Aaliyah and the Billionaire's Lamp

Her father’s wish is her command.

Aaliyah is living her worst nightmare—instead of spearheading her father’s successful hotel chain as its new CEO, her marriage has been arranged.

Her father wishes her to wed the handsome billionaire, Zayn Hassan, and being the dutiful daughter she is, Aaliyah agrees. But when her fiancé heads out of town on business, she’s left to plan their wedding with his assistant, River, instead.

Without warning, Aaliyah’s feelings take a nosedive. She barely knows her fiancé, but with all this time spent in River’s company, she’s getting know him.

In fact, she’s crashing for him. Hard.

Aaliyah has always done what’s expected of her, but it might be time to make some wishes of her own. Wishes for a future with River instead of his boss.

If only her father wasn’t so controlling. If only wishes came true.

If you like the sweet chemistry of Anne-Marie Meyer and the heroic romance of Cami Checketts, you’ll love this forbidden romance and fairytale feel of this captivating series!

Buy Aaliyah and the Billionaire’s Lamp, a fairytale romance, to see how things go with the rest of the fraters in Catelyn Meadows’ Once Upon a Billionaire Series!

Chapter One


Aaliyah Elir stared with nervous anticipation at the designs on her desk. She’d spent weeks learning AutoCAD to bring her ideas to life, to prove to Papa she was more than just a pretty face or the business degree she’d never been allowed to use.

The architectural sketches evolved in her mind every time she glanced at them. She’d been able to picture each facility fully landscaped and thriving with vitality; but now, in the heat of the moment, doubt began creeping in.

She wasn’t sure they were anywhere near good enough to impress her father.

Papa’s long-standing partner and chief executive officer was retiring, which left the position wide open. Upper management would shuffle spots. Partners would be vying for a chance, and she knew if she wanted a shot at the job, it had to be now.

While uncertainty made a racetrack of her pulse, she wanted to prove she was competent to handle her family’s billion-dollar resort line.

Would these designs convince him the position should belong to her?

She needed only three years’ experience in a full-time managerial role, and she would be eligible to apply for a distance-learning MBA. Surely, overseeing a project like this would qualify her. CEO was, granted, a long-shot, but this was a family company.

Her parents started it, and it should continue on with an Elir at the helm.

However, Papa had never taken her seriously. Not really. Still, all she could do was try.

Nerves zinging straight through to her fingertips, Aaliyah exhaled and skimmed over her suggested marketing plan once again. She was tired of being a tagalong. She’d gotten her degree just for this reason, for this moment.

Not as father and daughter, but as potential business associates. The idea filled her with fireflies, making her glow one minute with determination and want to hide in the shadows the next.

It wasn’t that she was scared of her father. He was as gentle and kind as they came. But tradition was his lifeblood. He’d ignored her many attempts to convince him she was qualified to be more than his heir.

She could handle the many facets of the company he oversaw. She was a woman, yes, but she could be a businesswoman, and a successful one at that.

In an attempt to set the correct tone, Aaliyah opted to use one of the resort’s conference rooms for this meeting instead of gathering in her suite or his. She wore her favorite suit, white with gold pinstripes, and a coral pink shirt with the collar out over the jacket’s lapels.

She smoothed a hand over her stomach, wishing there was some way to iron out the nerves rattling inside of her as easily.

A knock sounded, and a woman with fiery red hair in a dark pantsuit entered without being invited in. Aaliyah was relieved at the sight of Papa’s assistant, Lily. She hugged a clipboard under one arm and offered Aaliyah the cup of coffee in her other.

“Are you ready?” Lily asked. “Your father is waiting in the hall.”

Aaliyah took the warm cup with an exhale and an irresolute smile. “Yes, please see him in.”

Lily crossed to the door, opened it, and Aaliyah’s father stepped through. A short man, Ahmed Elir appeared sophisticated and businesslike in his black suit. His graying hair was combed behind his ears.

His dark eyes glinted with delight the instant his gaze landed on her. She recognized the gleaming expression of pride, a look he always cast on her whenever she entered a room. If her father ever lost the ability to speak, she would always know just how much he loved her because of that look.

“Good morning, my beautiful daughter.” He spoke with his native Arabic accent, a sound which had both reprimanded and soothed her on many occasions.

Like his expression, that voice was a healing balm. He’d always been so kind, so good, and yet so exacting as well.