the windows and was surprised at the architecture of the buildings. They were simply stunning.
Aside from being modern, they all seemed to have such unique designs. She cursed herself inwardly. Why had she packed her camera in her suitcase?
"Many trading companies have set up offices in Atal," Sadiq explained.
"Is this near where we're going to be staying?"
"About a forty-minute drive. Why?"
"I was hoping to take some pictures..."
He laughed. "Of course. I forgot. You can accompany me when I have a meeting with my shareholders later this week. My office is in the crystal building with the triangular top." He leaned over to point at a building and instead of paying attention to where he was pointing to, she found herself smelling him.
"You have shareholders here as well?" she asked, trying to get her mind off of how clean and manly he smelled.
He smiled. "Yes, some of my old school mates and their relatives were among my first investors. I haven't gone back to Atal in almost five years so it will be good to see everyone."
"Wait – you haven't been back in five years?"
He shrugged. "I haven't had much time to visit during the past few years."
Getting the feeling that he didn't want to talk about his family, she smiled and asked, "So how far is the beach from where we'll be staying?"
Chapter Five
Jenny's eyes widened when they turned into the palace's driveway.
With its lush garden and glamorous white dome, it looked like something right out of a history book.
As they got closer, she noticed the two guards positioned by the door and felt her stomach lurch at the thought of Sadiq in danger. She was tempted to ask him to stay inside the palace for the duration of the trip, but she knew he would just laugh it off.
"I'll show you to your room now," Sadiq said as he helped her out of the limo. "My father and brother are probably in meetings right now, but I doubt that they'll let either of us out of their sights once they get here."
Jenny smiled at the picture of a big happy family before she realized that he said his father was in a meeting. "Your dad's gone back to work?"
He smiled wryly. "It would be more stressful if he stayed at home. I don't think he's used to doing nothing."
"How is your mother taking it?"
"My mother is on her latest shopping trip in Paris," he answered flatly.
Disapproval shone in Jenny's eyes, but he had no words to say in support of his mother.
When he hadn't been able to contact Rishi after his father's accident, he'd called her.
Though he should've known better, he was surprised when she'd laughed and asked if he was in that much of a hurry to take over his father's position, as if all he cared about was power.
He shrugged. "It's okay. She's been this way for as long as I can remember."
Jenny didn't even know how to respond. She could never imagine shopping after her husband just had a heart attack. Even after everything that's happened to her, she still wanted the crazy, head-over heels kind of love.
"And this is your room."
Surprised, Jenny stopped in her tracks. She hadn't even noticed that they were going anywhere and wondered what she had missed. Telling herself that she would have a look around the house later, she looked at the big bedroom and felt her heart drop.
It had a wonderful view of the gardens, a white king-sized bed, a dainty cedar table and from where she was standing, a pretty big bathroom. But it wasn't Sadiq's room. There were no personal mementos lying around. No photographs of his siblings around the tables or walls. It was the visitor's room.
She frowned. Had she read something wrong?
Sensing her reaction, Sadiq asked, "Is the room not to your liking?"
She paled at the thought of him thinking she was ungrateful. The room was probably bigger than her whole apartment. "No, no. The room is wonderful. I was expecting, or rather, hoping..." She shook her head, stopping herself. "It's wonderful. Thank you."
Sadiq's eyes darkened as he stepped closer to
Aside from being modern, they all seemed to have such unique designs. She cursed herself inwardly. Why had she packed her camera in her suitcase?
"Many trading companies have set up offices in Atal," Sadiq explained.
"Is this near where we're going to be staying?"
"About a forty-minute drive. Why?"
"I was hoping to take some pictures..."
He laughed. "Of course. I forgot. You can accompany me when I have a meeting with my shareholders later this week. My office is in the crystal building with the triangular top." He leaned over to point at a building and instead of paying attention to where he was pointing to, she found herself smelling him.
"You have shareholders here as well?" she asked, trying to get her mind off of how clean and manly he smelled.
He smiled. "Yes, some of my old school mates and their relatives were among my first investors. I haven't gone back to Atal in almost five years so it will be good to see everyone."
"Wait – you haven't been back in five years?"
He shrugged. "I haven't had much time to visit during the past few years."
Getting the feeling that he didn't want to talk about his family, she smiled and asked, "So how far is the beach from where we'll be staying?"
Chapter Five
Jenny's eyes widened when they turned into the palace's driveway.
With its lush garden and glamorous white dome, it looked like something right out of a history book.
As they got closer, she noticed the two guards positioned by the door and felt her stomach lurch at the thought of Sadiq in danger. She was tempted to ask him to stay inside the palace for the duration of the trip, but she knew he would just laugh it off.
"I'll show you to your room now," Sadiq said as he helped her out of the limo. "My father and brother are probably in meetings right now, but I doubt that they'll let either of us out of their sights once they get here."
Jenny smiled at the picture of a big happy family before she realized that he said his father was in a meeting. "Your dad's gone back to work?"
He smiled wryly. "It would be more stressful if he stayed at home. I don't think he's used to doing nothing."
"How is your mother taking it?"
"My mother is on her latest shopping trip in Paris," he answered flatly.
Disapproval shone in Jenny's eyes, but he had no words to say in support of his mother.
When he hadn't been able to contact Rishi after his father's accident, he'd called her.
Though he should've known better, he was surprised when she'd laughed and asked if he was in that much of a hurry to take over his father's position, as if all he cared about was power.
He shrugged. "It's okay. She's been this way for as long as I can remember."
Jenny didn't even know how to respond. She could never imagine shopping after her husband just had a heart attack. Even after everything that's happened to her, she still wanted the crazy, head-over heels kind of love.
"And this is your room."
Surprised, Jenny stopped in her tracks. She hadn't even noticed that they were going anywhere and wondered what she had missed. Telling herself that she would have a look around the house later, she looked at the big bedroom and felt her heart drop.
It had a wonderful view of the gardens, a white king-sized bed, a dainty cedar table and from where she was standing, a pretty big bathroom. But it wasn't Sadiq's room. There were no personal mementos lying around. No photographs of his siblings around the tables or walls. It was the visitor's room.
She frowned. Had she read something wrong?
Sensing her reaction, Sadiq asked, "Is the room not to your liking?"
She paled at the thought of him thinking she was ungrateful. The room was probably bigger than her whole apartment. "No, no. The room is wonderful. I was expecting, or rather, hoping..." She shook her head, stopping herself. "It's wonderful. Thank you."
Sadiq's eyes darkened as he stepped closer to
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