Once Upon A Sultan ✅

Chapter 4

-HAKEEM SUNUSI'S POV-

Al Wakrah, Qatar.

"Have you seen the tabloids?"

"Yes, I have" I swiped the next document that was sent to me, not bothering to raise my head and spare her a glance. She is looking for attention yet again, and I honestly will not give it to her. I already have too much on my plate with the problem at Almaz Foods.

Nadine scoffed, the sound reaching my ears for the nth time since I've known her. There are certain things about her that at this point I'm certain she is born with—no offence to her mother. "And you aren't going to do a thing about it?" She asked, or more like scoffed—I can no longer differentiate it at this point.

"And why would I do that?" I asked nonchalantly, my eyes squinting slightly as I read the words written. This just gets more suspicious the more I look into it. The thought had me resting my arm on the armrest, my fingers drawing invincible lines above the edge of my eyebrow.

She was silent for a few seconds, and a part of me—a small part, hoped she had given up and left. But it's Nadine we're talking about here, this woman is one of the most stubborn people I've ever met in my life. The sound of her hands clasping together, louder than necessary might I add, reached my ears before her words did. This time around, her voice had dropped, to show me she is being serious.

"You should have someone prepare a press conference as the potential Sultan, or as the President of Almaz Foods; to clear it up admitting that what they are implying in the tabloids aren't true"

"Is it now?" Yet again, I didn't raise my head up to look at her. Honestly, I haven't done that since she decided to storm into my room, and I'm sure it's getting on her nerves. My nonchalance is only adding to her fury, and in just a couple of seconds she would blow up.

But she should've known this is all she'll get from me the minute she decided to follow me to Qatar. I was honestly surprised when I saw her at the beach—and that was when the picture for the scandal was taken. And trust me, I know who is behind it.

"Of course not! AND YOU SHOULD CLEAR THAT UP" Ah, there it is. The yelling has started and it is giving me a headache I did not ask for.

Honestly, why bother following me to another country when she knows we don't get along?

The corner of my lips quirked up into a smirk, one that I'm sure didn't go unnoticed by her. "Clear it up and say what exactly?" I know what she wants me to say. She has been bugging me to do so for years but she should know at this point, her screams and tantrums won't work.

The sound of her ragged breathing reached my ears, and though I'm not looking at her, I'm certain she has her hand clenched by her side. "You should clear it up and tell everyone that I'm not your fling or whatever. That woman is not only ruining your name but mine too. People are calling me a gold-digger and a cocotte because of her!"

I hummed. "Well, are you not?"

"I AM YOUR GODDAMN WIFE, HAKEEM!"

The finger I extended to swipe to the next document paused midair, as my smirk fell. I was hoping we wouldn't reach this point but I should've known we'll be here again.

The thing is though, my fury, which I was hoping to keep in check always sky rocket whenever she dares to utter that. And when that happens, we're simply two temperamental people—though she has never been able to handle my temper.

Placing the tablet aside, I rose on my feet to face her for the first time since she came in. I took a couple of steps, covering the distance between us while my eyes never left her narrowed ones. Her shoulders rose, and slumped as she blew out ragged breaths. And just as I thought earlier, her hands were clenched by her side.