Holly: Arabian Nights
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Ned was preparing interim reports on the TWA website. He took longer than usual, stopping occasionally to stare longingly at his travel mate in the corporate jet cabin. Holly was a tall platinum blonde, flexible and athletic. Ned was escorting her on a transfer to a Middle Eastern potentate. She had volunteered for a semester of intensified belly-dance sensuality and associated cross-cultural exchanges.
She wore her most regal belly dance outfit. It was flowing fine fabrics, light and comfortable for the long flight. To pass the time, Ned had directed her to demonstrate her dance moves and she had given a complete performance. Her strip dancing built his temperature visually, then her body vanquished his fever carnally. It was a prescription she hoped to perfect during her resident semester as a guest of the Great Khan and his harem school.
The travelers were met at the tarmac by the rotund Grand Vizier. He extended the Great Khan's apologies for not welcoming them personally to his Kingdom. He was on his 'Haj'. Ned had been pre-briefed about the royal family and knew this perverted term was a euphemism for the sovereign's periodic tour of Oriental sexpots. The Grand Wife tolerated his fetishes and played along, using his absences to take her own 'Haj': luxury shopping sprees in Europe and America. The petro-kingdom's oil money seemed endless.
The Grand Vizier stepped close to Holly as she stood demurely by Ned. He took both her hands in his and she looked directly into his eyes.
"And what is your name, my lovely?"
"Holly, sir, like the bush."
"I thought Holly was a tree."
"Some types are, but like me, the holly bush is more flexible, more fragrant and much prettier."
The Grand Vizier took her double meanings and was immediately smitten by her cheeky response.
"I am Hassan, the Grand Vizier of the Kingdom."
He gave her his arm and Ned followed the pair as they strolled along the red carpet between the twin lines of the honor guard. Ned watched Holly's stride sway her ass and sashay the costume skirts. He entered the Grand Vizier's armored limousine. Holly sat lovely as ever between the mesmerized men in the rear compartment.
The palace guard's vehicles convoyed the VIPs through the dusty streets of the ancient capital until they arrived at a fortress-like compound on a cliff overlooking the sea. The servant staff waited as a reception line in the marbled and mirrored vestibule. The introductions were brief, commanding the staff to treat the visitors as if they were members of the royal family. Hassan reluctantly disengaged from Holly and the Harem Mother assumed charge of the lovely maiden, whisking her away to get settled in. Hassan's longing look followed her every step until she disappeared from the entrance hall.
Hassan guided Ned on a tour of the palace. The Throne Room was mostly ceremonial. The British colonials had relinquished local control to the royal family long ago. But they held on to the oil leases and safeguarded those with the credible threat posed by the Her Majesty's Britannic Royal Navy base nearby.
At the Harem entrance, Hassan announced their presence to the Harem Mother and she granted them leave to quickly inspect Holly's future accommodations. Her private bedroom suite was luxurious with silk bed furnishings and a spa-like bathroom. Ned frowned cagily at the extravagance and sarcastically allowed that the rooms were tolerable. The tour ended with a walk through the manicured gardens where Ned spotted a few half naked virgins cavorting on the paths. These girls would join the official Harem upon coming of age.
The Grand Vizier shared some of the politics of the Kingdom, the 'Grand Compromise' that the Council of Sheiks invoked at independence to keep the peace. As the heir and successor to the Crown, the Great Khan received half of the oil revenues. The remainder was distributed equally to the Sheiks. The Great Khan would have frivoled it all away except for the astute Grand Vizier who managed the day-to-day functions of the Kingdom and, particularly, its finances. The Grand Wife was Hassan's sister and together, they were the real power in the land.
"My sister and I have plans to modernize the Kingdom and prepare it for when the oil runs out. We are grooming the Crown Prince to promulgate that transformation."
Ned praised him for his wisdom. Hassan continued.
"We want to encourage our women to fully participate but old attitudes die hard in our traditional society. We will do what we can; which is why we treasure our budding association with the Total Woman Academy. We will be sending our first enrolled student with you when you leave. We hope many more will follow."
Ned assured him that he could arrange all the travel and scholastic logistics. He was also authorized to negotiate the amount of the Kingdom's pledge contribution for financial support to help maintain TWA's high standards. He would communicate his figure before his flight out tomorrow.
"Thank you, my friend. Now some traditions die harder than others. As a busy man and widower, my sister has graciously allowed me discrete access to the Harem to ease my grief. I have a regular rotation of young Harem concubines sharing my bed through the lonely nights. As a temporary member of the Harem during her stay, Holly will enter my rotation as part of her cross cultural exchange."
Hassan gave a lecherous grin as he awaited Ned's reaction. Ned was very understanding.
"Your Excellency, Holly is here as a foreign exchange student to fully experience your culture. We hope you will find her an unrivaled ambassador for the benefits gained by sending your country's daughters through the TWA program."
The Grand Vizier chortled at the 'ambassador' turn of phrase.
"I look forward to her presenting her 'credentials'. Soon I hope..."