The Sheikh's Secret

by Knight, Kylie

  Xavier hadn’t robbed the bank. John did. The police never said cash was stolen, just that it was robbed. She thought maybe Xavier had forced them to do an electronic transfer of money at gunpoint. That’s what they always did in the movies. He was so powerful, she believed he could do anything.

  As it turns out, she was wrong. The echoing beat of footsteps came down the hall again and Aimee swallowed her heart. She shoved the bill back into the crack and looked up just as John appeared in the room.

  “Are you still—“

  His eyes looked at her hand, and then her face. She was sure that no matter how much she was trying to look neutral he could tell something was wrong.

  “Ah hell,” he said with a sigh.

  Xavier stood when the officer at the jail door called out his name. The other inmates there for anything from drunken misconduct to traffic violations perked up for a second at the activity and then went back to ignoring the dismal life around them.

  “I’m him,” Xavier said as he approached.

  The door squeaked as it slid open. “Your alibi checks out. The charges against you are being dropped.”

  “I have no idea why you thought I would have done this in the first place. During the interrogation you said you had an eye-witness put me at the scene? Was that all you had to go on?”

  “You can get your things at the counter up there,” the officer said, ignoring everything Xavier said.

  It was the flimsiest police work he’d ever witnessed. After signing the papers and gathering up his personal belongings — what little there was after being arrested in his underwear — he stepped outside to see Roland already waiting for him.

  After going home, showering, and changing clothes, Xavier just couldn’t calm down. They didn’t have to tell him. He knew Aimee was behind his being arrested. She probably was working that day, and saw him glaring at her.

  She probably thought she’d have the last laugh! Well he’d show her. Xavier picked up the phone and called her. When she didn’t answer, he called again, and again. He called fifteen more times, positive that she’d pick up. She didn’t. He texted her. At first it was scathing, unleashing his full fury. When she didn’t respond, guilt over how he was behaving started to settle in.

  He realized he wasn’t giving her any reason to answer him back. If he was just going to yell at her, there was nothing to talk about. So he apologized. Then he begged her to talk to him. He realized how crazy this was all coming across as. He sent a text explaining about how he wasn’t a stalker, he was just upset that she’d sent him to jail. Then he sent another text explaining how he knew that saying he wasn’t a stalker was exactly what stalkers said!

  By that point, he started to become sincerely concerned. She would’ve responded by now to something, anything. She would’ve made a joke, or told him to stop messaging her. Something was wrong.

  “Okay, “he said to himself, “if we’re playing the role of stalker, then let’s go for the gold.” Xavier went to his computer and did a ping on her phone number, tracking where her cell phone was. What came up was a mobile home park not far from her town.

  He immediately had Roland drive him over to the address, making sure he understood that any speeding tickets would be paid for, and any marks against Roland’s license removed. They made it in record time.

  It didn’t matter anymore what she’d done, or how she felt about him. She could hate him. That was fine. He just needed to know she was okay. As long as she was angry, but fine, he’d leave her alone forever. It was during that drive that he realized what he was feeling wasn’t actually anger, it was hurt. Her rejection had been so painful, he just didn’t know how to respond to it, so it turned to anger. Now that didn’t matter. Nothing did — only Aimee.

  Roland pulled up to the address and Xavier ran up to the flimsy door. Somewhere in his mind he suspected that just knocking would get him some form of STD, but that was just a risk he was going to have to take.

  After a quick rap against the door, a large man answered. Her boyfriend. Xavier recognized him from that time behind the restaurant. Now that he saw him up close, Xavier mentally remarked on the vacancy behind the man’s eyes. There was zero thought going on behind those glassy orbs.

  “What?” the man asked.

  “Is Aimee here?”

  “Nope. Haven’t seen her.”

  Xavier tilted to the side to try to see past him, but couldn’t see her anywhere. “Really?”

  The man glanced to the side, and Xavier saw fresh scratch marks across his cheek and neck. So fresh, in fact, they were still beading with blood. “Yeah man, I said I haven’t seen her. Not for days. Now get out of here, all right? Or I’ll call the cops.”

  “Hey, my mistake,” Xavier said, holding up his hands and backing away. “If you see her, tell her I’ll talk to her soon, okay?”

  “Whatever man,” the boyfriend said and closed the door.

  Xavier went back to his car, and no sooner had he closed the door than hit send on his phone. When the man answered on the other line, a cold calm settled over Xavier.

  “I’m calling in that favor you owe me.”

  Aimee tried not to cry, but sound escaped as small whimpers without her intending to. She couldn’t help it. The last thing she wanted to do was get more attention from John, but her emotions overruled her choices, and the whimpers escaped.

  The closet door slid open flooding her with light. “Your little boyfriend just came to my house.”

  John threw her cell phone at her. If she hadn’t dodged her head to the side it would’ve cracked her right in the skull.

  “He’s called you like a hundred times. How does he know where I live?”

  Fear gripped her heart. She tried to tell him she didn’t know, but her words were muffled by the duct tape over her mouth. John pulled out a gun and pointed it at her.

  “I’m going to kill you either way, but whether it’s slow or fast is up to you. I’m only asking one more time, so you better stop lying to me. How does he know you were here? How does he know where I live?”

  Aimee sobbed and shook her head again.

  “Stop lying to me! I’ll kill you, him, and everyone you care about! Tell me!”

  All she could do was keep shaking her head, but John yelled over and over for her to tell him. She just didn’t have an answer for him.

  Wind suddenly buffeted against the walls of the mobile home. It was nighttime now, but blinding white light flooded the entire inside of the mobile home. Aimee heard the front door burst open, and John turned and fired his gun. Aimee screamed, trying to duck down further in the closet, but her wrists and ankles were duct taped together and didn’t really allow for a lot of movement.

  There was a quick gunfight, but for her it lasted a lifetime. John threw his gun at whoever was coming in and he tried to run. Aimee saw four men in full riot gear chase after. Two more men stopped at the closet and pulled her from it.

  They didn’t bother with the duct tape, but instead just carried her out the door to safety. As they did, she saw John stuck halfway through the window of his bedroom. Half a dozen guys were there pulling him threw, and she knew there were the ones that had come up behind him. He had nowhere to go.

  The men carrying her sat her behind a large armored truck. A spot right where Xavier was crouched and waiting. He pulled out a pocket knife and cut free her wrists and ankles, then pulled the duct tape from her mouth.

  “You did this?” she asked.

  “Of course,” he said. “I knew something was wrong, but I knew the police wouldn’t listen to me.”

  “These men are yours?”

  “What? Of course not. It’s illegal to employ a private standing army. I just know a few guys that owe me favors. Perpetually. That I donate money to.”

  Her heart soared and she wrapped her arms around him. “It was John, he was the one that robbed the bank. The money is in the couch cushions. I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.”

  Xavier nodded to the me
n around them and they ran back in the building, presumably to check the couch. “It’s okay,” he said to her. “I believe you. I’m sorry for my part in all of this. What say I take you home?”

  Aimee swallowed, knowing she wouldn’t see him again. Xavier helped her to stand and they walked to his limo. Roland was there waiting for them.

  She knew it wouldn’t be long before they were at her place, so she clung to Xavier and held to him as long as she had with him. He rested his cheek against the top of her head and stroked her hair softly. She felt so comfortable and safe that she didn’t even realize she had fallen asleep.

  Xavier nudged her gently with his elbow. Aimee woke, surprised she’d slept, and looked around. She was not at the café. They weren’t even in the town anymore.

  “Where…?”

  “Home. Our home.”

  She looked at him.

  “I want you to come stay with me.”

  “Xavier, you can’t be serious.” She studied his features. “Are you?”

  “Absolutely serious. Look me in the eye. Tell me you don’t want to be with me and I’ll have Roland take you wherever you like.”

  “I can’t do that,” she said. “It would be a lie. But Xavier, I don’t fit in your world.”

  “Stay with me,” he said, taking her hands. “We’ll make a new world together. I can’t imagine my life without you. I finally found the one person I truly connect with. I’m not letting you go.”

  Aimee relinquished all doubt. She never felt like it could be real, that he could really want her. After what he’d done for her, and now begging her to stay with him, she had no more excuses. She tried to talk herself out of it to convince herself this wasn’t real, but that voice was gone.

  All that remained was Xavier, and the way he looked at her now. She knew that she didn’t want anyone else to look at her the way he did. He was everything for her, just as she was to him.

  “All right,” she said. “I’ll stay.”

  It was the first step in a long and happy life together.

  THE END

  Billionaire’s Unexpected Rival

  Chapter 1

  Ryder Tompkins sat at the head of the large cherry wood conference table in the largest conference room. Normally he wouldn’t pull a power move such as this because it just wasn’t his style, but desperate times and all that. The company his mother started with his step father, Edu-Tech Industries, had not been doing well for the past few quarters and as CEO it was his job to figure out why. So he needed to project power and authority, no matter what anyone at the table thought of him. Especially his step brother, Hunter. “Does anyone want to tell me why sales have been stagnant for almost a year?”

  Hunter stiffened immediately, his defenses in place and ready to attack anyone who dared suggest this was his fault in any way. He stared at Ryder, who stared right back at him. “I guess this is my fault, right? You wouldn’t know a goddamned thing about bringing in new business Ryder because you spend so much time behind your precious desk!” Arms crossed defensively, Hunter arched a thick blonde brow in his direction. The gauntlet had been thrown and in front of others too.

  Ryder was frustrated because, dammit, he didn’t know much about bringing in new business because his mom and Jonas had never even let him try. Hunter is the outgoing one, they said. He’s friendly and charming, let him have this. They had cajoled and manipulated until Ryder gave up and stop wanting to do it. He’d done exactly as they’d asked but not asked, which was why he stared at two quarters of dismal sales. “That may be the case Hunter, but it isn’t my job. It’s yours.” He watched the emotions play over Hunter’s mossy green eyes. Hurt and anger morphed into arrogant indifference, his default emotional setting. “Now, I’m not blaming anyone specifically,” he sent a meaningful glare to Hunter, “but we need to figure out what the problem is and how to correct it. Any suggestions?”

  “Actually, I’ve been thinking.” Cressly Parker cleared his throat and spoke up. The man was as competent as they came, but he’d proven better at managing the business development department than bringing it in. “I think what we need is a marketing specialist. Hunter is doing a damn fine job, but he can only do so much to reach out to all the organizations that need our products.”

  Ryder leaned in. “I’m listening.”

  A small smile passed Cressly’s lips. “We, well Hunter has been doing his thing. Meeting with potential customers but,” he flashed Hunter an apologetic look, “these bureaucracies take forever to make decisions, sign contracts and agree on budgets. So we will likely see the fruits of his labor but it could be another two quarters from now.”

  Ryder looked to Hunter, who seemed stunned by the support of his boss, and then back to Cressly. “Sound good. Really good Cressly. Do you have any contacts we could use?”

  “Yes Mr. Tompkins, I’ll get them to you right away.” He gave Ryder a nervous smile.

  “Thanks. And call me Ryder.” He didn’t like formality, especially when it came to men decades older than him. He refocused on his step brother. “Hunter is there anything you need that could help?”

  His green eyes blazed furiously and he visibly bristled. “I’m not some special needs kid you have to keep after, brother.”

  Ryder’s jaws clenched in frustration and he released a weary sigh. “Dammit Hunter you don’t think I know that? I’m just trying to make sure we’re doing everything we can to bring in new business and this business keeps growing.” Slamming closed the leather folder, his piercing blue eyes held an icy glare. “Not everything is about you Hunter. My job is to make sure my employees have everything they need to succeed and whether you like it or not, that includes you.”

  Cressly and the others read the room correctly and quickly gathered their things, beating a hasty retreat before the atmosphere became too volatile. “I’ll have Mimi send everyone a copy of the notes today,” Ryder said to their retreating backs.

  Hunter sat staring up at Ryder, who stood reining in his anger, resentment the only emotion in his eyes. He hated, still hated the fact that Ryder was made CEO. Even though the job seemed boring as fucking hell, he still would have liked to be considered for the job. But no, his parents had insisted he’d be better at business development because he was charming and had that damned party boy persona. Truthfully he really did like schmoozing boring educators and administrators at expensive meals, it was fun and he was damn good at it. But then moments like this brought home the fact that Ryder was the boss. His boss. “Sure boss. Whatever you say.”

  Ryder didn’t react because he knew that’s what Hunter wanted. “So you have everything you need, then?”

  Hunter stood, mossy green eyes level with velvety blue ones. “I just said I did.”

  “Then why have we gone six months with no new business?”

  “You heard what Cressly said,” he practically growled at his brother.

  Ryder stared at Hunter long and hard, skepticism making it hard to believe him. “That may explain some of it, but I’ve seen your expense reports and it doesn’t make sense so you need a better answer than that.”

  Hunter snatched up his deep red leather folder. “Sure thing, boss man. I’ll have answers for you soon.” He stood and gave Ryder’s assistant and friend, Mimi, a meaningful look before he fled.

  Ryder scoffed and shook his head as he gathered his things. Every single meeting with Hunter ended the same way. He was overly sensitive and always ready to fight about anything, no matter how insignificant. He couldn’t even worry about his brother right now because he had other things on his mind.

  “You know Ryder, you could take it easier on him.” Mimi gave him the same soft and sympathetic look she’d given him when he’d been upset about gaining a new brother.

  Ryder sighed and looked at one of his oldest friends. “I could but what good would it do?” The truth was that Hunter only listened when Ryder flexed his muscles, which he hated to do. “He knows he screwed up but refuses to own up to it because
it’s me. I can deal with it at Mom and Jonas’ house but not at work.” If Hunter wasn’t his brother with a stake in the company, he would have fired him long ago.

  Mimi patted his shoulder sympathetically. She’d spent the past two decades watching Ryder and Hunter compete, fight and antagonize each other over any and every damn thing. If there was a first place to be had, a winner or loser, you could guarantee they would battle to the death for it. It was exhausting to watch and she loved them both, albeit in different ways. Hunter was the difficult brother, the one you had to peel back layers to see he was a decent guy while Ryder easy going and level-headed. Hunter was charming and Ryder could be awkward. “I get that Ry, but as the CEO you have to be the bigger man. That’s why they pay you the big bucks.”

  Ryder huffed out a laugh. “When did you get so smart Mimi?”

  “I’ve always been smart, you just didn’t know how smart until you were lucky enough to hire me.”

  He smiled at her. “Best decision I ever made.”

  ***

  Skylar Morris was running late for a meeting with a potential client and a big one. Edu-Tech Industries was the premier educational software provider. They made educational games, learning aids and even software to help those with learning disorders, and best of all their products were affordable and had recently been endorsed by several homeschooling organizations. She had been looking forward to this meeting since it was put on the books a week ago. They were a big deal and signing with them would be an even bigger deal for her fledgling marketing company that, right now was made up mostly of her and her best friend Kendra Brooks, an office assistant and one social media manager. In another year they would need more employees for their loft office.