Something in his eyes told her that he would not let go of her even if she wanted to. Which contradicted from what she was intending to do. Did her father really mean it that she should stay away from him? She never dreamed any such thing before, and she believed it to have a reason for her seeing it now.
"I feel sleepy now." She blinked away from his eyes.
"Hmm." He didn't let go of her yet and she didn't move her hands from him yet. She gulped staring at him, who shifted at last. Not how she expected though, he ended up dragging her closer to him and settled himself in his pillow. However, Ella pulled back her hand from him and faced the ceiling to sleep, with her hands moving his from her stomach. He didn't force back but brought his hands back to himself, still facing her side. Ella was slowly tugging her shirt down to prevent it from moving out of place. Regretting for not wearing any undergarments within, she blamed this shameless man to always end up with her in such awkward situations.
Not able to bear his stares any longer she faced away from the ceiling to the other side, showing her back to him. Though she could still feel him looking at her, it was better to pretend that she didn't notice. Leaning forward to switch off the lights, she felt a tug on her hair, turning back to inquire she found that he had fallen asleep with some of her hair entangled in his fingers. Sighing heavily Ella tried to turn but her head hurt, hence she lied on the pillow to slowly turn her head towards him. The hair tugged her yet; she shifted closer to him taking hold of his fingers to dismantle them from her hair. That was a tedious task to perform on every finger through one hand, with the position they were in. The night has just started and he was making it unable to sleep. Finally pulling all his fingers apart through her own fingers, she turned herself completely to him, her hair being untugged and free from his grasp. Letting a breath out she was tired with all, that she lied down there only without bothering to move to switch off the lights.
A while later that job was performed duly when a hand went around her to switch off the lights and bring her closer to resume stroking her hair.
"Is the room ready? The gates need to open the moment the car enters. And finish off the pavement area fast!" Ella was granting orders wherever needed after she realized in the morning that she was going to welcome a Prince. Surely the person sleeping by her side did take her attention the moment she opened her eyes, who looked too calm and adorable while asleep. Focus Ella! Yes, so she got up to get ready for the day remembering that the guest was to arrive in a few hours. Hurrying up she tried waking Roy but he adamantly didn't move an inch from the bed, after which she left him there to look over the preparations herself than wasting time. Thankfully the servants were already told to prepare the palace for the guest. She just supervised all the work, realizing only then that Roy purposely chose to not wake up. That bastard.
"Shouldn't he have reached here by now? The car was well maneuvered, right?" She asked the security head, Robert Miller with whom she acquainted today. The man wiped his forehead and answered, "Mistress the car is in pristine condition. It might be the traffic." "Are you well Mr. Miller? You can head over to rest and send another in your place," she advised to the hefty man who was sweating so early in the morning. "I am well. Thank you, Mistress." Any other reply paused in her lips when she heard the sound of the car entering the gates of the palace. The car was ordered to bring the guest directly through the gates of the palace and not the parlor, to avoid exposure, but the sight of running reporters behind the car was the answer that we were never too away from the press. The Prince of the Saudi Province visiting the city was indeed a breaking news for the lot; it would only be a while before the governors and parliament hound upon there.
"Dear lord."
"You don't have to worry Mistress. We'll cover." Miller hurried over to the gates to stop the intruding press with their barriers held stiffly in front of them. Ella was glancing over the crowd that she didn't notice the car sliding to stop opposite her, until an eastern accent encountered.
"Mashallah..." Ella turned her focus to the man who was already out of the car waiting for her to greet him. Noticing his stare on herself, she glanced over him to find that he didn't wear those weird clothes they are supposed ot wear. Rather he was dressed quite casually in formal suit and trousers, looking elegant with his trimmed beard and a number of rings adorning his fingers. How many has he married to, she was counting the number of rings to find out when he called, "Ella Kingsly?" She looked up to him with her face flushed red in losing her concentration on the work at hand, "I-I am sorry." Who welcomes someone with a sorry? Get a grip Ella! She held her hand to him to shake, "Pleasure to have you in London. I hope it wasn't much trouble." He took her hand and kissed it with a smile.
"Not at all. The trouble was worth it," he spoke with a deep accent elucidating every syllable which only made Ella feel awkward. It wasn't like she was welcoming foreigners at home daily, it will take time to get used to. "Please." She gestured him to follow her. When the doors to the palace were closed shut after them, the noises of the crowd disappeared.
"I apologize for the crowd, the news spread fast." "Do not apologize for something you can't control." She nodded at him and spoke, "I am Ella-"
"I know. I knew it the moment I saw you." He interrupted raking over her continued, "Blue is my favorite." He complimented her dress she had worn with her hair tied over her neck though she couldn't come up to think that he was trying to swoon her. Smiling tightly she led him over to the room he was assigned to. Being the palace in literal sense, there were more guest rooms than the owners' rooms, which just went on to explain that the legacy was made to work that way. Being an heir or part of the family of the heir was no easy feet. Generally it would be decided to have one child for every generation passing along in order to prevent fight for the throne among the siblings, which made Ella sad about such a ridiculous excuse. It was like cursing the child to stay alone the whole life until marrying and producing the next heir.
"Miss Ella?" She jerked up where she was standing in the room allotted to Mr. Khan, "I am sorry." "Do I bore you a lot?" He asked politely which only made it guiltier for her. She shook her head saying, "No. I just have a lot in my mind Mr. Khan."
"Zayn. Call me Zayn."
"Zayn. I'll leave you to freshen up. If you want anything the maids will be here." "Very well. Uh, Ella... Can I call you Ella?" "Sure." "I have brought you something," Zayn spoke while looking into his stuff that was carried over by the servants. He took out something rectangular wooden box, on closer inspection looked anciently carved. Knowing what it could be Ella requested, "I can't accept it Mr. Khan." "Uh-ah, it's Zayn for you. And you haven't been looked what is inside." "Zayn-" "You shouldn't say no to a gift. I have specially brought it for you. Here, have a look. I hope you like it." Such tremendous pressure should not be bothered upon any person, she took the box from him sighing. Feeling for the hook or anything to open it up, she finally did to be presented with three individual pearls placed symmetrically in shells each. Now this was not fair to gift something as natural as this. It clearly looked like recently plucked from the sea-bed.
"This... is very beautiful."
"Yes. One for the neck and two for the ears would look just perfect on you."
"Have we met before?" She asked at the same time ranting her mind to any possible encounters with the middle-east nations.
"Why do you think that?" He questioned back.
"Ah, I must be thinking too much. You should rest until the lunch hour Zayn. And thank you for the gift. You... have a good taste." She closed the topic and retreated from the room with a frown in her face. How was it possible? No, it seemed too unrealistic. Gazing down at the box filled with the pearls, she remembered the same words, 'One for the neck and two for the ears'. That was what the girl had told her.