They landed at night when they got down from the plane they were black suvs lined up and security waiting information.
"why are they so many security for just a business trip" Amara asks
"Mr. D'Artois is a very respectable man" Vladimir says
They finally left the airport after security checks of the environment, they drove pass every and any checkpoint they just kept on driving until they got to a private desert estate. The gate opened before they arrived
"Where are we' Amara asks
"This place belongs to Mr. D'Artois business partner" Vladimir responds
They were high walls, armed security and 360 motion sensor cameras. She felt a bi unsettled when they entered into the house, everything was marble and gold like Olympus.
Amara taps Lucian
"What exactly does this business partner do"
"Ms. Banks I believe that before we left Chicago I told you not to ask questions concerning our partners and sponsors."
He shuts Amara completely
They get to a room with very high doors that took two able bodied men to open, there was a long table in the middle of the room where only men were seated many of them were in throbes and definitely Arabian. Amara being the only woman on that table sat beside Lucian.
Conversation started in Arabic and they spoke in phrases English that didn't make sense, none of it made sense to Amara. Lucian joined the conversations we perfect Arabic.
After the dinner they went to a luxurious lounge that was underground, Lucian brings out a suitcase and Amara notices
"What's the suitcase for"
"The man we are going to see has interests at least that what I call it
It's not nice to visit people empty handed"
They walk inside and take their seats, Amara finally gets to see the business partner it was a middle-aged fat Arabian man and he that sat directly opposite Lucian without wasting time he said
"Hal 3indak hatha bil 3arabi"( do you have it?)
And Lucian responded
"3indi huna bil 3arabi" ( yes, I have it)
They put the suitcases on the table and the swapped suitcases then a subtle nod of approval was given and Lucian stood up to leave and Amara followed suit
A very fast meeting amara thought to herself
They leave the meeting
"We won't be able to go back to Chicago for the time being
I have a place not too far from here" Lucian says
"I don't understand, what do mean we are not back to Chicago for the time being"
"We'll be here for about 4 days"
"Mr. D'Artois I wasn't briefed before leaving Chicago"
Lucian ignores her and she gets the memo
The drive through the desert night and in a distance there were dimly lights
"what's going on there" Amara asks
"I don't know, it's probably people that have business with each other" Vladimir says
Amara didn't fully understand
They get to the said apartment but it wasn't an apartment it was a penthouse on a skyscraper in Riyadh.
They get into the building and she noticed that the few times she's been with Lucian that every hotel he enters he walks straight to the elevator nobody asks anything and this one wasn't an exemption they went to the last floor.
"Ms. Banks you can have the room at the end and there's a gala tomorrow evening"
"What do you mean an Arabia gala you listed we're going to on a business meeting" amara getting pissed off
"I didn't pack anything and especially not for a gala"
"Amara calm down
I have already thought of it and arranged everything, your dress will be delivered tomorrow and a team will be here for hair and make up."
"It's not enough I didn't bring anything and I'm not informed
I don't like being taken advantage of"
Lucian looks at her and chuckles
"This your character has always intrigued me
Everything you want will be provided just tell Vladimir leave the cost to me"
Amara storms out in anger, she went to sleep and woke up late in the afternoon, she steps into the living room of the penthouse and she sees a lot of people seated.
A young lady stands up
"Assalamu alaikum, habibi… are you ready for your transformation"
What transformation Amara asks still confused from sleep
They grab her wrist and brought her to sit down then they started doing her hair and make up without her full comprehension of what was going on she has yet to enter the reality of what was going on. The lady brings out a gown so beautiful but amara didn't know what it was
"Excuse me please what is that"
"Oh habibi it's an abaya"
"Isn't this like a form of cultural appropriation if I happen to wear this"
"habibi it's not "the lady replied
I've been briefed that it will be an Arabian gala many people will be dress traditionally. They went on completed the look and amara was looking like a queen.