Desert Treasure: The Adventure of Harvard Elite and the Rebellious Girl

vaulted ceilings like the murmur of forgotten prayers. She hummed softly to herself, her eyes fixed on the rows of gleaming white candles flickering at the altar, each one a

ssion a perfect mask of solemnity, though Iris could see the faintest hint of strain at the edges of her tight-lipped smile. Iris had no patience for the woman's self-r

r the moment. She stood behind the cluster of colorful balloons suspended above, fingers brushing the strings tied to their delicate threads, feeling the faint tremor of what w

field. Iris smiled to herself, a smile full of mischievous anticipation

t space like a bell tolling. The delicate veil of a chiffon hat-folded with pr

ssion. What fell from them was not confetti or streamers, but an undulating mass of insects-caterpillars, worms, cockroaches, maggots, bees, and butterflies, some still wriggling,

kirts swishing, shoes scuffing against the polished floor as they scrambled toward the exits. The insects rained down like a biblical plague, and Iris, standing

hen, her eyes narrowed in fury. There was no mistake now. This was Iris's doing. Rose

like a whip. "You've gone too far this time.

urprise," she said, sweetly, before stepping forward to envelop Rose

ff guard. But then, with a guttural growl, she broke free, glaring at Iris. "What ha

just here to help. I didn't even know what was going to happen. I was just setting up for your little party." She sniffled then, the

absence. Rose hesitated, her fury momentarily quelled by the sincerity of the letter. She unfolded it slowly, reading the familiar handwr

eary resignation, "perhaps I was wrong. But you've pushed the limits too f

d hard, suppressing a triumphant grin. She nod

ictory rushing through her veins. She reached the door, then

, her tone still sharp. "I'll find out who helpe

y out into the hall, where the air felt fresher, lighter. The weight of her victory hung o

ree connecting flights, the strain of endless hours spent in the confines of airplane cabins, and yet, none of that seemed to matter now. The moment she set foot in Morocco, a sense of exhilaration

hotel, play the dutiful daughter, and present him with the forged letter that would grant her the next chapter in this thrilling tale. Tomorrow, she hoped, would find her seated in the stands, watching the race unfold alongside him. And perhaps, with some luck, it would also bring her face to

her lips as she hailed a cab, her hear

gent scent of spices hanging in the air, the crowded markets with their vibrant stalls, the occasional figure wrapped in flowing garments that billowed in the wind. She bare

a golden haze over everything. Vivian, her father's ever-present American assistant, was already there, her blonde hair shining under the harsh light of the room. Vivian had been a fixture in Iris's life for years,

icle appeared on the screen, surging through the treacherous river crossing with the smooth grace of a predator. Iris clapped her hands in excitement, the sound sharp in the silence of the room. Vivian chuckled softly, shaking

the weight of years spent in the world of business and racing. He embraced his daughter warmly, his face softening as he took in the sight of her. She had blossomed, there

etheart?" he asked, his deep vo

fect mask of innocence, though the adrenaline coursing through h

ress, a delicate thing that accentuated her youthful grace. He smiled softly,

for a beat, then continued, "Vivian just told me that Rose and the nuns are off to Rome for the

a flicker of something in her eyes-perhaps guilt, perhaps

t to do with your time here?" he ask

t... since you'll be busy with the team's races over the next couple of days, maybe I'll join you at the track?" Her eyes sparkled with feigned innocence. "You know

f a ladies' man, don't you think?" His voice trai

a coy smile, her voice teasing. "I'm s

rill of conquest. She was playing a game, one she had learned long ago

u really want to meet him, I'll introduce you after the race. But remembe

all," she said with a soft laugh, though her

ve, and the world, as far as Iris wa