The Sheik's Reluctant Lover Page 0,41
back in time.
She looked around, feeling as if the office were different somehow. Was it just because of her phone call with Rais? Had his voice completely altered her perception of her reality?
She wasn’t sure, but she had things to do, vendors to schedule and confirm. She didn’t have time to dwell on her life right now.
“I hear someone has had a very interesting morning,” Derrick commented as he strolled into her office. He looked around and noticed the small space with the older chairs. “Dear, since you have our biggest client, it seems as if you should also have a bigger office.”
Rachel swallowed uncomfortably. She didn’t feel as if she’d earned this promotion since she’d known Rais all her life. “I think I should be honest with you. Rais is a personal friend of my father’s,” she confessed. “That’s why I have these parties.”
Derrick waited another moment, then shrugged. “And?”
Rachel leaned forward, confused by his calm demeanor. “And, I haven’t earned a bigger office, Derrick. I’m not as experienced and I feel as if I’ve cheated.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Dear, this business is all about making connections. Don’t worry at all that you had a connection through your father. How do you think I started this business?” Rachel had no idea actually so he continued on. “I did all of my mother’s parties. When her friends saw how nice everything looked, they asked me to do their parties. So in effect, you’re doing almost exactly what I did. Go with it, flaunt it, honey!”
Rachel still felt awkward. “I suppose,” she said non-committally. “Anyway, everything seems to be going well for Friday’s party. This one is bigger but everything seems to be in place.”
“And you’re using my caterer this time?” he asked, his eyes admonishing her because he knew that she hadn’t used his personal preference for last week’s event.
She took a deep breath before replying, “Actually, I’m going with the same caterer. She’s a personal friend of mine from college and even Rais complimented her on the food. She has a very creative mind and you won’t believe what she has planned for this weekend.” She handed him the menu and waited anxiously as he read through the details, her shoulders dropping with relief when his eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“That sounds heavenly! What’s her name? And can I use her for other parties?” he asked.
Rachel laughed with relief at his approval. “Absolutely! I’ve already given her the dates for my current set of events so I have her booked, but I’m sure she’d love your business as well.”
Derrick smiled and nodded his head. “Now….about these dresses that arrived today.”
Rachel’s shoulders went right back to tensing again, wary of where this conversation might go now. “Yes….the dresses.”
“Spill it, dear.”
“Rais sent them,” she admitted, relieved to have it out in the open, but still concerned about what the dresses might imply.
“And why did he send dresses that cost so much?”
She bit her lip and looked across her desk warily. “Because he thought I would look pretty in them and he didn’t want me to be embarrassed by the others who would be attending.”
Derrick absorbed that explanation with narrowed eyes, nodding his head. After several moments of silence he asked, “Is there anything I should be concerned about?” he asked carefully.
Rachel thought about how to answer that. “Possibly,” she admitted. “But I can’t be sure.” In her mind, she knew she was treading on dangerous ground but she wasn’t sure how to explain to her boss that she was sleeping with a client. It wasn’t against the rules, but in her mind, it didn’t seem like it was a very ethical place to be either.
“Reading between the lines, I’m guessing you mean that you’re in an intimate relationship with the man, correct?”
“Yes,” she said honestly
“And you understand the tenuous position you’re in?”
“More than you know.”
He sighed and nodded his head several times, going over the issue in his mind. Finally, he looked up at her. “Here’s how this will work. If you continue this relationship and it doesn’t impact the business or your performance, then I know nothing about this issue.”
Rachel was astonished. She was sure she’d be fired about now. “Why would you make an exception like this for me?” she asked as he stood up and started to walk out of her office.
He turned around and looked down at her. “Because you’re not like the others, dear. If anyone else on my staff were sleeping with a