The Sheikh's Virgin Bride(61)

“You take a break! You spring this woman on us and expect us to just accept your marriage to some…American!”

She threw her hands up in the air in rage, her eyes like dark storm clouds. Kaye stepped forward, as though finding her courage.

“Your Highness. I admit that I haven’t made the best impression, but I love your son. I want to make him happy. I will do whatever it takes to do so.”

“Sing the anthem,” Amalia said, crossing her arms with a smug expression.

She thought Kaye wouldn’t have time to memorize it. She was wrong. Taking a breath, Kaye began to sing it word for word, first in Amir’s native tongue, then again in English. She was grateful for her ability to memorize lines very quickly. Amalia’s stricken expression had to have been a little bit real.

“Yes, well. You can learn a song. Good for you,” Amalia huffed before storming off.

Kaye and Amir watched her go, the two of them locking eyes afterwards. Amir placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his eyes consoling.

“It will be all right,” he said.

“Cut!”

Jesse walked forward, his eyes on Amir.

“Amir, buddy. You’ve got to be brasher, okay? We want you to be a strong, assertive character. We’ve already got enough of the gentle romance between you two. Let’s have a little more spice, okay?”

“Got it,” Amir said, squaring his shoulders. “More brash.”

Jesse nodded.

“Great, let’s pick it back up you guys!”

He jumped back behind the cameras, which flicked back on. They continued their conversation in an entirely different tone.

“You need to do more to impress my mother. Without their approval, I can’t marry you.”

“What, your life is dictated by mommy and daddy?” Kaye sneered.

“I don’t need to be patronized by you. I knew them first. You’ve still got to earn a place in this family if you want to be a part of it.”

“You can’t be serious!” Kaye cried, stomping her foot. “Amir, you’re being ridiculous. I don’t even know who you are, here!”

“I’m the same man I’ve always been. I expect a lot from the woman I love. I would hope you do the same. Please try harder with my parents. Our marriage depends on it.”

Amir stormed off then, leaving a shocked Kaye to watch him disappear before Jesse ended the shot.

“Excellent! That was much better. Now, I want to film some scenes with Amir and his father talking about the marriage. And Amalia?”

Amir’s mother poked her head back into the room.

“Yes?” she asked.

“Let’s do some more scenes with you and Kaye having a heart-to-heart. We want there to be a strong disapproval, but in the end, you’ll accept your son’s wishes.”

“Got it. Mean until we’re green.”

“Sure,” Jesse said with a chuckle.

Kaye and Amalia walked off with Jesse and a few of the crew while Amir and the others headed off in the direction of his father, presumably elsewhere in the house. Amalia squeezed Kaye’s hand as they walked.

“You’re doing great,” she whispered.

“So are you. I think you all need to get into acting after this,” Kaye said.

“Nah. Got a country to run. Someone has to do it,” the Sheikha replied, staring ahead as though this was nothing at all.

Kaye was amazed by her candor and good humor.

“Things in Al Rayyan must run pretty well under your leadership.”

“We are blessed to have a thriving economy, it’s true. It is easy to run a country when the coffers are full.”

“Ladies, this would be a great conversation to have on film. Let’s try and get some of that done in here,” Jesse said.

They filmed a scene with the two of them reluctantly bonding over family values, with Kaye slowly winning Amalia over with her discussion about children, family and love. As they were finishing up, Amir appeared in the doorway.

“I hope to love my children as I was loved, with all my heart,” Kaye said, and Amalia reached over and squeezed her hand.

“It is one of the greatest gifts a person can ever have.”

Amalia looked up and saw Amir there, then patted Kaye’s hand as she released it.

“You might have a better one here than I thought, boy.”

“I certainly think so,” he said, and his eyes were warm as they rested on Kaye.

“Cut!”

Kaye and Amir were still staring at one another as Jesse stepped forward.

“Okay, scene, you guys! Now I’d like to get a shot of the two of you running off together into the city to get away from it all. Can we start on that now?”

“Sure,” Kaye said, bidding Amalia a fond farewell.

“Let’s do dinner. I don’t believe you’ll be staying past tomorrow,” Amalia said.

“We won’t?” Kaye asked, looking back at Amir.

He shook his head.

“We’ve got to keep to the schedule. We’ll be filming with your family next. The plane is scheduled to leave for Indiana in the morning.”

“I see,” Kaye said, blanching.

“Is that all right, Kaye?” he asked.

“Sure. Of course. We’ll figure it out when we get there,” she replied. “Now, let’s run off on an Al Rayyan adventure. I’m ready for some fun!”