Page 48 of At the Sheikh's Command
“Zaire!” he said, as soon as he walked into the meeting chamber where his brother was pacing the floor and his advisers were seated, anxiously looking at him. “What the hell happened?”
Zaire shook his head. “I’m sorry, Darrius. My phone line mustn’t have been secure when I talked to Amare. The news is everywhere.”
Darrius nodded grimly and sat down at the head of the table. “What’s done, is done. Now, let’s figure out our next move together. However, we don’t need everyone here. If I call your name, I’d like you to leave immediately.” He looked around the room, searching for those who he suspected had tapped his brother’s phone and who he could no longer trust. He called out people’s names before his eyes alighted on his elderly vizier. “And you, Ammar. Please leave the room immediately.”
Darrius watched his elderly vizier go, unable to hide his anger at being ousted from such an important meeting. But Darrius knew it could only have been his vizier who’d tapped Zaire’s phone. He’d deal with him later. Now they had to work towards the only future he wanted: him as Sheikh Darrius, no longer king, with the woman he loved.
Leonora’s heartsank even further when she received a summons to attend a meeting with Ammar. It could only mean that Darrius was distancing himself from her even further. She could hardly believe it. But, as she entered the meeting room, one quick glance around confirmed that Darrius wasn’t there.
The atmosphere in the room was tense, and the advisers looked at Leonora, their expressions cold and unforgiving.
“Please, take a seat,” said Ammar.
She did as he suggested, thankful because she was feeling nauseous and weak from the stress.
“You have put the kingdom in a difficult position, Dr. Cooper,” Ammar said.
She had no idea what he was talking about.
“I don’t understand. How have I done that? By looking for the Bahr al Noor diamond? Or by simply being here?”
“Don’t come the innocent with me, Dr. Cooper. You knew exactly what you were doing.”
She shook her head. “What do you mean? What exactly do you believe I’ve done?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The advisers exchanged angry looks.
“You know very well what you have done,” another adviser snapped, slamming his hand on the table. “Your reckless actions have endangered the kingdom’s security and stability.”
Leonora tried to protest, but the men wouldn’t listen. They continued to berate her, their words like daggers to her heart. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of accusations, unable to defend herself.
But then, just as Leonora was about to break down, the doors to the chamber burst open and Darrius strode in, his eyes blazing.
“What is going on here?” he said, his voice like thunder. He pointed to the vizier. “Ammar! What is the meaning of this interrogation?”
The vizier jumped up, anger overcoming his usual deference. “If you won’t deal with the problem here, then I will! She has to be forcibly removed from Sifra. She is the cause of this disaster. Everything was going well until she arrived and inveigled her way into your affections, skewing your mind and your heart, making you forget your responsibilities. ”
“I have never forgotten my responsibilities! And Dr. Cooper is not to blame for what has happened. The fault lies entirely with me.”
The advisers looked stunned, their mouths agape. Leonora felt a surge of relief wash over her.
“Ah, so you admit you shouldn’t have made such arrangements.”
“No! My fault lies in trusting you! I should have known you’d not only tap my phone calls but also then pass on the rumors to feed your own ambitions.”
“This is outrageous!”
“Maybe. But it’s true. Deny it, then.”
The two men stared at each other until finally the vizier shook his head. “I knew your father and grandfather. I was the first person to hold you after you were born. I’ve been beside you every step of the way. Does that count for nothing?”
“It makes what you’ve done all the worse. And now,” he said, turning to Leonora, “you have the gall to bring Dr. Cooper here to be interrogated by you?” He shook his head and walked over to Leonora, searching her face. “She doesn’t even know what’s happened, do you, Leonora?”
She shook her head. She sensed the eyes of the room upon her. “All I know is that I’m being blamed for something terrible that has happened.”
The bearded chief adviser rose. “Our king has abdicated because of you. And you believe you’ve done nothing?”
“Abdicated?” The word emerged in a gasp. Leonora couldn’t believe what she had just heard. Her heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Darrius with a mixture of shock and confusion. “For me?”
