Plotting

*Benjamin's POV*

I stood there for a while, letting this news sink in. I was going to spend January till the end of May in Saudi Arabia. What the heck was I going to tell Saphira? Sure I could tell her I had signed up to study abroad. Wouldn't it be strange that I had never told her I applied in the first place? And what if she would ask me to stay? 

What other excuse could I come up with?

I could hardly tell her the Sultan of Saudi ordered me to go and that the Sultan was my grandfather to begin with. If I wanted her to be my wife, she had to know someday.

Maybe now would be a good moment? "Hey handsome," I heard a woman whisper in my ear, as she pressed her breasts against my back, holding me around the waist. "Why don't you come back to my place, if you seek some privacy," she said as she turned around to look at me.

She pressed her hands on my chest and looked at me intently. "Jada," I had to catch my breath. "Mhh…. Ben." Her nose tickled against my neck. "You smell as lovely as ever," she breathed.

It had been so long. I groaned.

She looked up at me, her eyes daring me to take her there and then. I leaned in a bit, and she eagerly followed my movements. No, this wasn't what I wanted. I had promised Saph, I would never kiss another woman.

I abruptly took her by the shoulders and distanced myself from her. "What's wrong?" Jada asked bewildered. "I can't do this anymore," I said shocked by my own words. She pouted her lips.

Jada smiled at me. "You know where to find me when you change your mind," she said as she kissed my cheek.

In a daze, I walked back through the crowd, to the dance floor. I sharply blew out some air. I was getting soft, I thought. I patted my friend on the back and Daniel turned around.

"Let's go," I frowned. "Come on now, don't be a sour puss," he laughed. I shrugged. "I'll be a married man next month," he said apologetic. "I am no prince of Saudi Arabia, I cannot keep several wives in my own harem, where my grandfather is the sultan," he said pleading.

"Alright, I'll be at the bar," I said unwillingly. "Brandi please," I said as I ordered my drink at the large bar.

I cursed under my breath. Jada stirred something in me and I had a hard time putting it to sleep again. I pondered for a moment and then I took out my Phone.

Benjamin: Hey Saph, are you sleeping?

She probably was, since it was around one in the morning, her time.

Hey my Ben. :Saphira

Possessive much?! I laughed at that. She was right, I was hers. Why wasn't she asleep? Would she be at home? I sighed. I sometimes had a hard time with the fact she could go wherever she wanted. She was brought up in a more American way.

Benjamin: How come you're up?

Watching TV. :Saphira

Benjamin: Anything good on?

I'd rather have you here with me. :Saphira

Benjamin: What are you wearing?

A blue satin pajama dress with lace, why?:Saphira

Benjamin: I wish I could see you.

Yeah well… you and your stupid rules.:Saphira

If we don't break any of them, it will take years.:Saphira

Years?! What will she do when she finds out my intention to marry her this summer?

Benjamin: Maybe it will be sooner than you think.

I wish you were here now.:Saphira

Should I take a flight now? No, not a good idea. If I would do that, I would shred her dress from her body and make her mine. That wasn't the way I wanted it to happen. "Hey bro, let's go." Daniel said as he took a seat next to me at the bar.

My driver was parked out front and we got in. "Ah… the silence," I smirked. "You are getting old man." Daniel snickered. "My friend, you do realize, that study has concluded that the level of noise in nightclubs, may increase the risk of noise-induced hearing loss."

"Ugh, shut up Ben."

"Even when you're drunk you are annoying," he barked a laugh.

We went straight up to our penthouse. "How do you do, Jouline." Daniel said drunkenly to our maid, who was waiting for us to return. "Good…" Jouline started to say. "Night, I guess your Highness and sir Daniel," she said as she approached us.

She was about fifty years old, Arabic, veiled and was now looking at us, as if she wanted to be upset by our behavior. Then suddenly she smiled. "Can I make you some food? It is good to eat something after you drank this much," she said. I didn't think it was a question as she went straight to the kitchen.

"That woman keeps us alive," Daniel said slurring the words. "Agreed," I beamed. "That is why I need to get married, you know," Daniel said as he picked up a stick from the pool table. He waggled a bit as he tried to concentrate. I laughed at that.

"But what will happen if I don't like her?" he said. Or at least I thought he said that, because the guy was utterly drunk.

"If she is anything like her younger sister, you will." The thought of Jazz made me unable to breathe, so I poured us a glass of whiskey, and drank both our glasses in one go.

"You have to be kidding me," Daniel said as he walked towards me. "She is a witch, you know," he said as his alcoholic breath blew in my face. I frowned. "She has got some kind of spell on you. I will smack that spell out off you," Daniel said as he punched me on my jaw.

"What's wrong with you?" I yelled. "No, what's wrong with you?!" Daniel shouted back. I heard a glass fall to the ground. "Jouline, were fine. Don't be alarmed," I said soothingly.

I walked towards one of our walls, which were all made of glass and stared at the nightlights of Boston. We had a great view, unlike Malibu all the rooftops were covered in snow this time of year.

"You need to let Jasmine go," Daniel urged. "I know." I ran my hand through my hair. "Maybe you should come when I meet Naïma," Daniel plotted. "Some closure," Daniel said pleased with his idea. Me being in her house would shock her, I thought. Good, maybe I would give her a hard time breathing and I could turn the tables. "That would be brilliant," he smiled. I didn't know… Maybe I should. I would be in the country by then anyway.