The Sheikh's Baby Scandal(37)

And she was late.

Late with her period, late back from lunch.

And, because they kept things very separate, Kedah did not hold back from pointing this out.

‘You’re late.’ He scowled.

‘Indeed I am,’ she responded.

‘You haven’t sent the file to Hussain...’

‘No.’ She sighed. She’d been too engrossed in that other file he’d mistakenly sent her to remember a small detail like that. ‘I forgot.’

‘Well, don’t forget again,’ he said, but then he halted.

He knew he was working her hard—both at work and in the bedroom.

Workwise... Well, he knew that time was running out, so he was trying to fit everything in.

And as for the other...

The same.

Still Felicia fascinated him. Still he wanted her over and over.

Usually his interest waned by the time the sun rose on a new day, but this fidelity trial was going exceptionally well.

* * *

Felicia did not wait for him to terminate the conversation. Every night she spent with him she felt as if she were handing over more and more of her heart, and she could not take it much longer.

She walked out and sat at her desk. She smiled at Anu, who brought some tea into her office and then left Felicia to work, but a few moments later Anu was back.

‘Felicia...’ She sounded concerned. ‘That was Reception. Kedah’s brother is here to see him, but he’s in a meeting with Hussain and he told me that I am not to disturb him.’

‘Well, he said nothing of the sort to me.’ Felicia smiled sweetly as she reached for the phone, which made Anu laugh.

Kedah was not impressed. ‘I said that I wasn’t to be disturbed.’

‘Well, you might change your mind for this. Apparently Mohammed is down in Reception.’

Kedah looked over to Hussain. His first instinct was to tell Felicia to let Mohammed know he was in a meeting and that he would see him when he was ready.

But there was no point.

This was no idle visit, and Kedah had to show he had no reason to delay or hide.

‘He can come up.’

He spoke to Hussain. ‘I am going to have to cut our meeting short. It would seem Mohammed has flown in to speak with me. I hope you understand.’

‘Of course.’

The men shook hands and suddenly, for Kedah, the design for a hotel in Dubai held little importance.

Hussain saw himself out of the office. He looked more serious than Felicia had ever seen him. Usually Hussain stopped and spoke, but today he just nodded to Anu, who also looked troubled.

Mohammed walked in, and when Anu did not move Felicia greeted the Prince and showed him through. ‘Can I get you any refreshments?’ she offered.

‘No, thank you,’ Kedah said. ‘That shall be all.’

It was all supremely polite, but the air was so thick it was like closing the door on a tornado.

‘Trouble is here,’ Anu said once the door had closed.

‘Not necessarily,’ Felicia offered.

‘I grew up knowing that this day would come.’

So had Kedah.

‘This is a surprise.’ Kedah’s voice told his brother that it wasn’t a particularly pleasant one.

‘I only decided to come this morning,’ Mohammed said as he took a seat. ‘I sat in on a meeting about brides considered to be suitable as future Queen. It struck me as odd, given that I already have a wonderful bride, who would make an excellent queen, as well as two sons.’

‘I am first in line,’ Kedah answered smoothly. ‘Why would you consider it odd?’

‘Because I am the one sitting there discussing the future of our country and you are miles away, focusing on your own wealth.’

‘As I have long said to our father, and to our grandfather before him, I am more than happy to devote my attention to Zazinia, and I shall do so when I am not thwarted at every turn. If I have to wait to be King to see my country flourish and thrive, then I shall do so—’

‘I have been approached by Fatiq,’ Mohammed broke in. Fatiq was a senior elder. ‘I felt it only fair to warn you that there is a majority agreement amongst the elders that I would make a more suitable Crown Prince and King.’

‘I could have told you that a decade ago.’ Kedah shrugged. ‘That is old news.’

‘They feel that your interests are clearly removed from Zazinia...’

‘Never.’

‘And they suggest that it is time for you to step aside and make way for the most suitable heir.’

‘Never,’ Kedah said again.

‘Some also say that I am the rightful heir.’

‘Name them,’ Kedah responded with a challenge.

Mohammed shook his head. ‘I cannot do that. However, should an Accession Council meeting be called...’