The Desert Prince and The Dreamer

Chapter 5

"Where is Sapphire?" Ms. Latiffah asked her daughter as she approached.

"Apparently some people haven't changed after all these years." Lailah answered

"It has been only four years, habibti." Her mother reminded her.

"I know," Lailah slid into a seat, "It's just that, why would they stay the same bitter arrogant selfish people. When Prince Zayn saw me at the Palace, he was willing to drop a meeting with his father to bring me here, because he probably thought I was from a Royal family. You should have seen his face when he found out who I really was. It's like I had committed the gravest haram."

"Don't worry child, what matters is you're Safe and sound back home." Ms. Latiffah reassured her.

"Mom, you don't understand. They don't even want us here. You should have seen how the Queen stared daggers at me earlier in the hall. She just wanted me to disappear."

"Habibi, you shouldn't think like that."

"But it's the truth Mom, we should go to Spain. I have a nice house there mommy and a good job, and King Guilliamo is so kind."

"Let's not talk about that now baby, okay?" When Lailah nodded, Ms. Latiffah continued, "You must be tired, I'll get someone to take you home now."

"No, Mom I'm okay." Lailah protested.

"Don't argue with me young lady. Do as I say." Lailah nodded and followed her Mother outside. Ms. Latiffah talked to their driver and handed the house keys to her daughter. "See you at home later, freshen up and have some sleep, okay?"

"Okay Mommy." Lailah said and sat in the back of the Toyota Landcruiser. The driver sat then drove off a few minutes later. Lailah sat back and sighed, She was mad, at herself and everyone around. She probably had led Prince Zayn on earlier but that hadn't been her intention. She had always felt something for him and had wanted him to recognise her even for a little while. That had never happened in all her twenty-two years. Only today had been her chance and she had really realised the reason for his avoidance of her. He despised her, just like the Queen did. He wasn't just a sad lonely little boy, he was an arrogant pessimistic selfish man. Lailah scowled as She remembered the way he had looked at her when Sapphire had called out her name. He had looked like he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him. Did he hate her that much? And why even? Lailah didn't want to find out why, his step Mother's behavior had Probably rubbed off on him, it was best if She stayed out of his way. She heard the car park and a minute later the driver informed her that they were at the Palace.

"Shukran, Salim." She thanked the driver who smiled and drove back to the dance location. Lailah went and opened her Mother's house and entered, suddenly the memories bombarded her mind.

Flashback...

"What do you want to be when you grow up, Lailah?" Sapphire asked her.

"I want to live in a Palace, just like you." Lailah answered making Sapphire laugh.

"Good, then we will be living together." Sapphire told her friend. "You will find your Prince and I will find mine and we will all be living in the Palace."

"Can Prince Zayn be my Prince?" Lailah asked.

"Hmm, I'll ask him and see. Maybe he will like you then." Sapphire said thoughtfully.

"Does he like me?" Lailah asked eagerly.

"Who is that he?" Ms. Latiffah asked coming from the kitchen. The girls stared at her wide eyed.

"No body Mom." Lailah said with a smile.

"Now now girls, you are only ten years old, too young to talk about boys. When you are older, boys will come knocking and as Parents, we will always find the right partner for you." She placed freshly baked cookies on the table.

"You will choose a partner for me?" Lailah asked her Mom unbelievably.

"Yes, habibi, now girls eat a cookie each then go out and play." Ms. Latiffah smiled and went back to the kitchen.

"Do you think if we take two each, she'll know?" Sapphire asked in a whisper.

"Only one girls, I counted them." Ms. Latiffah's voice sounded from the kitchen making the girls giggle. They each took a cookie and ran off to play outside.

End of Flashback.

Lailah trailed a finger over the furniture as she passed heading to her old bedroom. Everything looked just the same. She reached there and looked around, her pink flower sheets decorated her bed with her Teddy bear in the middle of two pillows. She smiled and turned towards the closet, She looked around going through her old clothes and checking her shoes. She then went to the bathroom and turned on the water checking its temperature. She wanted it at room temperature or a bit cooler, the weather was 32℃ outside. She slowly slid off her clothes, unwrapped her hijab making her hair cascade all over her back like a water fall. She put all aside and stepped under the Cool water. Her body jerked at the contact but then settled as it adapted to the cool water as it ran down her body from her head. She stayed there for almost an hour, taking her time then when she was done, switched off the shower and looked for a towel. In the bathroom stall there were cupboards that had fresh towels, She got one and tied it around her head then got another and dried herself off. She then looked for a bathrobe and put it over her petite frame. She sat down to smear some lotion but realised her bag was in the car. She never even removed the luggage from the car.

Lailah stood up and ruffled through her closet and found a long black shariah which she slid over her body, removed the towel on her head and passed her fingers through her still wet hair then got the keys from her handbag and went out to the car. She didn't bother with her surroundings, She just made a bee line for the car then opened the back door and bent to take her bag.

Zayn decided to go meet his friend Hamza for tea. Hamza had said over the phone with Zayn that he had something to show him and he should come quick. Zayn hadn't needed to dress because he was still in the same clothes he was in earlier. He went down to his car and he didn't know why but his eyes automatically went towards the maids' quarters. He saw her then, in a black shariah, with hair out, running out of the house. When did She return and what was wrong with her? There were guards around and for her to be dressed freely like that would raise questions. 'And why do you care?' his conscious asked. "I don't care." he said to himself as he approached her. She was now bent over checking something. His eyes involuntarily went to her ass and he cursed himself. He could tell She was wearing nothing inside. "What are you doing?" he roughly asked. His voice had come out louder than he had expected probably startling her, because she gave a shout and turned quickly to look behind her. Her wet wait swung around splashing water in Zayn's face. There was a moment of silence and then Zayn started advancing closer. With a squeak, Lailah turned and ran inside the house with her bag, leaving the car door open.