I tapped the doorway with my fingers, attracting his attention. Today he was wearing a blue shirt and white trousers. I involuntarily wondered if everyone was sitting on it so perfectly.
– Irina? Good morning! – He got to his feet, towering above me and making me feel insignificant.
– Good morning. Samira said you wanted to see me.
He slowly looked at me from head to toe and nodded thoughtfully.
– Sit down – with a gesture he pointed to a chair, separated from it by a small wicker table. I tried to gracefully go down to the place that I was offered, wishing I had put on such short shorts. Now my legs were in all their helplessness before the Arab prince. You do not need to know local customs to understand that I made the wrong decision. It was necessary to wear the dress proposed by Samira. He returned to his place and looked at me, as it seemed to me, with a tense smile on his face. – I was gone a couple of days. How are you?
– Everything depends on you. – I looked expressively at him, dropping my hands on my knees. – Did you manage to solve my problem? Can I go home? – I hope the hopelessness in my voice was not so obvious.
– You want to get home so badly. Even amazing. Is it so bad with us?
– Honestly, – I hesitated, – for the first time in many years, I was able to truly rest. I have not been so calm for a long time.
– Then what’s the problem? – It seems he was glad I liked it here.
– Is it so hard to understand? I am alone. In an unfamiliar country, in a house of strangers to me. Something strange is happening around and no one is telling me anything, and you ask, what is my problem? – I jumped to my feet, panting, unable to stop. – You are sitting here in your house, not a man, but peace itself! And inside me, everything burns out due to the unknown. Tell me what you need from me! – I started to tremble. Everything that I have accumulated in myself over the past few days is now pouring out on this stranger. You forcibly brought me here, took my phone… by the way, where is he? – I asked demandingly, which only amused him. – But with all this, you gave me a huge room with a dressing room, where all the clothes of my size, and even its stocks, cannot be worn out in ten years! Isn’t that strange? What’s happening? Is this related to my parents? What did you do with them?
He calmly listened to everything that I told him, studying my face, and after a pause he gave an answer.
– As far as I know, your family is fine. Their restaurant is working fine and brings a good income.
– Do you think they are not looking for me? Someone will definitely lose me… sooner or later. I added more restrainedly.
– Right. he answered calmly, rising to his feet and coming so close to me that I could feel its slightly harsh spicy aroma, which filled all the space between us. – You’re right … – he began cautiously, taking a step towards me, which made me feel uneasy – they will look for you, but now… your family knows that you are safe and your friends are sure that you decided to stay with parents a little longer.
– Did you dig into my phone? – All the air disappeared from my lungs, but he calmly stood opposite me. – How can you? This is an invasion of privacy! – I closed my eyes. An urgent need to calm down, otherwise nothing good will come of it.
– I just saved you from having to lie to your loved ones.
– Well, you know … – I viciously flashed my eyes in his direction. – I’m over it!
I turned and quickly headed for the exit.
– Irina! – I stopped, not turning to face him, but feeling him approaching me. – I want to warn you that you cannot even go beyond this house without my permission.
– We’ll see! – I glanced over his shoulder and left the office, closing the door behind me with a roar.
CHAPTER 9
– Well, there must be at least one loophole! – I’ve been asking Samir for how many hours how I can leave this house, bypassing the guards.
– No, – she shook her head, – this never happened. The house is located a few dozen kilometers from the nearest village. Even if you go beyond the fence, which is impossible, you will not know where to go. Therefore, I advise you to abandon this idea.
With a groan, I covered my face with my hands, trying to figure out what to do.
– Your prince… – is the last word, I said through clenched teeth, – said that there is a rest room in the house, and I can watch TV there at any time.
– Yes. Oh! I didn’t even suggest you take a house tour.
– It is not necessary. Just take me to the rest room. I need at least a little distraction. – I took a deep breath. – No, not today. I want to go out into the garden, I need fresh air.
This place had a strange effect on me. I was tormented not only by headaches, but right after I eat, I feel like sleeping. Perhaps acclimatization or stress affects me in this way. In any case, fresh air will do me good.
– Do not be angry, – Samira began uncertainly, – but I would advise you to change your clothes. – Apparently, the puzzled expression on my face did not escape her, because she immediately rushed to explain her proposal to me. – Your body is too open, and because of this you … – she tried to find the words – confuse all the servants of this house.
I sat down on the bed and could not stop the hysterical laughter.
– God, why do I need all this? – Samira sat next to me and hesitantly put her hand on my shoulder.
– Irina, everything will be fine. I looked at her incredulously. Will it? – The main thing is to be patient.
Taking another deep breath, I got to my feet and went to the wardrobe to change into my long cotton sundress with bare shoulders and took sandals with me.
– I’m ready, we can go. – Samira looked me up and down, but said nothing.
She led me through the whole house and led me out into the garden, which from the balcony did not seem so big. Smooth lawn, hedge, which was located on the cuts of a stone path leading to all sides of the garden. I went to the fountain, from which I felt freshness and coolness, and sat on its edge to run my fingers through the water, revealing my face to the bright sun. Samira quietly disappeared somewhere, and now I am left alone with myself. It’s time to admit – I fell into slavery, otherwise it can not be called. Although… I do not feel danger from anyone. But what if… Exactly! I jumped to my feet, feeling excitement and fear. They want to sell me! I heard somewhere that this is still practiced here. I looked around and, finding no one, decided to act. I urgently need to get out of here.
I took a quick step along the path to the stairs leading to the gate, but there were at least ten guards along their perimeter. Then I decided to walk along the fence at a safe distance from them, but all to no avail. A deaf high stone fence surrounding the house. Nothing I could hold on to. I need to find out somehow whether there are neighbors behind the fence or at least something that can help me get out of here. Looking around, I did not find anything better than a tree standing about fifteen meters from the fence.
– I will find a way to get out of here – I lifted the hem of the dress, took off my shoes and quickly went to the tree. – Well, with God!
Throwing my foot on the lower branch, I climbed to the very top of this powerful tree. Having hooked my leg over the edge of the dress, I almost fell, managing to catch the next branch in time and maintain balance. Finally, having reached my goal, I turned to look beyond the fence, and could not contain a groan of disappointment. Not only was there a limitless plantation behind the fence that erased my already illusive plans for salvation, but now I realized that I could not get off this terrible tree.
I do not know how much time I spent in this position, but all my limbs were numb, and from fear of local insects I was on the verge of jumping to the ground. So what? One step and all my problems will be solved immediately. Not. This is not an option.