by Leslie North
Feraz, as their leader took charge, introducing himself and the rest of the family to the men from the production company. “Gentlemen,” he said. “We are here to discuss the sale of this land to you.”
“Yeah,” the short, fat one said. Burt, Raheem thought his name was. All he could think of when he looked at the guy was that he’d treated Laura like dirt. Not worthy of being called by his formal title. “Nice place you’ve got here. Reminds me of the Twelve Palms downtown. Have you guys tried that place? Seriously the best damned coconut water this side of the Arabian Sea.”
Raheem stared at the little man with undisguised disgust. “You are not fit to swill camel piss in my country.”
“Excuse me?” The man gaped at Raheem in shock. “Did he just say what I think he said?”
Laura grabbed Raheem by the arm and yanked him off to the side. “What are you doing?”
“What?” He growled. “Am I ruining your deal for you?”
“There is no deal.” She threw her hands up in exasperation. “I’m telling you, Raheem. I knew nothing about this. I haven’t been working for them. I told you the truth. I called him and told him that I was basically quitting because I was working for you. But during that conversation, I may have bragged a bit about all the fabulous places you’d shown me, including this one. I’m so sorry, Raheem. Sorrier than you’ll ever know. But if you think I’d go behind your back to work with that scumbag, then you don’t know me at all.” She swiped a hand across her cheek to wipe away the tears that were falling from her eyes.
Raheem longed to pull her into his arms and tell her that he forgave her, but he had to be sure what she was saying was the truth. “What about last night?”
“What about it?” She sniffled. “Last night was the most amazing, wonderful experience I’ve ever had and I swear if you try and sully that because of some stupid notion you’ve got of me as some Mata Hari super-spy woman, or because you’d rather believe your jealous spiteful sisters over me, then I swear to God above I will punch you so hard you’ll regret the day you were born. I love you, dammit, and I slept with you because of my feelings for you. No other reason.”
The crowd around them had fallen silent and Raheem looked up to see everyone staring at him and Laura. Perfect. Looked like his time had come and since he was the center of attention already, he might as well make his spotlight count. Determined, he stalked over to Feraz and pulled him aside, deliberately snatching away the cell phone that always seemed to be glued to his brother’s ear these days and shutting it off.
“What the—” Feraz scowled. “I was speaking with the head of the UAE.”
“I don’t care if you were speaking to Allah himself.” Raheem tucked his brother’s phone into his pocket, out of reach, ignoring its continued buzzing. “We need to talk. Now. This is important.”
“Yes. It is. You’ve interrupted an important business deal,” Feraz said, his tone furious. “Not to mention made us look like incompetent idiots.”
“The only idiotic thing here would be for you to sell this land to those men. They care nothing for Djave or our culture. And they certainly don’t care anything about what we’re trying to do here.”
“And what else do you suggest I do, Raheem?” Feraz lowered his voice, his words emerging as a rough growl. “We need this income. Father ran the country into the ground financially. Just ask Rehaj. He all but destroyed our reputation in the international banking market. If we want to accomplish all these wonderful things that we imagine for Djave, that takes money.”
“What about our natural resources? Our wildlife? These things are also worth something, at least to me. And they are priceless. Once gone, they can’t be purchased again.”
“I understand your passion for the land, brother, but right now we can’t afford it.”
Raheem exhaled slowly, gathering up what patience he had left. There had to be something he could do. This was his dream, his life’s work. It would be gone in an instant if his brother sold the land to those men. “How much are they paying you for the land?”
“More than you can afford, brother, even with all your wealth.”
“How much?”
“They are to give me a down payment today of fifteen million, with the other seventy percent due by the end of the year.” Feraz raised his chin. “Can you match this?”
Damn. He could, if given time, but not right this second. “How long can you give me?”
Feraz checked his watch. “Twenty minutes.”
Cursing under his breath, Raheem turned away. He usually kept a million dollars in his petty cash to cover everyday expenses, but the rest of his money was tied up in oil and stocks. It would take far longer than twenty minutes to liquidate those and get the cash he needed. And his current account balance was cut in half because of the check in his pocket to pay the salary he’d promised Laura.
It all seemed impossible.
Frustrated, he closed his eyes and raised his face skyward, saying a silent prayer to Allah for guidance. He couldn’t let his dream die, not like this. He couldn’t let the animals, his country, Laura down—no matter what had happened between them today.
“Time’s ticking, brother,” Feraz said. “If you let me get back to this deal, I’ll allow you to partner with me on approving how they use the land. That’s the best I can offer.”
Partner. Partner.
Raheem slowly opened his eyes as an idea formed. It was a long shot, yes, and risky. It would require him to sacrifice his pride and possibly his heart in the process. But if it meant securing the land for his wildlife refuge, he had to try.
“Sell the land to me now, for one million dollars, and if I haven’t repaid you that amount ten times over in the next five years, then I will walk away and you can do what you want with it. No questions asked.” Raheem braced for the inevitable backlash.
“A million dollars?” His brother scoffed. “You must be joking. That’s a mere fraction of what it’s worth.”
“I know, but think about this, Feraz. By selling to me, the land stays in our hands, family hands. We can do what we want with it, develop it according to our vision for our homeland. My wildlife refuge will bring in people from all over the globe to witness the beauty of our country. I know this in my soul. Please, just give me a chance to prove I’m right.” He battled against the tension squeezing his chest, tightening his muscles. “Please, just one chance. That’s all I’m asking, brother. Please.”
Feraz gave him a cool stare, silent for so long that Raheem feared the worst. Finally, he said, “One million dollars. Payable now.”
“Right.” Raheem turned back to where Laura stood a few feet away. Time for the second part of his plan. None of this was guaranteed, but again, he had to ask her, to see if she could have the same faith in him that he had in her. “One moment.”
“What about my phone?” Feraz called as Raheem stalked over to Laura.
“One moment,” he said again, taking Laura by the arm and leading her around to the other side of the Range Rover where they had relative privacy. “How did your company know that this is the spot where I wanted to build my refuge? Did you tell them about it?”
“No! I swear. I have no idea how they found out about this place,” she said through more tears. “I guess they put two and two together from what I said during my phone call. Burt always was a wily one. Bastard.” She sobbed and Raheem gave in to his wishes at last and pulled her into his arms, holding her tight to his chest. “I’m sorry, Raheem. Please believe me. If there was anything I could do to turn this around, I would. Anything.”
He tucked her head under his chin and kissed the top of her hair. “Did you mean what you said?”
“About what?”
“Loving me.”
“Yes.” She leaned back to look him in the eye. “Yes, Raheem. I love you.”
“Good. Because I love you too, habibi.” His leaden heart lifted, sprouted wings and flew once more. A plan formed, one that was a risk, but might
work, if he could get her onboard with it. “And you meant what you said about doing anything to help me keep this land?”
“Of course,” she mumbled against his shirt. “Anything.”
“Even invest the money I was going to pay you for your salary and stay here with me in Djeva?”
Laura straightened and stepped away from him, gaze narrowed. “What do you have in mind?”
“I want you to be my business partner in the refuge. Fifty-fifty. Equals. It’s totally your decision, of course and I completely understand if you have other plans for the enormous sum I’m paying you. But if you buy in with me, Feraz has agreed to sell me the land today, now, for a million-dollar down payment.”
“Wow.” She blinked at him. “I’m no economics major, but even I know that’s cheap.”
“It is, but it will keep the land in the family. And give me a chance to realize my lifelong dream. Plus, if you’re my partner, it would give you a chance to spend more time here in Djeva and explore our culture and resources even more. You could even implement your fabulous PR campaign to increase tourism and raise more funds for the wildlife preserve. It will be hard work, and we have only five years to pay him the true market value of the land. But I believe we can do it, together. But again, only if you want to. It has to be your decision, Laura. Will you be my partner and help me realize my dream?”
She hesitated, then nodded, tears welling in her lovely emerald eyes. “Yes. Let’s do it.”
“Are you sure? It will mean going public with everything a bit earlier than we’d originally planned. And once things get going, you’ll be working day and night by my side until we get it all up and running properly. You won’t mind any of that?”
She shook her head, her smile transforming into a full-blown, watery grin. “Being close to you indefinitely is the best part of all.”
“I feel the same way, habibi.” Raheem kissed her quickly then took Laura’s hand. “Did you bring your laptop along?”
“I did.”
“Good.” They walked back out to where the rest of the crowd stood. “Feraz, we have a counteroffer we’d like to make.”
15
Six months later…
“No, no. A bit to the left. A little more. Yes, there.” Laura squinted at the local artisan wall sculpture that was being installed at the entrance to the Nazrani Family Wildlife Preserve. She’d commissioned it from a sculptress in Al-Qustra for the grand opening next week and its abstract natural design in copper and bronze worked perfect in this desert setting.
Turns out she’d loved working side by side with Raheem even more than she’d expected. They made a great team, both professionally and personally. Honestly, she would’ve done anything for him, and living here in Djeva had been a dream come true. Even his family had gotten onboard with the project, after seeing how impassioned he was about the animals and his homeland.
Laura turned to walk back to her Range Rover when she noticed Jessenia standing off to the side. She walked back to her vehicle and opened the rear door “Hello, Jess. What can I do for you?”
The other woman had the decency to blush at that. “I believe I owe you an apology.”
“I’m sorry?” Laura blinked, stunned.
“I treated you unfairly after you arrived here and for that I’m sorry. But please understand that I only had my brother’s best interests at heart. But you’ve made him so happy and helped him achieve his dream of all this, so I can’t fault you for that.”
Taken aback at the unexpected kindness, Laura nodded. “Uh, thank you.” She shrugged. “Honestly, I’d stay forever, if he asked me.”
“I shall remember that,” Raheem said, stepping out from the other side of the Range Rover. He walked over and put his arm around an astonished Laura and raised his chin to his sister. “Well done, Jess. I love you too.”
Jess gave a thankful grin. “So, we’re all good again?”
Raheem looked down at Laura, who nodded, then back at his sister. “We are.”
“Yes!” Jess pulled out her phone, texting while talking to Laura at the same time. “Great. I have several charity projects I’d like your help on too, Les. When you have a break from this one. We’re going to have so much fun together.”
“Later, sister,” Raheem said, walking Laura away. “She’s mine for now.”
Laura giggled and hugged him around the waist. “Yours for always.”
“Speaking of that,” he stopped and turned to face her, pulling a Tiffany-blue box from the pocket of his suit coat. Inside was a sparkling ruby and diamond engagement ring. “Laura Bliss, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
“Oh, God!” Hand clamped to her mouth, Laura stared wide-eyed up at him. “Are you serious?”
“Completely.” Raheem gave her a half-smile, the one that revealed the adorable dimple in his cheek. “Would you like me to go down on one knee to prove it?”
“No, no.” She reached out shaky fingers to touch the gleaming ring. “And yes! I’d love to be your wife!”
He swept her up into his arms and twirled her around, nothing but sun and desert and the beauty of Djeva around them. “And I love you, habibi! Forever and ever.”
End of The Sheikh's Tempting Assistant
Sheikh's Meddling Sisters: Book 1
The Sheikh’s Tempting Assistant, June 21, 2018
The Sheikh’s Island Fling, June 28, 2018
The Sheikh’s Pregnant Fake Wife, July 5, 2018
PS: Do you love sexy Sheikhs? Then keep reading for exclusive extracts from The Sheikh’s Island Fling and The Sheikh’s Captive American.
Thank You
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About Leslie
Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women's contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres.
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BLURB
Anastasia knows she’s been wallowing, but what else can she do when her ex-fiancé slips her three-carat diamond ring onto another woman’s finger? Her sister, however, has had enough of the pity party, and shoves a suitcase in Anastasia’s hand instead. She’s signed Anastasia up for “Recover Love Rehab” on one of those man-made islands in the Middle East. It’s the height of luxury and Anastasia’s last chance to kick her ex to the curb. So, try as she might, the sight of the frothy pink sundress and the promise of relaxation does her in. Maybe her sister’s right. And if Anastasia’s going to move on…why not do it in paradise?
Rehaj appreciates the island’s seclusion, but isn’t really looking to Recover Love. Not until he sees the beautiful woman in the villa next door. Despite their chemistry, Rehaj’s knee jerk reaction is to suppress his feelings for Ani. He already has a love: his country, and he doesn’t think there’s room for anything—or anyone—else. Especially not after losing his school sweetheart as a teenager. Yet the couple begins to click as they share activities, share meals, and come to share even more, and their island getaway turns into a passionate escape.
As Rehaj brings Ani confidence and Ani helps Rehaj to loosen up, they slowly discover that their past doesn’t have to define their future, and that a second chance of love is within their grasp—if they’re willing to reach for it.
Grab your copy of The Sheikh’s Island Fling
Available June 28, 2018
www.LeslieNorthBooks.com
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EXCERPT
The minute Sheikh Rehaj bin Haik al Nazari stepped off the plane and onto the lush, tropical shores of Amour Island, he knew he’d made the third gravest mistake of his life. The second had been allowing his meddlesome sisters into talking him into coming here at all. And the first mistake? No. Rehaj tried not to think of that one anymore. It was far too painful.
And entirely his fault.
Cheerful, late-afternoon sunshine shone relentlessly and birds twittered happily from some hidden spot inside the palm trees and abundant flowers blooming around him. The air smelled of wild jasmine, warm sand, and sea. A place meant for lovers. Definitely not for him.
As more new arrivals disembarked the plane behind him, Rehaj was swept forward down a winding path toward a magnificent resort tucked in amongst the flora and fauna. A discreet granite and silver sign read Heartsong Villas. It was enough to make a logical man like him turn tail and run.
Still, he’d made a promise to his sisters to give the place a chance and he would. He was a man of his word, a get-it-done sort of fellow. Unlike his poor father, Allah rest his soul. The late sheikh of their small country Djeva has been a wonderful father and a lackluster leader. It wasn’t that his father didn’t have the intelligence or drive to be a great statesman. It was that his father had allowed his power to become too diluted, delegating much of the country’s rule to outsiders. After his death, he’d left a mess for his three sons—Feraz, Rehaj’s oldest brother and now ruler of Djeva, Rehaj, and their youngest brother, Raheem—to clean up. Feraz had his hands full with the day-to-day running of the government and trying to spurn economic growth in their country, along with doing his best to save his troubled marriage. Raheem was busy running his new animal refuge with his new wife, Laura, to pay much attention to affairs of state. Which left Rehaj to deal with much of the tedious paperwork and numbers-crunching that rebuilding a country from the ground up required. In a year, Rehaj planned to take over as head of Feraz’s advisors. For now, he was stuck here on not-so-fantastic-island, to sip coconut drinks and figure out his failing love life.