Sheikh's Possession Read Free

in the past, it clung to her slim figure, rather than bagging unattractively at the bust and making her look as if she were a child wearing her mother's formal wear.
    "I still don't see why you couldn't just get your wife to come with you," she said with a sigh.
    "Well, I don't pay her, for one thing, and these things are deadly dull until they're not. And now look alive, things are getting started."
    They had been milling around in the public area of the hall, but now the staff was guiding everyone towards the tables surrounding the stage. For a moment, Berry had a pang of sympathy for one of the ushers, who was trying to guide a guest who did not care for their seating arrangements. Despite her position at Farnsworth and her currently fancy outfit, she was much more at home with the staff than she was with the guests.
    The topic of the evening was an ultramodern mall that was being built at the center of Alamun. It had been a hot topic of debate for the past few years; some felt that it would be the perfect injection of money and elegance to the emirate, while others saw it as an eyesore and an affront to the same.
    Farnsworth, who had spent a great deal of his career working in the Middle East, was heavily invested in making the idea take off, and he refused to miss a single meeting where it was discussed.
    He guided her to their table, which they shared with some Saudi and some Swiss investors. There were a few tedious speeches, and then a murmur swept the crowd.
    "What's going on?" she whispered.
    "Supposedly, the Sheikh is going to be here," he replied. "Both sides have been courting him for some time, but so far, he has shown neither side any favor at all. Hopefully, someone changes his mind for him tonight."
    "And now, presenting Sheikh Rasul ibn Ahmed Sardan, to address the distinguished company …"
    The name was certainly familiar enough. Alamun was one of the richest emirates of the UAE, and most of it was due to the fierce independence of the royal family. The Sardan Dynasty were known for being iconoclasts who knew very well how to keep their wealth for their people, and the most recent Sheikh Rasul was known to be good at it.
    What Berry hadn't expected was to recognize the Sheikh's face as well. He had been wearing sunglasses at the time, but she thought his lips and jaw looked surprisingly familiar. When he spoke, she froze, because now there could be no doubt. The last time she had heard that voice, it was speaking to her about worship and things that certainly could not be mentioned in polite company.
    Now it was talking to her about the future and the past, and the need to pay honor to both, and she felt as if the world were falling out from underneath her.
    "How soon can I get out of here?" she asked Farnsworth, her voice low.
    He never even looked at her, keeping his eyes and his smile focused on the speaker at the podium.
    "Unless you have literally broken a leg, I expect you to stay for at least three hours," he said through gritted teeth. "There is a meet and mingle after dinner and by the love of God, I will not be seen without an escort."
    Berry swore softly under her breath, but there was really no arguing with the man who signed her checks. Instead, she listened as best she could to the speech the Sheikh gave, which was surprisingly forward thinking, and clapped with the rest.
    It'll be fine , Berry thought to herself. There is absolutely no reason to get freaked out or upset. Chances are that had been a stunningly normal day for him. He probably doesn't remember me at all, and God knows I look different enough …
    She told herself that often enough that she started to believe it, and when a waiter poured her some champagne for a toast, she felt even better. There was no way the Sheikh was going to come speak to her anyway. Her boss was the one who held all the cards, she was just a pretty piece of arm candy, even if the job was as dumb as hell.
    After the speeches dinner was served, which was