A Blind Marriage On Paper

Chapter 3

Tonight is Jurnee's last night in Saudi Arabia. Salman wanted tonight to be perfect. He took her to Jeddah Waterfront Park. It’s where he and she went the first day she visited him. Salman hasn't spoken to his father or grandfather since the day he and Jurnee were told that he would have to take another wife. Salman knew that Jurnee would never share him as he wouldn't share her.

Jurnee and Salman have been at the park for a couple of hours, and the bumper cars are their last ride. She keeps bumping into him and laughs. Salman loves to hear her laugh. He drifted away for a few minutes, thinking about how he will miss her beautiful laughter and her.

She's hurting inside, knowing that tonight is the last time she and Salman will be together. Jurnee has decided she won’t cry or lose her composure in front of her love.

Salman helps her out of the bumper car. “I have a surprise for you.” He kisses her forehead and leads her across the boardwalk to the beach.

Jurnee chuckles, looking at a blanket. “It’s so beautiful here. This will be one of the places I’ll miss.” She takes a deep breath and sits on the blanket.

“So will I. I promise you that I’ll never bring anyone else here. This is our special place.” He sits down beside her and wraps his arm around her. They’re looking at the water. “Juju, I always thought you and I would be together forever. Don’t ever forget me.”

“My sweet, handsome Sal, I could never forget you. You’re a part of the man that I love, and I, like you, never thought we wouldn’t be husband and wife. But it seems that we weren’t meant to be together.” She’s looking at the fireworks.

The young lovers sit there until daylight, holding each other without saying anything, until her car arrives. Jurnee takes a deep breath while fighting back her tears. “It’s time to say goodbye.”

Salman wraps his arms around her. “You’ll always be the one who holds my heart. If you ever need anything, call me. I’ll be there. Juju, my beautiful Juju, I love you.” He lifts her face by her chin.

Jurnee is looking into his handsome hazel eyes. “Regardless of what happens in my life, I’ll never love another man as I love you. If you need me, I’ll be here.” She kisses him. Salman pulls her so close to him that nothing can come between them. They’re entwining their tongues.

Manal, Salman’s head bodyguard, motions for the other guards to give the two some privacy. He has been Salman's bodyguard since the day the young man was born. He is also Salman's confidant. Manal doesn’t know what Sazin said or did to force King Muhammad to make that harsh decision. He is also hurting for the two of them, but it’s out of his hands.

Salmon releases Jurnee’s lips but whispers, “I love you.”

“I love you too.” She gives him a peck on his lips and steps back, sliding her engagement ring off her finger. ” This is the first time it has been off my finger since you put it on.” She shook her head and handed it to him. He refuses to accept it at first. She takes his hand and lays the ring on it. “You have to take it. It belongs to your grandmother and the woman that you'll marry.” Jurnee frowns, thinking about that.

“I'll take it, but I’ll never slide it on anyone's finger.” Salman is looking at her, walking to the boardwalk to her car.

Tears are running down her cheeks as she walks to the car. Jurnee never looked back as the car drove off. The driver looks at her through the rearview mirror and hands her a box of Kleenex. She takes the Kleenex and bursts into tears.

Salman stood there looking at her car. Manal walks over to him. “Your Highness, I’m sorry about the outcome. I’m here when you’re ready to talk about it. I hate to inform you of this, but your grandfather is requesting to see you.”

“Tell my grandfather that I’m refusing his request.” Salman walks away.

****

Sazin is outraged and storms out of the room, looking for his son. Muhammad is in his office, hanging up the phone, when Sazin comes in.

Muhammad's head is in his hands. “My son, my only son, has refused to speak with me. Manal said Salman didn't want to see or speak with either of us. He doesn’t know when he’ll return to the palace. Do not call him again. What in the hell have I done? Maybe Nazya was right about me.”

“Fool, you fool. You’re the King. You can’t be remorseful. That would make you a weak King. Now get on the damn phone and order your son to bring his ass home.” Sazin didn’t want his son to know he was concerned about Salman. His grandson had never acted this way before or refused to see him or his father. He's looking at Muhammad, slamming the phone down. "Salman has refused to speak with him again."

Nazya walks into the room to inform her husband and father-in-law that some of the women whom he and Sazin had chosen to be their son's wives have arrived. She doesn’t look at either man as she speaks. When she turns to walk out of the office, her phone beeps, and she reads the text that her son sent her. She turns to look at her husband. “Salman said for you to choose his wife. Since you and his grandfather have decided on his future, he has decided not to attend the party. I hope you two are happy with yourselves.” She walks out of the office.

Sazin points at his son, ‘You're a weak man. How dare that woman speak in that tone to us?”

“Shut the hell up. I have done what you have asked, or should I say, told me to do. Haven’t you caused enough trouble?” Muhammad yells and points at him.

Sazin is looking at his son in disbelief. He can’t believe that he talked to him like that.

****

Chamblee and Raziel met twenty years ago because of their businesses. They consider themselves to be friends and enemies. They are enemies when it comes to business but friends on a personal level. Chamblee is more concerned about his daughter. He felt that she and Salman wouldn't have a happy ending in the end. He has never cared for Sazin. That man always carried himself in a distasteful, arrogant way. Sazin knows what buttons to push to get King Muhammad to do his bidding.

He’s thinking about when Jurnee called him a few days ago to tell him the news. He wanted to rush there to be with her. His daughter declined his offer and wanted to stand on her own, more importantly, let those assholes know that they didn’t break her.

Chamblee was a little surprised when Raziel called to invite him to breakfast. He is about to order some coffee when Raziel sits down.

Raziel doesn’t waste any time telling him about his company's trouble. Chamblee listens to the man and wonders what that has to do with him. His company is also having a bit of trouble.

“Has your daughter gotten married yet?’ Raziel is drinking a mimosa. He wanted something stronger, but it was too early for him to drink bourbon.

That question threw Chamblee back. He's looking at Raziel, confused. “No, Jurnee hasn’t. She and her fiancé just broke up. But what does my little girl have to do with our companies?”

“Damn, that's too bad. But I was thinking, what if we merge our companies and our family?” Raziel holds his glass up toward the waiter.

“No, my daughter would never agree to marry a man she doesn’t know. I don’t know if I would feel comfortable asking that of her.” Chamblee shook his head and looked at the waiter. “s**t, this isn’t strong enough. Bring me a crown and Coke. Make it a double.”

“Make that two.” Raziel sat back in his chair. “Our companies are in danger. The only way we can survive is to combine them. Our children marry and run the company together. I heard that your daughter is one hell of a CEO. But your company is still having problems in a few departments. My company is losing clients left and right; some were major clients. My son, hell, what can I say? He's doing the best he can. Vaughan needs new eyes to move forward.”

Chamblee drinks the glass of whiskey in two swallows. “As bad as I hate to say this, it does sound good. But I don’t know about it. What happens if the marriage doesn’t work out? One of us could lose our company in a divorce battle. I’ll never sit back and let that happen.”

“Let’s see, you're right. I didn’t think of that. I got it that whichever one of our children files for divorce gives up their rights to the companies. Raziel sips his whiskey.

“Okay, put that in writing, and we'll have a deal. But only if my daughter agrees to this marriage agreement. Jurnee is traveling right now. She lives in Paris and works at the branch there. I’ll call her later tonight. You will hear from me soon." Chamblee points at Raziel with his fork. "What about your son? Ingo is known around town to be a ladies' man. He might not like the idea of being married.”

“Him being a ladies' man is part of the problem. Don’t worry. He will agree.” Raziel picks up his fork.

*****

Ingo and Griffin have been meeting with Guillaume, trying to win his account. Guillaume is the CEO of the largest Commercial Bank in New York City. He is skeptical about giving Ingo the account since he has heard many negative things about his account executives' attitude. But he has known the two men since they were kids, so he decided to give Ingo's company a chance.

After the meeting, Ingo and Griffin are still discussing the loss of clients in the conference room. Both men have asked the clients for their reasons for departure, but haven’t received any answers.

Brynn has the best track record, so Ingo is planning to give Guillaume's account to her as the lead copywriter over it and will assign Maureen and Faron to her team.

Griffin shook his head, thinking, “Man, you’re putting all of our livelihood in the hands of that narcissist. Hell, everyone knows that her ass can’t be trusted. s**t, I might as well clean my desk out and update my resume."

Ingo tells him about his father commanding a breakfast meeting with him in the morning. Griffin wanted him to hang out with him tonight at the pub. But tonight, Ingo is planning to work late. He wants to be on top of things before seeing his father. Ingo’s sure that Raziel will be grilling him.

Brynn is in the hall with her head pressed against the door, listening to the men's conversation. When she heard that Ingo would be working late tonight, the wheels in her head started turning. Brynn swiftly walked into the office, where she had maneuvered her way. She is the only account executive with their own office. The other executives have cubicles. She is the second-largest office in the company and is next to Ingo’s office

Later that evening, Ingo is in his office, thinking he is the only one there. He is staring at two drawings that are on easels. “Damn, both are good. It’s hard to pick one.” Ingo rubs his chin.

“Someone needs a break.” Brynn walks into his office with a bottle of wine. She kisses his cheek.

Ingo shook his head and rubbed his chin roughly. “f**k” he mumbled, looking at her. She was pouring two glasses of wine. "Brynn, I’m busy. Why are you here? I thought everyone had left for the day.”

“Now you know that I wouldn’t leave you here alone to work.” She hands him the glass of wine.

“One glass, then you’re out of here.” He takes the glass and looks back at the ads.

Brynn is behind him, undressing. Then she drops down to her knees and crawls in front of him. “You work while I play.” She unzips his pants and takes out his shaft. Brynn licks the head and inserts it in her mouth.

Ingo frowns but doesn’t stop her. He sets his glass on the desk and closes his eyes. When he has released his seed in her mouth, he puts his shaft in his pants and picks up his glass. "Get dressed and leave. I have work to do.” He looks back at the drawings.

Brynn is looking at him, dumbfounded.

He turns to look at her. “Oh, why are you still here?”

“Why are you so cold to me?’ She’s picking up her clothes.

“I’m not being cold. I’m treating you as I do anyone else. I have work to do. Close my door on your way out.” Ingo picks one of the drawings up, then he hears the door slam.

She is dressing while walking to the elevator. “I’m not giving up on you. I will be your damn wife if it kills me.”