by Holly Rayner
Take your time, a little voice inside her head chided, and, reluctantly, Hallie listened.
“Yes,” she breathed. “Until then.”
Sadiq closed the door quietly, and Hallie turned back to take in her surroundings once again. The room was certainly beautiful, but in a cold, unused kind of way. She imagined it would feel much the same if she were visiting Versailles. Everything was stunning, but looked untouchable.
Hallie gazed back at the door, wishing Sadiq would knock upon it once again. It was a strange sensation; she had blocked off her heart for so long, it had been impossible to think she could feel so intensely about someone so fast, and yet, here she was.
It was the beginning of a new chapter in her life, and she couldn’t wait to see just where Sadiq would take her next.
SEVEN
Hallie debated whether or not to fully unpack her stuff. She had packed a small suitcase, since her light summer clothes took up little room, but had made sure to include an outfit for every occasion she could think of. Deciding to just unload what she would need for the next few days, she made short business of filling a dresser that looked like it had been purchased in a museum auction.
Everything in the room was clearly very valuable and very expensive, and Hallie wondered what Sadiq would do if she left a cup on her bedside table without a coaster. Would the resulting ring cost thousands of dollars to fix? Would he even care?
Hallie pulled out her cell and checked the time in New York. It was mid-morning, not an unreasonable time to call Gemma, and she did so. Her friend picked up after a couple rings.
“Hallie!”
Hallie chuckled. “Hey Gem. I made it, and I’m still alive!”
“I know. I’ve been watching my tracker.”
“Good to know I’m being monitored.”
“Uh-huh. So go on, what happened? Tell me everything!”
Hallie paused, wondering where to start.
Gemma took her hesitation as a bad sign. “Oh no, he’s awful, isn’t he? Hallie, you get on a plane and come home this instant.”
“No, no, it’s nothing like that. He’s…wonderful, actually. He seems very genuine and kind, and I think I’d like to take some time to get to know him.”
“Are you saying that you are actually considering his original proposal?”
Hallie considered her friend’s incredulous tone. It hadn’t seemed so farfetched when she’d been talking to the Sheikh, there in the palace, but when she heard it from her friend’s point of view, it did sound kind of ludicrous. If their roles were reversed, what would Hallie say to Gemma? Probably the same thing.
“I might,” she said quietly.
“Oh, I see. He’s hot, isn’t he? There’s no way you would be considering such a crazy proposal if he were average looking.”
“I think he might be the most attractive man I’ve ever met,” Hallie replied.
“Well don’t let that fool you, Hallie. Use your head, trust your instincts, and if anything seems off, you come right home.”
“Yes, mother,” Hallie said, rolling her eyes.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt again, Hal.”
Hallie sighed. Gemma always had her best interests at heart. “I know, Gemma. Thanks for looking out for me. I feel good. I’m safe here, and I feel happy for the first time in a long time. I’ll keep you posted.”
“You better,” she said.
“Talk soon.”
Hallie ended the call, catching her own gaze in one of the room’s large, ornate mirrors. She dropped her phone on the bed and went to peruse her reflection.
God, had she really thought it would be a good idea to fly over and meet this man in leggings and a T-shirt? Her hair was a mess in its bun, yet hadn’t he still called her beautiful?
She took a long, hot shower before changing into something a little more presentable for dinner. She was putting the finishing touches to her minimal makeup when there came a gentle knock on the door, and when she answered it, a young woman in a waitress’ uniform stood waiting for her.
“The Sheikh thought you might like an escort to dinner, miss, as this is your first time at the palace,” she said, her voice heavily accented.
“That would be helpful, thank you,” Hallie agreed.
The girl led her through winding hallways, each one adorned with paintings from around the world—Hallie couldn’t imagine how much even one of them cost. The girl eventually opened a tall door, which led to a massive dining room. The table extended nearly the entire length of the room, and it was made of a dark, polished wood.
Sadiq was staring out another terrace window with his back to her, his hands laced behind him. When he heard them enter, he turned and gave her a welcoming smile.
“Hallie. Good to see you. I trust you’ve been able to settle in okay?” he said, nodding to the waitress, who bowed and made a quick exit. There was a small bar on the side of the room, and Sadiq made his way over to it. “Can I pour you a drink?” he asked.
Hallie joined him and looked over the bottles behind the bar. Many of the liquors she recognized, but she didn’t really drink the hard stuff anymore, her partying days behind her.
“Wine would be great, thank you.”
“Excellent choice. I have a vineyard in Italy, as it happens. All of the best bottles are sent back here, of course. I think you’ll like it.”
Hallie grinned. “If it’s wine, I’ll like it.”
Sadiq lifted an eyebrow. “Not picky about your libations?”
Hallie shrugged. “I’m a little picky, but when it comes to wine, not so much.”
Sadiq poured a glass and swirled it around, letting it breathe, before handing it to her.
Hallie took a delicate sip and felt her palate tingle. “Wow! This is the best wine I’ve ever tasted!”
Sadiq grinned. “Perhaps you’ve simply not had enough good wine. I can ameliorate that during your time here, if you would like.”
Hallie nodded, taking another sip of the delicious beverage. She would have to be careful, or she would be drunk in no time.
A couple of staff members entered the hall, then, placing what looked to be two bowls of steaming hot soup at the far end of the table.
“Shall we?” Sadiq said, offering his arm to her.
“Of course,” Hallie said, happy to touch him again.
She could feel the muscles of Sadiq’s forearm underneath his white, button-down shirt. He’d dressed up a bit for the occasion as well, though she noticed he was still sporting a pair of nice dark denim jeans. She was glad of it; Hallie enjoyed being causal.
They sat down and began sipping their soup, trying not to cast shy glances at one another. The soup was flavorful and rich, and Hallie enjoyed every mouthful.
The meal ended up being four courses, with a salad, a spicy chicken dish, and a kind of honey pastry dessert. Hallie ate every course with relish, savoring the deliciousness of the meal.
“Do you like it?” Sadiq asked, as they ate their dessert.
The answer was obvious; it was all Hallie could do not to pick up a plate and lick it clean, the food was so good.
“Best I’ve ever had,” she replied.
“Our chef is internationally renowned for his creations. He has won many awards for his cooking, baking, and, interestingly enough, his ability to make fantastic cocktails. When he isn’t cooking for us, I’ve often found him working the bar in our club.”
“Sounds like a man of many talents,” Hallie said, trying not to think about that awful nightclub Sadiq had in his own house.
They sat in silence for a moment, collecting their thoughts. Sadiq was gazing down at the table when he looked up suddenly. “There is something I would like to show you, if you’re up for a little walk.”
After all the food she’d just eaten, Hallie could use a ten-mile jog, but a walk in Sadiq’s palace sounded much better.
“I’d love to,” she said.
They stood and Sadiq showed her out of the dining room. Th
e palace was like a maze, full of vast rooms interconnected by a myriad of hallways. Hallie tried to keep track of where they were, but after the third long hallway, she was lost again.
“How do you know where you’re going?” she asked.
Sadiq chuckled. “I have the advantage of having lived here for a few years now, and I also spent time here as a child, playing with my cousins. I know it seems daunting, but you get your bearings after a while. Much like moving to a new town.”
“Except that your house is the entire town.”
“Yes, except for that,” he grinned.
They were heading toward what seemed to be the back end of the palace. The wallpaper changed, and the flooring became different, too.
“This area seems older,” Hallie observed.
Sadiq nodded. “This is where the old palace begins. This estate is about five hundred years old. It was much smaller when it was originally built, which is this section here, but the updates happened about four hundred years later, so it’s not terribly new, either—ah, here we are.”
The hallway ended in a massive room, each wall covered in paintings that were nearly as tall as the ceiling.
“This is our hall of portraits. Every member of my family has a picture here,” Sadiq said.
He led them towards a back corner and began regaling Hallie with stories of his ancestors, who were heavily bearded and dressed in traditional, lavish garbs.
“This is my great-great-great-grandfather, for whom I was named. He fought off invading tribal villages as a general in the army, but what people don’t say is that he had atrocious body odor, and no one could stand to be around him.”
Hallie chortled. “So…you were named after a man secretly known for his stink?”
Was that a blush she saw on his perfect cheeks?
“Yes, but remember—great war hero. I take pride in my personal hygiene, just so you know.”
“That is good to know,” Hallie agreed with a smirk.
As they made their way around the room, Hallie was fascinated to learn about Sadiq’s family history. Even though every portrait was painted, it was clear that the family had been handsome since the dawn of time. As they got closer to the doorway they had entered through, Sadiq paused in front of the second-to-last portrait. In it, a beautiful woman wearing a colorful hijab stared out at the world, her husband standing next to her with his hand draped along the chair she sat in. He was clean shaven and wore a well-tailored suit.
“These are my parents,” Sadiq said, his tone suddenly hushed.
“They look quite modern, compared to the rest,” Hallie observed.
Sadiq’s grin was rueful. “My father was a firm believer in bringing together the best of the East and West. He watched as globalization became a reality, and he wanted me to be open-minded. He spent many years in Europe, during his youth, and enjoyed much about their customs.”
Hallie paused for a moment. There was a word in there that hadn’t escaped her, and she turned to look at Sadiq. “Was?”
Sadiq’s face fell. “They passed away eight years ago. Killed in a car accident while on a safari in Africa.”
“I’m so sorry,” Hallie said.
“It’s all right. You didn’t know.”
“But I do know,” Hallie said, and Sadiq looked at her with a quizzical brow.
“My parents were killed, too. Car crash. For them, it was a snowstorm, and slick ice.”
Sadiq’s gaze was hard to read in the darkening room, but after a pause, he pulled her against him in a fierce hug. “I miss them every day,” he said, and Hallie held onto him tight.
“I do, too. They were everything to me, and then one day, they were gone.”
“And I had to take on the family title and all that came with it, overnight.”
Hallie thought about a young Sadiq, just trying to have a good time, all of a sudden saddled with a huge estate and big responsibilities and expectations.
“That must have been hard,” she said.
Sadiq pulled away, blinking as though to stop tears from falling. He cleared his throat, looking back at the picture. “It was. I had been educated enough and prepared on some level to take over, but that wasn’t the part that was hardest; after they died, I had no one to share my success with. The two people I’d really wanted to impress were gone.”
Hallie thought about that. There were so many times she’d wished she had her mother to tell her everything would be okay, to have her father go to bat for her against the men who had ruined her life. There were also days she was almost happy they weren’t alive to see the horrible things people had said about her, and those were the worst days of all.
Sadiq took a deep breath, collecting himself. “Well. I didn’t mean for this to turn so somber. Let’s move on and see if we can’t lighten the mood a bit, huh?”
Hallie placed a gentle hand on his arm. She felt it tense beneath her touch, then relax. She stared up into his eyes. “You can take as much time as you want. Just because a memory is unpleasant, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be given its due time. Would you like to have a moment for your parents, with me?”
Sadiq stared at Hallie hard, as though he didn’t quite believe what she was saying was real. After a moment, he nodded, and the two of them faced his parents’ picture as they held a quiet moment of silence in their memory.
Finally, Sadiq turned to Hallie, taking her hands. “Thank you,” he said. “I’m sure your parents were outstanding people, to raise such a kind and thoughtful daughter.”
It was Hallie’s turn to get emotional, then. Her eyes stung with unshed tears as she continued to gaze up at him. “I just hope they’re happy, wherever they are.”
“I know they are,” he replied.
After another pause, he squeezed her hands. “Okay, now I really want to show you something else.”
“Let’s do it,” she said, following his lead as he led her back to the hallway.
He walked almost to the end of it before stopping, and pressed another wall tile between two pictures. Another door pressed open, and Hallie laughed.
“How do you know where all of these are? I get that you’ve been here a while, but it seems impossible!”
“Nothing is ever impossible, when one explores enough,” he grinned, pulling her through the door.
This time, the concealed hallway was made entirely of stone, twinkling lights creating islands of illumination between the bouts of darkness. It was a little spooky, and Hallie held a little tighter to Sadiq’s hand.
“This way,” he said.
“Like there’s any other way?” she teased.
“Good point.”
They walked in comfortable silence, Hallie enjoying the feeling of exploring secret passageways with Sadiq. It was rare when she met someone who truly understood what it was like to lose both parents at once, and that connection instantly deepened her already blossoming attraction to him.
After a while, she could see the outline of a door ahead, and Sadiq pressed open the portal, opening them up to another monolithic room. The ceilings were hand-painted with beautiful images of angels and people enjoying a summer’s day. Beneath the domed roof, there was an Olympic sized pool that was surrounded by trees and rocks and exotic flowers. It looked like a secret oasis, only it was indoors.
“Holy smokes,” Hallie breathed.
“You like it?” Sadiq asked.
“I love it,” Hallie said.
He released her hand, then, and the usual discontent that came with that swept over her before she caught sight of a steaming pool next to the center one.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“The hot springs. They say they’re very good for the skin. Would you like to test the water?”
Hallie nodded as she headed over to the pool and knelt down, dipping her fingertips in the warm, bubbling spring. She gazed around in wonder. “How many surprises do you have in this place?”
Sadiq grinned. “More than I can count. My favorite
part is getting to them through the secret passageways, though. My ancestors made them to protect themselves, but over time, as our borders became fortified, they simply became access points to the places we didn’t want to share with the public.”
Hallie let her hand rest in the soothing waters for a moment. The heat coming from them, combined with a hearty meal and severe jetlag, had her yawning, and she put a hand to her mouth to hide it.
“You’re tired, of course. May I escort you to your room?”