The Sheikh King's Chosen queen

10: Peeping Tom?

Chanteel walked into the sitting room some hours later. Amara and three other women in abayas were waiting to escort her and Beau to the nursery. After a two hour nap, food and a bath both mother and son were ready to explore their new home.

Earlier Amara had introduced the other women as part of her staff. They were young, pretty and welcoming, though Chanteel got the impression that they're curious about her. She didn't blame them. Had their situations been reversed she would be too.

"May I hold him? " Fatima asked looking towards Beau. She was the youngest at 21 and Beau's lived-in au pair.

Chanteel handed Beau over and smiled as Fatima cooed at him. Seeing how he giggled she'd no doubt he was in good hands. Besides, the young girl was playful and Chanteel liked her, else there would've some issues letting her son off with a stranger.

" He's in good hands," Amara said watching the pair. " Fatima is very good with babies, though it's her first job at the palace" Chanteel nod her head. She'll be the judge of that.

"I meant to ask you before, how is it you speak English so well" Chanteel had noticed it since her arrival.

Amara beamed ' King Murat insisted on it. Most of the palace staff and citizens are bilingual. English is taught in the schools as a prerequisite."

Seeing how Zazaar was a hub of international attractions, it made sense for his people to be able to converse with the tourists.

Then again having met the man, and seeing first hand how his mind works, she believed he simply wanted his people to have an advantage in all things. Either way, he wins.

Control freak. She thought.

" Shall we proceed" the older woman lead the way. Coming out into the hallway Chanteel thought to ask the question plaguing her mind.

" Why isn't there any other rooms? "

" There are no other apartments on this wing. There's only one apartment like this."

"I have to admit that even though it's beautiful I feel isolated " Chanteel said.

" The King's instructions were clear"

"So he intends to keep me hidden?"

"I can't be as bold to presume the Kings intentions." Amara shrugged.

I bet.

Chanteel was determined to take the issue up with the big man himself. There's no way she was going to be his secret. It was he who insisted, no demanded that she came to Zazaar.

If locking her away was his intention there's going to be trouble, she foresaw.

Amara leads the way into the elevator again and seconds later they came out into another silent lobby.

It was so silent that Chanteel nearly missed several women walking about. Her eyes narrowed.

It was too quiet!

She kept quiet. Observant.

There were classrooms, designed for groups and single students. Recreational facilities, media rooms. Science, art, music and language Labs. Sports facilities, gymnasium, indoor pools. It went on and on, including an in-house clinic with state of the art equipment and around the clock fully trained team.

The kids even had a lived in a chef who carted nutritious but gourmet food in a cafeteria which had plush furniture and lavish style. Along with a trained staff and a feeding system that made her wish she was a kid again.

Then came the sleeping quarters. Apartments housing up to five and six bedrooms and baths for the older children and two large rooms with bassinets and cribs and separate bathrooms for toddlers and newborns under the care of midwives. Finally the area she was eager to see, Beau's environment. His bedroom though separated from the others, was heavenly, she could tell from the fresh colors and designs that it had been redecorated recently. It was a two bedroom two bathrooms apartment like room. Fatima would be with him at all times when Chanteel didn't have him of course.

His play area was a giant ball of fun. Slides, swings, balls, bouncing castles, ponies and even miniature race track. "Did the King order this as well?".

Amara nodded nervously and hastily said. "If there's anything you wish to change" Chanteel interrupted her.

"No. It's perfect the way it is " and she meant it. Murat had really put thought into it.

Amara explained that there were forty-five children currently in the nursery. The youngest several days old and the eldest fifteen years, the age where they leave.

She felt relieved that Beau wouldn't only have constant care but playmates as well.

After the tour, she met some of the children, a few were children of palace aids, the majority of Beau's relatives. He had thirty cousins around him each day.

Hell, it was unbelievable.

The staff was efficient, silent and skeptical. She took a minute explaining her concerns for her son's welfare and safety and at every interval, they answered and eased her fears. They had an effective system that worked, a proficient baby monitoring system and highly trained dedicated staff that were equipped with the latest child development techniques and education, a state of the art security system and 24 hours guards.

Her worry was put to ease.

She spent an interactive time with them, sharing ideas, laughing. At first, they were hesitant, cautious and she kept getting this feeling that they wanted to please her and make a good impression. She'd no explanation for that.

Maybe it's being the mother of their future King. She wasn't sure.

Eventually, they relaxed, spoke their minds and that's what she wanted. People talked more, was more open and friendly when comfortable. Yes, she knew she can be intimidating sometimes...

Okay, most of the time but she couldn't help it. It was a natural instinct to be.

" That went well," Chanteel said as they left the nursery hours later returning to her room.

Night had fallen over the desert Kingdom and jet-lag had taken its toll. She was exhausted, desired a long warm bath before hitting the bed for a few hours of needed sleep. Beau was quite blissfully sound asleep, after all, Fatima's tour to the kitchen had lasted longer than expected. As usual, Beau had outdone himself, he became an instant sensation amongst the palace staff. Already the chef was planning his menu of all the delicacies Zazaar had to offer.

"I agree. You did very well " Amara said politely." Not many visitors that stay at the palace understand or chose to accept our methods of raising our children. They forget that Zazaar isn't like other countries, and bares very little similarities with other Arab nations, except in some ways our language and dress. They think we're trapped in ancient times, that our teachings are barbaric. What they call strict we refer as discipline. What we consider traditions, they call us dull ".

Chanteel could hear the passion in Amara's voice and knew this was a sensitive issue.

" I can't say that I believe in every method that you practice. I believe children will learn under different circumstances and experiences and at different capacities, once they feel comfortable and secure. I think as parents we need to provide an all-round holistic, fun, safe, but challenging environment for learning. Let them learn to be driven and what it means to be ambitious"

She recalled her own years of learning. Bittersweet. She hadn't had many friends, as she had skipped several grades. It hadn't been easy, but she'd wanted to come out on top.

"The young prince is very fortunate to have a mother who cares like this, not many are as caring or concerned"

Chanteel beamed at the compliment. "Thank you, Amara". They walked towards the bank of elevators, Chanteel noticing a group of women, elegantly dressed in abayas and were veiled in bright colors and design. They glanced across the room at them as they passed, whispering amongst themselves.

I've to learn Zazaar! Chanteel thought.

" Is there a party or something? "

She asked referring towards the group. Amara nodded.

" There's always some form of entertainment at the harem "she informed." I believe tonight is Princess Miria's birthday dinner"

"Harem? "

She nearly choked on the word. All sorts of images flooded her mind, all involving a particular a golden-eyed dictator and none of them good.

She shooked her head.

Amara must have noticed her shock, as she launched into an explanation that put her at ease.

" The harem is just the wing we call the female quarters. The King's unmarried female relatives and guests reside here",.

Chanteel hadn't believed that Murat was that barbaric as to have an actual harem. Then again why not? He certainly could afford it and his reputation with women was no secret. He was an international Playboy after all.

" So there're no concubines and mistresses waiting around? " Amara looked appalled at the suggestion, quickly denying the claim as she defended the morals of her" Magnificent King ". Chanteel could only shake her head. Did these people really know the kind of man their King was? He was an overbearing, arrogant bully and a dictator with the morals of an alley cat.

Or did she know who really was Murat? The man was an enigma. Especially how he affected her.

"There are currently seventy females residing at the harem including yourself".Amara explained.

" Excluding the nursery and the staff quarters that are on the second floor which is completely separated. The harem occupies the remaining higher floors " That's three full floors stretching out half a mile. It was a lot to take in. She remembered reading about Murat's very extended family. It was common in Arab countries for extended families resides together.

" And who is princess Miria? " she inquired.

" The daughter of the King's aunt Sheikha Tamina and Sheikh Doli Alfa" explained Amara". She's 18 today and it's customary that her family will celebrate. There will be a small gift exchange tonight, while tomorrow she will have an apart befitting a Zazaari princess"

Chanteel wondered what exactly that entails.

An hour later she entered the bedroom. Skin moist, smooth and soft as a baby's behind. The oil scented bath had been relaxing. Now she crosses the commodious room, naked feet sinking into butter-soft rugs, as she went out onto the terrace that twisted around to encase a large garden.

Staring up into the sky, she breathes in deep, taking in the spicy smells of the desert, sun-dried exotic fruits and frankincense wafting through open windows. There wasn't a cloud in sight, just a huge endless ball of midnight blue skies, a million twinkling stars and around a full moon. Not far off to the south, she could make out lights of the city of Sahd Quram, Zazaar's capital. She's really looking forward to touring the city and visiting its attractions. There's a lot to keep her busy, she doubts she'll ever get bored.

Suddenly she was unable to curb the runaway thoughts, her mind went to Murat.

Would he come looking for her? Or continue to ignore her?

Did it matter? Better question, why did she want him to seek her out?

She was uncertain why she even wanted the man. One thing was undisputed though, she couldn't get him off her mind.

It seemed inevitable after meeting him.

Chanteel leaned against the cool tiled railing gazing out at the unknown, a gentle breeze swept across the desert carrying with it a cool scented air that caressed her cheek like a lovers touch.

The black lace netted panty-set she wore was no cover against the wind, her n*****s beaded, as a shiver ran over her.

Time to go in. She told herself and turned to do so until her peripheral vision caught movement. Chanteel paused, eyes narrowing across the desert sand, beyond the palace grounds.

Was that light?

It flickered, moving slowly.

She stared hard trying to make out the odd shape in the dark. It was difficult as the distance was too far.

Then the light appeared again, flickering briefly before disappearing again.

Chanteel frowned turning away before entering the bedroom. She dropped the silk robe on the bed and climbed in. As she was falling asleep it donned on her that the light reminded her of something, only it wasn't light but the glare of glass, bouncing off binoculars.

Really?

There's peeping Toms in Zazaar too? But why would anyone be spying on the palace?

Too tired to care she fell asleep totally unaware of the man in the desert did indeed have binoculars. He wasn't spying on the palace, instead, he was taking pictures of her.