Chapter 14
The limousine had stopped, and looking out the window, she realized there was one of New York's traffic jams in front of them. Abdul lay listlessly behind her, and Hassan lay on the floor in front of her, facedown. Her dress was on the seat next to Abdul, and the door handle of the car was within easy reach. Odd, but even the lock wasn't down.
Adrienne, in a sudden move, opened the limousine door and tumbled out, taking her dress with her. Totally naked, she ran to the nearest building, and with a whole group of people staring, she ran inside and found the nearest ladies room. Once in there, she slipped into her dress. Then she bummed a dime from one of the other women in there and used the pay phone in the ladies room to call the police. She wouldn't come out until the police car came and picked her up.
When she was taken to the station, she told her story to a stenographer who typed it up so she'd be able to sign it. Then fresh clothing was brought for her, and her boss, Herman Bennett, senior partner of the law firm where she worked, came and picked her up. He took her to his own town apartment and she stayed there a week, recovering from all she had gone through.
At the end of that time, she discovered that although she no longer had her old apartment, she still had all her clothing, which had been put away in storage along with her furniture. Her boss rented a new apartment for her, and lawsuits were filed against Isak Ibn Musa, as well as criminal charges. But when the police went looking for him, the sheik and his retinue had gone from New York.
A month went by, and Adrienne slowly began to settle back into her work. The shock of being free was slowly wearing off, and she realized the need for sex was becoming overpowering. Ibn Musa had created a terrible need in her. She decided she would assuage the need with some of the handsomer, single men who worked for the law firm. Unfortunately, she soon learned that there wasn't a single man in the group capable of really satisfying her. In fact, two men together were less satisfying than either of the sheik's eunuch's, both of whom had been inferior to him.
Another month passed. It was already the end of June, and one day the buzzer to her apartment sounded. When she opened the door, she saw a tall, handsome youth standing before her. He was dark and looked vaguely familiar.
"Miss Charman?" the youth asked.
"Yes," she nodded.
"I am Haroun Ibn Musa, brother to a former friend of yours," he told her, and Adrienne, shocked, backed away from him.
"You need not fear me, Miss Charman," he told her. "Although I am from Saudi Arabia, I have no intention of following the ways of my father. You see, I am the eighth son, and have no hope of ever becoming a sheik. Rather I would prefer to live in this country and take up the noble profession of law. I have been graduated from various law universities with honors, and at my brother's suggestion, I came to speak with you, hoping you might accept me into your firm."
"Why my firm?" she asked.
"My brother Isak has informed me you are the only attorney who has bested him. He feels I should be with the best and learn from you. He asked me to give you this letter."
Her hands trembling, Adrienne took the letter the man handed to her. She opened it and walked over to a window so she would be able to read it better.
My dear Adrienne, Some birds must remain wild and free in order to survive. You are one of those birds. I knew it would be impossible to keep you caged up when you made your second attempt to escape, and after Abdul had suitably "punished" you for disobeying me and running away, he was instructed to allow you to escape once and for all.
Forgive my playing the braggart, but I feel certain you have not found my equal when it comes to lovemaking. A woman as sensuous as yourself needs a good man to love her. So I send you my brother, Haroun, who has no harem, and who has no wish to follow the Moslem tenents. He is intelligent and will make a good law partner. More important, he will make a good bed partner. Whether marriage is something you want is up to yourself, but Haroun has been instructed in the art of lovemaking by both, myself and by Peggy, who has since given me a second reason for rejoicing for she is pregnant again. She is also the new begum. I wish you well, and hope Haroun will be adequate compensation for what you must feel is all the wrong I have done you. I knew you would refuse money, but I can't see you refusing Haroun.
Adrienne looked at the younger brother of Isak Ibn Musa, and she knew the sheik was right. Haroun was very probably the answer to her prayers. She definitely did need an answer.
"Please come in and make yourself comfortable," she said to Haroun. "We have much to learn about one another. I have things to teach you, and I'm certain you have things to teach me."
She smiled and he smiled back. Adrienne suddenly knew everything was going to be just fine.