She asked about him, his childhood, his education, his love of winter sports. She knew the answers already. She’d spent the past fourteen days digging up everything she could on him. Eventually, their conversation turned to his brother, Crown Prince Jabr, the man who’d given him the Bugatti. And by the look in TNT’s eyes, his archrival.
“You seem so calm,” said Ava. “Blissfully detached from it all.”
TNT flushed. “Do I? I suppose I must. Dissent is not tolerated.”
“You sound like a Russian afraid of being thrown in the gulag.”
“Not so different,” said Tariq. “It is just hotter where I live.”
“So?” asked Ava, as she finished her veal. “Dissent, how?”
“They cannot be allowed to win,” said TNT.
“Who?”
“They. Zionists. The Jews. Israel.”
“I thought that was the common view,” said Ava. “Hardly dissent.”
“You would think so,” said TNT. “After the wars, the annexation; after the intifadas and October seventh and the genocide in Gaza. But no. There are those who think differently. Appeasers.”
“Disgusting,” said Ava, with a shake of her head. “After so much suffering and mistreatment.”
“It is not your battle.”
“No, it is not,” said Ava. “But I have eyes. I have ears. I have a heart.”
“So you agree?” TNT reached across the table to take her hand.
“We share the same philosophy,” said Ava.
“My brother ...” TNT sighed, his eyes narrowing, looking past her, looking at something he disliked.
“What has he done?”
“He does not share the same philosophy,” said TNT. “He is an appeaser. He says the battle is done. The war is over. It’s time to make peace. The Jews won.”
“You’re kidding! Your brother, Jabr ... the one you mentioned.”
“Our next emir,” said Tariq. “If that can be believed.”
“What will he do?”
“A treaty. He calls it the ‘Greater Gulf Co-Prosperity Sphere.’ The Saudis, the Emiratis, even King Hussein of Jordan is going along with it. A treaty with the Jews. A partnership with Israel. Peace across the region.”
“And you, Qatar?” asked Ava.
“We are insignificant,” said Tariq. “We have natural gas, lots of it, but nothing else. We are negotiators without a mandate of our own. Middlemen. Influencers.” A laugh aimed at himself. “And soon, not even that.”
“What will you do?” asked Ava, playing the affronted, not willing to accept things the way they were.
TNT looked at her, as if weighing her impassioned plea. Real or an act? He suddenly looked older, mature, capable, and, most of all, cunning. For the first time, she felt as if she were looking at the real man. The man behind the mask.
“You will do something,” Ava went on unabashedly. She was ordering him to act, if not for himself, then for her. For all who shared their philosophy.
“Oh yes,” said Tariq. “I will do something. Jabr cannot buy me off ... buy our country off ... with an automobile. There are others who think like me. Those with more power. Others who will not tolerate being pushed to one side.” He stopped abruptly. He stared at her openly. She was unable to gauge his feelings. Suspicion? Anger? Worse.He knew that she was the enemy.As quickly, his features softened. He laughed quietly, then wagged a finger at her. “You,” he said.
“What?” asked Ava.
