Prince Nadir's Secret Heir(69)

                ‘In some ways, yes, but equal opportunity for women is one of the key reforms Zach and I have discussed, along with better social infrastructure that would turn Bakaan into a competitive and vibrant place people would want to visit and invest in.’ He stopped as if he realised how impassioned he sounded. ‘Zach will make a great leader. And you should definitely open a studio. You’re a beautiful dancer.’

                Was he serious?

                ‘You’d accept having a wife who danced for a living?’

                ‘Why not?’

                ‘I don’t know...’ Imogen felt at a loss. ‘Maybe because you’re a prince who has a Harvard education and speaks nine languages.’

                The way he studied her unnerved her. ‘Why should that matter?’

                ‘I don’t know but it does.’

                ‘Not to me.’ He frowned. ‘Who made you feel bad about your profession? About yourself? Was it your father?’

                His shrewd comment startled her. ‘Why would you say that?’

                ‘My head of security spoke with him when I was trying to find you and, as far as I’m concerned, a man who doesn’t know the whereabouts of his daughter can’t be much of a father.’

                ‘He wasn’t. And no, he never approved of my occupation. He was quite tyrannical at times and really remote at others. It was very confusing when I was little.’

                ‘Ah, don’t tell me—his affection was conditional on how well you toed the line.’

                ‘Your father too?’

                Nadir raised an eyebrow. ‘My father’s idea of giving someone a choice was to tell them how he wanted it.’ A shadow came across his face as clear as a puff of smoke being brought in on the breeze. ‘I left home at fifteen and headed to the Caribbean, where I took up bartending at a strip club.’

                Her eyes widened with shock. ‘You did not!’

                He laughed. ‘I can mix a Slow, Comfortable Screw with the best of them, I promise.’

                ‘Nadir!’ Imogen covered her mouth to stop a giggle from breaking out. ‘Seriously?’

                ‘It wasn’t the most salubrious establishment on the street. After that I joined a building crew in the States and made money playing online poker.’

                ‘I...I’m shocked.’ And he made her Moulin Rouge career look like Disney. ‘I take it you and your father weren’t close,’ she said ruefully.

                ‘Actually, we were in the beginning. I was the heir. The golden child. As far as my father was concerned I could do no wrong.’ He paused and stared into the middle distance for so long she started to think he’d finished but he hadn’t. ‘And then I did.’

                His blue-grey gaze fixed on hers as if challenging her to ask him what he’d done that was so bad he’d lost the position as the favourite son, his face a mask of dark shadows.

                The moment seemed distinctly brittle compared to their earlier camaraderie and she didn’t know what to say. Ever since he’d come back into her life she’d wanted him to open up to her like this and share more of himself but now she felt that it would be invasive to ask him to continue because it was obvious these memories were incredibly painful.