At the breakfast table, where Tyler timidly joined under Jake's watchful eye, there was a pleasant atmosphere.
"Good morning, Jared. Good morning, Tyler," Jake said, emphasizing the final greeting. He looked at his son. "I hope you didn't undo all my hard work?"
Jared sat with his mouth full of teeth.
Tyler couldn't suppress his grin. "He was very attentive," he reassured Jake with a light blush. He was surprised how casually he felt in this environment. It was a free port to Jared where they even sat at the breakfast table constantly touched each other.
Miranda and Jake watched the scene with wide smiles. They exchanged a look of understanding. Not in years had they seen Jared so relaxed and happy.
"I have a lot of things to do before we leave," Tyler said when breakfast was finished. He tried to get up, but Jared stopped him.
"What's so urgent that you have to get away from me?" he asked in a possessive tone that made three pairs of eyes look at him in amazement.
Tyler laughed appreciatively. "Sometimes that ruler trait of yours is kind of sexy." His finger slid teasingly over Jared's disgruntled mouth. "I have to call Lucy to tell her I'm not coming. I have to call school and pack a bag."
Jared got up and pulled Tyler along. "You get an hour to get your business done. If you're not back, I'm coming to get you," he growled. The kiss he gave to seal the case made his mother swoon and his father actually blushed. Grinning, he pushed a slightly swaying Tyler out of the patio door.
The fresh outdoors cheered him on and with a broad grin he ran home through the garden. In rapid succession, he finished his chores. He packed his bag carefully and put the medallion in a side compartment next to his passport.
The doorbell rang and he ran down the stairs with the bag in his hand.
"You're ten minutes early," he said, laughing.
There stood the man he recognized as Marwon Al-Din, even though they had never met. An entourage of three men stood by the black car.
"You look just like the old Sheikh, Mr. Al-Din," Tyler said.
"I see that once again my reputation precedes me," the man responded slickly recording him.
Like the rest of the family, this man in his seventies was an example of beauty, intelligence and strength.
"Is there really no one in your family small, fat and bald?" Tyler spontaneously blurted out.
Black eyebrows were raised haughtily at the snigger that could be heard from the car.
"Tarek," barked Marwon.
"Yes, grandfather?"
"If you're able to behave, come here."
"Yes, grandfather."
Tarek, tall, dark and handsome, came walking towards them. Tyler saw the humor in his black eyes.
"Hello," Tyler greeted him.
"Can we come in?" asked Marwon.
"It depends on whether you can behave," Tyler said in a serious manner. "The little I've heard from you didn't speak in your favor. So before I invite you into my mother's house, I ask your word that you will be polite."
Dark eyes shot fire. The look he gave Tyler made it clear to him that this man was not used to a rebuttal. Unfazed, he waited for an answer.
A disgruntled and moping trait lay on the man's lips for a moment. Then he found his self-control and answered smoothly: "But of course, Tyler. I wouldn't insult your mother for the world."
Tyler smiled internally. Now he could be sure that his feelings would not be spared. Actually, he didn't expect anything different. He was curious about the reason for this visit.
Tyler made an inviting step back and let his guests in. The way Tarek looked around made it clear to him that he was protecting his grandfather.
"There's no one else in the house," he told Tarek. He looked at the older man candidly. "You lead a hard life if your grandson has to act as bodyguard," he said with sympathy.
Dark eyes picked him up but didn't say anything.
"Are you more comfortable on the couch or at the dining area?" asked Tyler. Answering the questioning look, he replied: "I noticed you walking with a stick. Our couch is quite low and that makes getting up difficult. If you have the ego of your cousins, it would hurt your pride," he simply remarked.
"You really don't beat around the bush," Grumbled Marwon. He snorted. "The table is fine."
Tarek walked in front and pulled a chair backwards. He himself chose a position in the room where he could oversee everything. Tyler took a seat across from Marwon with his back to the window.
Expectantly, he looked at the old man. "You are the first of the family to visit me at home."
Eyebrows frowned slightly.
"I don't count Dr. Evans and Dr. Al-Din as visitors," he said.
"No doubt I've already been blackened," the man sniffed mockingly.
Tyler shook his head. "You're wrong about that. I have been told that you have been fighting for fifty years over a decision taken by your eldest brother. In terms of content, that's your business." Tyler put his hands on the table and looked straight at the man. "But I find it distasteful and below the dignity of a man in your position to have his niece put under administration and thus enforce his right." His voice sounded clear and strong in the silent room.
There was a shocked expression on Marwon's face. His eyes flew at Tarek, who visibly cringed.
"When did this happen?" he asked, demanding.
"I don't know when it started. I know when it ended," Tyler said.
Marwon's eyes slipped sunken in thoughts over the kitchen table. "So that's why she has used her right to choose a bearer of the eye." He raised his dark head. "But why did she choose you?"
Tyler shrugged his shoulders. "Princess Jasmine didn't tell me that."
Piercingly Marwon took in his young table mate. "Do you have any idea how much power she gave you?"
At that moment, loud banging on the door was loud.
"Tyler, open it. Your time is up."
Tyler sighed. "That's what I'm always told, Mr. Al-Din. But it doesn't seem to help me deal with my tyrannical boss."
He looked aside. "Tarek, would you be kind enough to let Prince Jareed in?"
After a brief nod from Marwon, he walked towards the door.
"Tarek," Jared greeted him by name, while sizing him up.
"Prince Jareed," Tarek said in a similar tone.
Tyler picked up both men and recognized a way of moving. Shocked, he looked at Marwon. "Are all your children being trained? In what kind of family is this necessary?"
"Powerful people make powerful enemies," Marwon said simply.
Jared got closer. He greeted his great-uncle in Arabic with the respect his status brought him. Marwon did the same thing. In short terms, he spoke to Jared. His eyes flew to Tyler. As unfazed as possible, Tyler followed the interaction he didn't understand. He watched a variety of emotions pull over Jared's face. They told the story Tyler couldn't follow. Marwon hadn't known about this. This probably had been a move by his own children. Fueled by fifty years of strive, they had crossed a line.
Tyler realized that the old man's own position was hanging by a thread. Why shouldn't they relieve him of his rights at the slightest sign of weakness?
"You are at the head of a pack of hyenas who do not share your morals and values. I shudder when I think of the possible consequences," he remarked as soon as the men were done talking.
"Did you follow our conversation?" asked Jared, puzzled.
Tyler smiled. "No, but it was written on your faces."
Two pairs of dark eyes looked at him frowning.
He sighed. "Listen. In your culture, people of your stature are not addressed in their faces. Maybe you are not as untouchable as you think," he said defiantly.
Jared looked at him angrily, but Marwon burst into laughter. A real mean smile. His steering face was transformed.
Tyler raised his hands in defeat. "No, seriously. Where are the small, fat and bald relatives!" he held his hand up. "Attractive, of good health, successful, intelligent and good leaders," he counted on his fingers.
Marwon looked proudly from Tarek to Jared. "We have strong genes in our family."
Tyler was curious. "Would you be offended if I asked about your parents?" Marwon Al-Din looked at him in a surprise. "What would you like to know?"
He shrugged. "Who were they? Where did you live? How was every day life at your house?"
Jared took a seat next to Tyler and even Tarek came closer.
They all listened to the stories that took them to the youth of this interesting man. Every once in a while, Jared and Tarek would ask something, and then Marwon would tell on.
Tyler listened to the stories and enjoyed the lights that burned in three pairs of brown eyes. He was also alert that Jared didn't touch him by accident.
As if he was sorry, Marwon cleared his throat. "My time here is over, Tyler. I have to go."
Tyler, who foresaw that the man would have trouble getting up, helped him gallantly and without fuss. The other two men did not notice any of this action. Marwon pinched him appreciatively in his shoulder. "I'm looking forward to our next meeting, Tyler."
"Me too," he said sincerely.
Marwon also spoke to Jared, who pressed his hand, hesitated and then hugged him as was customary in the family.
Tyler waved at the car leaving and closed the door. Jared stood in the living room and looked at him awe.
"Let me guess," Tyler said. "He's going to apologize to your grandmother and make peace with Sheikh Jabaar as a penance for his family's appalling behavior."
Jared nodded incredulously. "They're such proud people. They never would have gotten out of this themselves."
Tyler looked at him seriously. "You shouldn't think that everything has been solved with this. Fifty years is not so easy to erase."
Jared hugged Tyler firmly. "I get that, too." His broad grin melted Tyler.
"I loved watching you while you were listening to those stories," Tyler said. He crept closer into the embrace. "Especially the bits your great-grandfather was mentioned in." Gently, he brought his mouth to Jared's neck and pressed small kisses into it.
"We have to catch our plane," Jared said, laughing, pushing Tyler away.
"But if we're in Paris and sleeping under your grandmother's roof, I can't touch you," Tyler pouted.
"That's right," Jared nodded. He looked Tyler deep in his eyes. "And I'm going to reward you handsomely for that." Tyler let out a shaky sigh that Jared laughed at superiorly. "Eager boy," he whispered to his lips and gave a kiss Tyler felt to his toes.