“I’ll have you know that you’re not the first woman who’s walked in here expecting a simple job. The Sheikh’s already fired his five previous secretaries, after Avani, of course.”
Elle blinked curiously as they took another turn down a hallway.
“Wait… what happened to Avani?”
“Ugh, she went and got herself married and now she’s pregnant.” The woman sighed as though the whole situation was a huge inconvenience.
Elle was nearly baffled at the reaction.
“Which was a huge deal considering since the Sheikh has been giving all other women a hard time. But he’s absolutely gorgeous so you should count your lucky stars or something.”
“Uh…” Elle was at a loss for words.
“Sorry, I never got your name?”
“Alliana.” The woman said, “But you won’t need to remember it, since we’ll probably never see each other again. Here we are.”
She paused for a moment after they arrived to a long set of double doors of a deep mahogany.
“Avani is inside and waiting for you, so do as your told and maybe you’ll be lucky. Ta’.”
And just like that Alliana was sauntering off, expensive heels clacking away. Elle watched her disappear down a hallway before glancing back at the door.
With a sigh, she leaned over and lifted a hand to knock before she changed her mind and grasped the fine sterling handle.
With a turn and push, Elle made her way inside the room and nearly gasped when she beheld her surroundings. The office was beautifully done and since it was near the top of the building, immense glass windows became the walls near the far end.
The view outside was spectacular, and the light of the day glanced off from the surrounding buildings made it look all the more enchanting. Before Elle could find herself entranced, her green eyes managed to fall over the only person sitting in the suite.
Elle had been told she would meet Avani, but the figure lying on the white couch adjacent to the windows was certainly not Avani, but a very well dressed man.
He was covered in a fine suit of a beautiful shade of cream and burgundy trim. He had an arm over his eyes so Elle couldn’t see his face clearly, but he looked to be at ease. Long legs resting over the white cushions, and his broad chest was moving gently, he looked like he was napping.
Elle took in a cautionary breath, uncertain on what to do. Her first instinct was to turn around and leave, cursing herself for not having knocked earlier.
To her surprise, Elle wasn’t given an opportunity.
“Are you going to just stand there all day or are you going to come here?” The man spoke, not moving an inch aside from speaking. His voice was an attractive baritone with a lilt to his words that reminded Elle of a British accent, yet he rolled his tongue over some of the words pleasantly.
Elle was spurred forward, taking a few steps deeper into the suite before she was standing a respectful distance from the couch.
Finally, he lifted his arm from his eyes, thick brows arching as he beheld her.
“And you are?”
“Elle Roberts…?” Elle began, trying not to squirm visibly.
“I’m starting as the new secretary for the Sheikh Zayn Ab…Ab…”
“Zayn Abd al Malik,” he replied, his tongue rolling over the name with almost lazy precision.
“Starting as his secretary and you can’t even say your employer’s name?”
Elle flushed pink, “I’ll be sure to say it properly when I meet him.”
“I’m sure,” he drawled, settling over the cushions as he watched her, bored.
“Did Alliana bring you here?”
“Yes,” Elle replied. “She said I would meet with Avani?”
“Avani’s water broke,” he replied with a half shrug.
“She should be delivering her brat sometime within the next hour or so…”
Elle swallowed, unsure how to register this man’s abrupt bitter tone.
“I see…”
“So, guess that means you’ll have no one to train you. Which sucks—as you people love to say—since the Sheikh is a serious hardass.” The man pushed himself up to sit and face her.
“You know the Sheikh?” Elle asked curiously.
She felt strangely hot now that she was speaking to this man. He was unbelievably attractive. Dark skin and dark hair that curled in messy waves over his scalp and teased his dark eyes.
“You could say that,” he replied, smirking.
“Although, I doubt you want to know him, dressed like that.” He added, waving a finger in her direction in a loose gesture.
Elle glanced down at her clothes, lip sinking behind her teeth. “If he saw you like that, habibi, he’d rip you apart.”
A bubble of irritation set her nerves on fire.
Elle glanced back up at the man with a scowl, “I didn’t come here to play dress up, I came here to work, mister…?” She trailed off.
“Malik.” He said, smirk widening. Elle blinked in surprise.
“You’re related to the Sheikh?”
“In a matter of speaking,” he said with a snicker.
“Since you’re so eager to work, maybe I should put you to it. Trial by fire, or so they say right, habibi?”
Suddenly, he was up on his feet, heading towards a door at the other side of the suite. “I’m certain you know all about the Rules, know how the Sheikh loves to take his coffee. Also, you know all about the Schedule, right?”
“The—what?” Elle stammered, unsure whether to follow him or not.
“Wonderful! The Sheikh is a stickler for the schedule, and if you don’t have that memorized like it’s your mother’s name then you won’t last long.” He said and continued to say after he walked through the door that lead to a fairly large office space.
Elle finally decided to go after him.
“I won’t need to show you to your desk since you probably already know where it is, so you better hop to it!”
The office was pretty immense, two desks sat in opposite sides of the room facing each other. The room continued into another room with glass doors, where one could see an immense desk and several other assortments needed for a business.
Malik strolled in through the room before whirling around and facing her. Elle nearly collided into him, stopping short to take several steps away from his dark stare.
“Are you fond of challenges, Miss Roberts?”
“Uh—Y-yes?”
“Good, because this one is probably one you’re not suited for. The past five girls that came here hardly lasted a couple of weeks—although one of them managed to get a full month in before she was fired.”
“All of them had impressive credentials and all of them were much better dressed than you. You’re out of your league here, Miss Roberts. So, I’d recommend you turn around and go home before making any other decisions.”
Elle frowned, squaring her shoulders. She had grown up in a comfortable small town and in a place where everyone knew each other, but she was a hard worker, and she was unmatched in organizing events and dealing with rough customers. She would not be cowed by some guy in an Armani suit.
“With all due respect, Mr. Malik, I appreciate your warning, but I didn’t come all this way to give up. I may not look like the women out there, but I’ve got something none of them have.”
Malik rose a brow, “Oh, and what’s that?”
Elle fixed him a defiant stare.
“Determination. So you can go tell the Sheikh that I’m not going to get beaten that easily.”
Malik let out a low laugh before grinning at her, “I’ll be sure to let him know. Good luck, habibi. You’re going to need it.”
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