She inputted the last budget item then shut down the program before turning her office chair toward her. “Maysa said everything is great. The baby’s heartbeat is strong and next month I’ll have my first ultrasound. I can find out the gender if I want to, but I’m not sure about that yet.” She was sure about the disappointment over Tarek not sharing those moments.
“Have you heard from the father?” Elena asked, as if she’d read Kira’s mind.
Annoying disappointment came back to roost. “Not a word. But I never really expected it.”
Elena took a quick look at her watch. “If Tarek came to you and expressed his undying love, would you consider taking him back?”
In a heartbeat. “I see no reason to ponder that since it’s never going to happen.”
“One never knows, cara,” she said as she checked the time again.
“Do you have an appointment, Elena?”
“No, but you do.” She pushed out of the chair and patted her silver hair. “You have a meeting with Rafiq.”
Kira did a mental rundown of her schedule. “Since when?”
“Since now. He sent me here to summon you to his study.”
Wonderful. She had too much to do and too little left of the day. “Do you know what this is about?”
“I have a few ideas, but I feel it’s best not to speculate.”
Kira stood and headed toward the door. “I hope this doesn’t take too long.”
Elena muttered something in Italian from behind her as they headed to the king’s private study. Once there, she rapped on the door and heard Rafiq tell her to come in.
The second she entered, Kira felt as if she’d walked into an inquisition conducted by well-dressed royals. Rafiq sat behind the desk, looking handsome and regal, as usual. Zain and Adan stood behind him, arms folded across their chests like sentries. Then her gaze tracked to the right of the Mehdi sons, where another man positioned at the window caught her immediate attention. To most, he would appear to be any handsome, highly successful mogul, but she knew him as the father of her unborn baby.
“What is this about?” Kira asked as soon as she could form a coherent sentence.
“That’s what I’d bloody like to know,” Adan said.
“I would as well,” Zain added. “My wife and I plan to have dinner in the village and have a night away from the twin follies.”
Elena came to her side and laid a protective hand on Kira’s shoulder. “If you would be patient, all will be revealed by Mr. Azzmar in short order.”
As if on cue, Tarek stepped forward and cleared his throat. “I have asked you here today to reveal that I have not been completely truthful to any of you.”
Rafiq sent him a hard look. “We are well aware that you and Kira have been involved in a tryst.”
Kira exchanged a concerned look with Tarek before she said, “I promise we had no intention—”
“We didn’t have to be rocket scientists to figure out, Kira,” Adan interjected. “You both practically drool in each other’s presence.”
“The staff members have also entertained suspicions,” Rafiq added. “Nothing is sacred in the palace.”
Kira’s cheeks heated like a furnace. “I don’t know what to say except I’m very sorry.”
Tarek took a step forward. “You cannot hold Kira accountable for my actions. And my personal relationship with her is only part of the reason why I called you here.”
Zain shifted impatiently in the chair. “Then could you please clarify immediately?”
Tarek paced the room as if gathering his thoughts before facing the brothers to speak again. “Investing in Bajul is not my primary reason for being here. It never was. I arrived here seeking information and as of this morning, I have found it.”
Kira held her breath as Tarek launched into his suspicions about his mother’s involvement with the former king, his presumed father’s revelation and his need to know his true parentage. He concluded by saying, “With Elena’s aid, I now have the proof I have required for most of my adulthood. I am Aadil Mehdi’s biological child, and your half brother.”
The Mehdi sons sat for a time in stunned silence, until Rafiq regarded Elena. “Is this the truth?”
Elena squeezed Kira’s shoulder before answering. “Yes, it is. There is no doubt that Tarek is your father’s son. His relationship with Tarek’s mother happened before he wed your mother, and he remained unaware he had another child for many years. He managed to confirm that fact shortly before his death.”
“Bloody hell,” Adan said. “The man did get around. Is there any chance there are more Mehdis primed to crawl out of the woodwork? The last time we had one of these little soirees I learned the woman I always thought of as my mother was actually my mother.”