by Holly Rayner
She pondered the many possible scenarios she might encounter as the car wound its way through nearly empty city streets. They didn’t seem to be headed toward any airport she was familiar with, but she had already decided to hold in her questions, lest she seem any more foolish than she had already.
Some time later, the limo pulled into what looked like a private airport, the tarmac covered with small private jets and even a few full-sized jet planes.
“Here we are, miss. If you check in just there, you’ll be all ready to fly.”
“Thank you very much,” Hallie said, taking her suitcase from the man, who tipped his hat to her and walked away, not lingering in anticipation of a tip.
Hallie headed to the terminal building, which was unlike any terminal she had ever seen before. The only way she could think to describe it would be like a clubhouse for the elite. The floors were covered with Italian marble tile, the furnishings beyond expensive, the walls decorated with fine art.
She approached a granite-topped desk and smiled at the attendant there. “My name is Hallie Richards—” she began, but the woman cut her off.
“Ah, Miss Richards! Wonderful to see you. Your plane will be ready for departure in just a moment, once I let them know you’re here. Please take a seat. Is there anything we can get you? Anything at all?”
Hallie guessed that they really could get her anything she wanted, whether it was a glass of water or a diamond necklace, but she politely declined the offer and headed towards a particularly comfortable-looking sofa. Glancing around, she noticed she was the only person there wearing casual clothing; the other passengers were dressed to the nines as they chattered amongst themselves. It was a side of the one percent Hallie had never seen. A whole different world.
“Miss Richards?”
A tall, well-built man in a pilot’s outfit approached, and Hallie stood, self-consciously running a hand through her messy brown curls. Compared to everyone else there, she looked like a complete wreck, but the pilot only smiled at her.
“Your plane is ready, miss, if you are.”
“Yes, thank you,” she said, following the pilot as he took her suitcases and led the way out onto the tarmac.
They passed plane after expensive plane until they finally reached one that looked to be a full-sized commercial jet. The stairs were down, ready, and an immaculately dressed flight attendant was waiting at the top, by the door.
“Here we are,” the pilot said. “The crew will help you get settled while I finish our final preparations for takeoff. We should be taking off in about fifteen minutes.”
Hallie stared with her mouth wide open, unable to find words. Had Sadiq sent an entire plane out just for her? She told herself that was a crazy assumption. Surely there would be other people taking the plane as well?
She shouldered her small purse and walked up the steps until the flight attendant greeted her.
“Hello, Miss Richards! Welcome on board the Haytham. I trust you will find our accommodations more than comfortable.”
“I’m sure I will, thank you. Can you tell me how many of us there will be on the flight today?”
The attendant let out a gentle laugh before stepping aside to let Hallie on board. “Just one, miss. You!”
Hallie felt woozy as she boarded the plane, nearly fainting as she took in her surroundings. The interior of the jet looked like a luxury apartment—there were actually rooms divided out along the length of the cabin. She saw a living room with a plush sofa and a TV, and beyond that she could see a decent sized bed in a dark bedroom.
“Are you hungry, Miss Richards?”
“You can call me Hallie,” Hallie said.
The woman nodded. “Are you hungry, Hallie? Anything we can make you?”
“You have a menu?”
“We don’t, no; anything you wish for, our chef can make, so there’s no need to have menus.”
“I see,” Hallie said quietly. Well, when in Rome, she thought. “How about Eggs Royale, maybe with a side of bacon and a fruit bowl?”
“Of course. We’ll get that out for you right away. Just so you’re aware, the plane has Wi-Fi available at all times except takeoff and landing, and the TV has Netflix and everything else. Please make yourself comfortable during the flight, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to press the button by your seat.”
Hallie thanked the woman before making her way to the plush sofa in the plane’s living room. It was a far cry from coach; that was for sure. Hallie thought about taking a picture for Gemma, to prove that she was doing fine—more than fine, even—but she decided against it. She would let her know after she’d met Sadiq, who was becoming more intriguing by the minute.
What purpose did he have in bringing her over in such a lavish way? It was clear that he was trying to show off, and while it was working—Hallie was flabbergasted by the elegance and comfort he was showering her with—she had to wonder what motivation was behind it. Was there more to the man than his wealth? There would be plenty of women who wanted that kind of lifestyle. Did he assume she was shallow enough to be wooed by just this, without even meeting him?
Her mind was so full of questions that she barely noticed when the attendant came in with her breakfast; the takeoff had been so smooth that she’d barely registered the fact that they were already in the air. The delicious smell of hollandaise sauce was enough to stir her from her reverie, however, and she watched a movie and tried not to inhale the delicious food too quickly as the plane gained altitude.
As she soared across the Atlantic Ocean, watching films and relaxing, Hallie felt as though she were simply staying at a nice hotel. Hours later, when night fell, she cleaned herself up in the full-sized bathroom and snuggled into her bed for the night, her pillows soft and fluffy as cotton candy.
For one more night, Hallie would keep her questions to herself. The next day she would meet the mysterious Sadiq, and get to the bottom of everything.
SIX
Hallie woke up when her ears popped. It was the only sign that she was, in fact, thousands of feet above the ground. When they popped again, she stretched, reluctant to leave the confines of the glorious, cozy bed, but curious to see where they were.
When she opened the door, her eyes were met with a blinding, bright light. She blinked a few times, allowing her eyes to adjust, before looking out one of the airplane windows.
A vast desert stretched as far as the eye could see. Wisps of sand flew off cresting dunes, twirling in the hot winds. Hallie hardly had time to sit down and strap on her seatbelt before the wheels delicately touched on the ground, indicating that they had arrived.
Hallie’s stomach clenched with nerves. She had done it. She had flown to another country, far, far away, to meet a man she didn’t know. Gemma’s words came back to haunt her. Was she to end up as some mail order bride? Was she crazy to think that something like this could actually work?
Then again, so far, she’d been treated like a princess. Could this be her everyday life, one day?
“Miss Richards, good morning.”
The flight attendant was back, looking fresh as ever. Her smile was welcoming, and Hallie couldn’t help but smile back just as warmly.
“Good morning,” she said.
“I trust you slept well.”
“I think I might have just had the best sleep of my life.”
The attendant’s smile deepened, like she was genuinely pleased to hear it. “We often find that when provided with comfortable conditions, sleeping in the air is quite soothing to many passengers.”
Many passengers, huh? Hallie thought. Maybe Sadiq wasn’t in the market for a wife, after all. At least, not the kind of wife Hallie wanted to be. She wasn’t a big sharer when it came to men. How many women had gotten the first-class treatment by her mysterious suitor?
Hallie put her walls back up, on the defense. She couldn’t afford to get hurt, but she could enjoy the adventure of it all. Someone who went on a reality show to find love tended
to be a bit of a risk taker, and Hallie had to admit to herself that she loved the intrigue as much as the possibility for a stable life.
“Would you like to eat some breakfast before you depart?”
Hallie was jarred out of her reverie and focused back in on the woman’s face. Her stomach growled at the thought of food, and, thinking she could stand to delay her meeting with Sadiq for just a little while longer, she asked for another round of Eggs Royale, and enjoyed it one last time, savoring every bite.
When she was done she collected her small carry-on bag and followed the flight attendant out the door and down the steps. The air was hot and dry. She reached for a pair of sunglasses and slid them on, to defend against the hottest, brightest sun she had ever stood beneath. She wondered for a moment if they were actually closer to the sun in Al Shayam, and then dismissed the thought—it was the desert; it was simply hot.
The runway was completely empty except for the plane, a long black limousine, and a driver, who opened the back door as Hallie approached.
“Good morning, Miss Richards. Welcome to Al Shayam!” The driver was olive-skinned, his countenance cheerful as he gave a small, respectful bow. “My name is Jal, and I will be your driver while you enjoy your stay in our country. Please, hop in. It must feel very hot to you!”
Hallie figured he could see the sweat already dripping from her hairline and was grateful to dive into the cool limo. The inside was cream-colored leather, not at all what she’d expected. Hallie had been inside a fair few limos during her reality stint, but this one certainly took the cake. The minibar was stocked with fresh fruit that gave the interior a citrusy scent, and there was a bottle of champagne perched in an ice bucket that she eyed for a moment before thinking better of it.
Jal got into the driver’s seat, the whole length of the car away, and started the engine. Hallie scooted all the way up until she was sitting by the partition window separating them.
“Thanks, Jal. This is definitely a lot hotter than New York, and our summers can get pretty muggy!”
Jal glanced back at her in the rearview mirror, his brown eyes glinting with good humor. Hallie figured it was a good sign that the man was in good spirits; a happy employee was very telling about his employer. His accent was melodious, and a little thick. Hallie had to lean in closer so she could hear him properly.
“I’ve heard it gets very cold in New York in the winter, though I have never been. I don’t think I could take it, though I wouldn’t mind experiencing snow…maybe just once.”
Hallie laughed. “You’ve never seen snow? In your whole life?”
“Of course not, miss. Look around,” Jal said, gesturing to the vast desert surrounding them as the limo zoomed along a highway.
Hallie noticed that the cars around them were all top-of-the-line brands. Clearly, Al Shayam was a wealthy country. Perhaps everyone had a private plane, and her journey was nothing unusual. Could there be a populace that was universally rich?
After a brief silence, Jal spoke again. “Did you enjoy your flight, miss?”
“I did. It was pretty much the most expensive experience I’ve ever had.”
Jal nodded in approval. “The Sheikh will be pleased. He is quite the hedonist himself.”
Hallie paused. “Who are you talking about?” She saw Jal’s eyebrow quirk in the mirror.
“The Sheikh. The gentleman responsible for you being here. Did he not tell you he was titled?”
Hallie had to wrack her brain. Sheikh was a term she had heard before, maybe once or twice, but she didn’t really know what it meant. Apparently it was some kind of title… What wasn’t Sadiq telling her?
“He did not,” she replied coolly.
“Don’t let that make you nervous, miss. He’s a great man, the Sheikh, and he takes care of his staff very well. It’s a good man who treats his workers like His Highness does.”
His Highness?
Hallie could see a city glittering in the distance as the limo pulled away from the highway and up a private road. The road twisted past a particularly massive dune, revealing what could only be called a palace, glinting in the distance, and Hallie’s breath caught in her throat.
“What is that?” she gasped.
“It’s the Sheikh’s palace, of course. My goodness, he did not tell you very much about himself!”
“No he did not,” Hallie mumbled. She began tugging at her curls, wishing she had done more than simply brush her teeth before exiting the plane.
The limo pulled up, curling around a circular drive that led straight to two glistening, massive front doors. The palace itself was pure white, like the Taj Mahal. Rounded towers shot up from the roof of the enormous main building, which was propped up by pillars with gold pated ends. A marble staircase led up to the front doors, and, standing at the top of those stairs, was a man.
“Here we are, miss. The Winter Palace.”
“Sounds kind of funny, since you guys don’t really have a winter.”
“We do, miss. Just no snow,” Jal replied, smiling at her one more time before exiting the vehicle.
Hallie scooted back toward the limo door and reached it just as it was opened for her. Taking a breath, she stepped back out into the sun and shielded her eyes as she gazed up at the man who waited at the top of the steps.
He was stunning.
That had to be Sadiq. Somehow Hallie just knew it was. He was tall, muscular, and grinning at her, his dark olive skin creased by an alarmingly handsome dimple.
She blinked, registering two domestic staff that were taking her suitcases inside—she hadn’t even noticed them leaving the car—before she squared her shoulders and slowly took the steps up to meet Sadiq.
“Sheikh?!” she asked quizzically.
Sadiq laughed. “Are you so surprised, after the trip you’ve just taken?”
Hallie shrugged, totally overwhelmed. “Honestly I don’t know what to think, but I’m here, so that’s something.”
Sadiq’s gaze was warm as he stared down at her. “It certainly is. Please come in, you must be warm.”
Hallie wondered just how disheveled she must look for two men to have commented on her temperature. The truth was, it was extremely hot, and she gratefully followed Sadiq as he led her inside.
The main atrium was a circular room with patterned ebony tiles meticulously placed in elaborate designs along the floor. A fountain spouted trickling water in the center of the room, surrounded by a series of tables, chairs, and sofas. The walls were patterned with swirling red ink, and there were three massive arches with pointed tops that led to other areas of the palace. This, combined with Sadiq’s tiger-like confidence in his button-down shirt and comfortable slacks, had Hallie gaping like a complete idiot.
Coming back to herself, she forced her mouth closed and looked at Sadiq in wonder. “Why did you hide this?” she asked, waving her hand around the room.
Sadiq shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I hide it? The app was designed to generate love in spite of things like this, rather than because of them.”
“And yet you flew me out in a private jet that looked like a luxury apartment, and now we’re in your palace.”
“Technically, it’s my cousin’s palace. I’m a distant relation to the royal line, you see, and my family have more than a handful of palaces at their disposal. I seem to be the only one who enjoys the Winter Palace.”
“Why is it called that, anyway? Do you guys even experience winter here?”
Sadiq grinned, clearly thinking she was joking. That was probably a good thing, since Hallie didn’t want him to think she was a complete fool. She should have done more research on Al Shayam, she knew; all she’d really done was look for connections to Sadiq, when she should have been researching more culture- and climate-related facts.
“I think you’ll find the evenings to be quite chilly. The desert is a strange and fickle place—burning hot in one moment, freezing cold the next. Not unlike people, in my experience.”
“Not unl
ike you?” Hallie asked, fishing. She couldn’t help herself. She knew next to nothing about this man, and while her instincts told her she was safe around him, it wasn’t enough to go on. She needed to know more. Who was Sadiq, really? Why was he doing this, looking like he did, living like he did? He had no reason to seek out a woman, and yet he’d found her halfway across the world and taken a risk on bringing her here. What were his motives?
Sadiq chuckled. “I wouldn’t say that. I think I’m normally quite rational. Too rational, sometimes.” He gazed off into the distance as he spoke, but brought his attention back to her a moment later. “Would you like a tour?”
Hallie looked around. The palace was unlike anything she’d ever seen. She couldn’t even call it a castle, because castles were always gray and cold and square; Sadiq’s home was all curves and smooth edges, warm colors and patterns bringing life to an enormous infrastructure.