Free Read Novels Online Home

Bought And Paid For: The Tycoon's Sheikha Bride by Holly Rayner, Lara Hunter (5)

Chapter Five

“Jenson Black.”

His voice was deep and professional. She’d half hoped that he wouldn’t answer, but since he had, she had no choice but to press on.

“Mr. Black,” she began, but he cut her off before she could finish.

“Your Highness. Calling to berate me again for investing in my future?”

His tone had her teeth on edge already. Could Jasmina really last an entire lifetime with such an insufferable person by her side? Swallowing her distaste, she charged ahead.

“I’m calling because I’ve considered your proposal and have decided to accept it,” she said, her tone professional, as though she were simply making a supply order, and nothing more.

She felt a small sense of satisfaction at Jenson’s own stunned silence. After a beat, he was right back in the game.

“Well that’s quite the change of heart. And here I have my flight back to the States already booked for tomorrow. You’re telling me I need to cancel it?”

“I’m telling you that I am willing to enter into a marriage with you in exchange for the agreed-upon sum for the lithium and the guarantee that you will maintain a local workforce. Do we have a deal, Mr. Black?”

“Only if you call me Jenson.”

He was teasing her. He was teasing her as she gave up a chance at love, at happiness for her country. A black, oily hole opened up in Jasmina’s chest, and her eyes narrowed.

“We will have to make certain appearances, which we will discuss. In public, I will call you by your given name. In private, I have no need to do so. Please, rejoin me at the palace tomorrow so we can finalize this deal. I’d like to have your team moving out as soon as possible.”

“You’re seriously going to go through with this?” he asked.

She couldn’t read him. She hated that she couldn’t read him. What was he asking that for, after she’d already made her declaration?

“When I give my word I keep it, Mr. Black. I sincerely hope I can expect the same courtesy from you.”

“Well as delightful as this engagement is, I think we can end the conversation with that. I’ll be by tomorrow to discuss whatever details you want to hash out, and I will make the call to have my men start the process of moving in and hiring here. Is that amenable to you?”

“Do you honestly care?” she asked.

There was a hesitation that had Jasmina curious. Was there perhaps a human being beneath that cocky exterior? Dare she hope that to be the case?

“Well you will be my wife in a few months. I believe your happiness is somewhat my responsibility.”

“Your consideration knows no bounds, Mr. Black. Until tomorrow.”

She hung up the phone, then, not giving him a chance to have his own say. Her spirit and her body felt numb, as though she would never know true happiness again. She would have to rely on memories for that, she supposed, resigning herself to her fate. When she looked out the window she realized that the sun had already set, though she had no appetite for food.

Changing into a pair of pajamas, she settled into her spacious, comfortable bed and turned off the light. Staring up into the inky blackness of her room, she thought about becoming the wife of a selfish, greedy man. Would he expect her to share a bed with him? If he did, he had another thing coming!

Time passed as Jasmina did her best to fall asleep. Sometime in the wee hours of the morning, she finally did, and was blessedly bereft of dreams.

A firm knock on her door startled her from her dreamless slumber, and Asha walked in, ready to prepare her mistress for the day.

“Rise and shine, another day is here,” she said, as she always had, every morning since Jasmina was born.

“So it is,” Jasmina grumbled into her pillow, turning to face the other way.

Asha threw the comforter off of her, tossing it aside.

“You are meeting with the delegation from the north in thirty minutes to discuss issues pertaining to the drought. There is no time to be a lazy bum, Your Highness.”

Jasmina groaned, knowing that she would be exhausted for the rest of the day. She slumped like a zombie as Asha forced her to shower before taking care of her hair and dress while Jasmina obediently moved wherever she needed her. When she was done, she pulled Jasmina up.

“Whatever happened during that phone call, you cannot let it show in front of your people. Find your inner strength, and carry on. Your father would expect it of you.”

Those were the magic words, as always.

Jasmina met Asha’s stare and nodded, standing a little taller. Asha led the way out of the room, showing Jasmina to a small antechamber, where a small group of men in farmer’s clothes were waiting for her. As they shifted from foot to foot, their hats wringing in their hands, Jasmina instantly realized that she had her Sheikha hat on, and it was time to get to work.

“Gentlemen, please sit down.”

They jumped as she entered, and she wondered why they were so fearful. One of them stayed at the front, evidently the leader.

“Your Highness, thank you for taking the time to meet with us today. May we personally send our condolences about your beloved father—may he rest peacefully forever in the garden of the gods.”

She nodded her head at his good wishes, gesturing again for the men to sit. Once she proceeded to do so, they followed suit.

“What can I help you with this morning, gentlemen?”

The leader cleared his throat, his eyes darting from her back to the ground and up again.

“It’s the drought, Your Highness. While the rainy season is set to be good next year, we need extra funding to feed the people up north for the next several months at least. The food supply is getting more restricted by the day.”

Jasmina nodded as she listened to his plea.

“Have you reached out to vendors to the south?”

“Well…no, Your Highness. We didn’t think they’d be willing to make the move.”

“I’ll be meeting with a group of key business owners later this afternoon. Let me speak with them, and we’ll see if we can’t make a communal connection that can be of benefit to us all. If that doesn’t work, rest assured that the palace will not see our people go hungry. Does that sound good to you?”

Heads were nodding enthusiastically.

“Thank you, You Highness. You are a true treasure.”

“I am no one’s treasure, but I accept your compliment,” she said with a small smile.

The man’s grin faltered as he wondered at his misstep. She reached out a hand for him to take, which he did, gratefully.

“Do not trouble yourself. I am happy to meet you all and make this connection. I look forward to working together for the greater good in the future.”

A chorus of thank-yous rang around the room as Jasmina made her exit, heading toward her main office to see what she would be up to next. As she walked through the open atrium, the door opened, and Jenson walked through.

Today he was wearing a gray suit that was no less tailored to his body than the black one had been. Jasmina was annoyed that she even noticed that, wishing that she could look anywhere but his startling green eyes. She had never in her life seen eyes like his before, and she hated the way her body reacted to him.

“Jasmina!” he said, approaching her and pressing an affectionate kiss along her cheek.

“For appearances,” he whispered against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.

Jasmina took a deep step away from him.

“We haven’t officially agreed on anything yet. There’s no need for this pony show.”

Jenson shrugged.

“Can’t hurt to practice,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

“You are atrocious,” she growled, and he laughed.

“So I’ve been told. When shall we meet about our negotiation then? I have some paperwork that will require your John Hancock.”

“My what?”

“Your signature.”

“Oh.”

An awkward pause hung between them then, and as time passed Jasmina realized she had more important things to worry about than her false marriage to this cad. She had to focus on the bigger picture, and simply get this part over with.

“To my office, then, so we can be done with this. I assume you’ve got your transition team on route already?”

“Not until I get that signature, my beautiful fiancée.”

Jasmina cringed at the word. She was silent the rest of the way to her office, opening the door and walking through until she sat behind her father’s massive desk. Someday, she would come to think of the office as her own, but it simply didn’t feel right so soon after his death.

“What do you want from me this time? An heir?”

Jenson laughed, sitting across from her and sliding a folder over the desk.

“Not at all; if we don’t have a single kid I’ll be perfectly content. This is all just making things official, granting full rights to the land to me as well as a small sentence in there in nice legal terms about the marriage. I wouldn’t want you to feel forced, after all.”

Jasmina glared at him as he sat back in his chair, victorious grin still in place.

Her teeth began grinding of their own accord.

Picking up the folder, she opened a drawer and pulled out her reading glasses, carefully poring over the entire document, making Jenson wait as she combed through every possible detail, questioning every clause to make sure that her country’s interests were protected. When she came across the marriage stipulation, she sighed before moving on, confirming that the rest of it was straightforward and would work for her side.

“I suppose this will serve us, then,” she said, grabbing her father’s pen.

Her hand hovered over the document, heavy with grief. She would be signing her life away for her country. Why did this have to happen so soon? Why had she been tossed into this tempest with no way out?

A hand came to rest on hers, and she looked up to meet the oddly compassionate gaze of Jenson Black.

“It won’t be all bad, Jasmina. I’m a nice guy, when you get to know me. I hope we will serve each other well over the coming years.”

Her eyes searched his. There was so much hidden behind those green pools, a mask that she could see might be made of the thickest stone. Who was this man she was promising herself to? Would all of this be worth it, in the end?

“If you were a nice guy you wouldn’t be forcing me into this situation.”

She tore her hand out from beneath his and signed the document. When she looked back up, his usual cocky persona was firmly back in place.

“There, now. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

“Well what are you, twenty-two? Plenty of terrible things will come along that will make this seem like child’s play.”

“How very reassuring,” she deadpanned. “Now that this is done, you need to understand that in my country, marriage is regarded with a level of seriousness that we cannot ignore. If you are to marry a Sheikha, you will need to walk the walk before the ceremony, which will be held here, as all my ancestors’ weddings have been. Understood?”

“Do we need to write up another contract?” he asked, his eyes gleaming.

“Perhaps. I’ll see how well you hold up your end of the deal as far as our duties are concerned. If you are found to be lacking, written promises may become necessary. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other duties to attend to. I’ll have someone reach out to you when you are needed again. Good day, Mr. Black.”

“Good day, Jasmina.”

Frowning at his use of her first name, Jasmina rose and walked past him without looking back, heading straight in the direction of her bedroom. She didn’t want anyone to see her tears before she could hide them properly.

After her father’s death, this might have been the worst day of Jasmina’s life. The day she sold herself for the greater good.