That knowledge was a chip to bargain with. Because he wasn’t the only one who needed to prove himself in his role. She did too.
“Is this an appropriate time and place, your Highness?” she asked coolly, meeting those incredible eyes head on, trying to ignore the sense of discomfort that seemed to increase as he looked at her. He smiled at her again, his teeth white in his dark face and she found herself noticing the shape of his mouth. Long and . . . sensual.
“Where is the rush? Surely you can take some time out to admire the view?”
The limo had pulled away from the airstrip and onto the road, the heat of the sun turning the world outside hazy. Lily glanced out the window at said view. A dry, brown plain stretched out on either side of the road, rough stone housing at intervals. Goats nibbling at rare leaves of grass. Dirty children playing in the dust.
“It’s very nice,” she said. “Now perhaps if we could—”
“How was your flight?”
“Excuse me?”
“Your flight, Ms. Harkness. In that very impressive Lear jet. How was it?”
Small talk. She’d never been very good at small talk. It had always seemed like a waste of time, especially when there were deals to be made. But if he wanted small talk, she’d give it to him.
“It was fine. Thank you for asking.”
“You sound a little impatient with my questions. Do I bore you?”
“Not at all. I just prefer to get to the business of my visit, rather than discuss the minutiae of my flight.”
“You do not enjoy friendly conversation?”
She tugged at her jacket, trying to quell her inexplicable irritation with him. “It has its place of course. But, forgive me, your Highness, I’m not in the business of friendly conversation. I’m in the business of oil.”
His blue gaze roamed over her. “You seem to assume my questions are trivial. They are not. What you call small talk, is part of business here in Dahar and it is considered extremely rude to dismiss it as you have just done.”
A reprimand. Lily had to grit her teeth against the hot surge of anger that accompanied it. Anger at herself. She’d read the research, she knew that business in Dahar was conducted differently. But there was something about this man that put her off balance in a way she wasn’t used to.
“Forgive me,” she said tightly. “That wasn’t my intention.”
“Perhaps not. But rudeness from my guests reflects badly on me as the host and that is not something I can allow.” He paused. “You are already at a disadvantage here, Ms. Harkness. Do not make it any worse.”
Lily gritted her teeth again. Clasped her hands in her lap. “I know I don’t have the track record my father has, but I can assure you, my appointment as CEO was totally on my own merits.”
That blue gaze of his searched her face and she had to fight against the urge to glance away, feeling oddly exposed. “You are assuming the fact that you are new in your position is the only disadvantage.”
She frowned. “I’m sorry? What other disadvantage could there be?”
“You are young. You are inexperienced.” He paused. “And you are female.”
The words didn’t surprise her. She’d heard them all before in the course of her oil career and even before that, when she’d been a competitive swimmer. Once, she’d let words like that cow her. Never again.
Lily met his gaze head on. “If those were serious problems, your Highness, then presumably you wouldn’t be sitting here talking to me now.”
A flicker of a smile turned his long, sensual mouth. “That is true. But that does not mean you will not have to prove yourself.”
Determination hardened inside her. “And who do I have to prove myself to?”
His smile widened, becoming a little darker. A little sharper. A little more dangerous. Reminding her that this man was the son of a brutal king.
“To me, Ms. Harkness,” he said softly. “You must prove yourself to me.”
Perhaps it was then that Lily began to realize she wasn’t dealing with just another difficult man. Another arrogant CEO.
Oh no. She was dealing with a sheikh.
Chapter Two
Isma’il leaned against the doorframe and watched Lily Harkness’s tall figure with some amusement.
Since arriving at the palace, he’d expected her to want to retire to the apartments he’d set aside for her visit to freshen up. At least, that’s what most women seemed to want to do after a long flight. But no, apparently this woman preferred taking a tour of the business center he made available to all his guests before she did anything else.
She was nothing if not focussed.