The Sheikh's Wedding Contract by Andie Brock

Author:Andie Brock [Brock, Andie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-05-31T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘I HAD AN email from Hassan Rouhani this morning.’

Zayed had waited for the two staff who were serving their food to leave before he spoke. He and Nadia were sitting at the small round table in the informal dining room, something they did most evenings in an effort to keep up the pretence of the happily married couple. Tonight that effort was doubly difficult with last night’s heated confrontation still smarting between them.

Nadia had not seen Zayed all day, as per usual, and with nothing to do except reflect on her ‘little outburst’ of the night before, as Zayed had so furiously labelled it, she had started to wonder if maybe he was right, maybe she had made things worse by speaking out. It looked as if she was about to find out.

‘What did he say?’ She laid down her knife and fork, her appetite for the sayadieh samak, the delicious-smelling baked fish and rice on her plate, suddenly vanishing.

‘Oh, glowing praise.’ He levelled those deep brown eyes at her. ‘For you, that is. Positively gushing with congratulations that I have managed to find myself such a charming and intelligent wife.’

‘That’s good.’ Nadia would have loved to savour this morsel of victory, but Zayed’s tone, his unspoken if only he knew, was robbing her of any triumph. She tried shooting him a meaningful glance instead. ‘It’s nice that someone appreciates me.’

‘Isn’t it just?’

Nadia lowered her eyes to the safety of her plate. ‘Did he say anything else?’ She casually picked up her fork again.

‘If you mean did he say he knows who you are, then no. But don’t think that lets you off the hook. Rouhani is a clever man—he may well have decided there is no benefit in showing his hand, or maybe he’s going to do some more investigation. Either way, what you said last night was totally irresponsible.’

Nadia sighed. Did this man never take a break from telling her off? ‘Well, I liked him.’

‘How nice. Perhaps you should start a mutual admiration society.’

She let her gaze flick back to him, surprised by what sounded almost like jealousy. No, she instantly dismissed that thought. That would be ridiculous.

‘Did Hassan say any more about Azeed? Do you really think he is in Harith?’

‘Who knows?’ Zayed concentrated on his meal.

‘So he has refused to have any contact with you?’

‘That is correct.’ Now he scowled. Perhaps Nadia would like him to pass the salt so she could rub it directly into the wound. ‘Are you intending to eat anything this evening or just ask a lot of annoying questions?’

‘That must be hard for you.’ Nadia deliberately ignored him. ‘To have your brother cut you out of his life through no fault of your own.’ He replied with a wall of silence but still she persevered. ‘Were you close—growing up, I mean?’

‘Not especially.’ Finally Zayed raised his eyes to look at her. It seemed she wasn’t going to give up, determined to turn over the stones to expose his weaknesses and failures.

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