For a moment I thought about her words.
– He may not be a bad person, but his methods suggest the opposite.
I left the room and headed down the empty corridor to the first floor. The fleecy carpet enveloping my bare feet distracted me a little from gloomy thoughts. The main thing is to survive this evening and not forget the legend invented for me. One of the young servants opened the door for me, and I went out onto the porch, where Mr. Ali was already waiting for me. He seemed to be thrilled with something, but only until he saw me.
– You look wonderful! – A slight smile appeared on his face.
– Thank you, – I answered quickly. – Let’s go so that this evening ends soon. – He nodded, continuing to smile, which annoyed me, but I tried to control myself. In the end, I need to get used to this, if only so that I can safely be in his company for more than two minutes.
We went to the restaurant in the same minibus that drove me from the airport, only this time the driver was different, it seems his name was Zakir. The prince sat opposite me, and from time to time I caught his eyes on me, which I could not understand. We were accompanied by two guarded cars, one in front and one in the back. Several guards also accompanied us to a restaurant in which our appearance aroused unprecedented interest and excitement. Of course, none of those present addressed us, here excessive attention to women and people occupying a high position in society is punishable.
– Do not forget, we are a couple in love, so relax and try to enjoy this evening, – the prince whispered in my ear at the entrance to the restaurant, to which I tried to smile, as if he had told me some romantic words.
– I doubt that I will succeed. – I answered with a sweet smile on my face. – It is good that your country does not welcome the public display of feelings.
A girl came up to us and greeted in Arabic, then Ali told her something that made her smile, after which she nodded her head and pointed us to our table. He was at the other end of the room behind a small breadth. Ali took me to my place, unzipped a button on his jacket and sat across from me. A waiter came up to us, greeted us, handed out a menu and informed that he would return as soon as we were ready to place an order.
– Do you have any special eating habits? he asked me as soon as we were left alone.
I thought, looking directly at him.
– I dont know. Perhaps Italian cuisine is closest to me.
– Pizza, pasta, various sauces? – I nodded.
– This is what makes me feel better even on the darkest days. – I returned to studying the menu. Wonderful! They have pasta bolognese.
– Have you had many such days?
– Quite a bit of. – I sighed heavily, prepared to voice my order.
I chose orange juice, vegetable salad and pasta bolognese. Ali also ordered beef tenderloin steak, grilled vegetables and some local drink. While we were waiting for the order, Ali began to get noticeably nervous, looking at my hands lying on the table.
– I understand that all this is strange, but … – he put his hand in the inside pocket of his jacket – two weeks later we have a wedding, and… in modern society, it seems customary that there is an engagement before the wedding. – He took out a black velvet box and handed it to me. – Since our situation is not quite traditional, we will be guided by European standards.
I looked around, and making sure that no one was watching us with trembling hands, she took the box and carefully opened it, not believing my eyes. Elegant white gold ring with a small diamond in the middle. My throat was dry and I could not believe my eyes. Instead of delight and joy, I felt a panic and realized that everything that was happening to me was real.
– I … – I swallowed, trying to level my voice. – Will I have to wear it? Is always?
– Yes. This is another rule. From this moment and all the time that we are married. – I looked in panic at Ali, who hesitantly reached for the box. – If you will…
I handed him a box from which he carefully removed the ring and extended his hand to me. I hesitantly put my hand into her and looked at Ali, who was as excited as I was. He put a ring on my ring finger and covered my hand with his hot soft palm, while piercing me with the look of his dark eyes. I felt heat spreading all over my body, which made me feel uncomfortable. The ring went perfectly. Ali still held my hand in his hands for a while. Fortunately, at that moment they brought us food, and I was able to remove my hand, hiding it under the table. I took a big sip of juice to calm my nerves and looked around again. Nobody seems to have noticed anything. Ali started dinner, and I continued to sit, not knowing whether I should eat, because of the excitement I felt nauseous.
– Irina? Why aren’t you eating anything?
– I’m almost not hungry, – I said uncertainly, looking towards the window, behind which there was an endless stream of cars and people hurrying somewhere. – They will photograph us secretly or …?
– No, – he shook his head, chewing vigorously on the food he sent to his mouth a minute ago. – At the exit, we will be waiting for journalists who will ask questions that were given to them in advance.
– That is, they will not ask for anything superfluous? He shook his head.
– Do you want some coffee? – I looked at him suspiciously, noting his ability to quickly change the subject.
– Isn’t that a strong coffee?
– Then you need to eat something, – I raised my eyebrows in surprise. – Over the past few days, you have completely withered. Samira said that you eat very little, but … – he looked straight into my eyes – you did not look worse.
From his remarks, I was embarrassed and looked at the plate with vegetable salad, while he took the fork and attacked the vegetables in my plate, ruthlessly sticking them on the fork.
– What are you doing? I asked in surprise, looking at him.
“Saving vegetables in your plate. They are not to blame for the fact that you do not want to eat them. He said with a serious expression on his face.
“And you decided to become the one who will save them from a painful death in the form of a slow decomposition in a bin?”
– Yes exactly. – I laughed soundlessly, not believing that we really talk about vegetables, when we have much more important topics for conversation.
– So that? Would you let these guys die? They were grown for a better life, long struggled to charge you with strength and vitamins. – He defiantly ate everything that was on his fork.
– Good good! – I could not stop smiling. – Just let’s end this conversation, otherwise someone will think that we are crazy.
– I don’t care what people think of me who don’t know me at all.
– Well, yes… who else but me should know this, I said without a word, lifting my fork. – You know, your food affects me badly, – he frowned, not understanding what I mean. – After I eat it, I constantly want to sleep, and even for my stomach it is too sharp. – I hesitantly looked at a piece of tomato attached to my fork, and then put it in my mouth and began to chew slowly.
– Why haven’t you said this before? – He asked, it seemed to me, annoyed. I swallowed the food and looked at him point blank, not understanding his reaction.
– People in the kitchen,