not officially on duty. The foundation is not just my job. It’s my life.’
‘Then prove it.’
She bristled. ‘I don’t need to prove anything to you...’ Her words trailed off when he emphatically shook his head.
‘You had no intention of setting up your work here to help with restoring Dar-Aman’s profile, did you?’
‘You speak of restoring profiles and PR campaigns. That’s not what the Di Sione Foundation does. For what you want you’d be better off hiring a PR company. Perhaps my sister Bianca’s company can be more useful to you?’
A flash of colour scoured his cheekbones and his jaw gritted tightly before he answered. ‘I’m aware of what your foundation does. I’m also aware that what I’m suggesting isn’t an alien concept to you. You’ve done it before in the past.’
He gave two examples and Allegra had to concede he’d done his homework, albeit in a slightly convoluted way. ‘You’re right, but that was for an outfit geared towards rehabilitating a disaster-struck zone, not for a playboy billionaire who suddenly wants to play at being ruler to a kingdom on the brink of regaining its rightful place as a superpower after a shaky period.’
Rahim went rigid. Anger vibrated from his body, and Allegra closed her eyes for a second in regret, knowing she’d just blown any chance of securing her grandfather’s precious box out of the water.
‘I assure you, I’ve never played at being anything in my life. And the state of Dar-Aman’s infrastructure is the way I inherited it when I ascended to the throne six months ago...’
‘And you’ve turned things round since you took the throne but you were the crown prince from the day you were born!’
The smile that touched Rahim’s lips was as icy as his regard. ‘I thought you did your homework, Miss Di Sione? Obviously not since you’re not aware of such a common piece of information. Until six months ago I hadn’t set foot in Dar-Aman for fifteen years.’
Shock drenched her at the news, even as she flinched at the formal clip of her name. ‘So...you’re saying your father was responsible for the state of affairs in your kingdom, not you? You didn’t think as crown prince that you owed your people your care and attention your presence in Dar-Aman would’ve given them, especially knowing the state your father was in?’
His head snapped back as if she’d struck him, then he glared icily down his aristocratic nose at her. ‘Be very careful about the insults you fling around. I have never absolved myself of my contribution to the neglect my people have suffered. I chose to absent myself, so all I can do is try to pick up the pieces.’
Allegra heard the thread of hollow bleakness in his tone, and her heart lurched as she was reminded of her own impending loss. The thought of her grandfather spurred her to her feet.
‘But I’m still ruler in this kingdom, and as my guest, you owe me your respect.’
Shame washed over her. ‘I’m sorry.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘For what exactly are you sorry?’
‘For your people’s suffering, of course. But, Rahim...’
He stiffened. ‘Since we’re no longer cordial, you will address me as Your Highness.’
She sucked in a sustaining breath. ‘I... Your Highness, I would still like to discuss the box, if...’
Rahim volleyed an imprecation in Arabic. ‘Unbelievable! You think you can soften me up with a false show of sympathy right before you demand what you truly came here for?’
She gasped. ‘That wasn’t false!’
His hand slashed through the air with deadly impatience. ‘Why should I believe you when it’s clear you came here under false pretences?’
‘What?’
‘You told me on the phone that you were coming to Dar-Aman in your capacity as the head of the Di Sione...’ He stopped suddenly, and laughed. The sound was like fingernails on a chalkboard. ‘Very clever to trick me with your words. Tell me, do you always get away with this kind of subtle subterfuge?’
Allegra’s face flamed, knowing very well it was what she’d done. ‘Please...this is important.’
‘As are my people to me, Miss Di Sione. And by wasting time with you, I’ve set myself back even further from making real progress.’
She jumped to her feet, desperation clawing higher and harder by the second. ‘Rahim,’ she started, but paused when she saw his set jaw. ‘Your Highness, I’ll offer you whatever you want for the box.’
He regarded her for a full, disbelieving minute. Then he strolled forward until he was a single foot from her. This close, she could feel the turbulent emotions vibrating from his hard body. It took a huge amount of strength not to step back from him.
‘You travelled thousands of miles for the sake of a trinket.’ The mild sneer was mingled with something else. Something that sounded curiously like bitterness. ‘It really means that much to you?’
She didn’t waste time wondering why he would be bitter about her intentions. ‘Yes.’
‘And you expect me to drop everything to help you on this whimsical quest?’
‘Well, I...’
‘It seems we’re both to be losers in this little tale. You never had any intention of offering me the services of your foundation, and I have better things to do than to chase after little trinkets. Even you will agree that my time is better suited elsewhere?’ He flicked a glance at his wrist and continued without waiting for an answer. ‘It’s late, and seeing as I’ve wasted precious time with you that I could ill afford, I must get back to work. I will have an aide escort you to your chambers. A driver will take you to the airport in the morning. You and I will not meet again.’
He started to walk away. Panic held Allegra rigid before she wrenched herself out of it. ‘You’ll deny an old man his dying wish?’
He froze with his hand on the doorknob, then turned with a grace that was fascinating to behold. ‘Excuse me?’
‘The box...it’s for my grandfather. It belonged to him a long time ago. Please, he’s dying, you see...’
If she’d expected sympathy or any softening, she got the opposite. Rahim’s face hardened until it was a stony, hauntingly beautiful statue. But his eyes were alive with pure, incandescent condemnation.
‘If there’s one thing I detest more than subterfuge, it’s emotional manipulation. Trust me when I say, you’ve just destroyed any chance of getting what you wanted. Even if I felt inclined to go hunting for an ornament in a palace full of thousands of them—which I don’t—you’ve assured yourself an even firmer refusal. Goodnight.’
He left, leaving behind a seething silence disturbed only by her rough, stunned breathing.
She’d failed.
The gnawing realisation made her double over, her heart hammering loud in her ears as she fought not to hyperventilate.
