Page 28 of Seduced By the Sheikh

“But… she’s your mother. Surely?—”

He raised his hand. “I don’t wish to discuss her.”

“But I need to know, Zak. I hear rumors about her and how can I know how to respond if I don’t know the truth?”

He sighed and raked his hands through his hair. “The truth is, we dislike her. We don’t want her around.”

“That much I gathered.”

He huffed out a sigh, as if finally surrendering. “Okay. I could have forgiven the fact she was a distant mother to both me and Kadar, and that she hated my father. But what I can’t forgive is the fact she betrayed my country and by doing that, she betrayed all of us.”

She was shocked. “Betrayal? That’s a big word.”

“Not big enough for what she did. She stole from our country. For years, she siphoned off money while my father was alive. And after he died, she doubled down her efforts and Kadar and I had no idea. Not until she was discovered—and then she disappeared, taking as much as she could with her. That, Soraiya, is why I have no time for my mother. She is no longer welcome in Sirun as she has just about destroyed it.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

“No, well, you wouldn’t. We avoided too many rumors from circulating.”

“But how did she hide it from your father, and you and Kadar so well?”

“Because my father hated business and mother enjoyed it and took it all over. She became indispensable with her gifts of beauty, of languages, and of diplomacy.”

She swallowed. “I have languages and diplomacy skills.”

“And you are beautiful, like my mother. Your eyes even have a passing resemblance to hers.”

“And so you were scared I would do the same thing?”

“Yes, but I didn’t know you then.” His expression softened, and he held out his hand to her. “Come over here, habibti,” he said. “I want to show you something.”

He grabbed her, and she sat on his lap. “I think I have an idea what it is you want to show me.”

He laughed. “No, it is this.” He produced a long velvet box from his desk drawer and gave it to her. “This is for you. A thank you for giving me so much.”

Her heart was full as she took the box from him and eased it open. Sapphires and diamonds sparkled under the desk lamp.

“Zak,” she gasped, “it’s beautiful.”

He cocked his head to one side as if assessing her. “I thought it would suit you. But, I can’t judge it properly. No,” he shook his head, “there’s a problem.”

She frowned. “What?”

“Your clothes,” he said, as if making a strategic decision in council. “They are too distracting. I need to see you naked, wearing only the necklace.”

She smiled and rose. “Is that an order?”

“It is.”

“Then,” she said, undoing her zip, “I’d best comply.”

Much later, she thought she probably shouldn’t have had such energetic sex if she were pregnant. That she should have told him about Sarah’s and now her suspicions. She rolled over to him, but then he touched her in a way which made her forget everything except his fingers and her body. Much, much later, when she remembered again, he was asleep.

She’d tell him in the morning.

CHAPTER 14

Soraiya stretched lazily in the soft morning light that filtered through the gauzy curtains of the royal bedchamber. Zak had already left to go to his office. He had meetings nearly every day from morning till evening as he worked hard to re-build his country’s fortunes.

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