Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm

Leo Sebastian, the bald, muscular man standing guard, was not just Princess Haya's personal bodyguard. He treated her like a younger sister.

In truth, Leo, a former KSK special forces operative turned mercenary, owed his life to Princess Haya. Without her intervention, he would have died in Iraq.

Back then, Princess Haya was only 18 years old—a blossoming young woman widely regarded as the "most beautiful woman in the Arab world."

A decade had passed since then.

Leo Sebastian was fiercely loyal—not to any nation, but to Princess Haya herself. She had even played matchmaker, helping him find his wife.

When Martin spoke, Leo let out a deliberate, heavy cough, drawing both Martin's and Princess Haya's attention.

Martin grinned. "If you have concerns, my friend, feel free to speak up."

Leo glanced at Princess Haya, who nodded in approval. He then addressed Martin in heavily accented English:

"Mr. Martin, no offense, but I can't see how you could help Her Highness escape this place."

He walked to the room's floor-to-ceiling window and gestured downward. "There's a security detail of more than twenty guards stationed outside the hotel. The moment the princess's car heads for the airport, it will be stopped. Unless you have an army, it's impossible to get her out."

Martin nodded calmly. "What if her brother agrees to let her leave?"

Princess Haya and Leo both stared at Martin in shock, blurting out in unison, "That's impossible!"

Martin smiled, a confident expression spreading across his face. "I can guarantee it. If Her Highness introduces me to her brother, I can persuade him."

Princess Haya furrowed her brow as she studied the young man in front of her. He wasn't just handsome—he exuded a self-assuredness that baffled her.

Was he bluffing to trick her?

Or... did he truly have a way?

A flicker of hope sparked within her—a hope she feared would be crushed.

"What do you plan to offer my brother in exchange? Or are you just using me to meet him?" Haya voiced her doubts.

Martin didn't answer directly. Instead, he joked, "You know, people say I'm a real elf. And elves have magic!"

Then, more seriously, he added, "You can wait and see the results. You lose nothing in this."

Princess Haya's amber eyes locked onto Martin's, scrutinizing his every expression.

But all she saw was confidence. Pure, unwavering confidence. There was no trace of deception or hesitation—he genuinely believed he would succeed.

And yet, she still couldn't fathom how. What could he possibly offer?

Despite her doubts, Haya made her decision. Martin was right—she had nothing to lose.

Martin, sensing her hesitation, added more weight to his offer: "I can meet your brother first and handle this matter. However, if I do, my reward will be greater. You won't just provide me with information—you'll also help me secure the UAE offshore oilfield bid. After all, Your Highness, you are a member of the bidding committee."

"I'm only an auxiliary member," Haya clarified.

"No, that's only because you choose to remain on the sidelines. If you wanted, you could easily enter the core of the committee. No one in the UAE would dare offend both Jordan and Dubai."

"Fine. I agree."

Princess Haya rose slowly, surprising Martin by removing her veil. Beneath it was a face so breathtakingly beautiful that it momentarily left him speechless.

Her beauty was unparalleled. No wonder she was known as the "most beautiful woman in Arabia."

Haya was the eldest daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan and his third wife, Queen Alia. Tragically, Queen Alia, of Palestinian descent, died in a helicopter crash in 1977, leaving three-year-old Haya and her younger brother, Ali, motherless.

Haya also had four half-brothers and five half-sisters from her father's other marriages.

Like many Arab royals, Princess Haya was sent to England at a young age for a Western education, which also allowed her to develop a wide array of talents.

At 11, she attended an all-girls boarding school in Bristol, where she earned 14 GCSEs. Later, she studied at Bryanston School in Dorset, excelling in Arabic literature, English literature, political science, government, and history.

Her achievements weren't limited to academics. She was:

A soprano and flutist in the school band.

Captain of the field hockey team.

Skilled in butterfly stroke swimming and basketball.

A key member of the school's debate team.

In 1992, Haya entered St. Hilda's College, Oxford, and graduated in 1995 with an honors degree in politics, philosophy, and economics.

Her accomplishments extended beyond academia. She became Jordan's only woman to hold a heavy truck driver's license, motivated by her love of horses. When asked why by a French journalist, she explained, "I adore horses. These noble creatures are an inseparable part of my life. With a driving license, I can take them anywhere I wish."

At just 13, she represented Jordan in international equestrian competitions, becoming the youngest member and the first woman on the national team. She was also the first Arab woman to compete in equestrian events, the first Arab female flag bearer at the Olympic opening ceremony, and the first Arab royal to participate in the Olympics.

Until the age of 25, Haya led a privileged life. Her father, King Hussein, adored her and shielded her from political machinations.

But everything changed in 1999, when her father passed away.

Her older half-brother, Abdullah II, who was much older and shared no sibling bond with her, viewed her as nothing more than a tool to solidify his power.

In 2000, he ordered her to marry Dubai's Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum—a man 25 years her senior with a history of domestic violence.

Haya resisted fiercely and managed to delay the marriage for five years.

But her defiance came at a cost: she lost her freedom. From that moment on, she was effectively confined to the desert.