Marrakech, Morocco 1997
The steam-laden heat of the Moroccan afternoon finally began to ease as the sun melted into the horizon. El Amir stood on the fourth-story terrace of his gilded palatial estate in Marrakech, the soul of Morocco. He watched as the brilliant colors of the sky began to surface and shift, presenting the astounding nightly display he so loved. The golden hue of his eyes reflected the fire-like images he saw before him.
His mood was pensive. The evening ahead was an important one and El Amir knew he had to orchestrate events flawlessly to achieve the results he sought. El Amir took a few moments to reflect on his six guests who were, even now, settling into their rooms to prepare for the traditional Moroccan show, followed by a five-course feast that would be served in the large vestibule adjacent to the courtyard.
His guests of honor were the two primary ambassadors of the Grumeti Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring conservation efforts in East Africa for both the grassy plains and the wildlife with the admirable goal of improving the living circumstances of its people. One of the gentlemen, Chima Kimani, had approached El Amir four years ago with the daunting task of reversing the demise of the delicate ecosystem of the Serengeti—one of Africa’s most renowned natural wonders—which would require immense resources.
Chima was born and raised in a small rural village nestled on the outskirts of the Serengeti National Park. After El Amir’s pledge of support, the two men had formed a strong bond of friendship and respect. El Amir had given particular attention and funding to Chima’s home village while his artist protégé, Sarah, had worked closely with the local school there to help the children learn English as a second language.
Chima had brought along his partner, Jamal, who was particularly fluent in Arabic as well as English which could prove beneficial on this trip. Jamal Kazimbe, a dedicated conservationist, exuded a strong and athletic build and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding the fragile balance of East Africa’s pristine wilderness. As the son of a local Maasai warrior, Jamal was instilled with a profound understanding and respect for nature from an early age.
El Amir thought about the two artists, Sarah Wilkinson and Sam Barton, who were most likely nervously awaiting the results of this visit. They had both developed a deep passion for the plains and wildlife of East Africa. El Amir discovered them as teenagers interning for a London art gallery he patronized. Both Sarah and Sam had shown an early penchant for portraying the wildlife of the Serengeti in their respective artwork—Sarah as a painter and Sam as a sculptor. It was through his connection with Chima and the Grumeti Fund that El Amir was able to provide their first monthlong experience in the Serengeti and he was pleased to see how they had each embraced the conservation cause there.
Part of the reason for the gathering was for Chima and Jamal to select one of them to represent the Grumeti fund internationally. It showed the deep appreciation they had for these talented artists and it would be interesting to see which direction they took. He knew they would be looking for some guidance from him as to which one would be the right fit.
Sarah and Sam weren’t just competitive artists. They had a four year history together, yet they had barely spoken since they arrived earlier in the day. Sam had just completed a residency promoting his sculptures at the natural wildlife museum in Wyoming. While he was gone, Sarah’s own exhibition with her outstanding collection of endangered predator bird species paintings had been sold in its entirety to the Peregrine Organization, an organization based in the States dedicated to preserving nearly extinct birds of prey. It was after that exhibition that she had coincidentally run into a lost love and rekindled their relationship. She and Hans Schuman were now engaged and from the look of it, Sam was not pleased with this turn of events.
One of the final two guests was somewhat of a surprise. El Amir had invited his mother, Noura, to visit from Dubai to join this meeting in an effort to win her over to the East African cause. He was hoping to generate a new source of resources for the fund, particularly from her side of the family from Abu Dabi and the Al-Mansoor oil wealth. He had also been expecting her to bring his sister, but instead she arrived with the daughter of one of the most elite families in the Emirates and heiress to a staggering fortune!
A stunning beauty with striking hazel eyes and honey-toned skin, her name was Elena Al-Farooq. Noura was serving as her chaperone since she was still in her early twenties, about the same age as Sarah. However, with her hair pulled tightly back in a bun and the exotic makeup, she looked much older. She had a haughty air about her that rankled El Amir’s sensitive nature and his keen insight made him question whether Elena’s layers beneath the surface of the sheltered, traditional, and very proper young woman of wealth and privilege were as beautiful as her exterior.
Born into a wealthy and powerful family in the heart of the Middle East, El Amir was raised with a strong sense of duty and honor to his culture and heritage. Despite his privileged upbringing, El Amir was not immune to the influences of the Western world.
He had been in love once, with a free-spirited, adventure-loving girl named Annie whose energy and spirit captivated him in ways he had never experienced before. They shared a deep connection that transcended cultural boundaries, and for a brief moment, El Amir allowed himself to entertain the possibility of a future with her.
However, as their relationship blossomed, El Amir’s sense of honor and allegiance to his culture began to weigh heavily on him. He knew that pursuing a future with Annie would mean going against the expectations of his family and community, risking his reputation and status in the process.
Faced with this impossible choice, El Amir made the heartwrenching decision to end things with Annie, and she was now married to another man and starting their own family. El Amir realized he had only himself to blame since he had chosen to take the honorable stance and commit to marry an Arab woman, not a Westerner, to uphold cultural tradition. As such, he’d sent Annie back to Ramone, the Spanish matador who loved her. El Amir stoically masked the memory of Annie and the familiar pang of jealousy he felt each time he thought of her with Ramone. He knew in his heart it was time to let go, move on, and cease comparing every woman he met to Annie.
Knowing his mother the way he did, El Amir could tell there was a deeper motive for letting Elena accompany her other than just seeking additional funding. Noura had been hinting for years now that it was time for El Amir to settle down and start a family. And though he knew his mother meant well, she could not possibly think he would be drawn to a young Arab woman who, though gorgeous, looked anything but a free spirit. He also did not like the idea of being manipulated, and his plan was to let her know exactly that.
The last remnants of the sunset were dissolving into darkness and it was time to dress and face the evening. Absentmindedly rubbing his recently wounded arm and with a final sigh, El Amir thought, I will most certainly have to navigate the next few hours with caution.
