Page 44 of At the Sheikh's Bidding
“Good. I’ll see you then. And thank you, Janey.”
She didn’t reply, but forced herself to end the call, wondering what she’d let herself in for.
* * *
It didn’t take longto find out because as soon as Janey entered the meeting room, Amare came straight to the point.
“Again, Janey, I want to apologize for not being upfront with you about the research which had already been done on the harem.”
She sat bolt upright, hands clasped in front of her on the desk, determined to hold on to the last remaining shreds of resistance and to keep this meeting completely and utterly professional. She nodded, but remained silent. She wanted to hear his explanation.
“And I’ve given some thought to how I could try to put things right.”
She tilted her head to one side. “You think you can?”
“Not completely, of course, but I can at least try to make amends.”
“Hm,” she grunted, meeting his sheepish gaze with a strong, demanding one of her own. “So, what do you have in mind?”
He sat forward, his hands clasped, reflecting her own stance. “I’ve been in touch with the researchers who were here last year. I gave them access to the harem, and they took photos and spent some time in the library, but their principal interest was an archaeological dig out in the desert, not the harem itself. I spoke with them, and it seems they have done nothing with the photos they took, and will be happy to discuss a trade.”
“Trade?”
“I have more information I can give them in return for them not publishing anything on the harem. To be honest, I don’t think they were going to, anyway.”
“Really? How can I be sure?”
“Because I suggested you meet up with them to discuss it. They’re interested in what you know about Sifran history and happy to share what little they gleaned about the harem with you. Janey, you might not be the first person to enter the harem, but youwillbe the first person to publish in-depth research about it. It seems the data they gathered was only superficial. Nothing like yours will be.”
For the first time, Janey relaxed back in her chair. She looked away from Amare’s persuasive eyes, out to the courtyard beyond which lay the harem buildings. Amare’s plan was better than she’d imagined. It wasn’t about being first somewhere, after all. That kind of thing was just for spin, just for the media. What was important was the work, and she knew she’d be given far greater access to that than the previous researchers. She looked back at Amare.
“Okay. I’d like to meet with them to discuss the details.”
“Good.” He raised his eyebrows and exhaled heavily, as if he’d been unsure whether she’d agree to his plan. “I’ve made some arrangements, hoping you would agree.”
She huffed a disbelieving laugh. “You’re always one step ahead.”
He shrugged. “That’s just me, I’m afraid.”
Shehadbeen afraid, but wasn’t anymore. “Thank you. When are we going? Tomorrow I assume?”
He shook his head. “In a few hours. I didn’t think there was any point in delaying it.” He paused as they both got up. “Janey. I just hope you can forgive me for what I did.”
She nodded ambiguously and walked out the door. She didn’t want to tell him she already had.
* * *
For some reasonJaney’s imagination had stopped at First Class seats. It hadn’t extended to this private, luxurious jet. Opposite her, Amare sat in one of the leather seats, staring out the window as they left the vast desert plains behind and banked over an azure sea. She wondered what he was thinking. Whether he was glad to be leaving behind the country of his birth, headed for the place he now called home. Or whether he was contemplating the tangled, incomprehensible relationship they’d somehow formed.
She knew, now, that she loved this man. She turned to look out the window, to hide the wave of emotion which had filled her at this realization. The land beneath vanished under a blanket of cloud, and soon after that there was nothing but emptiness below them. Her eyes smarted in the bright light of the sun. It must have been that. Nothing else. She knew she loved him. But what she didn’t know was whether they had any kind of future together because the fact remained, he represented the kind of man she’d learned not to trust.
Then she felt the light touch of Amare’s hand over hers.
“Why are you crying?” he asked gently.
She brushed away the telltale tears and shrugged. How could she tell him she had suddenly looked into two futures? One, with him, where she risked being trapped in a life where she was controlled and had no freedom. The other, a life with no love. And in that moment, she didn’t know which was worse.
“It’s nothing,” she said. “Just a bit overwhelmed by everything that’s happened.”
