Page 64 of Bred By the Sheikh

“Were you raised there?”

“Yes, I was.”

“What was it like?”

I studied her profile.

“It was structured.”

“That sounds diplomatic.”

“That was diplomatic.”

She waited.

I’d learned quickly that Chrissy could wait through silence when she wanted a better answer.

“There were always people around,” I said. “Family, staff, advisers, security. There were expectations for how things were done and where I was expected to be.”

“Did you hate it?”

“No, I didn’t.”

She glanced at me.

“I knew what my life was. I never found the title itself burdensome.”

“That’s refreshingly non-tortured of you.”

“I’ll try to develop a tragic relationship with privilege before dinner.”

She laughed.

“Please don’t. I’m starting to like you.”

“Only starting?”

She turned back outside.

“What about the company?”

“That wasn’t inherited.”

Her attention returned to me.

“My family had investments in hospitality and property,” I said. “Al-Hadid Hospitality as it exists now is mine. I expanded it, chose the Grand portfolio, and built the operating structure.”

“So the royal part was given to you.”

“That’s right.”

“And the hotel empire was your bad decision.”

“Something like that.”

“Why hotels?”

I thought about it.