Page 110 of Bred By the Sheikh

“No. But I can control whether the role is real.”

She held my gaze.

“It’s real.”

“Yes, it is.”

“I’m going to do it.”

“I know.”

“And I’m going to be good at it.”

“You already are.”

Her lips parted slightly.

I continued before she could dismiss that.

“You’ll have more to learn. So will anyone taking a larger role. That isn’t the same as being unqualified.”

Chrissy’s fingers tightened around the folder.

“You’re going to be annoying when we work together.”

“I’m sure you’ll recover.”

“I may have to complain to my manager.”

“I’ll be devastated.”

She smiled.

Then the smile faded.

Chrissy set the folder on the table.

“I didn’t only come out here to talk about the job.”

“Go on.”

Her cheeks warmed.

I wanted to touch her.

I kept my hands at my sides.

She drew one breath.

“I’m staying in Dubai.”

Everything in me went completely still.

Chrissy kept going.

“I’m staying because of the work. This gives me the chance to do something bigger than what I was doing before, and I’m not going back to Omaha just because that was the plan six days ago.”

I held her eyes.