The words of his right arm still echoing in his hazy mind, Hackim swung the punching bag fiercely and quickly to release all the tension that tensed his body like a crossbow.
-Is this peak of tension that I read in you due to the stranger who fuels the conversations of your employees in the hallway ? Asked Malick El-Hassir, cousin and close friend of Hackim, darting on the latter a deep look that said a lot about the bottom of his thoughts.
Furious that people are talking to him about her when all his thoughts were undeniably turned towards him to his greatest displeasure, Hackim accelerated his blows without responding to his cousin who did not let himself be intimidated.
- We agree that an American has been living in your palace for three days now without, according to my information, you having given any valid explanation to your advisers and ministers, not to mention your sheikhs. He insisted, positioning himself in front of Hackim to start their usual boxing training.
In response to his insistence, Hackim landed a right hook that momentarily unsettled him and made him groan softly in pain. Malick raised his eyebrows more and more intrigued. Growing up with his cousin, he knew him well enough to understand from his more disproportionate reaction than usual that there were many details outside of the true reason for the stranger's presence in Khahazan that were unknown to him. Ready to push him to the point that he does not confess these details to him, Malick repositioned himself in front of his cousin who, looking more gloomy than usual, warned him with his eyes not to push the limits of his tiny patient. But accustomed since childhood to make Hackim talk by pushing him to his last entrenchments, Malick paid no attention to it and retaliated to his cousin's previous attack with a punch that he very quickly dodged without much difficulty. As they circled around the ring, each looking for the opportune moment to land a blow on his opponent, Malick returned to the charge.
- So you intend to shut up and ignore the silent questions of your collaborators as to the presence of this foreigner here. No problems. It is your choice and you are the one and only ruler of these lands but know that the rumors are rife. If for some it is your mistress of the moment, for others she is your betrothed. Also, don't forget that just like you, your people are very suspicious of strangers. What will you tell them when a member of your palace leaks the information? Because it will happen and your people will demand accountability.
Taking advantage of the distraction of his cousin who seemed more interested in chatting than staying focused on their training, Hackim struck him a blow which knocked him out before blowing angrily watching him like a buffalo in front of which we waved the red flag.
- This stranger means nothing to me. I have already explained to everyone why she is here for investigations in connection with the John Smith fraud. She'll leave afterwards if she's not guilty. If this explanation does not suit you, go ask Amid for more since he is the one in charge of the details concerning this case. He ended up answering before hurriedly leaving his personalized gym to avoid having to listen to another annoying remark from his cousin who, along with Amid, were the only people who allowed themselves certain liberties with him. With clenched fists and a powerful urge to kill, Hackim went to take a shower in his quarters and prepare for his monthly visit to the desert tribes to talk with them and collect their potential demands. Since he had saved his kingdom from his father's greed and straightened out the national economy, he was doing as much as his busy schedule allowed him the effort to listen to his people, their complaints in order to to guarantee to all, without exception of social class, gender or religion, equal opportunities for development on the lands of the Khahazan which are theirs and of which their petty father had deprived them of the wealth.
Not exhausted after visiting and chatting with 6 desert tribes located at great distances from each other, Hackim was going to the stables to wish his stallion good night as usual when laughter he recognized drew his attention to the public garden of the palace. Deviating from his initial trajectory to take a closer look at what was happening, he could not prevent a violent anger flooding his whole body as he saw his cousin chatting with Mia Khelani whose joyful laughter and amused expression could only convey pleasure. that she took to chatting with her playboy cousin. Unlike him who hated them, Malick collected women and knew how to deal with them. His status as a sheik as well as his wealth and his natural charm helping, he did not need to provide much effort to reach his targets and lure them into his bed like a hunter lures game into his traps. Usually oblivious to Malick's behavior, Hackim stiffened thinking that Mia Khelani was his next target. It was therefore with a stormy look that he approached them and interrupted the gesture of his cousin who was reaching out to touch Mia Khelani's hair.
-What are you still doing at the Palace Malick? ...
Mia jumped surprised to hear this voice that she would have preferred not to hear until he left. What was he doing here and how did he manage to go to them without her hearing anything? "Surely a ninja trick," she thought to herself as she watched Malick raise a small smirk to face the prince of darkness who towered over him.
- Dear cousin. So you're already back! I thought you would spend the night. And to answer your question, it's true that I had planned to go back after you left me in the gym like an idiot, but first I had to check the hallway rumors that said there was had a nymph straight out of the ancient books in one of the palace chambers. And believe me I was not disappointed. Malick replied, giving him a knowing wink.
Mia couldn't help but smile at Malick's charming tone. Indeed, since he had introduced himself to her earlier in the afternoon and offered to explore the palace gardens in his "charming and pleasant" company, she had understood that he was a real playboy, but she found him adorable. So she had found herself spending the whole evening in his company laughing at his jokes and his incredible stories. This man alone was an entire sketch.
-Okay, now go away. Like a cleaver, the harsh voice of the hornless demon took away her smile and she turned to observe him while her cousin, without taking offense at his verbal brutality, nodded from left to right to tell her that he was not.
-I'm not going. My huria (huria means nymph in Arabic) needs someone to keep her company until her innocence, which I have no doubts about, is proven and she breaks my heart by leaving. He explained, theatrically placing a hand over his heart.
Mia could feel the tension that inhabited the body of King Hackim and in no way wanted her or Malick to pay the price. So she got up from the bench she was occupying to assure Malick that he could leave, but no sooner had she put her hand on Malick's arm to speak to him than she was seized by a powerful grip which unceremoniously pulled her towards the interior of the palace.
TO BE CONTINUED...