Chosen by the Sheikh Read Free Page A

that!
    â€˜I am not an unreasonable man.’
    But he was definitely a very angry one, she thought, her eyes glued to the erratic pulse that clenched and un clenched in his lean cheek.
    â€˜I can see that you should be compensated for the time and energy you have put into this…project.’
    â€˜Project?’
    â€˜I think you’ll find I am quite generous,’ he replied smoothly as he pushed a piece of paper across the table towards her. ‘Feel free to consult a lawyer, but it is quite straight for ward. Once you sign this agreement, stating you will not marry my brother and you will not make any further attempt to contact him, you will receive half that stated amount. Six months later you will receive the balance.’
    â€˜You’re bribing me?’ And just when she’d thought this situation couldn’t get any more surreal!
    â€˜I am offering you financial compensation.’
    â€˜You want to pay me off?’
    â€˜I am willing to pay to remove you from my brother’s life,’ he admitted, clearly irritated by her insistence on calling a spade a spade.
    â€˜I’d starve before I’d take a penny off you!’ she flared, fixing him with a furious smoky glare.
    He looked taken aback by her anger. ‘There is, I think you will find, rather more than a penny on the table.’
    Her lips curled contemptuously as she glanced down. ‘This isn’t about the amount.’ He clearly didn’t have the faintest idea he had just offered her an insult. ‘I don’t care how— Good God!’ she gasped, catching sight of the figure.
    Her round eyes moved from the paper to the man behind thedesk, who was watching her with an air of smug complacence. It had obviously never even crossed his mind that she would say no.
    â€˜That’s a lot of money,’ she admitted, with massive understatement. ‘But actually I’ve not a lot of use for it. However, being a princess…well, that’s something that money can’t buy, isn’t it…?’
    His eyes narrowed to icy slits as he rose majestically to his feet.
    She had to tilt her head back to look at him, and her taunting smile dimmed.
    â€˜That, Miss Devlin, will not happen,’ he told her positively.
    â€˜We’ll see…’
    â€˜If you are trying to extract more money…?’ he began grimly.
    â€˜I’m not. The fact is,’ she said stabbing her finger in the direction of his chest, ‘you don’t have enough money to buy me. I’m sure you’ve spent your life throwing money at problems to make them go away, but me—I’m not for sale. At any price.’
    Her regal exit was slightly marred by the fact that her hands were shaking so much it took her three attempts to open the door.
    The irony was, of course, that his insults and his bribe were not really intended for her. He had made a huge mistake. She just hoped that when he discovered Khalid’s real girlfriend the other girl would have the guts to tell him to go to hell too.

CHAPTER TWO
    â€˜A RE you all right, miss?’
    It required a supreme effort, but Bea forced a smile as she turned to the concerned-looking silver-haired man who had stopped to make the anxious enquiry. Concerned people who gave a damn were rare commodities nowadays, and in her opinion deserved at least a smile.
    â€˜I’m fine, thank you,’ she promised.
    He didn’t look entirely convinced, and if she looked anything like she felt, Beatrice wasn’t surprised.
    â€˜Perhaps you should sit down…? A glass of water…?’ He glanced towards the large impressive-looking building Beatrice had just emerged from.
    â€˜Really, I’m fine,’ she insisted, able to hide her shaking hands in the pockets of her jacket, but unable to control the emotional quiver in her voice.
    In truth, she had never felt less fine. She was, in fact, furious. A laid-back, easy going person,