The Sheikh's American Bride (The Sharqi Sheikhs Series Book 2) (7 page)

Claire woke in a strange bed. It took her a moment to realize exactly where she was: Taleb’s bed. She looked to the side and found the naked Adonis sleeping beside her. Last night had been magical. Daniel had never made love to her like that. No, not love,
worship
.

She had never felt so alive as she did in Taleb’s arms. Maybe there really were happy endings, she thought as she watched him sleep. He was so incredibly handsome and when he looked at her the way he did last night, her insides had melted.

Sitting up, she got out of bed and padded to the bathroom to freshen up. Putting toothpaste on her finger, she brushed her teeth. Looking around, she found a comb and began the tedious process of combing out her hair.

She thought about sneaking out to find her backpack to retrieve her brush, but she didn’t want to disturb him. After several minutes, she finally got all the tangles out. As she looked in the mirror, reality sunk in.

She had just slept with a student.

While they were the same age and he was a graduate student, it still felt wrong. Daniel had cheated on her regularly with students and now she was suddenly no better than he was.

Oh, my god, what have I done?
she asked herself as she stared at herself in the mirror. Her body still held its rosy afterglow as she suddenly felt the urge to jump into the shower. While she knew that she hadn’t violated any university ethics rules, she didn’t think the Dean would approve of her methods to sabotage Taleb’s bride search.

Claire rushed back into Taleb's bedroom. Fortunately, he was still fast asleep. Since her clothes were never thrown into the dryer, she quickly gathered them up and got dressed; cringing at their dampness. Tiptoeing to the door, she quietly opened it and shut it behind her

She was not even going to say goodbye to him. She didn’t think she could as she had no idea what to say. She’d had a wonderful time and would never forget him, but it was over. It had to be. 

It had been almost a week since Taleb had seen Claire, and he thought he would go mad. They had such a wonderful time kayaking on the Charles River and then back at his place. She was beautiful, loving, giving and nowhere to be found.

When he woke the next morning, he was disappointed that she was not still in bed with him. When he realized that she had left without saying anything, he was hurt and tried to call her but she did not answer any of his calls. Maybe it was merely a one-night stand for her, he thought, but deep down, he didn’t believe that. Not
his
Claire.

Sitting in the lecture hall lost in thought, Taleb became aware of whispers flying around different students. Thinking it was about him, he looked up only to realize they were directed at a woman sitting in front of him.

As the professor finished up with the instructions, it was time for the students to partner up. The rest of the class seemed to move away from that girl whose shoulders visibly sagged. Taleb raised his eyebrows as he watched them all shun her. Leaning forward, he tapped her on the shoulder as she turned to look at him. Tears were threatening to fall but she looked determined to hold it together.

“Want to work with me?” he asked her as her eyes lit up.

“You're not going to run away from me as if I have the plague?” she asked him.

“Are you contagious?”

Shaking her head no, she smiled at him before extending her hand. “Zoe Donahue,” she told him as he reached out to shake her hand.

“Taleb Sharqi,” he answered as he shook her hand. Zoe's blue eyes lit up.

“Nice to meet you, Taleb.”

“Donahue,” Taleb repeated, as she stood up to join him. “Isn’t that the name of an endowment?”

Nodding her head, “Yes, my grandfather started it years ago.”

Moving closer together, Taleb and Zoe picked a topic together as he caught the jealous looks from the female students in the class. Whatever was going on with Zoe and the other students was none of his business, he decided as they quickly sketched out an outline of their proposed project.

“I am dreading the upcoming charity dinner,” Zoe told him as she copied down the assignment from the board.

“Why?” Taleb asked.

“Because there is going to be an auction, which I signed up for weeks ago. I regret doing that now because no one is going to bid on me.”

Taleb raised his eyebrows. “Why wouldn’t anyone bid on you?” he asked her, puzzled. She was beautiful.

Looking up at him, she smiled softly, “You really don’t know, do you?” she asked. Giving her a blank look, Zoe chuckled. “Well that would make you the only one. I slept with Professor Daniel Simons,” she confessed, motioning to the man speaking with students by his lectern.

Taleb glanced around the room at the furtive glances many of the students were giving them. Turning back to Zoe, “I do not understand why that is anyone’s business,” he told her honestly. “Is he married?”

Shaking her head, “No, although I had heard that he had been dating someone but she broke it off when she found out and then he broke things off with me after a lengthy conversation with Dean Parker.”

Shaking his head, “I still do not understand why it is anyone’s business. Now, tell me about this auction.” Smiling, Zoe told him about the planned auction where people would bid to go on a date.

“I am sure that all this worry is for nothing and there will be a bidding war for you,” he told her consolingly.

“After everything that happened with the professor, I am sure no one will bid on me.” She ran her hand through her blonde hair in agitation.

“You never know.”

“Sleeping with him was stupid. I should have known better.”

“There is nothing you can do about it now.”

“You are right. I would like to move on but it's hard when everyone is talking about it.”

Taleb gave her shoulder a reassuring rub, “Ignore them.”

Zoe smiled at him. “Thank you for not judging me,” she told him as she squeezed his hand. Taleb shrugged his shoulders. As they talked, some of the students were turning around and looking at them. Clearly some were unhappy that Zoe was working with him.

Shaking his head, he wondered at the petty behavior of the other students. What was it that seemed to upset them the most? Her actions did not affect anyone other than herself, what business was it of theirs who she slept with. Ignoring the whispers and stares, he briefly wondered if this was what Claire saw when they were out together.

The night of the charity gala dinner had arrived and Taleb wished that Claire was there to join him, but she had yet to return his calls and no one would give him any information at the library. Dressed in a tailored grey Armani suit that matched his eyes and a crisp white shirt, Malil chose to dress all in black and the two were a formidable pair as they walked into the ballroom.

Looking around at all the finely dressed people, many of whom looked like they’d be more comfortable dressed the way Claire preferred, casual and comfortable, as opposed to the elegant dresses and formal suits. Taleb once again wished that Claire was on his arm.

“Will you bid on anyone?” Taleb asked Malil, as he watched several women parade past them, tilting their heads to look at the two men.

“No.” Malil shook his head.

“Why not?” His friend had a tendency to be stiff and unpredictable.

“I have not seen anyone I would like to bid on.”

“Fair enough.” Taleb patted Malil on the shoulder. He looked up and saw Dean Parker approaching him with a big smile on his face. Taleb narrowed his gaze slightly. He was never keen on speaking to him because the Dean always appeared too eager.

“Sheik Sharqi, what an honor it is to have you here,” the Dean told him a little too loudly, as he held out his hand to shake. “I can’t tell you how appreciative we are for your family’s sizable donation to our university. Those funds will be put to excellent use.” Taleb reluctantly shook his hand and resisted the urge to wipe his hand on his pants after.

“Thank you,” he replied.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

“So far, yes.”

A server approached them with a tray of Champagne glasses as each man took a glass.

“This is our fifth charity auction and they’ve been highly successful in the past.” Holding his glass up, “Here’s to a great night,” he toasted as Malil and Taleb looked at each other.

“Cheers,” they both said reluctantly. The Dean started telling them about what he planned to do with the money from the current donation drives.

Taleb was glad that it was time for dinner as he had long since grown bored listening to the Dean. He sat at a large round table with Malil and several wealthy alumni who peppered him with questions about himself, his studies and his family. They were all fascinated by him, which had him wishing for Claire’s company. While she may talk too much at times, he was never bored around her.

“I have never met a sheik before,” one of the women said to him, breaking him from his thoughts of Claire, as she attempted to flirt with him.

Taleb never knew how best to respond as it often turned into a cultural lesson when he had to explain that only tourists rode camels, everyone else drove cars. Malil always got a kick out of the odd questions people would ask and enjoyed teasing Taleb for being so unfriendly, but he knew that he was the same. That was why they got along so well.

“Isn't this your lucky day?” Malil asked her as he winked. The woman laughed and placed her hand on her chest.

“It is indeed,” she said and blushed.

After the dinner, servers cleared all the dishes and passed out auction paddles with numbers on them. A woman in a long green evening gown introduced herself as Cindy Nichols, Harvard University’s Treasurer.

She spent a few moments explaining the process and thanking all the students who agreed to participate in such a worthy cause. Then, she started the auction and bidders eagerly raised their paddles as they bid.

Taleb could see the Dean out of the corner of his eye practically vibrating with excitement each time the auction hammer would go down signaling a final bid. Finally, Zoe Donahue came on stage. She was dressed in a silver halter neck dress that complemented her skin tone and figure. She had her blonde hair styled elegantly into a side braid that draped around her head reminding Taleb of a painting of Aphrodite he had seen at a gallery in Florence.

She was stunning as she stood there with such poise. No wonder the professor could not resist her. In fact, she was everything he was looking for in a future wife and Taleb did not know why he had not seen it when they were in class together. She was perfect.

“This is Miss Zoe Donahue. She is originally from Austin, Texas, she is twenty-two, and in her first year of law school. The winner will be treated to a picnic lunch made by Miss Donahue. Let’s start the bidding at one hundred dollars,” Cindy began.

No paddles were raised and the only sounds that could be heard were the sounds of shuffling as attendees shifted in their seats.

Looking around the room, Cindy’s smile faltered as she called out, “How about fifty dollars? Can we start the bidding at fifty dollars?” But no one responded.

Taleb watched Zoe's face drop. He remembered her talking about her fear of not being bid on. Looking around, he saw some of the female guests whispering about her. Some seemed to enjoy her humiliation.

“Going once, twice-” Before Cindy could end the auction on Zoe, Taleb raised his paddle.

“Ten thousand dollars,” he called out as a collective gasp swept through the room and Zoe looked up in surprise.

“Ten thousand dollars to bidder number forty-six. Going once, twice? That is ten thousand dollars for Miss Zoe Donahue.”

Taleb put his paddle down as Malil looked at him. “Well that was an interesting move,” he told him.

“I detest petty behavior,” Taleb responded.

The last girl came on stage and the bidding on her began. “Three hundred,” Malil called out. Taleb whipped his head in his direction. A bidding war ensued with the auction closing at five thousand dollars. Taleb was surprised that Malil was the highest bidder.

“Well
that
was an interesting move,” Taleb said to him.

Malil didn’t say a word, his eyes were fixed on the girl on the stage.

“I didn’t expect that from you,” he prodded when he did not answer the first time.

“There is something… captivating about her.”

Taleb raised his eyebrow at him but didn’t say another word as he rose to his feet to go speak with Zoe. Her face lit up when she saw him approaching her. “Taleb, hi,” she called out and extended her arms to him. He allowed her to hug him, as she whispered in his ear, “I can’t thank you enough for bidding on me. You saved me from even more humiliation.”

“Hello, Miss Donahue, you look lovely this evening,” he told her as he stepped back.

“Thank you.” Zoe smiled and rubbed his arm. “I did not expect you to bid on me, especially at such a high price,” she said in a louder voice as those nearby turned to listen to their conversation.

“The charity auction was for a good cause and you are most definitely worth the price.”

Zoe laughed as Taleb smiled at her. A server approached them with glasses of Champagne. “No, thank you,” Zoe told her, shaking her head.

“You do not like Champagne?” Taleb asked.

“I prefer red wine.”

“A glass of red wine for the lady then,” Taleb said to the server.

“Yes, sir.”

“You are such a gentleman.” Zoe rubbed Taleb's arm again.

“I try.” He smiled at her as they chatted about different things. He was surprised to find out that she spoke Arabic fluently and had visited his country as a child. He could not believe how much they had in common.

She really was the ideal candidate to become his wife, as he wondered why Malil did not bring her name up earlier. Perhaps it was the stigma associated with her affair; he would have to ask him about it later.

As they talked, while part of him kept trying to concentrate on the very beautiful Zoe, his mind kept wandering back to Claire. Why hadn’t she returned his calls? Why did she leave without saying anything? He had so much that he wanted to share with her, where was she?