The Sheikh's Pregnant Wife - Leslie North Page 0,8
case of an emergency.” Cid peered down through the window on the other side of the helicopter. “Even so, with the agreed-upon specifications in mind, the project is at the lowest feasible costs. We should consider a higher margin of overruns. Or…you two should.” He glanced between Yaseen and Kara.
“Is there enough money in the city to turn any profit?” Yaseen sounded thoughtful, but Kara knew there was more to this than simple musings from the sheikh. “I mean, does Mennah have the population to support the operations once the facility is built?”
Cid paused. Don’t say it, thought Kara. Just don’t say it. Say anything but what you’re going to say. Come on, Cid.
“Not at first.” It took everything in her body to keep from sagging in her seat. “The complex isn’t going to turn a profit right away. Maybe a few years in. This project—”
“—wasn’t designed purely for profit,” she interjected. “This is about improving things for the community long-term. It will have a positive impact from the moment it opens, even if that’s not measurable in dollars right away.”
Yaseen looked at her, skepticism written on his face. Don’t say “we’ll see,” thought Kara.
“We’ll see,” said Yaseen.
“The other thing I wanted to bring up while we’re meeting is road access,” said Cid. The helicopter turned in a wide arc, giving them another view of the construction site. At the edges of her consciousness, she heard Yaseen ask another question. This one had to do with revenue. Was he really this focused on making money? Could he honestly not see the bigger picture?
Kara frowned. She didn’t like the profit-obsessed side of him. It had been on full display from the moment they first sat in that meeting room together.
She became aware of Cid asking a question too late. “What was that?” Kara tapped her headphones and shook her head. “I didn’t hear.”
“I said, was there anything else? We can circle the site again if you need to, but otherwise, I’m ready to move on to the 3-D model.”
Cid thought he was going to be leading the presentation. And up until now, Kara had thought that was a perfectly sensible idea. But it wasn’t. She’d never been so certain of anything. Cid would only agree with Yaseen, and the two of them would decide together that the sports center wasn’t viable after all. If not that, some other disaster would work its way into the project.
Kara needed to take matters into her own hands.
Luckily, she was very good at that.
They convened in a small meeting room in a rented space in downtown Mennah. The office looked out over the city’s main boulevard, which even at noon was less busy than some of the quieter moments in the capital. Yaseen settled into a chair on one side of the meeting table and waited for Cid to stand at the head to give his presentation.
“Cid. Wait.” Kara’s voice at the door made him turn his head. For a moment she stood framed there, a silhouette in the sunlight coming from the opposite windows, her hand on Cid’s arm. Jealousy flared in him, pure and strong. She was only touching his elbow to stop him from coming in, but he wanted—foolishly, desperately—for her to be touching his elbow, and only his. Yaseen snapped open the portfolio on the desk and took out his pen. What could she possibly have to say to Cid that Yaseen shouldn’t hear? He took a deep breath and got himself under control. Soon, Cid would start speaking, and they could all move on.
But Kara stepped to the head of the table and flicked the switch on the small projector there. Cid took a seat across from Yaseen. A pleasant surprise washed over him in stark relief to the envy that had threatened to engulf him moments before. He’d rather listen to her speak. Even if it made him think of kissing her at the ruins yesterday. She’d made a little sound against his mouth, a small sigh...
“Mennah was chosen by the committee because this city stands to gain the most from the construction of the sports center.” Kara clicked the remote that controlled the presentation, and a shot of Mennah filled the screen. “Mennah doesn’t have a sports complex or a community center, but it’s home to many schools and a vibrant population.” More pictures—a local school, the marketplace in full swing, a mother walking with her son. “We know from the research that engaging in recreational activities reduces