The Sheikh's Offer Read Free

found in life is that contractors will always try to wriggle out of obligations if you don’t hold them to it.”
    “And they always promise that everything will be done in two weeks,” Asam said, chuckling a little. “No, I’m not nervous like you. This is a great idea. While I’ve never ran a mall and hotel combined, we’re hiring the right people. The Hassem family has always managed its needs before. I think we can do it again. Besides, I’m an expert in which bits of luxury appeal the most. We should go with that here.”
    “So those months spent poolside at the Hard Rock in Vegas or hanging out at the Plaza in New York during the holiday season were practice for your shot to be the next Hilton family?”
    “Don’t aim so low,” Asam said, chuckling again. “I aim to have the next Bellagio. I mean real luxury. I’m not settling for anything less than a five-star Michelin rating.”
    “I just want it done and have nothing catch on fire, be poorly rated, or for anyone to end up with food poisoning.”
    “That’s optimism.” Asam slumped down onto the sofa in his brother’s office. “I know this is my first serious business venture.”
    “In almost thirty years,” his brother said.
    “Yes, but I have a plan. All joking aside, I’ve done my research. We’re in a growing market just with our own citizens. We’ve tripled the average salary in this country with the growth of easy oil access, and as HPI has surged, we have attracted other business ventures as well. We’re close enough to the Dead Sea for that to be a day trip from Zayed and the hotel. It really has so many draws. Yes, I know what type of tile or caviar or even terry cloth I’d prefer. Think of the last eight years since I graduated college as testing what works and what doesn’t at other hotels.”
    “Practically all of them with more than your fair share of buxom companions,” Dharr said, his voice taking on a harder edge.
    Asam rolled his eyes.
    Usually Dharr was the only one who defended him. The family’s tendency to pile on him was one of the big reasons he avoided staying at main palace in Marasimaq when he could. He was only here now because going over the plans was best done in person and not over Skype. Still, he could usually depend on Dharr to understand his restlessness and desire to try everything life had to offer. He couldn’t believe that even Dharr was disdainful of his life choices of late. Maybe being a dad had changed him.
    People assumed they had become as wise as Buddha and Confucius combined once they had a kiddo. As much as Asam adored his nephew, he didn’t think Gabriel came along with the secrets of life.
    “You too, brother?”
    Dharr arched an eyebrow. “What?”
    “Don’t play coy. You lack the ability to do it. It doesn’t fool anyone.”
    “Then you need to spell things out more.”
    “That tone. I know what it means. It means you’ve joined Faaid, Mother, and Father on the ‘ne’er-do-well brother must settle down’ train.”
    “I have never said the phrase ‘ne’er-do-well’ in my life, just so you know.”
    “A technicality,” Asam replied, stretching his legs out on the sofa. “You think I shouldn’t keep exploring options and having fun.”
    “Running a business full-time once the Oasis opens will stop a lot of that extra travel. You can only do so much over email and video chat. Anyway, I admit it’s been on my mind, but not in a ‘you’re bringing shame to us’ way. I’m hardly one to talk.”
    “But you’ve done better since the accident and what happened. You weren’t the only one who consented to race.”
    Dharr nodded, but he didn’t speak for a while. Asam could understand. His brother had been an even bigger goofball and even less responsible, or at least he was until the racing accident. Asam had no idea what that depth of guilt must feel like, but he knew it had sobered his brother and made him grow up in a way few things ever had.
    Finally, Dharr seemed