Abdulah paced the plush cabin of his private jet, impatiently awaiting clearance for take off from the Heathrow tower. Once again his obsession for blond American women had sent him running. He was sure Ahmed had taken care of the body, but there was always a slight chance her death could be linked to the casino and ultimately to him. And though he had no remorse over the death of the whore, her death could bring unpleasant consequences if it were to be known she had died while with him.
His original plan had been to spend a few days in London, then move on to Paris, waiting for things to cool down in Atlantic City, but his sources in London had informed him of a special O.P.E.C. meeting that would require the presence of his nephew -- leaving the lovely Sara Mathews in Faradahd, guarded only by servants. He would take a chance, and perhaps he would regain his golden prize.
In the women's quarters at the Royal Palace in Faradahd, there was someone else wondering how to take advantage of Rashid's absence. Laila sat on soft cushions and plucked a grape from the bowl of fruit on a low table in front of her. She popped it in her mouth as she pondered the problem of the American. Laila had been unhappy in her marriage to Mohammed, Rashid's father. She was an ambitious woman, and had hoped to wield some influence over her husband. She wanted to be the power behind the throne, unfortunately Mohammed was already an old man when they married, and soon after the wedding, he gave most of his power to his son. Rashid was out of Laila's reach -her attempts at flirtation had been darkly spurned, so she dared not try that again. For many years she despaired of ever leaving the palace, doomed to a life, comfortable though it was, of boredom, until her sister died, leaving a young daughter in Laila's care.
When Fatima had first come to live at the palace, the seeds of a plan began to grow in Laila's mind. She took great pains to gain the girl's confidence, and through the years, as Fatima grew into a beautiful young lady, Laila became the major influence in the girl's life. Though Fatima was only six years old when she arrived, she was infatuated by Rashid, and Laila played upon that infatuation and succeeded in convincing the girl she could become the Queen of Faradahd, by marrying the handsome prince. And her plan had been working, until now.
Now that American woman was spoiling everything. From what Fatima said, Rashid was losing his heart to the golden foreigner. Laila had to stop it. Why did that fool Abdulah have to bring her here in the first place? It was all his fault. She would write to him in America, perhaps together they could get that woman away from Rashid.