The Sheikh’s Secret Son(12)

Zaid gave her a sly little smile. “You spooked yourself a little bit today didn’t you? And, of course, that means that this place is suddenly oh-so-dangerous, huh? If you had listened to me, you wouldn’t have been in any danger.”

“You don’t understand, Zaid,” she argued. “Listen to me. This is the kind of thing I’ve spent my life around. When you have problems like you see in Rajak, when you have that kind of poverty, if you ignore it instead of trying to help those people, things only get worse. Much worse. I don’t mean any offense, Zaid, but you don’t see it from in here. You can’t possibly see it.”

He sighed. “You don’t see what we’ve accomplished to try to help, and part of what we hope to achieve with further investments is providing more relief to those troubled areas. I know there’s a lot of work left. We have to get jobs in place for the people in Rajak and Timina, so that they can start contributing. I know this, but don’t let one isolated event make you think the sky is falling. The sky is not falling over the Emirate of Sharjah and our son will be safe here.”

Rebecca shook her head. He talked a good game, but she wasn’t prepared to take any chances with her son. “But, no, back to your original statement, I don’t think bringing him here is a good idea,” she finally said.

Life had been so much simpler when they’d worked together in America, when she’d escorted him on a private visit to the States. Their relationship had been more than just professional, and their connection sitting together now was proof of that. The locked door, the privacy, Zaid’s bossy version of tenderness; those things were all proof that they were more to each other than mere acquaintances who happened to have a child together.

She reached for him again, wanting to run her hands over his shoulder and down his strong arm. “I should be getting back to the hotel,” she murmured.

“No,” he said flatly. “You’re not going back to the hotel. You’re going to stay here. I will see to it that you are protected and that all your needs are tended to, but here at the palace.”

“Zaid, I really appreciate the offer and the concern. Really, I do, but all of my things are at the hotel, and the rest of my group is there,” she explained. She stood up to signal to him that it really was time for her to go.

“No,” he argued. “I insist. Stay here and let the Sultan’s staff take care of you. You will reunite with the delegates each day; you’ve no need to stay at the same hotel as well.”

There were so many reasons for her to say no; even though her heart was screaming at her to say, yes. Fighting her immediate impulse to acquiesce, she shook her head.

“Zaid, no. And please, let’s leave it at that,” she pleaded.

Zaid stood from the couch, towering over her all of a sudden. “I’ll have your things brought over from the hotel this afternoon. Right now, I have a meeting to attend. I’ll see you tonight at dinner.” He moved to the door and started to unlock it.

“Dammit, Zaid, listen to me,” Rebecca demanded. “I’ve made it just fine without you for the last five years. I made it fine on my own before I ever knew you. I don’t suddenly need your charity now,” she argued. “I’m going back to the hotel.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t around for the two of you,” Zaid said without looking back at her. “I’m having your things brought over. I’ll see you at dinner after my meeting.”

He walked out of the room and she heard the click of the door lock as she fumed. She’d known he could be controlling, but she’d never seen him quite like that. He had intentionally ignored her comments. She wasn’t going to stand for it, she told herself, but she didn’t know what to do to make it right. At least not while she was locked in his quarters.





6





“I’ll have a private plane at the airport to make the international flight. Make sure everything is handled on your end. I’ll also have a car waiting at the airport here. Remember, no customs. No paperwork or documentation. My pilot will take over at the airport, and you won’t have anything else to worry about at that point,” Zaid explained over the phone as Alacabak entered his private office.

“I’ve got to go. Remember, everything else is handled. Meet the pilot at the airport. I have it from there. Talk to you again soon.” Zaid disconnected the call.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” Alacabak apologized.

“No, making some business arrangements,” Zaid lied.

“Sounds like it,” Alacabak responded, his tone devoid of any emotion.