The Sheikh's Irresistible Proposal (10 page)

“Stop!” she said, pushing him away with her hand. “I can’t do this anymore. One minute you’re nice and easy to be with and the next you’re distant and cold. I know I’m not like the other women in your culture. But guess what, I’m nobody’s dirty little secret either! You either like me or you don’t! You can’t have it both ways!”

Sadiq watched her face go red. “I’m so sorry Hannah. I had no idea that you felt like that. I warned you that our cultures are different and that you might not be accepted here, but maybe that wasn’t enough.”

Hannah rolled her eyes as she spoke. “Because I’m a woman.”

“No,” Sadiq said as he placed his hands on her shoulders. “Because you are such a radical, passionate, talented woman—the kind of woman that not everyone in my country is ready for. Hannah, I’m so sorry. Maybe bringing you here was a mistake.”

Hannah’s body started to shake as the tears welled up and spilled over onto her cheeks. She couldn’t keep it inside any longer. She had to let him know how she felt. “If you hadn’t brought me here, we never would have gotten to know each other,” she said.

Sadiq watched her tears fall and his heart almost broke in two. He gripped her shoulders tighter and pulled her into him, finally placing his lips on hers in a kiss that was long overdue.

Hannah felt his warm lips on hers and returned the kiss. Moments later, they were in her bedroom, touching, sharing, exploring each other’s bodies.

All of the emotions of the past six weeks came pouring out. They spoke in movement, letting their bodies do the talking, allowing their fingers and mouths to express everything they felt for one another. Later, they laid in bed, holding each other close under the thick covers. Hannah’s rested her head on Sadiq’s chest as he ran his fingers lazily through her red mane, before they fell asleep to the sound of each other’s breath.

SIXTEEN

Morning arrived and Hannah opened her eyes to the first slivers of the El-Shakanish sun slicing across the bedroom. She looked over and saw Sadiq’s sleeping body next to hers, the sheets rising and falling with his breath. She replayed the events of the night before, remembering every kiss, every touch they had shared. Her body felt warm and tingly even as Hannah felt a twinge of panic and guilt rise up in her.

Had she crossed a line? Hannah watched him sleep as she tried to make sense of what had happened. They had spent a lovely evening on the rooftop, enjoying the delicious meal he had prepared. Then he had given her the CD and the check. The check! Hannah looked over to the nightstand and saw it right where she had left it the night before.

Sadiq had paid her a million dollars, twice the amount her contract had specified. And then he had slept with her. Well, she had slept with him. Either way, it was all so confusing. Had he taken advantage of her while she was overwhelmed at being paid so much money? Had she finally allowed him to get close because she had genuine feelings for him, or because she wanted to show him her gratitude?

Hannah didn’t know what to think. All she knew was that she had done the one thing she had sworn she wouldn’t do. She had gotten involved with the man she worked for… again. She closed her eyes and remembered how terribly things had ended with Harvey. And now, here she was in bed with Sadiq.
This is a disaster waiting to happen. Maybe he sleeps with all of his singers. Maybe he was just using me…

She looked over at him again, breathing in the musky scent of his body in the warm morning air. She didn’t want to believe that he’d been using her; she’d really thought that the feelings he had for her were genuine.

At the same time, though, those feelings could have been just the result of spending so much time together—they had had such an intense experience together these last six weeks. And even if Sadiq’s feelings ran deeper, even if they were genuine, they still couldn’t go any further than they had last night; his culture, his family, his own fear would never allow it.

Hannah let out a long, jagged breath. She felt tears welling up in the corner of her eyes and knew what she had to do.

Without making a sound, Hannah slipped out from under the covers and went into the bathroom to change. She emerged a moment later and darted into her own suite to gather her bags before rolling them out into the hall.

She returned to the sitting area, sat down at the desk, took out a notepad and began to write.

Dear Sadiq,

I don’t know what happened last night. I just know that I can’t accept your money. The record you made me, and getting to know you through this experience are reward enough.

H

Hannah wanted the check so very badly, but she wasn’t willing to compromise her integrity for it. She remembered the lesson she had learned from her father when he refused to take the high-paying tech job, and she would not allow herself to be used. She was already conflicted, knowing she had acted unprofessionally; she didn’t want to degrade herself even more by accepting money after she had slept with Sadiq.

She folded the note over and tiptoed back into the bedroom. She walked to the nightstand, picked up the CD, and left the note and check behind as she walked out and closed the door behind her.

***

Fatima saw her walking out of the room and came up beside her. “Miss Green? Are you leaving already? You’re not scheduled to depart for a few hours yet.”

Hannah smiled quickly at Fatima, trying her best to avoid eye contact. “Yes, I know. I just, the flight got moved up, I mean, I needed to…” She tried to find the words but her emotions were causing her to babble.

Fatima looked at her with kind eyes and reached over and grabbed two of the bags. “I understand. Well then, let us go.”

She didn’t say another word, just walked Hannah down to the main hall. Once they arrived there, Fatima called one of the other staff members over and whispered something in his ear. Hannah stood silently with Fatima as the sun rose behind them and spilled across the bright marble floor. Several minutes later, Naasir pulled the limo up to the front steps and walked up to take Hannah’s bags.

“Good morning, Miss Green,” he said, tipping his hat slightly to her, his face kind and soft.

She looked at him and nodded. She tried to give him a smile but failed miserably; Naasir was just so nice that she couldn’t keep anything back from him.

He could tell immediately that something was wrong, but he didn’t pry. “Allow me, ma’am,” he said, taking the remaining bags out of her hands. “Please,” Naasir said and ushered Hannah down the marble steps.

She walked over to the limo and stopped as she reached the open door. She turned and looked back at the palace, watching the sun rise over the central dome. Her eyes wandered up to the room where Sadiq was sleeping and she felt a pang of sadness in her heart. Then she looked across to Fatima and smiled, with tears in her eyes, telling her silently how thankful she was for everything.

She was about to turn around when Maala came running out of the house and down the steps. “Hannah! Wait!”

Hannah watched as the round little woman bounced down the marble steps and came to a stop in front of her. She was holding out a large basket covered with a white linen napkin, and Hannah could tell by the warm, spicy fragrance rising from it that it held fresh-baked delicacies and other goodies.

“Some fruit, bread, and cheese for your trip back. You can’t go home skinnier than you came!”

Hannah giggled as she bent down and hugged Maala, and the older woman grabbed her face and planted a big kiss on each one of her cheeks. As they pulled apart, Maala wiped away a tear and folded her chubby hands in front of her.

“Go now, before I cry all over your breakfast.”

Hannah felt the tears sting her eyes and smiled back at Maala. Then she turned and disappeared into the dark, cool cabin of the limo. Naasir closed the door behind her then got into the driver’s seat and stepped on the gas, slowly driving the limo down the long, winding driveway.

Hannah watched the sun throw dark lines across the lawn as the palm fronds glistened in the early morning light. She looked back wistfully at the majestic palace she had called home for six weeks as it disappeared from view behind the trees.

Naasir drove the short distance to the airport in silence; he knew better than to press Hannah for details. When they arrived, he opened the door for her and helped her out of the car. As he walked her through the terminal, through check-in, and towards the jet, he patted her hand as it rested loosely on his arm.

Naasir stopped at the bottom of the steps and turned to look at her. “This is as far as I go, ma’am.”

Hannah looked up at the jet and nodded. “I know,” she said. She looked at Naasir’s face and could see the concern he felt for her. “Thank you,” she said, not sure what else to say.

“No,” Naasir said, taking her hands in his. “Thank you, miss.”

Hannah looked confused. “What do you mean?”

Naasir sighed and thought carefully about his words before he spoke. “Miss Green,” he started slowly. “Thank you for bringing your amazing voice to our country, your laughter to our palace and your smile to our lives.”

Fresh tears fell down Hannah’s face as she listened to Naasir continue.

“Most importantly, thank you for bringing joy back to our home. I have known His Highness for his entire life, and never have I seen him as happy as he has been for the past six weeks.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. “He sure has a funny way of showing it,” she said, wiping away her tears.

Naasir laughed. “Yes, he does. But trust me when I say that you’ve made him very happy.”

Thoughts of her last night with Sadiq filled Hannah’s mind. She was happy, but at the same time she felt so awful, so confused, so conflicted. If this was what happiness brought, she wasn’t sure she wanted it.

“Thank you,” she said. “Not just for what you said, but for treating me so kindly throughout my time here. I have truly enjoyed getting to know you, Naasir.”

“As have I, you.” Naasir smiled and then bowed slightly.

Hannah narrowed her eyes at him and grinned. “Oh no, you don’t get off that easily,” she said, pulling him in close for a tight hug.

Finally, she let him go, then turned and ran up the stairs, unable to look back for fear she might lose her resolve.

SEVENTEEN

The jet took off shortly after sunrise, and Hannah spent most of the flight lost in thought. She wondered what Sadiq was doing; did he try to look for her when he got up? Did he regret telling her how he felt? Did he think last night was a mistake as well? She wondered if he was even thinking about her at all.

Hannah tried not to focus too much on Sadiq, his country and the wonderful people she had met there. She distracted herself by listening to music, attempting to sleep and, when that didn’t work, watching the world pass by through the windows of the jet. When she arrived in New York, just over twelve hours later, she was utterly exhausted.

Even though she had turned down the money from Sadiq, Hannah had no choice but to splurge on a cab from the airport—there was no way she was going to get all of her bags on the subway. She made the short ride to Brooklyn and arrived at her apartment just after midnight. She rang for Chloe before she remembered that her friend had told her she was going to be out of town for a few days. Hannah dug around for her key and let herself into the building.

When the doors locked behind her, she began dragging her bags, one-by-one, up the two flights of stairs to her apartment. After several trips, she had all her belongings inside and flopped down onto the sofa, exhausted. She realized in that moment just how spoiled she had been in the last six weeks. Thoughts of the palace and the staff brought her mind right back to Sadiq and she shook her head, trying to clear it.

No you don’t
, she said to herself. She wouldn’t allow herself to go there. She figured she better text Chloe to let her know she was back in town and pulled out her phone. That’s when she saw the voicemails. She hadn’t been able to get service from her carrier in El-Shakanish, but now that she was back in the States, all of the voicemails she’d received while she was gone were ready and waiting for her.

Hannah looked at the phone, unsure whether she wanted to hear them or not. What if they were from Sadiq? She hesitated and then finally pressed the button and held the phone up to her ear.

Seconds later, Hannah heard Harvey’s raised voice punch through the phone.

“Where are you? You can’t quit on me! I’ve got you lined up for another show! You better get your butt in here, Hannah!”

She deleted it and waited anxiously for the next one.

Harvey’s voice ranted again, “You can’t quit! I told you, I’m the boss and I make the decisions here! I’m gonna give you one more chance, and you better be grateful for that. But if you’re not here tonight!”

She listened as the messages continued, but the fifth was the final straw. “That’s it! You think you can just blow me off? You think you can stand me up? Who do you think you are, royalty? Hah! I’ll tell you what you are: FIRED! Don’t even think about showing your lousy face in my club again!”

Hannah deleted the remaining messages and threw her phone down. She pulled her feet up and curled up into a ball, grabbing the blanket from the back of the sofa and draping it down over herself. Tears of anger, rage and hurt burned the corners of her eyes and she closed her eyes to keep them at bay, trying her best to put Harvey, El-Shakanish and Sadiq out of her mind once and for all.