Page 23 of The Sheik's Kiss

“Compatible? Or someone you can fall in love with?”

His hesitation confirmed her suspicions. Mandy stood up and bowed slightly. “Thank you for listening, Your Highness,” she said, then glanced over at the party that was still in full swing. “I don’t think I’m going to get any useful information from your candidates tonight. I’ll sit in on the interviews tomorrow with Raven and will revise my reports if I find something further to investigate. Otherwise, I will focus on your second project.”

Zahir stood up and nodded. “I agree and I look forward to your report,” he said gravely.

Mandy was startled by…something. There were unspoken words, an undercurrent that she didn’t fully understand in his tone. And because she felt like a coward, Mandy turned on her heel and walked away. Silently, she warned her melting heart that she couldn’t soften towards the man. Not a chance. She was tougher and stronger than that! And she knew not to fall for a charming man’s lip service.

Hasan Isfara glared at the message, his jaw clenching tightly. “When?” he snapped, not bothering to look up at his assistant.

Jacob Mara, Hasan’s dependable, if somewhat nervous, assistant shuffled his feet, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I only received news of the woman’s arrival yesterday.”

Hasan leaned back in his leather chair, glaring at the man across his desk. “Why are you only telling me this now?”

Jacob shrugged. “I was told the woman was coming to help Sheik bin Aristi find a wife. There is another woman, Ms. Raven Markley who is also helping.”

Hasan’s eyes narrowed. “Who the hell is Raven Markley and what’s her role?”

Jacob turned, grabbing a report and handing it over to his boss. “Markley is some sort of match-making guru,” he explained. “Apparently, she’s arranged several love matches for powerful clients around the world. She’s known internationally as a woman who can match anyone to the right person.”

Hasan rolled his eyes in disgust. “Fine. I don’t care about this Markley person. What’s going on with the other one. The accountant you mentioned.”

“She’s actually been here for several days now, sir.”

Hasan sat up abruptly. “Several days?” He thought about the news from another source – the information that Sheik bin Aristi was distracted by a woman. “Why the hell are you just now getting around to telling me about her?”

Jacob hoped he wasn’t noticeably sweating. He was well aware of what his boss was capable of when someone disappointed him and, as his assistant, Jacob didn’t want that brutality directed towards him. “My sources told me originally that Ms. Sullivan was helping Ms. Markley. She’s that forensic accountant that saved the heiress last year?” he prompted. “She also helped put that Spanish aristocrat into prison.”

“How did she do that?” he demanded.

Jacob shrugged. “I don’t have the details. Apparently, her work is very hush-hush. Which is why I didn’t know about her alternate investigations until today, sir.”

“Explain!”

“Ms. Sullivan is looking into the financials of anyone the Sheik is considering marrying!”

There was a long silence while Hasan considered that news. Finally, he snapped, “Why the hell would Aristi care about a woman’s financial background? He’s richer than God!”

Jacob swallowed uncomfortably, trying not to fidget. “Right. Well, if you’ll recall, his previous fiancée went out to that night club and bragged about how she was going to marry the richest man on earth.”

Hasan rolled his eyes as he sighed heavily. “Right. That video was everywhere.” He shook his head in disgust. “That woman was an idiot.”

“Correct, sir. But now that Sheik bin Aristi has started looking for a new fiancée, he hired Ms. Sullivan to ensure that the candidates wouldn’t embarrass him again with their avarice.”

Hasan’s eyes narrowed as he contemplated this new information. “So our leader is still eager to marry, eh?” He thought about how this news would be received by the other members of his…team, for lack of a better word.

“Yes, sir.”

He looked at Jacob sharply. “But you’ve found evidence that someone is looking into our expenses?”

“Yes, sir,” Jacob repeated, trying to hide his trembling from his boss.

Hasan rubbed his chin contemplatively. “Perhaps there is a way to turn this situation to our advantage,” he commented, pacing along the back wall of his office. He considered his options carefully, then nodded. “Yes. I have a plan,” he decided. “Here’s what you’re going to do.”

Jacob listened to his boss, trying to hide his nervousness. This wasn’t a good plan and there was no way that it would work. But Hasan wasn’t a man to ignore. The man had a team of thugs that enforced his dictates. So Jacob would have to do exactly as his boss demanded, even if he disagreed with the man’s directives.

Chapter 7

Only five minutes had passed since the last time she’d glanced at the time. Mandy stared at the ceiling, wondering if she was going to get any sleep tonight. It was two thirty in the morning, her eyes burned, and her whole body ached. She needed rest!

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