“When I was going up in the elevator to meet him, I felt like a businesswoman, but you know me, right? Self-confidence only lasted until the doors opened. When I exited, I felt nervousas hell and ended upbumpinginto the Sheikh, who was coming in from the opposite direction and,luckily, holding a cup of coffee.”
“My goodness. I would give anything to see Kamal, with all that formality, bathed in coffee.”
“Wait, it gets worse. I was startled and the silk of the blouse was sticking to my skin and burning me, so without thinking I took it off and stood there only in a skirt and bra in the reception room.”
She throws her head back and laughs so hard I have no choice but to go along with it. Now I can see humor in the situation, but at the time I wanted to die.
“And what did he do?”
“He took his blazer off and covered me.”
“Awwww. Cute.”
“Not even close. I went to the bathroom to clean up, and when I got back he was talking to another man, saying he wouldn’t hire me because he was attracted to me and he knew he’d end up taking me to bed.”
Contrary to what I thought, she doesn’t freak out. Zoe is very protective of me, especially after everything I’ve been through at my mother’s hands throughout my life. Her lack of reaction surprises me.
“Why aren’t you going crazy or saying you’re going to kill him?” I ask.
“He was honest, to start with. He must have been really attracted to you. Men like Kamal have everything they want with a snap of their fingers, Maddie.”
“Is it a cultural thing?”
“No. It’s because of who he is. Like my husband, besides being handsome, he is rich and powerful. Those are traits that attract women like flies to honey.”
“Well, I shouldn’t be surprised. He’s not justhandsome,like you said. There’s something about him that makes you want to attack him, rip his clothes off, and taste every bit of him. I’ve never felt anything like this before. I mean, I’ve been around handsome men, but it’s not just physical beauty; it’s like a dominance that makes me want to submit, you know?”
She stops smiling. “Be careful, Maddie.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I don’t intend to have any involvement with him, Zoe. I’m just telling you what my boss is like in person. I’m not an idiot. I know very well that men like him get whatever woman they want. But aside from the fact that I didn’t come to London for romance, I’m not confident enough to have an affair with a tycoon and then be okay when he discards me like a garment that no longer fits. I’m not saying that I’m going to get married a virgin, but when I sleep with someone, it will be with someone who doesn’t put an ‘expiration date’ on me.”
“What are you talking about?”
I explain to her everything that happened after I heard him say he was going to take me to bed. Both the part about me quitting and the aftermath, when the Sheikh took me to his office and said that we would never be together because his relationships only last a month.
“I heard about that,” she says. “About him only having a girlfriend for a month, I mean.”
“Right away, I thought it was very pretentious that he assumed that it was up to him to decide whether to seduce me or not. But as we talked, I realized that it was not cockiness; it was just the truth. I don’t think there’s a single woman alive who wouldn’t want him.”
“Even you?”
“I’m human, Zoe, but a human with a brain. Now that my family is broke, I need to think about the future more than ever. Contrary to my mother’s wishes, when I saythe future,I don’t meana rich husband who will support me.”
“I’m so proud of you, Maddie. You are changing your own destiny. When we last met, you looked afraid of everything and everyone, and now you’re blooming like a flower.”
“You inspired me. You went from a shy girl to a powerful, strong woman.”
“You know I love you, right?”
“I know, and it’s mutual. I’m sorry we were apart for so long because of my mother’s issues.”
“She must hate me for helping you leave the States.”
“She hates almost everyone, Zoe. Don’t worry about it.”
She is silent, staring at me for a while.
“What is it?” I ask.
