’d always been left feeling as though she wasn't good enough and in the end she walked away to preserve her sanity. Her sense of self. “Whatever.” With a heavy sigh, Libby stared out at the clouds wishing she felt as light and airy as those white puffs hanging in the sky. At least we have Bali.
She would remember the time they spent on the beach, the time they spent in each other’s arms making love. The kite festival. Memories she would carry with her forever. Memories that would, hopefully, offset whatever was about to happen. By the time they arrived in Sydney she was on edge and exhausted.
The two bedroom suite was large, almost cavernous and decorated in colors of the sea. It was beautiful and she wanted to enjoy it,S but unfortunately all she could think about was the shopping trip to get her all fancy to meet his family. His royal family.
* * *
“What’s wrong with this dress?” Amir had never felt so frustrated, so annoyed with a woman in all his life. Especially when he’d given her carte blanche to go crazy inside a high end boutique that he was paying for.
“Besides the fact that it doesn’t fit my style, isn’t right for my body type and it costs too much? Nothing at all.” She looked so miserable standing in front of the bank of mirrors that he almost felt sorry for her. Almost.
“It’s a beautiful dress Libby and it looks gorgeous on you.” he just couldn’t understand it. Her cleavage was hypnotizing and she looked like a sexy princess in it.
“Fine. You like it so we’ll get it.” She turned around and slipped back inside the dressing room.
With an exasperated sigh, he raked a hand through his hair for what felt like the twentieth time that day. “What would you choose then Libby? Help me out here, I’m just trying to get what you need so you feel comfortable.”
She scoffed behind the door. “It’s clear that it doesn’t matter what I would choose Amir so just drop it. This is the last dress and we’re done, right?”
“Yes.”
“Okay then.” She said nothing else but when she emerged from the dressing room her face was a mask of nothingness. “So can we grab some food now?”
He nodded, paid and then guided her out of the boutique with the too helpful saleswoman. The driver quickly took the bags and stored them out of sight. “There’s a great seafood place not too far from here.” He guided her to the waiting car where she slid in and maintained her stiff silence. “Are you going to be upset with me all day?”
She turned and smiled, the anger seemed to deflate out of her, but the smile was one he’d seen before. During those first few days in Bali. “I’m not upset but you’re right. These clothes are for our arrangement to meet your family so I have no right to be upset about what I wear.”
“Now I feel like an asshole.”
She laughed and it was genuine, making those blue eyes sparkle. “I can’t help you with that. But the dresses are bought so it doesn’t matter, right? Now feed me, shopping wears me out.”
Amir sat back and laughed, happy that Libby wasn’t a woman who hung on to her anger because clearly she had been upset about his choices. He had to know the truth. “You really didn’t like any of those dresses?”
They exited the car and he guided her into the restaurant. She waited until they were seated to answer his question. “They were beautiful, but like I told you they were overpriced and they didn’t flatter my figure.”
His eyes went wide. “But you looked so amazing in them! Is this a female thing where you just can’t be happy no matter how incredible you look?”
“No. It’s a style thing Amir. Now can we please stop talking about this?”
He nodded and turned the conversation towards more benign things such as what to expect when they arrived in Kadrishan and what tourist spots she wanted to see in Sydney. “We have all day tomorrow before we have to leave the following morning.”
“I’d like to go surfing and maybe snap some photos of the opera house. Grandpa will love them.”
She gave him another of those looks he couldn’t quite decipher. Maybe it was affection or maybe it was amusement, he didn’t know, but he knew that look made him feel warm all over. “The papers in Kadrishan printed some photos of us from Bali.” His mother had called, once again feeling overjoyed at what she thought she saw in the photos.
“How is that possible?”
“Remember the flash from the kite festival?” She nodded and sipped her lemonade. “There were a few from that day, a few at the temple and more than a few of us on the beach,” he groaned.
“Tell me,” she grinned. “You have to tell me.”
“There’s one of you tossed over my shoulder and I look like I’m about to ravish you.”
Libby laughed so long and hard that tears streamed from her eyes. “Probably because every time you did that you ended up ravishing me. But I can’t believe your mother saw it! Was she mortified?”
“Quite the opposite actually. She was ecstatic.” Her happiness over his supposed blissful state had started to gnaw at him. He hated lying to his parents, particularly his mother, but he really did not want to marry Nissa. And that pit of miserable resignation that settled in his gut told him that he might not have a choice.
“Really? Isn’t that a good thing?” Her blue eyes searched his and he wondered what she saw there. They seemed soft at first, but he caught a flash of something. Recognition maybe, or understanding. “I think I understand,” she said and ducked her head behind the large leather-bound menu.
“What do you think you understand?” He hoped she didn’t understand a damn thing because it would hurt her. Libby was a good woman. She was kind and sweet, beautiful and bubbly and didn’t deserve the pain she would feel if she ever understood why he’d chosen her.
She’d been about to speak when their waitress, Calissa, made her way to the table to take their orders. Libby politely ordered fish tacos and fresh chips, avoiding his gaze. “Can you add a beer to my order please?”
“Sure thing.” She gathered their menus and sauntered off.
Amir’s gaze turned back to Libby expectantly, waiting for an answer. “Are you going to answer my question?”
“No, I don’t think I will.”
Amir groaned and smacked his forehead against his palm. He had a feeling that the fun and sexy honeymoon period of his fake fiancée relationship had come to an end.