Now there was something wrong with the plane.
“Your Excellency, I apologize,” Nabih said breathlessly. “It appears that there is an issue with this plane. They are diverting another plane immediately, and once it’s fueled and ready to go, we’ll be back in the air. You should be home sometime late this evening.”
Iman closed his eyes and rubbed at his temples. This whole week had been an absolute nightmare. Salah had shouldered some of the burden of the responsibilities, and now that he was gone, Iman felt like he was floundering. Six years of rule, and he still felt like an imposter. He feared that every time his kingdom turned to him, they were wishing that he was his father.
A month ago, his council of advisors had offered a solution. Marry. Provide the kingdom with a queen they’d be proud to serve, and morale would no doubt rise again. Iman knew that he would one day have to marry—a political match—but he kept putting it off. Now it seemed that the time had come.
The list of candidates he’d been given was absurd. Half the women on the list were far too young. Two of the young women had already had illicit affairs with one or even both of his brothers, something the younger men were all too eager to point out. There were several daughters of European diplomats who were suitable, but they would want to be wooed and courted.
He wanted something simple.
Princess Bari was the perfect choice. Youngest child of a neighboring kingdom. She had two older brothers and lived in a regime that would never pass the crown on to a woman. She was expected to marry well and wouldn’t expect any romantic nonsense, and at least she was pleasing to look at.
The original plan had been to visit her kingdom last week, to meet, but his uncle’s death had pushed that back. It was difficult to lose Salah, but at least he could observe a proper mourning period and push any potential wedding plans off for at least another month.
“How soon before the plane is here? I’m tired, and I’m not planning to sleep in the car,” Iman snapped.
“Within the hour,” his guard promised him. “Perhaps you’d like to eat while you wait?”
He didn’t want to eat. He wanted to sleep. “No. I’ve got some phone calls that I need to make. Alert me immediately when I can board, and make sure the flight attendant on board does not disturb me.”
Nabih nodded eagerly and escorted Iman back to the SUV. The gray skies were going to open up any minute, and Iman was eager to leave before that happened. His entire trip to France had been wet and dreary. He wanted to feel the sun on his skin again.
In the comfort of the SUV, he tried to focus on the e-mails and memos that were waiting for a response from him, but his body needed sleep. The past few weeks had been difficult, as well as a painful reminder of losing his father. That week had been an equally exhausting blur.
His body ached. His mind was tired. His control slipped, and his thoughts drifted back to that night. That one night of weakness he’d spent with a woman that he’d craved, on more than a physical level.
Iman didn’t often allow himself to think about Natalie. He’d been hurt that she’d left so abruptly without thanking him or saying goodbye, but he also knew that it had been for the best. She’d had obligations at home, and he was obligated to his kingdom. They had no future, but when he was alone, sometimes he allowed himself the pleasure of remembering that night with her.
Just as he leaned back and closed his eyes, the door opened suddenly. “Your Excellency. The plane is here, and they’re willing to let you board while they fuel and stock it.”
“Quit calling me Your Excellency,” Iman growled, even though he knew he was wasting his breath. No matter how much he said the words, nothing was going to change.
Wearily, he got out of the car and headed across the tarmac to the waiting stairs. At least he could sleep until they landed.
“I don’t care who is on this plane! It could be the freaking president himself, and it still wouldn’t change anything. I haven’t eaten in sixteen hours, so unless you let me off this plane and into the airport to get some food, I’m not going to do a very good job of hosting your mysterious VIP. Not to mention that this plane was only stocked for the four people who disembarked in Paris two hours ago. So if your boss wants water or coffee or a bag of freaking chips, you’re going to have to let me off this plane to get them!”
The woman’s angry voice was carried on a gust of wind, and Iman blinked and frowned as he reached for the railing of the stairs. He really was tired. The hostess sounded a lot like….
She appeared at the top of the stairs with fury on her face and her blonde hair blowing in the wind. Behind her, one of his guards followed her with matching anger. He grabbed her arm to detain her, and she winced.
“Let her go,” Iman ordered immediately. The guard and flight attendant both froze. “I don’t think she’s planning on fleeing the plane, are you, Natalie?”
“Iman,” she whispered. The anger faded to disbelief and then horror. Was she really so upset to see him?
“That’s the Crowned Sheikh of Haamas that you’re addressing!” the guard bellowed. “You will not speak to him in such a manner. If you address him at all, you will address him as His Excellency!” So much for anonymity.
Natalie narrowed her eyes in cold fury. “My apologies. Your Excellency, I was going to the terminal to feed myself. We’re not stocked for royal blood such as yourself. Is there anything that I can get you while I’m inside? Some chocolate éclairs? Fries? A bottle of champagne?”
“Some water will be fine,” Iman said softly. He could have stepped to the side as she descended the steps, but he wanted her to brush up against him.
He needed to know that she was real.
She didn’t even meet his gaze as she forced herself by him. Her body pressed up against his, and he could practically see the anger radiating off her. Was she that upset that her plane had been diverted, or was her anger directed at him?
“It’s good to see you again,” he murmured in her ear, and she visibly flinched.
So she was angry at him. Strange.
As she stalked away, he climbed the steps and stopped when he reached the guard. “Unless the situation is life or death, the next time I see you grab a woman like that will be the last time you work for me. Is that clear?”
The man bowed his head. “Of course, Your Excellency. My apologies.”
Sleep. He desperately needed sleep. As he sank into one of the chairs, he didn’t care that it wasn’t leather or plush. He didn’t care that the leg space was smaller than he was used to. He simply closed his eyes and let sleep take him.
* * *
When he awakened, they were already in the air. A quick glance at his watch told him that he’d caught two hours of sleep. Not enough, but adequate for now. Glancing around the quiet plane, he remembered the blonde beauty occupying the cabin. A curtain was drawn in the back, and he stood and headed in that direction. Without bothering to announce himself, he gripped the curtain and pulled it to the side.
She was sitting in her jump seat, a computer on her lap and a smile on her face. Whatever she was watching, it made her very happy.
“Cute cat videos?” he asked softly.
Jumping, Natalie reached up and slammed the computer shut. “Your Excellency,” she said stiffly. “I was told that you needed peace and quiet. Is there something you wanted?”
“Iman will be fine.” He cocked his head and studied her. She’d lost some weight since the last time he’d seen her, and there were circles under her eyes.
She opened her mouth, and he knew what was about to come out. He lifted a hand to forestall her. “Call me Your Excellency one more time, and I will complain directly to your supervisor that you defied an order.”
She gritted her teeth and stood. “What can I do for you, Iman? Cup of coffee? I should warn you that the beans they stock on this plane probably aren’t up to your delicate palate.”
“Have your skills improved?” he teased, but she didn’t rise to th
e bait. “Come now, Natalie. We’ve still got a couple hours of flight ahead of us. Tell me about your life. What have you been up to for the past six years?”
“I’ve been working,” she said flatly. “As a flight attendant. For clients who don’t ask me personal questions.”
He ignored the jab. “Were you demoted?”
“I prefer the non-luxury flights,” she said with a small smile. “Since I’ve made the change, I haven’t been in a single plane accident.”
At least that was something. He chuckled and leaned against the counter. The plane hit a spot of turbulence, and while her expression didn’t change, she did stand up. “Take a seat. Your guards won’t be happy if you fall and bump your head.”
He didn’t move. “I figured that you’d stop flying after that.”
“Nerves of steel. Sit down, Iman.”
“That’s not exactly the safest seat on the plane.” He still remembered the horrific sight of her pinned under the cabinets. “How’s your arm?”
“Fine. There’s a small scar from the stitches.”
“How’s your mother?”
“Dead. Four years now.”
Her answers were delivered flatly, and he felt each blow. “You’re angry with me.”
“Why would I be angry with you?” She leaned back and folded her arms. It felt like a challenge, and he had no idea how to respond. He mulled it over and decided to ask her point-blank what was going on, but her computer beeped, and she jumped at it.
Opening the laptop, her expression was stressed. “Gordon. I can’t video chat with you because I’m still on the plane, and the connection isn’t strong enough. I’m being rerouted, and I’m not sure when I’m going to be home yet.”
Gordon. Iman’s stomach twisted in jealousy even though he knew that it was ridiculous. After six years, she would have moved on.
He had.
“No worries,” came the static-laced reply. “I’ve got a dinner that I’m catering next week, but Georgia will be home. Are you aware that Iris’s new shoes roar with every step that she takes?”
Natalie cringed. “I do. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. When the neighbors get too loud, I send her running down the hall. Want me to deliver the news in the morning, or do you want to try to talk to her now?”
“No, don’t wake her up. I’ll talk to her in the morning, and hopefully I can give you an update then as well.”
Iman gritted his teeth until the conversation was over, and he forced himself to relax. “You’re married.”
“What?” she looked up and frowned. “No. Gordon isn’t my husband. He’s a friend who helps out with my little girl when I’m gone.”
“Iris. Pretty name.” Iman breathed more easily.
“She’s a pretty girl.” With a smile, Natalie sank back into the seat. “What have you been doing for the past six years?”
“Ruling a kingdom.”
“Excellent. We’re all caught up. You’ve been ruling a kingdom, and I’ve been raising a child. Now, if you don’t need anything from me, I’m going to have to ask you to return to your seat, Your Excellency.”
Something snapped inside him, and he straightened. For six years, he’d thought of her fondly, while she’d fostered nothing but resentment toward him. He wanted answers.
If he couldn’t get them while she was on the clock, then he’d find a way to see her again.
7
Two weeks after Natalie’s nerve-wracking flight with Iman, she sat in her supervisor’s office. She wasn’t due to fly for another week, so why had she been called in?
Had Iman complained about her?
She had been a complete mess after laying eyes on him. The hurt had returned, but so had her more basic reactions. Desire. Regret. Fear.
What would Iman do if he found out that Iris was his daughter?
When she’d returned home, she immediately did a search on the Haamas kingdom. They’d recently suffered a loss. One Sheikh Salah Karawi. The ugly uncle was dead, and an entire kingdom mourned his loss.
Most of the news hailed Iman as a great king who continued to lead the kingdom into the future. Despite her frustrations, Natalie couldn’t help but smile at that. Even if he was terrible at his personal life, he was making a great leader.
“Natalie, thanks for coming in on your day off.” Johanna, a tall, dark, and busty woman who was at least two decades Natalie’s senior, entered the office and shut the door. Johanna had managed this branch of Kaylana Private Flights for a few years now and was doing a wonderful job. Natalie had nothing but respect for her. She was professional, organized, and fair.
And she might be gearing up to fire Natalie.
“Sure,” Natalie said nervously as she ran her hands up and down her pants. “What can I do for you?”
“It’s an unusual situation,” Johanna admitted. “You would be surprised about how many clients try to woo our staff away from us, and we normally decline them immediately, but I like you, Natalie, and I think this offer could be good for your situation.”
“I’m sorry?” Natalie said, and blinked. “What offer?” Was she getting fired or getting promoted?
“I know that you have help looking after your daughter while you’re gone, and I know it’s still hard for you to be away from her. This would cut your hours in the air down and significantly improve your salary, not to mention that the client is more than willing to accommodate your daughter.”
Natalie shook her head. “I’m going to need some specifics. What client? What salary?”
“Oh. I assumed that he had already spoken with you about it.” Johanna frowned. “Natalie, the Crowned Sheikh of Haamas would like you to be his personal flight attendant.”
“Iman wants what?” Natalie narrowed her eyes and stood. “Why? What did he say? What did he tell you?” Did he figure out the truth about Iris? Was this his way of inching into her life so he could take her daughter away from her?
“Natalie,” Johanna said soothingly and pointed to the chair. “Calm down. Take a deep breath. I had no idea that you had such a personal connection with the Crowned Sheikh.” Her gaze intensified, and she cocked her head in a meaningful way that Natalie knew well.
Natalie sat. After a few deep breaths, she shook her head. “I don’t really,” she lied. “I’ve been on two flights with him now, that’s all. I didn’t mean to get all excited.”
“I’m not sure excited is the word I’d use.” Johanna cleared her throat as she slid a piece of paper across the desk. “I guess you made an impression with those two flights. Anyway, this is the contract he faxed over. We negotiated the terms so that you will still technically work for us. We may require you to fill in for flights in the Middle East from time to time, with bonus pay, but otherwise, you’ll work exclusively for Crowned Sheikh Iman Karawi.”
“Is this a done deal?” Natalie asked. Skimming over the contract meant she didn’t have to meet Johanna’s eyes while she was still gathering her wits. “Am I fired if I don’t take it?”
Someone, whether it was Johanna or Iman, had thought of everything. She’d live in a private suite in the staff quarters of the palace. Iris would have her own room and her own private tutors. Natalie’s salary would triple, and the last flight manifest for Iman indicated that he only flew about six times a year for business and political reasons and took three or four private flights a year. That added up to being away less than once a month, and she’d be given two weeks of vacation every six months.
It was a dream come true except that it meant moving Iris into the belly of the beast.
“This is your choice, Natalie. We’re not going to fire you if you don’t take it, but I can tell you that my bosses are not going to be pleased if you refuse. Apparently, we’re getting a nice bonus out of the deal as well.” Johanna leaned forward and smiled warmly at Natalie. “It’s an excellent opportunity for you and Iris.”
It was an excellent opportunity. She knew that Iris would adore the adventure, and even if
she quit after six months, she’d have enough padding in her bank account for a down payment on a house or not have to sweat the time needed to get a new job. “I don’t suppose I could have some time to think about it?”
Johanna looked at the clock and bit her lower lip. “I’m supposed to convince you to sign this now…I see no harm in giving you some time, but you’ll have to make a decision before this evening.”
“Good. What time is it in Haamas?”
“Early evening.” Johanna peered at her closely. “Why?”
“I need to make a phone call.” Natalie collected the contract. “I’ll be back this evening.” She had a lot to think about, and before she signed anything, she needed answers.
* * *
Georgia cocked an eyebrow as she stared over the contract. “I’m so jealous of you right now that I’m contemplating killing you and taking your place. Why are you not jumping all over this?”
Natalie fiddled with the card in her hand. It had taken some pleading to get Iman’s number from Johanna, but after Natalie assured her that there would be no contract-signing unless she spoke to him personally, the supervisor relented. “Other than the fact that it means uprooting my entire life, Iris’s entire life, and living in a country halfway around the world?” she asked dryly. “Gosh, I have no idea.”
She wanted desperately to tell her friend the truth about Iman and Iris, but Salah’s warning still lingered. Even if he was dead, that didn’t mean there wasn’t someone else who’d uphold that threat.
“But you don’t have to do it forever. With this salary, in a couple of years, you could quit Kaylana and find a new job.” Georgia smiled. “Go back to school.”
“I know. I’ve thought of all that.” Natalie stared at the card. All of Georgia’s coaxing wasn’t enough to convince her. She needed to talk to Iman, find out for herself why he wanted to do this, and make sure that when it was all over, Iris would still be safe. “I need to go for a walk. Don’t you have a flight you need to catch?”
The Karawi Sheikhs Series: The Complete Series Page 5