Epilogue
“ARRANGED MARRIAGES ARE NOT all bad, my friend,” Elon spoke to address one of his oldest friends, Sheikh Zayn Nasser, but his eyes were trained across the room, on his wife, Emira Ella Katabi. She was locked in conversation with an American diplomat, her eyes sparking as she argued with the man about some injustice or other.
“That is easy for you to say. You were in the enviable position of choosing your bride – who just happens to be everything a man could wish for.”
Elon would never argue with that. Only he and Ella knew the true nature of their relationship, and the pragmatic start he’d tried to give it. Every now and again, he tortured himself by imagining ‘what if’. What if he hadn’t brought Ella to his cabin? What if he’d been stronger, more able to resist her inexperienced efforts at seduction? What if they’d never slept together, and he’d never been able to step into this perfect, wonderful life?
Their three children were a testament to their love, and their happiness. No matter how stressful his day had been, returning to his apartment and finding Ella and his little ones together made his heart full.
Not to mention the prosperity and peace that had come about from their union, and all of the unintended consequences they’d been able to enjoy. As if on queue, Luna entered the room, making a beeline for Ella. The conversation with the diplomat broke off, Ella and Luna embraced, and somehow, Elon’s heart grew larger, his smile broader.
Their friendship was more than he could have hoped for, but there was no doubting how much his sister and wife relied on one another.
“You are like a love-sick teenager,” Zayn complained, so Elon dragged his gaze back to his friend.
“Yes,” Elon agreed. What was the point in denying it? “But you know nothing of your bride. Why are you so certain you won’t like one another?”
“You’re wrong. I know plenty about her. And everything I know, I despise.”
Elon lifted a dark brow. “First impressions can be misleading.”
Zayn shook his head. “This is useless. You see everything through your rose-coloured glasses. I’m telling you, this is going to be a disaster.”
“Then cancel the contracts,” Elon said with a shrug.
“You know I can’t do that. My uncle’s dying wish was that we would marry. I made him a promise. I will never renege on it.”
A man of honour, Elon appreciated his friend’s commitment. “Then there is nothing for it. Marry her, and make the best of it.”
“Thank you so much for your help,” Zayn snapped sarcastically.
Elon was saved from making any additional reply by Ella’s arrival at his side. “Am I interrupting?” She asked, smiling from one to the other.
Zayn bowed. “Not at all, your highness. I was just making my excuses.” Zayn’s dark brown eyes pierced Elon’s. “I have an engagement to announce in the morning, after all.” He strode from the room, his spine erect, his shoulders squared, and both Ella and Elon watched him go.
“He doesn’t sound happy about it,” she observed after a moment.
“Well, we cannot all be so lucky as to marry our soul mates.” Elon lifted a hand to Ella’s cheek, running his thumb over her soft skin.
“That’s true.” Her voice was thickened with emotion. “We are pretty lucky.”
“Yes, little one. We are.”
He kissed the tip of her nose and felt her juddering sigh.
“Do you think we should get back?” She suggested after a moment. The party was winding down, guests leaving quietly, as midnight had long since come and gone. Their jet was waiting to take them across the border into Salim.
“No,” he said. “Let’s stay here. Laurie and Afida have been asking us to visit with them for a long time. Let’s make a weekend of it.”
“Without the children?” She said, aghast.
Elon laughed. “The children will be home. Better than fine. They are in the very capable hands of their nannies, and Luna will spend tomorrow with them. Come, Ella. Just this once, let me be selfish and have you all to myself.”
She sighed happily. “I suppose I can live with that.”
Elon kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m delighted to hear it, because you are, I’m afraid, stuck with me forever.”
“Promise?”
“On every star in the heavens, yes. I promise.”
THE END