Zain experienced both guilt and regret that their last words had been spoken in anger. That he hadn’t been able to forgive his father for his transgressions. Yet he could not worry about that now. He had more pressing matters that hung over his head like a guillotine.
His gaze came to rest on his brother predictably seated in the king’s favorite chair located near the shelves housing several rare collections. The changes in Rafiq were subtle in some ways, obvious in others. He wore the kaffiyeh, which Zain refused to wear, at least for the time being. He also sported a neatly trimmed goatee, much the same as their father’s. In fact, Rafiq could be a younger version of the king in every way—both physically and philosophically.
Rafiq glanced up from the newspaper he’d been reading and leveled a nonchalant look on Zain. “I see you have arrived in one piece.”
He didn’t appreciate his brother’s indifference or that he looked entirely too comfortable in the surroundings. “And I see you’ve taken up residence in the king’s official office. Do you plan to stay here indefinitely?”
Rafiq folded the paper in precise creases and tossed it onto the nearby desk. “The question is, brother, do you intend to stay indefinitely, or will this be only a brief visit?”
Zain’s anger began to boil below the surface as he attempted to cling to his calm. “Unfortunately for you, as the rightful heir to the throne, I’ll be here permanently. I’ve been preparing for this role for years.”
“By bedding women on several continents?”
His composure began to diminish. “Do not pretend to know me, Rafiq.”
“I would never presume that, Zain. You have been away for seven years and I only know what I have read about you.”
At one time, he and Rafiq had been thick as thieves. Sadly, that had ended when his brother had sided with their father over their differences, leaving brotherly ties in tatters. “I left because our father placed me in an intolerable position.”
“He only wanted you to adhere to the rules.”
Outdated rules that made no sense in modern times, yet that had only been a small part of his decision. If Rafiq knew the whole story, he might not be so quick to revere their patriarch. “He wanted me to be exactly like him—unwilling to move this country into the millennium because of archaic ideals.”
Rafiq rose slowly to his feet and walked to the window to peer outside. “The people are gathered at the gates, along with members of the press. One group demands an explanation as to why their new king deserted them years ago, the other waits for the wayward prince to explain his questionable behavior. Quite the dilemma.”
“I will answer those questions in due time.” Those that needed answering.
Rafiq turned and frowned. “Are you certain you can handle the pressure?”
If he didn’t leave soon, he could possibly throw a punch, producing more fodder for the gossip mill. “Your lack of faith wounds me, brother. Have you ever known a time when I failed to win people over?”
“We are not children any longer, Zain,” he said. “You can no longer brandish a smile and a few choice words and expect to prove you are worthy to be king.”
He clenched his fists now dangling at his sides. “Yet our father chose me to be king, Rafiq, whether you agree or not.”
“Our father believed that designating you as his successor would ensure you would eventually return. And in regard to your current status, you have yet to be officially crowned.”
Zain wondered if his brother might be hoping he would abdicate before that time. Never in a million years would he do that. Especially now. “That should be enough time for a seamless transition.” If only he felt as confident as he’d sounded.
“There will be serious challenges,” Rafiq said. “Our father worked hard to maintain our status as a neutral, autonomous country. Our borders are secure and we have avoided political unrest.”
“And we will continue to do so under my reign.”
“Only if you can convince your subjects that you have their best interests at heart. Any semblance of unrest will only invite those who would take advantage of the division. That is why I urge you to consider working with Madison Foster.”
He should have known it would come back to her. He’d had enough trouble keeping his thoughts away from Madison without the reminder. “Why do you believe her input would be so invaluable?”
“She has been extremely successful in her endeavors,” Rafiq said. “She has taken men with political aspirations and serious deficits and restored their honor.”
He was growing weary of the insults. “So now my honor is in question?”
“To some degree, yes,” Rafiq said as he reclaimed the chair. “What harm would there be in utilizing her talents? Quite frankly, I cannot believe you would refuse the opportunity to spend time with an attractive woman.”
As always, most people assumed he had no other concerns than his next conquest. Of course, he couldn’t deny that he’d considered the advantages of having Madison involved in his daily routine. Yet that might be dangerous in the long term, unless he wanted to prove everyone right that he could not resist temptation. “Again, I do not wish or need her help.”
Rafiq blew out a frustrated sigh. “If you choose the wrong path, Zain, there will be no turning back. If you fail to win over your subjects, you will weaken our country, leaving it open to radical factions bent on taking advantage of our weakness. Is your pride worth possible ruin?”
Zain thought back to the angry voices, the accusations he’d endured moments ago. He hated to concede to his brother’s demands, but he did recognize Rafiq’s valid concerns. He would find a way to maintain his pride and still accept Madison’s assistance—as long as she understood that he would remain completely in charge. Considering the woman’s obvious tenacity, that could be a challenge. But then he had always welcomed a good challenge.
If bringing Madison Foster temporarily into the fold kept Rafiq off his back, he saw no harm in giving it a try. “All right. I will give it some thought, but should I decide to accept her assistance, I will only do so if it’s understood that I’ll dismiss her if she is more hindrance than help.”
“Actually, the agreement is already in place, and the terms of her contract state she cannot be dismissed on the grounds of anything other than gross misconduct. That would be my determination, not yours.”
Contract? “When did she sign this document?”
“After she contacted me to report on your initial meeting. She is bound to stay until after your coronation, but she insisted on a clause that allows her the option to leave prior to that time should she find the situation intolerable.”
His own brother had tied him to a liaison against his will. However, that did not mean he had to be cooperative. “Since you leave me no choice, my first official edict states you will be in charge of the arrangements to bring her here.”
Rafiq sent him a victorious smile. “You may consider it done.”
As fatigue began to set in, Zain loosened his tie and released the shirt collar’s top button. “We’ll continue our conversation over dinner.” He suddenly remembered he hadn’t seen any sign of his youngest brother. “Will Adan be joining us?”
“Adan is currently in the United Kingdom for flight training. He will be returning before the coronation.”
Zain couldn’t mask his disappointment. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing him and catching up on his accomplishments. But it’s probably best we have no distractions when you bring me up to speed on the council’s most recent endeavors.”
Rafiq cleared his throat and looked away. “We will not exactly be dining alone.”
“Another