Page 48 of At the Sheikh's Bidding
“No, he was a man, which is even scarier. A man who used to tell me how alike we were.”
Amare shook his head. “You’re nothing like him. How could he say that? How could you believe that?”
She smiled sadly at Amare. “You don’t know him, but I appreciate the vote of confidence. Unfortunately, wearealike. I’m focused on my career, and have the same work ethic. We even think the same way. But hopefully that’s where the similarities ends.”
“You, Janey Montgomerie, are no monster. And I’m prepared to tell you that as often as you need to hear it.”
She laughed and raised an eyebrow. “Once more?”
He took hold of her hand, kissed it, and held it against his lips. “You, Janey, are adorable, emotional, kind, funny, and in no way resemble a monster.”
“I’d forgotten…” she trailed off uncertainly.
“What?”
She shrugged. “I’d forgotten what it was like to have someone fight my corner. My mother used to. I left after she died.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What for?”
“That you had such a hellish childhood. You didn’t deserve it.”
“No one deserves it. True. I think, from the little I was told, that my father’s parents mistreated him. I know it’s no excuse, but it makes it a little more understandable, a little less personal against me.”
Amare nodded but didn’t speak, waiting patiently for Janey to continue.
“My father hated people. I don’t. I guess that was the root cause of the reason he made everyone’s lives miserable.” She blinked back the tears. “I’m sorry. I’m finding this really difficult. I’ve never told anyone this before.”
“Why not?”
“I guess because I felt too ashamed by my father’s behavior. And…worriedthat people might tar me with the same brush. Might believe I was like him. What’s the saying? The apple never falls far from the tree?”
“Janey, simply because you can say that, shows that you’re not him. Can you imagine your father saying the same thing if he were in your shoes?”
Janey gave a grunt of laughter at the absurdity of the thought.
“I thought not. You’re not him. You weren’t, and nor will you ever be, the monster that he was.”
“Heis,” Janey said quietly. “He’s still alive. Although I haven’t seen him in over eight years.”
“Have you thought about meeting him again?”
“No way!”
“It might help. You’re in a different place now. And I’m with you. I’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you. I promise.” He stood up. “We’d better get going. We’ve a meeting at the Sorbonne shortly.”
She shook her head. “I’d almost forgotten. My goodness, I don’t usually forget about work.”
She followed Amare back to the door which led to the penthouse, where she stopped and looked around, seeing the view for the first time.
“This view is amazing.”
He came and joined her. “If you like this, you’d love the view from my apartment.”
She looked at him. “Will I get to see it?”
“Oh, no,” he said too quickly. “We won’t have time for that.”
