The Sheikh’s Secret Heir(25)
No matter. He was more than ready to sever all ties with Athena, despite the hardship it would create on their deadline. This turn of events would change all aspects of his current project, yet he felt optimistic he had the answer to the dilemma—as long as he could demonstrate to Kira how much he needed her.
* * *
She needed to finish putting on her makeup, but first she needed to answer the summons.
As she tightened her white terry bathrobe, Kira crossed the room and opened the door to Alexios, who was clutching a vinyl garment bag. “Your attire for the evening, madam,” he said.
She couldn’t wait to see what Athena had picked out and, in some ways, dreaded it. “Thank you, Alexios. And tell Ms. Clerides I appreciate her assistance in choosing the dress.”
He sent her a puzzled look. “Mr. Azzmar selected the attire, not Miss Clerides.”
Even more intriguing. Apparently the rebuffed ex-lover had intentionally declined making the purchase. “I see. I’ll thank him later. Is he here now?”
“He is currently placing his routine call to Morocco. He told me to inform you he will be awaiting your arrival at the entry.”
“Thank you, Alexios. Tell him I shouldn’t be too long.”
“As you wish, Madam,” he said before heading away.
Kira closed the door and pondered what the servant had said. Could that call be the one Athena had mentioned? Of course, logic said Tarek was speaking with the staff at the Moroccan mansion. Or that he had a silent business partner. Or another woman waiting in the wings.
She had no cause to be suspicious and hated that Athena had put those thoughts in her head, probably intentionally so.
Discarding her concerns for the time being, Kira laid the bag on the bed, unzipped it and removed one of the most beautiful full-length gowns she had ever seen. A shimmering fitted silver gown with a plunging halter neckline and an equally low back, along with a box containing matching high-heeled silver sandals.
She was admittedly floored by Tarek’s choice and extremely surprised to find he’d chosen her correct size with both the dress and shoes. Maybe a lucky guess, but she predicted he’d had one of the staff check out her closet for reference.
After laying the gown across the bed, she returned to the bathroom to finish fixing her face, then pulled her hair back from her forehead and secured it with pins. Now for the finishing touch—putting on the one-carat diamond studs, the only souvenir from her previous relationship since she’d tossed the engagement ring at him during their breakup. Was that appropriate, wearing earrings another man had given her? Possibly not, but what Tarek didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Except for the whole baby issue.
She could spring the news on him tonight. Or not. She still needed to learn more about him, ask a few leading questions in light of what she’d recently learned, and then decide if he deserved to be a daddy. Wanted to be a daddy. The answer to both could be a resounding no.
Recognizing time was slipping away, Kira shrugged out of the robe and stepped into the dress. She then walked to the floor-length mirror hanging on the back of the door to do a closer inspection. No panty lines since she’d opted to go without them. No angle that made her butt look too big. No unsightly belly bulge. A perfect fit. A few weeks from now, she wouldn’t be able to say that. A few weeks from now, her child’s future would be resolved. She hoped.
She perched on the edge of the bed, slid her feet into the heels and grabbed the small black clutch. Now that she was appropriately dressed, Kira set out to find her billionaire prince and prepared to be wined and dined, minus the wine. Tonight she would pretend this fantasy date was the real deal. Tomorrow she would return to reality.
Six
“Madam, your chariot has arrived.”
After Alexios moved aside, Kira stepped out the door and confronted one more pleasant surprise. Not a chariot per se, but close enough. A white carriage, attached to a matched pair of gray and white dappled horses wearing purple feather plumes and piloted by a dignified driver, sat beneath the portico. Standing beside that fancy form of transportation was a gorgeous man wearing a black tuxedo and an overtly sensual smile surrounded by a slight shading of whiskers.
Once she had the presence of mind to move, she felt as if she floated toward Tarek, caught up in some surreal, romantic fantasy. She almost asked him to pinch her when he took her hand and helped her into the carriage. She almost pinched herself to make certain she wasn’t dreaming this whole unexpected scenario.
Instead, when Tarek slid into the seat next to her, Kira kissed his cheek to show her gratitude. “This is absolutely wonderful. The dress, the transportation, everything. You’re definitely off to a good start, but what’s next on the agenda? Perhaps a moonlit cruise on the Mediterranean?”