Page 49 of Just a Bit Captivated

“Come on.You can tell him I said it was urgent.”

The men exchanged another look.

At long last, one of them reached for his phone and handed it to Aiden after unblocking it and picking Zain’s contact.

Aiden walked a little away from the bodyguards as he waited for the call to connect.

To his surprise, Zain picked up on the second ring. He said something in Arabic, sounding irritated.

Aiden shivered, enjoying the sound of his low, growly voice probably a little too much.

“It’s me,” Aiden said and smiled when Zain fell silent. “I’m done sightseeing. I wanna go home. Are you done already?Can you pick me up?”

After a moment, Zain said,“Give the phone to the bodyguard.”

Aiden did as he was told and watched the bodyguard as he spoke to Zain. The apprehensive expression on the man’s face shifted to one of surprise. When he hung up, he gave Aiden a suspicious look.“He told us to bring you to his penthouse.”

Frowning, Aiden repeated,“Penthouse?”

“Yes. That’s where the boss lives in the city. It’s in his company’s building.” He exchanged a look with the other bodyguard and said something in Arabic.

The other man shook his head and headed to the car.“Let’s go.”

Zain’s company was located in a skyscraper that was nearly as tall as the Burj Khalifa. But Aiden didn’t have time to admire it before he was rushed into the private elevator by the bodyguards. The security guards gave Aiden some strange looksbut didn’t ask any questions—they must have been forewarned.

Once the elevator reached the 134th floor, it stopped. Aiden got out and waved to the bodyguards, who still looked rather perplexed as the elevator doors closed.

Aiden looked around.

For a penthouse, the apartment wasn’t actually gigantic. It was spacious, sure, and the panoramic view it offered was ridiculous, but it had a cozy, lived-in feel to it. The open floor area took most of the penthouse. There was only one bedroom, decorated in white and blue-green, and the floor-to-ceiling windows provided a fantastic view of the Walk and the sea. Aiden was in love.

But he was far too hot.

A quick shower fixed that, and Aiden helped himself to one of theshirts from the closet. He sniffed it, but it didn’t smell of Zain, only of laundry detergent.

Sighing, Aiden went to the fridge. He’d eaten with the bodyguards, but he was a little hungry already.

After carefully examining the fridge’s contents—a lot of the labels were a mystery to him—Aiden found some chocolate ice cream, put it in a bowl, and took it to the terrace.

Evening was falling.

Sprawled on a comfy chaise lounge, Aiden slowly ate his ice cream, gazing at the brilliant lights starting to illuminate the city.

It was really beautiful here.

A bird in a gilded cage, whispered a voice at the back of his mind.

Aiden stabbed the ice cream with his spoon, brought it to his mouth, and chewed.

He wasn’t. He was going home soon.

Are you? Do you really believe that?

Yes, Aiden snapped.Zain promised.

Oh, ifZainpromised, his inner voice snarked.Do you even hear yourself? Did he fuck the remaining brain cells out of you?

“Shut up,” Aiden muttered, putting another spoonful of ice cream in his mouth.

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