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Wonder Woman and the Harem Girl—Pride and Audacity Part 9

Fiction: An impossible pairing—an improbable future

By Lynda CokerPublished 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago 12 min read
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Photo by naeim jafari on Unsplash

“He was the last man on earth she wanted, but she was the only woman on earth he’d have…From the skyscrapers of New York City to the ancient sands of Ahalamin, two untamed hearts war for supremacy…”

* . * . *

Why was Jessica poking her?

“Sorry,” Jessica said, giving Victoria a vigorous shake. “I hate to wake you, but you only have an hour to get dressed. Did your nap help? You still look pale.”

“I’ll be all right,” Victoria answered.

How could she describe her present state of mind; death dragged back for the execution? Maybe she would drown herself in the shower and end all the misery.

When she turned over and opened her eyes, a superhero stood over her. What a sight! Jessica stood in full regalia as Wonder Woman. Long red hair cascaded in a riot of curls across her bare shoulders. Skimpy blue satin shorts and red boots showcased her long, shapely legs.

“You look fabulous, exactly who I need tonight — Wonder Woman,” said Victoria as she slipped out of bed. “Would you mind laying out my costume while I take a shower? By the way, what did you get for me?”

Jessica gasped. “You mean you haven’t looked yet?”

“No. I didn’t have time,” replied Victoria.

“Oh, Victoria, I’m so sorry. You’re going to hate me.” Jessica placed both hands over her heart. “ I thought I would add a little excitement to your otherwise dull existence. But now, well, you’re just going to kill me.”

A very bad premonition crawled up Victoria's spine. The blood-curdling sound of golden bells confirmed her worst fears as she yanked the lid from the box containing her costume. “Jessica, you didn’t!”

“Well, how was I supposed to know you would get yourself married to a foreign person, a Middle Eastern prince, no less?”

Victoria shook the box at Jessica. “I can’t wear this! It’s indecent! Everyone will think I’ve lost my mind,” she screeched, her voice breaking with panic.

“When news of your recent nuptials hits the tabloids, everyone will be sure you’re insane anyway. So, why not have some fun?” Jessica’s gaze narrowed with mischievous excitement.

Victoria stared at the filmy creation and wondered if she possessed the courage. Whether she did or not was a moot point. Time had run out. Picking up the costume, she marched past Jessica, entered the bathroom, and slammed the door. Someday she was going to choke her friend.

“Hurry up, Victoria. What’s taking you so long? We’re going to be late.”

Victoria tried to ignore Jessica’s insistent rapping on the bathroom door. She was not as eager as her friend to start a war, especially one she was not altogether sure she could win.

“If you don’t come out soon, I’m calling for help,” Jessica threatened.

“Just a couple more minutes,” Victoria mumbled as she listened to the voice penetrating the bathroom door.

“You know, Victoria,” Jessica’s voice filtered through the door. “I can’t understand how two hunks of male perfection can be so barbaric? You must admit, just looking at them is enough to make mush out of your principles. Your prince has a drop-dead smile and his friend Califar is gorgeous. Why do men have to ruin everything with their Tarzan mentalities?”

Victoria tuned out Jessica’s continuous chatter and studied her reflection in the mirror. Her hair hung loose, dropping halfway down her back. She tugged some forward to shield the embarrassing amount of cleavage on display. The woman in the mirror projected a mysterious, exotic appearance. No one would discern the uncertainty she battled unless she allowed her confidence to falter.

A tear rolled down her cheek, and then another. She swiped the tears from her face and jutted her chin upward, challenging the woman in the mirror. She never cried. She’d go to the ball in this costume and dare anyone to question her dignity, especially, one very arrogant bully.

She pushed open the bathroom door, nearly colliding with Jessica.

“Oh, Girl! You look stunning like you just stepped out of the Arabian Nights.” Jessica grinned with delight.

“Yes, well…let’s hope I don’t lose my nerve.”

“Too bad Rashid won’t see you. He would turn inside out with jealousy. You’re going to have all the men wanting to add you to their harems.” Jessica hugged Victoria. “We should see about getting your navel pierced.”

“Jessica!” Victoria choked in revolt. “Don’t be absurd.”

“Just kidding. Believe me; you don’t need any more embellishment.”

* . * . *

Victoria loosened her clenched fingers as Jessica pulled the car into position and killed the engine. They slid from the car through doors opened by two parking valets. Victoria paused to scan the small group of people at the entrance of the convention complex. No sign of Rashid or her father. Judging by the small number of people entering the building, they were early, which was good. She needed more time to get used to her costume before more guests arrived. After Jessica outlined her prerequisites for turning over the car keys to the two young attendants, she and Victoria made their way to the ballroom.

“Miss Ballard, I almost didn’t recognize you. You look so cool. Wow!” Amber, one of her assistants, did a double-take as she approached Victoria.

“Doesn’t she though?” Jessica beamed proudly as if she were the artist and Victoria the canvas. “Victoria, I’m going to check on our musicians. Don’t worry. I’ll have you in my line of sight at all times. And I’m going to give a heads-up to a couple of our hunky waiters. It won’t hurt to have some muscle on our side if needed.”

Victoria nodded her agreement and noted the direction Jessica took before turning to her assistant. The ballroom was enormous and she didn’t want to lose her general in the throng of guests. “Was there something you needed, Amber?”

“Oh, yes, I almost forgot. Miss Collier asked to see you as soon as you arrived. Something about the wine list, I think.”

“Thanks. I’ll take care of things from here. You’ve been a great help. Go and enjoy the evening. I’ll send for you if I need anything.”

“Thanks, Miss Ballard. I’ll check back later, just in case.”

Victoria surveyed her surroundings. How nice it would be to have no purpose tonight but to experience the occasion, instead of bracing for a possible all-out-war of the sexes.

Eight dances and two hours later, with her previous apprehensions proving to be unwarranted, she danced, smiled, and mingled with an excitement born of victory. Her male peers flirted outrageously, and her female peers glared with envy. She sipped on her fourth glass of champagne and giggled inwardly at her own thoughts. She’d always supposed a woman needed to take exceptional care to dress for success. How illogical she’d been. All a woman really needed to do was limit her amount of clothing. If her revealing costume weren’t proof enough, the number of men contending for Jessica’s attention supported her observation.

She sauntered over to where Jessica stood in a circle of admirers. “Would you gentlemen excuse us for just a moment? I need to talk to Jessica. I promise to return her to you shortly.”

The six men amicably drifted off to find other partners.

“Looks like everything is going to be just fine,” Jessica patted Victoria’s arm. “No sign of a deranged prince, and you even have some color in your cheeks. Are you okay?”

“Very well, actually. Apparently, Rashid does have better sense than to make a public fool of himself.”

“How are you doing with your costume? I’ve noticed you’ve quit holding your hand over your navel.” Jessica giggled.

“Being practically naked did take a little adjustment. I’ve had a few questioning stares, but mostly good-naturedly teasing. The presentations will start soon. Shouldn’t we be preparing to leave?” Victoria asked.

Jessica scanned the room. “You’re right; people are starting to make their way back to their tables. I hadn’t noticed. One of the waiters seems to be heading our way now with a note in his hand. Guess we better see what he needs first.”

“Excuse me, Miss Ballard. I was asked to give you this note.”

Taking the note from the waiter’s hand, Victoria scanned its content. Event Director — Your presence is needed in the East Conference Room.

“What does the note say, Victoria? Anything I should know about?” Jessica queried.

“I don’t think so. The Director needs me for some reason. I’ll take care of this and then we can leave as planned. Meet me in the east corridor in about fifteen minutes.”

“Okay, but be careful. We still don’t know the location of the enemy. I’ll have the car brought around and then meet you.”

Victoria wondered why the Director would choose the East Wing Conference Room for a discussion about the Charity Ball. After all, situated on the opposite side of the Civic Center complex, it was as far away from the ball as one could get. Annoyed, she traversed the three hallways leading her to the conference room, each hall’s length exceeding the previous one.

Turning the final corner into the last corridor, she slowed her stride to accustom her eyes to the subdued lighting. She could just make out the shape of two men standing in front of the double doors at the end of the hall. The skin at the back of her neck prickled as she negotiated the dim passage. She pushed the tingling sensation from her mind; she wasn’t going to give in to any more of her irrational premonitions. Lately, she’d become too much of a drama queen.

She drew closer to the two men in dark suits. “Good evening gentlemen. I’m Victoria Ballard. I believe the Director is expecting me.”

The two men tipped their heads toward her in a deferential gesture that wasn’t only unconventional but just plain weird. Then, without speaking, they turned and opened the massive set of double doors behind them.

An earlier sense of semblance congealed into a terrifying reality. Her limbs stiffened as muscles solidified in panic. This can’t be happening… She covered her mouth to stop the scream threatening to tear from her throat.

No revealing light streamed through the open doorway, but through the darkness beyond, she could sense him coming nearer.

Long, powerful legs draped in billowing black fabric broke through the opening. An avenging version of an Arab prince bore down on her, his eyes promising retribution as he raised his cell phone to speak.

“Prepare for immediate departure.” He spoke with cold authority, his tone hard and ruthless.

His intent, as clear as ice water, stunned Victoria. She had thought him formidable in western clothes but, in retrospect, that proved to be a mere shadow of the power he embodied in his traditional, Middle Eastern attire. The blood-red fabric sashed around his waist conjured a dark, alien threat in her mind. When he locked her eyes with the savage heat of his stare, terror rose in her throat.

Throwing up both hands to hold him back, she shattered the corridor’s silence with a scream as she turned to run. Her brain shouted the command to flee, but her feet wouldn’t move.

“If you run, I’ll catch you. And if you scream again, I’ll gag you. Now turn around!” The threatening sound of is furious male voice snaked down the dark corridor.

Victoria flinched from the sting of his words. She didn’t want to provoke him further, but she didn’t want to comply either. The opportunity to do otherwise was lost as unmerciful fingers gripped her arms, spinning her in his direction. Losing her balance, she fell against his chest. Unsparing hands pushed her away from his hard body.

His glare raked and scored her like talons. “Have you no shame to expose yourself to the eyes of any man who cares to see? I should…I should…”

“My Lord, perhaps the princess could use this,” said Califar.

Victoria didn’t know when Rashid’s companion had entered the corridor or what his words meant. She could only watch as he held out a bundle of black cloth. Rashid ripped the garment from the man’s hand and tossed it toward her. Failing to comprehend his gesture, she didn’t reach for the cloth. It dropped to puddle around her feet.

“Cover yourself.” He gestured toward her with a furious upward swipe of his arm.

He obviously mistook her confusion and lack of action for defiance and eliminated the last few inches separating them. A serial killer couldn’t have been more dangerous. Now, she knew what it meant when people said someone had ‘murder in their eyes’.

“Cover yourself!” He repeated with menacing contempt.

The thunderous voice dissolved her paralysis and catapulted her into action. Snatching the robe from the floor, she fumbled trying to find its opening.

Rashid jerked the garment from her hands and shoved the material over her head. The cloth caught on the diamond-studded combs in her hair. Another hard yank freed it to settle on her shoulders and sent her hair combs flying across the corridor. Any more of his assistance and she could end up bald.

“Run, Victoria. Run!” She pivoted toward the sound of the scream coming from the far end of the corridor. Wonder Woman sprinted toward her.

“What are you doing to my friend? Get your hands off her!” Jessica commanded as she ran toward her friend.

Before Victoria had time to react, arms like bands of steel wrapped around her body and scooped her up in one swift lift.

Rashid ignored her struggles and paused long enough to bark a command toward Califar. “Handle that woman.”

To be continued…

______________

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About the Creator

Lynda Coker

Grab a chair, turn a page, and read a while with me. I promise to tap lightly on my keyboard so we both can stay immersed in our world of words.

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