The Sheik's Reluctant Lover Page 0,42
client, it would most likely be because they were mercenary and trying to seal the deal on future business. That’s just tacky,” he explained with disdain. “It also means they aren’t very good at their job because they needed to add incentives that aren’t on our specialties list, shall we say?” He took a moment to laugh at his own joke. “But in your case, if you’re sleeping with the guy, you’re in love with him so it’s not tacky, it’s very sweet and romantic. And I sincerely hope that things go well for you.” He was almost out the door when he stopped and turned back to her. “Just let me know as far in advance as possible if you’re going to leave the firm for any reason, okay? You’re a very good coordinator and it will be hard to replace you.”
Rachel stared at the door, completely dumbfounded by his words. She had no idea how long she sat there staring at the empty doorway but her mind had a very hard time trying to wrap itself around the idea of being in love with Rais.
Was it possible? She dismissed it as ludicrous and turned to face her computer screen, but her eyes couldn’t focus on what was in front of her. She was still mulling over the idea that she was in love with Rais.
They’d known each other for so long….but love?
That’s crazy!
No, she told herself. She was merely infatuated with him just as she’d been starting at sixteen. She didn’t love him, she told herself firmly. Love would mean caring and being emotionally invested. This was just an affair. He would get over her and….
She couldn’t go on from that thought because it hurt too much. She pushed the idea of Rais moving on to another woman out of her mind and focused on the tasks she had to deal with right now. She had errands to do, vendors to check on. She had to visit each of the vendors this week to ensure that they were ready and able to get everything prepared on time and she didn’t just assume that they were making their deadlines. She’d learned from past experiences to check up on them at intervals the week before the party. The flowers should already be at the florist by now, Lana should have most of the meal prepared except for the items that needed to be steamed fresh.
As she made her way to each of the vendors for Friday’s event, she thought about what Derrick had said, her mind going over and over the possibility that she was in love with Rais. Thankfully, some of the vendors had some problems that she needed to deal with so it was a distracting day. In fact, there were several emergencies that cropped up that week, leaving her exhausted by the end of each day.
She checked her cell phone too, hoping that perhaps Rais might call her. She just wanted to talk to him, but she didn’t make the call herself, knowing that he was a very busy man. However tired she was at the end of each day just trying to get a party together, he was probably pretty wiped out after having to deal with the problems of an entire country.
By Thursday afternoon, she knew that the party was going to be wonderful. All the issues had been dealt with, the ice sculpture was perfect and freezing, the food was delicious as expected, the flowers were ready to be transported and the tent was already constructed with the tables set up.
She’d refused to utilize the helicopter Rais had left at her disposal. She just couldn’t get past the expense of the machine but she thought it was very nice that he’d offered it to her to save her time. The drive out to the farm wouldn’t be too bad because she’d leave about three o’clock to inspect the site, then have dinner with her father and spend the night, driving back to her apartment in the early morning to avoid commuter traffic.
There was one thing bothering her though. All week, she kept feeling as if someone was watching her. She actually spotted a man leaning against a car one morning. He appeared to be reading a newspaper, but when she glanced back at him, he was looking right at her.
Wednesday, she saw another man sitting in a coffee shop outside of the floral shop she’d contracted for the event and by Thursday afternoon, she