she stood there, prickling and indignant, as he put her very firmly in her place.
‘I was just trying to—’
‘I don’t need warnings,’ he said. ‘And, between you and me, I’ve already guessed that Beth is not nice. My intention tonight is to prove it.’
Then he smiled.
Oh, it was a real smile.
Her first!
It stretched his lips and it warmed her inside. It was like ten coffees on waking and it was the moment Felicia discovered the skin behind her knees—because it felt as if he were stroking her there with his long slender fingers, even though his hands were held at his side.
‘Goodnight, Felicia. It was a pleasure to meet you and I’m looking forward to working with you.’
She heard the emphasis on the word working and let out a slightly shrill laugh. ‘Fair enough.’ She put her hands up as if in defence. ‘You don’t need another mother...’
‘I certainly don’t.’
‘But know this,’ Felicia said, and delivered a warning of her own. ‘I shan’t be arranging hotels and after-parties once you’ve chosen your wife.’
He stared at her for the longest time, even opened his mouth to speak, but then he changed his mind.
Kedah did not have to explain himself—and certainly not to a member of staff.
Which Felicia was, he reminded himself.
And a member of staff she would remain, for there were plenty of actresses and supermodels to be had.
‘Be here at seven-thirty tomorrow and don’t be late.’
He stalked out of the office. There was no slamming of the door—he didn’t even bother to close it—but she was as rattled as if he’d banged it shut.
Oh, she would not fall for him.
Yes, if there was a scale for playboys then Kedah would be at the extreme end. The problem was Felicia could easily see why.
It was impossible not to want him.
It was the first time she’d realised she must heed her mother’s advice.
‘Never fall for a bastard. Especially not one who can make you smile.’
And Kedah did.
Oh, he most certainly did.
FELICIA BRISKLY MADE her way along Dubai’s The Walk, towards the restaurant she had booked for their lunchtime meeting. There was no time to linger, or to take in the delicious view. Kedah’s multiple assistants were kept far too busy for that.
At the age of twenty-six, Felicia Hamilton had a job.
A real one.
Instead of her regular four weeks or so of work for a full year’s pay, and a long pause between jobs, Felicia now found herself working the most ridiculous hours as she travelled the globe with Kedah. Oh, their mode of transport was luxurious—Kedah had his own private jet—but even a mile up in the air there was little downtime. Kedah considered his jet another office, and it was the same at his luxurious hotels.
She’d never have agreed to a year of this had she known.
Except not only had she agreed to it—Felicia herself had been the one to insist on it. He had told her exactly what to expect at the interview. He’d even offered her a trial period, which she’d declined!
Oh, what a fool. Had she taken the trial then she would have been finishing up by now!
Or would she...?
Even after close to eight weeks spent working hard for him Felicia still didn’t believe that Kedah just wanted her as a PA.
She wasn’t even very good at it.
Felicia was the one who generally gave orders. Now each day she stared down the barrel of her to-do list, as did his other assistants. One PA would never be enough for him.
There had to be another reason she was here.
Felicia was trying hard to work it out, but really there was little time for daydreaming. Her schedule was relentless.
She was up at six each day, and it was often close to midnight before she crashed—just as Kedah hit the town with his sweet and oh, so pleasing date of choice for the night.
Felicia honestly didn’t know how he did it.
Since meeting him she was on her second lot of concealer, to hide the shadows under her eyes.
There had been a tiny reprieve last night. Kedah had asked her to book theatre tickets for himself and his latest bimbo—which she had done. But while his absence had given Felicia an early night, she had spent it sulking.
This morning Kedah had been off looking at potential hotel sites, and she had sat in bed on the phone, liaising with his flight crew for their trip to Zazinia tomorrow.
Now she was meeting him for lunch, to go through the agenda for his trip home. There the artist would be able to work on his portrait, and there his father would discuss a wedding with his son.
That had to be the issue, Felicia decided. She was quite sure that Kedah had no desire to marry.
The restaurant she had chosen was dark and cool, and uninviting enough to keep the less than extremely well-heeled away.
‘I have a booking,’ she said. ‘Felicia Hamilton.’
‘Of course.’
When she had booked the restaurant Felicia had told them she was meeting an important guest and would like their very best table. She hadn’t told them just how important her guest was, though.
It was a little game she played, and she smiled as she was led through the stunning restaurant to a gorgeous low table.
Indeed, it was beautiful.
There were plump cushions on the floor and the table was dressed with pale orchids. As she lowered herself onto a cushion she could hear the couple behind her laughing and chatting as she set up her work station.
She took a drink of iced water as she waited for Kedah to arrive, and again tried to fathom what trouble his wedding could pose.
There might be a baby Kedah? Felicia pondered. A pregnant ex, perhaps?
But, no, she was quite sure that Kedah would handle that in his own matter-of-fact way.
What about a pregnant prostitute?
That would surely rock the palace and destroy
