Prize

Ayesha Abdul discovers the perfect ring to match the beadwork on her new custom abaya, flown in from Dubai. The only thing stopping her is Madiha Latimore, the meddling girl who just snagged it. When Madiha refuses monetary gifts and downright coercion, Ayesha commands Khalid, her arrogant, yet surprisingly single son, to retrieve it or surrender his wallet and the keys to his new Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Desperate to claim what she sees as rightfully hers, Ayesha enlists the help of her son, Khalid, whose ego matches his mother’s determination. His mission made clear, Khalid sets out to complete it, refusing to allow a middle-class coupon clipper to block his access to his parents’ bottomless bank account. With the threat of his wallet and the keys to his coveted Rolls-Royce Phantom hanging in the balance, Khalid begrudgingly embarks on a mission to retrieve the ring, viewing Madiha as nothing more than an obstacle in his path to unlimited wealth.

However, Madiha proves to be more than just a thorn in Khalid’s side. Despite his attempts at coercion and belittlement, she stands her ground, refusing to yield to his demands. As their clash intensifies, Khalid finds himself unexpectedly intrigued by Madiha’s resilience and beauty, even as she remains steadfast in her rejection of him.

Using all her strength, Madiha lowers her eyes, refusing to linger on the strikingly handsome and unbearably insufferable man who dares to look down on her business, home, and family. And, if she can avoid running into him all over town, she might soon forget all the ways he gets under her skin and focus on nurturing her budding custom furniture venture instead.

It’s the last straw when Khalid ends up at Madiha’s home during her sister’s pre-wedding celebrations. While she’d love to throw him out on his ear, everyone else seems to love him, almost as much as he loves the barbecue, potato salad, and her banana pudding.

As Khalid gets a taste of soul food and humility, he wonders: how can one woman be so difficult? For no logical explanation, he develops an obsession for which there can be only one outcome: to claim her as his prize.