A Blind Marriage On Paper

Chapter 6

Manal finally got the courage to call King Muhammad. After receiving the call, the King paces in his office. "Mourning. What does he mean he's in mourning?"

Nazya is also there. She isn't surprised by their son's actions. Salman texts her every night and morning to let her know that he's okay and not to worry.

Sazin is standing in the middle of the office with his hands behind his back. He suggested that he have Manal and the other bodyguards physically bring his grandson there by force if needed.

“Why would I do such a foolish thing? That would make matters worse. Besides, I don’t recall asking your advice. Listening to you is what has us in this terrible predicament. Salman will come around. He just needs time to adjust. Hopefully, he will change his mind once he meets the young lady. What is her name again? “Muhammad looks at his wife.

“Safnaz.” Nazya is looking at a pissed-off Sazin storming out of the room.

Muhammad sits down. "I have really made a mess. But I can't change my ruling. This is something that I will have to deal with. If only I hadn't given our son my blessing years ago to marry Jurnee. At the time, I was only thinking about what was best for him instead of our country. Salman will forgive me one day."

She walks behind him and massages his neck. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But I don’t believe that will ever happen. You taught our son never to trust a person if they don’t keep their word. Salman will never trust you again. Don’t you find it strange that your father didn’t meet with all the young ladies who arrived? I heard that Safnaz was the only one he talked with before he sent the others away. This doesn’t please me as Salman's parents. We should have met and chosen who is best for our son. As the Queen and the mother of the future King, I’m refusing to accept this young lady as our daughter-in-law and future Queen. I hope you will stand with me on this decision.”

"Ah, I didn't think about that." He's patting her hands. "Maybe if you chose the young lady, it would be better. Then maybe our son might not resent me so much, I hope. I'll order all the ladies to return to dinner with us. You and I will choose the perfect wife for our son at that time."

Nazya kisses the top of his head, thinking, "At least I'll find Salman, someone my son might one day fall in love with. I hope Jurnee is doing better. I know she's hurting and did a great job hiding her feelings."

Muhammad is thinking about what Nayza said about his father choosing the woman so quickly. He now believes that Safnaz was his father's choice all this time. Jurnee never had a chance.

Sazin is in an outdoor niche, clad in the gardens. He thought Salman would return to his normal self a few days after Muhammad denied his request and Jurnee had left. He has also been calling Salman, only to be sent to voicemail. “ Safnaz is the right woman to marry my grandson. I knew it was the first time I did business with her father. Salman will learn to love her,” He mumbles.

****

“I'm a married man,” Ingo mumbles while looking at his father and father-in-law, shaking hands and congratulating each other on their new merger.

Griffin pats his shoulder, but is also looking at the two men. “Yes, you are. Man, I can’t believe you turned down the chance to see what your wife looks like. Hell, I wanted to know. Just out of curiosity.”

Ingo shook his head. “Why should I? Is not as if I’m ever going to meet her. Damn, she was barking out orders to me before we said I do’s. Just think if we lived together. Man, I need a drink.” He’s about to walk out the door, but his father stops him by calling him and waving for him to join him and Chamblee.

“No more competing against one another. We'll take the advertising world by storm.” Raziel put his arm across Ingo’s shoulder.

Chamblee nods his head. “The opposition isn’t going to know what hit them.”

Ingo smiles but thinks, “I can’t believe I married that bossy woman.”

Griffin is laughing at the expression on his friend’s face and walks toward him. “Let’s go out and celebrate your wedding night. Drinks are on me.”

“A lot. Keep them coming.” Ingo looks at him with sympathy.

“You got it. Now let's get the hell out of here.” Griffin opens the door and almost knocks Brynn over. She was about to knock on the door. He or Ingo said anything as they kept walking.

Brynn is looking at Raziel and a man that she doesn't know. She walks over to Faun and asks who the man is. When Faun tells her he’s Chamblee DePavia, she wonders why their biggest competition is there. She turns to ask Faun, but she is on the phone pretending to be talking to someone. Brynn looks at Chamblee and Raziel one more time before walking down the hall.

“I don’t know that woman, but I don’t like her. Who is she?” Chamblee looks at Brynn walking down the hall, waving her arms around, and talking to herself.

Raziel frowns and looks at Brynn with disgust. “That is Brynn Ackles. She’s one of our Account Executives. Nothing but trouble, and one of the women who thought she would wear the name of Vaughan. She and Ingo have spent some time together in the past. He doesn't know that I'm aware of whatever they call it. But I hope that he has left that cunning woman alone.”

Both men are still looking at Brynn, having a full-blown conversation with her.

*****

As soon as Ingo and Griffin walk inside their favorite bar around the corner from the office, Ingo orders a double shot of brandy and drinks it in one swig.

Griffin chuckles and points to the empty glass. Damn, man, you must have been thirsty as hell.”

“I’m celebrating, remember.” Ingo is getting the bartender’s attention and holding his glass up. “The same, and keep them coming.”

Griffin is looking around the bar at the women. So far, he hasn’t seen anyone who caught his eye. Feeling disappointed in the selections, he turns around and looks at Ingo, downing another drink. “Man, are you trying to get wasted?”

“Yep,” Ingo hands him his phone. It’s a picture of Brynn sitting in her desk chair with her blouse open, and one of her breasts is out of her bra.

Griffin looks at the picture before and deletes it. “When will she give up? What in the hell ever possessed your ass to f**k her in the first place? You have always managed to keep your distance from employees before.”

"Hell, if I know, that s**t started one night she and I were working late. I had a few drinks, and before I knew it, she and I were naked and doing the deed. I thought she would be good to bang every once in a while. Man, s**t, I didn't know that she had permanent plans.” Ingo is looking at a brunette who just walked in, and ishe'sflirting with him. “Nice,” He mumbles.

Griffin looks at the woman. “I agree she is nice-looking. So are her two friends.” He waves for the bartender to take the women some drinks.

Ingo's mind goes to Jurnee, telling him to keep his love life private. But he was thinking more about her sexy voice and how she sounded erotic without her trying to seduce him. He is brought out of his thought by Griffin patting his arm and asking, “Are you okay?”

Griffin picks up his drink. "What are you waiting for? They are ready to be plucked." He looks at the three women who are smiling at him and Ingo.

Ingo turns and looks at the brunette woman and drinks the rest of his brandy. "Not tonight. I'm going home. Even if it is a marriage on paper, I can't f**k another woman on my wedding night. Have fun." He stood up and walked out of the bar.

Griffin is looking dumbfounded.

******

Jurnee and Cisley are eating at Chez Marc. She had a taste for some Lebanese food. Shish taouk and baklava are her favorites.

Cisley has been trying to talk Jurnee into asking her father to send her a picture of Ingo or to go online to find him. She is curious about his looks. Jurnee refuses and tells her not to do it either. Cisley hesitates to answer her and only nods her head.

Jurnee gives her a stern look. “Cisley Annette Furneo, who do you think you’re fooling? We know each other like sisters, and I know that look and attitude. I meant what I said. Now promise me that you won’t go online looking him up.” Jurnee points at her with her fork. "Is best this way."

"Okay, but you at least have to have one drink to celebrate your wedding night. Since you won't be giving any of the yum yum up." Cisley laughs.

“I hate to admit it, but I need something to drink. Wine, one glass of wine, and that’s it for me. To the light of me after drinking that whiskey the other night, I don’t understand how you or my father drinks that stuff. It tasted raunchy.” Jurnee rubs her chest. “I had to check to make sure hair hadn’t grown on my chest."

Cisley laughs while ordering a bottle of wine. She’s looking at how brave her friend is and thinks, “I don’t see how she does it. I would have gone over the deep end if it had been me.”

“Don’t look at me like that. I don’t want you or anyone to pity me. I’m good; I look at it as if it was meant to happen this way. Right now, I have to focus on the company, and nothing else matters.” Jurnee pours a glass of wine and drinks it, then pours another glass of it. "Yes, at least that's what I keep telling myself." She turns the glass up until it's empty.

*****

The next morning, Brynn is in her office early. She’s hoping to find out what Ingo was meeting with his father and Chamblee about. She has been asking around, but no one seems to know about the meeting. Faun flat-out told her none of her business.

Ingo walks into the office and is met by Faun. She hands him a sealed envelope from his father. He slowly opens the envelope and reads it. He can’t believe that both companies will keep their original names, and he and Jurnee are named joint CEO of both companies. He calls his father to ask, “What is the meaning of this? He thought that he would have control of both companies, and Jurnee would be the president or an executive.” When his father says, “his wife is equal in the business,” Ingo hangs up, picks the letter up again, and reads it.

Brynn slightly knocks on his door and opens it at the same time. “ Hey, I was just reminding you that we have a business luncheon with Doug Peak.”

"s**t, with everything going on, I had forgotten about it. Okay, thanks. Make sure you're on your best behavior. There is something I want to discuss with you. Close the door." He points to the chair across his desk.

She closes the door and almost trips over her feet, running to the chair.

Ingo shook his head. "At first, when you sent me pictures of you, it was nice. But now it's annoying. Don't get me wrong. You have a nice body. What I'm trying to say is stop sending them to me."

Brynn opens her mouth to say something. But no words came out of it. When she finally manages to get her thoughts together, Griffin and Thora walk into the office. But stops when they see Brynn. Ingo motioned for the man and woman to come in.

“It seems that Jurnee has sent over a report. I must say her ideas are fantastic for the copywriter's department. Thora hands Ingo one of the pages. Thora is the head of the copywriter department and Brynn’s supervisor. She doesn’t have too much to do or say to Brynn.

Brynn is looking at Ingo, trying to figure out who is this damn Jurnee that she has heard about for the second time.

Ingo smiles while reading it. I agree. She does have great insight and is very detailed. I must say I’m impressed, very impressed.”