Sheikha's Determined Police Officer (Botros Brothers Series Book 4) (6 page)

Aaliyah rushed downstairs when she heard Fiddah's voice. She ran to hug her as soon as she walked into the room. Fiddah smiled as she embraced her granddaughter, she knew exactly how she must be feeling. She had been out of town dealing with matters of her charity when she heard about Joseph. She made sure to return to the city a day early, so that she could be there when he met the rest of the family. She too wanted to meet him and be there for Aaliyah. She knew what her daughter-in-law was like.

“How are you my dear?” Fiddah asked Aaliyah.

“I am not fine,” Aaliyah replied. She always milked the attention she received from her grandmother.

“Tell me about this man.”

They sat down on the sofa together as Aaliyah told her everything about him. Fiddah was surprised that she had never heard anything about him before but seeing how Aaliyah was speaking about him, she could tell how much she loved him. She looked so happy.

“Aunt Daaliyah won't even consider him,” Aaliyah complained. Mrs Botros had made it clear that she did not want Aaliyah with him and would not consider it.

“I knew she would be like that,” Fiddah replied and shook her head. It seems that she was never going to change. The level of shallowness and prejudice Daaliyah exhibited really bothered her.

“Joseph will be here in about an hour. I am so worried for him, he doesn’t know how bad my family can be.”

“Don't be dear. This will be good. The way he reacts to Daaliyah, will show what kind of a man he is. It will be like a test.”

Aaliyah frowned. “I do not want him to go through that,” she added.

“I know.”

“Ali,” Leylah screamed as she ran into the room. She came to a halt when she saw Fiddah. “Fifi,” she said and smiled. She looked confused. She did not know who to hug first. Fiddah and Aaliyah laughed at her.

“Come here, sweetie,” Fiddah said. She had not seen her in a while and had missed her dearly. Leylah rushed over to Fiddah as Sara and Tariq walked into the room leading the twins. Sara greeted Fiddah and Aaliyah. She sat down next to Aaliyah as Tariq spread a blanket on the floor, and then sat the boys down on it. Fiddah sat there fascinated by him.

“How did you manage to make him do such things?” she asked Sara.

“Tell me about it,” Tariq said. He approached Fiddah and kissed her on both cheeks. Leylah jerked her head up and turned her cheek towards Tariq. He smiled and kissed her as well. Sara laughed and shook her head. Leylah loved the attention. Tariq also kissed Aaliyah and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before he sat down.

Moments later, Soraya and Amir walked into the room. They greeted everyone. Soraya hugged Aaliyah and whispered, “Is Joseph still coming?”

Aaliyah nodded. Time was drawing near and she was growing more and more nervous. Everyone had arrived and Mr and Mrs Botros were going to return soon. She was not looking forward to any of it but she had no choice. Soraya and Sara pulled her to the side to speak about Joseph. They hadn't really gotten the opportunity to talk about him.

“So what happened when we left?” Sara asked Aaliyah. Her eyes were wide with curiosity. Soraya was looking at Aaliyah the same way. She too was eager to find out.

Aaliyah laughed and started telling them about the soccer game, how he was so respected and loved in his community. He was really good with children, the older women loved him and the teenage boys looked up to him. He may not have status but he had respect. Aaliyah also told them about their date, the fact that she had gone to his house and he had cooked for her.

“Officer Handsome sounds like an ideal man,” Sara said. “It would be nice if Tariq would cook for me,” she added. Aaliyah and Soraya looked at her and started laughing.

“All you heard was food,” Aaliyah said to her.

Sara laughed and shrugged her shoulders. “I heard more than that.”

They all turned when they heard voices. Mr and Mrs Botros had arrived. The girls walked back towards them. Soraya and Sara greeted their in-laws. The maid came in to tell them that dinner was ready.

“Can we wait for Joseph?” Aaliyah asked as the maids started serving the food.

“He's still coming?” Mrs Botros asked with displeasure.

“Of course, he is still coming.”

As an argument was about to break out, one of the maids walked in and announced Joseph's arrival. He walked in dressed in a pair of black trousers and a white shirt. Aaliyah rose to her feet instantly and went over to greet him.

“This is Joseph,” she said to everyone. She was not sure how to introduce him; it was not as if it would make a difference anyway. He bowed his head and greeted everyone. Sara and Soraya were smiling at him. Everyone else was analysing him.

Aaliyah asked him to sit next to her as Mrs Botros looked away. She could not believe that Aaliyah had still invited him over, that she was so determined. From her first impression, she did not like him. He came dressed in cheap clothes and empty handed.

“Nice to see you again,” Sara said to Joseph.

“You have already met?” Fiddah asked. Sara nodded. “Well then, I must introduce myself to you.”

“Lady Fiddah,” Joseph replied with a smile. “It is an honour to meet you. I have heard of your great work,” he continued. Fiddah raised her eyebrows. He knew about her charity work and admired her. Not many wealthy people were so down to earth or invested as much time in charity work as she did.

“Thank you, young man.”

The maids served Joseph his food, clearly unsure of what to make of the situation. Tariq was watching his every move. He was not going to let a single thing escape his eye. He wanted to know exactly what kind of a man his cousin was in love with.

“So, you do know of us,” Mrs Botros said. Sara and Soraya looked at each other and carried on eating. They knew trouble was about to start.

“I do, ma'am,” Joseph replied politely.

“So is that why you targeted our little girl?”

“No, that is not the case ma'am,” Joseph was not surprised that she was pegging him as an opportunist. He had come prepared to hear the worst and he was ready to fight for Aaliyah no matter what.

“How do you know her?” Mr Botros asked calmly.

“High school, sir,” Joseph replied. Tariq noticed that he was polite and calm but it did not matter at this point. It was when his mother started shouting profanities at him that it mattered the most.

“How old are you?” Tariq asked. Sara flared her nostrils and narrowed her gaze. She had been wondering when Tariq was going to start speaking. He had been quiet longer than she expected.

“Twenty-six,” Joseph replied.

“And you are not married?”

“No sheikh, I am not.”

“Why not?”

“I never found the right woman.”

“And you have now?”

“Stop,” Aaliyah cut in. “Let us enjoy our food,” she added.

“I agree. Let him settle in first before the interrogation starts,” Sara said. The three of them were coming for him at the same time.

“It is alright,” Joseph said. “I love Aaliyah, I always have. And yes, she is the perfect woman for me,” he continued. Aaliyah felt her cheeks turning red. It warmed her insides to hear him saying such words. Sara and Soraya were smiling at him as Fiddah laughed.

“Young love is so beautiful. Even after all these years, you still love each other,” Fiddah said. Mrs Botros rolled her eyes.

“I call that determination of an opportunist,” Mrs Botros stated vehemently. Aaliyah's face dropped.

“Mother, please!” Amir cut in. He had watched Aaliyah's face light up when Joseph said that he loved her. He couldn’t believe how quickly his mother spoiled the moment. Sara, Soraya, Tariq and Amir had faced her wrath. Amir did not think Aaliyah could handle it, especially since she was not her daughter. It was going to be harder for her, and she was the most fragile.

“Aaliyah wanted him to meet us, so he must be prepared to hear our thoughts,” Mrs Botros said and put her fork down.

“Please, speak your mind, ma'am,” Joseph said. He was still so calm.

“Is that supposed to be a challenge?” she shouted.

“Daaliyah, control yourself,” Fiddah said sternly.

Mrs Botros sighed heavily. She picked up her fork and reluctantly carried on eating. Fiddah was her mother-in-law and rarely got angry but she was scary when she did. Daaliyah did not want to anger her but she was frustrated with the fact that she did not see Joseph as unfit to be with Aaliyah. She was determined to prove her point. She wanted Aaliyah to marry into a respectable family. Besides she did not believe Joseph loved Aaliyah without any ulterior motives.

“I love and care for Aaliyah, so I want the best for her,” Mrs Botros said.

“We all do but there are better ways to deal with things,” Fiddah replied. Sara took a sip of her drink. She was not going to get involved in that one. Fiddah was usually so calm, she did not want to poke the bear.

“He is a police officer. He would probably marry her and then expect a position in our company.”

“Ma'am, I agree that you have a well-established company; however I do not wish to join. I love what I do. My duty is to protect people and that is all I have ever wanted to do,” Joseph said. Aaliyah rubbed his arm.

“Everyone in his community loves and respects him,” Aaliyah said. Amir raised his eyebrows. Aaliyah was quite vocal. He had expected her to have backed down by now.

“Bull shit!” Mrs Botros shouted, jumping to her feet. Everyone whipped their heads in her direction. No one had ever heard her swear.

“Daaliyah, you do not need to swear, but I do agree with you. Sooner or later, he will feel less of a man and will want to have more,” Mr Botros said.

“Uncle!” Aaliyah screamed out.

“We will never approve, so you might as well end this fruitless endeavour,” Mrs Botros yelled.

“I will not give him up again,” Aaliyah said.

“Us or him, choose.”

“Mother please, do not speak like that. You cannot ask her to make such a choice,” Soraya said. Sara nodded as she swallowed.

“I agree-” Before Sara finished speaking Mrs Botros cut her off.

“No one cares what the two of you think,” she said.

“Mother, do not attack my wife or my sister-in-law,” Tariq warned. His tone was clearly telling his mother not to go there. He was very short-tempered and protective when it concerned his wife. 

“I pick Joseph,” Aaliyah said quietly. Everyone turned to look at her. Joseph held her hand and shook his head.

“Give them time to come around. Do not make rash decisions,” Joseph said to Aaliyah.

“If you choose him, then we will cut you off for good,” Mrs Botros threatened.

“Then cut me off.” It took guts for Aaliyah to say that. She was scared but she loved Joseph. She was willing to do whatever it took to be with him. She could not bear losing him again.

“You thinking I am bluffing?”

“Darling, calm down. Do not be too hasty,” Mr Botros said.

“Your parents would be disappointed if they were still alive!” Mrs Botros rose to her feet. Aaliyah felt the tears stinging her eyes.

“No need to bring up her parents,” Tariq said. Aaliyah rose to her feet as well.

“Since I came into this house with nothing, I will leave with nothing,” she said. “Since I am such a disappointment to you, I will leave now. Joseph let's go.” 

“Both of you sit down,” Fiddah said.

“Liya, please sit down,” Joseph said gently. Aaliyah walked out of the room. She was not going to change her mind. Joseph stood up and bowed his head. “I am sorry things turned out this way,” he said and left the room. Sara was confused. Everything had happened so quickly. She stood and rushed out of the room.

“Aaliyah!” Sara shouted as she ran out of the house. She was just getting into Joseph's car as Sara reached them. “I.... really do need... to do more… cardio,” she said as she panted.

“She won't listen to me,” Joseph said.

“I won't come back if they do not accept him,” Aaliyah said. “I love him too much to give him up again,” she added.

“I understand,” Sara said. “I will help you in any way I can.”

“You have done enough, thank you. Don't do anymore, Aunt will only turn on you too and I do not want that,” she said and rubbed Sara's hands. She turned to Joseph and told him to drive. He nodded, then bid Sara farewell.

Sara returned to the house to hear Mrs Botros and Fiddah arguing. Sara sat back down quietly and drank some water. Amir asked her what Aaliyah had said. He was still shocked that she had stood up to his mother and walked out. Whenever she had gotten into trouble, she normally asked Amir for help. He figured that her feelings for Joseph must have been very deep for her to act like that.

“Daaliyah, I will not let you do this to Aaliyah!” Fiddah said.

“She walked out of her own free will,” Daaliyah replied.

“You kicked her out when you demanded that she choose. Where you actually thinking that she would choose you? What exactly do you want from her? To marry a rich man and be unhappy?”

“Why does she have to be unhappy?”

“Simply because a man is wealthy does not mean happiness for the wife. Aaliyah will be with whomever she chooses to be with. How dare you even say her parents would be disappointed in her!” Fiddah was getting very angry. Mr Botros stood up and approached her.

“They would want her to marry into a good family,” Daaliyah replied gently. She was convinced that she was right.

“Mother, calm down,” Mr Botros said to Fiddah.

“Let go of me,” she demanded as she shook her son off. “Simply because he is not from our social class does not mean that he is not from a good family. I am disappointed in both of you,” Fiddah said.

“I love her as if she were my own daughter and I only want the best for her like I do for my own children,” Daaliyah stated defensively.

“Bring her back home, otherwise feel the full extent of my wrath,” Fiddah threatened before she walked out. Mrs Botros left the room and went upstairs as her husband followed. Sara was feeling awkward. So much had happened in one night.

“I guess we should go home,” she said.

“I think so too,” Soraya said.

“Where did Aaliyah get that courage from?” Amir asked and looked at Sara.

“Why are you looking at me?” Sara asked.

“You look suspicious.”

Sara laughed. “I wish I had something to do with it but I did not,” she said. She felt so proud of her. It must have taken a lot of courage to speak out against Mrs Botros. She knew what it was like to be in that position.

“Let's go get the children,” Tariq said. He was full of mixed emotions. He felt bad for Aaliyah, was upset with his mother over her behaviour and very scared of his grandmother; he never ever wanted to disappoint her. He loved her too much. He was surprised at Aaliyah's courage and still did not know what to make of Joseph other than he handled himself well given the circumstances.