Free Marrying the Sheikh by Holly Rayner

invoices while she was there.
     
    She arrived at the shoot with her attaché full of paperwork and the sole intention of staying in the background. The photographers were busy fixing Nadia’s hair and adjusting the lighting while Karim stood next to her looking incredibly bored.
     
    Ella spotted Djaron and called him over to her. “I thought they already did all of their engagement shoots,” she said, unsure why they were having another professional photo session.
     
    “You're right,” Djaron said, squeezing Ella’s hand in greeting. “They did. But this one had to be rescheduled. It’s one of the most important because this magazine has the widest circulation in the Middle East. Since this wedding will unite two of the region's wealthiest and most powerful families, it is only fitting that they announce their nuptials here, as well.”
     
    The shoot began and Djaron and Ella watched from the wings. Around twenty minutes later the photographer told everyone to take a break, and Karim smiled and called Ella over. Nadia rolled her eyes and looked away when she saw Ella come near.
     
    “Hi Ella,” Karim said, friendly once again. “I’m glad you could make it.”
     
    Nadia looked at Ella, scanning her from head to toe. “Yes,” she said curtly. “Since you’re here, why don’t you make yourself useful and go get me a coffee.” Nadia snapped her fingers and turned back to the stylist that was working on her hair.
     
    “Nadia,” Karim barked at his fiancée.
     
    “No,” Ella jumped in, putting her hand up. “It’s okay, really.”
     
    She turned and ran to fetch Nadia her coffee. Just three more weeks, Ella said to herself. Three more weeks and this will all be over.
     
    She returned and handed Nadia the coffee. Nadia took one sip and then held it out to Ella, expecting her to hold it while she posed for more shots.
     
    “Um, okay...” Ella said meekly.
     
    “Nadia, stop treating her like that!” Karim said sternly, and Ella froze as she watched the interaction. “Ella is not your servant, Nadia! She's been hired to plan our wedding, not run errands for you!”
     
    Ella swallowed hard as she saw Nadia’s face change from hard to stone cold. Nadia glared at Karim and then at Ella, looking back and forth between both of them as the corner of her lip turned up and nostrils flared.
     
    The heat of Nadia’s gaze caused Ella to squirm. She placed the coffee on a table next to the photographer and sneaked back into the wings with Djaron. Nadia kept staring at Karim as he fumed silently beside her.
     
    “Please,” said the photographer, looking at his watch. “Can we please get back to the shoot? We’re almost done.”
     
    Nadia shooed the stylist away and slipped back into her perfect pose. Karim glanced over at Ella with an apologetic look on his face, never once smiling for the camera.
     
    When the shoot was done, a few awkward poses later, Nadia disappeared with her attendants, leaving Karim alone under the lights.
     
    Djaron nudged Ella and the two of them walked over to him.
     
    “Well,” Djaron said, jokingly, “That went well.”
     
    Karim rolled his eyes at Djaron. “Yeah, just like everything else with Nadia.” He turned and looked at Ella. “I’m so sorry for that, for how she treated you. No one deserves to be treated like that.”
     
    “It’s okay. I’m fine. She’s probably just tense with the wedding coming up and all,” Ella said, making excuses for her. She knew Karim didn’t love Nadia, but it wasn’t her place to talk bad about her.
     
    “I have the car waiting for us,” Karim said, and began to escort Ella downstairs. “Djaron, can you please take these invoices back to the office and get them paid right away?”
     
    “Certainly, sir,” Djaron said, accepting the stack of paperwork that Ella had brought with her.
     
    When they reached the first floor Karim held the door to the building open for Ella, and as she stepped through she saw the limo