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And fool her, she had believed it was like her Cinderella story had unfolded in real life. She had thought that the kids at school had probably seen the press photos from Ramil, and since she had worn her nice dress and some makeup that time, they had finally realized she wasn’t that ordinary after all.

She really had believed this untilthecliché happened.

Harper was in one of the cubicles when she overheard Talia and her squad entering the restroom in a flurry of giggles. She had been about to step out and say hi when she heard Talia gasp,‘Oh my God, I still can’t get over the look on her face when we told her we should go hang sometime. Like, for real? She really thinks we want to hang out for her?’

More giggles had followed.

‘Be ready to keep faking it for the rest of the year. Just keep thinking about all those hot sheikhs we can date if she takes us with her.’

Harper had considered confronting the girls afterwards, but in the end she had let it go. In the end, she had simply allowed herself to change into a grouch, a shrew – someone who said hurtful things first...so that they’d know she was tough, and they couldn’t hurt her.

Even though it always did hurt.

****

KHALIL SPENT THE ENTIREmorning the next day locked up in his office and doing his best to get as much work done. One taste of Harper’s sweet body was more than enough to cement his plans for her. She would be his queen, and he would let nothing stand in his way.

Or so he had thought.

It was a few minutes past noon when the sheikh received a call from Altair, and he answered it right away. “This is unusual.”

“It is,” the other sheikh drawled.

Khalil frowned, thinking that it was unlike Altair to be anything other than direct and concise when calling him during official hours. Finally, he asked, “I hope it isn’t bad news?”

“That depends. What do you think of Ms. Harper Griffiths requesting for permission to leave the palace and fly back to America?”

Khalil stiffened. “Deny the request.” The sheikh’s tone was steely.

Altair smiled. So Tarif had been telling the truth. Their Emir Sheikhwasfeeling something rather special for the American, regardless of whether he knew it or not. “I’m afraid it’s too late, brother. The security chief had already approved the request when I was informed—-”

He heard a click on the other end of the line.

Khalil had hung up on him.

Altair put the phone down and, swinging his chair around to face his waiting aide, he murmured, “Keep stalling her.”

“We could perhaps escort her back to Emir Sheikh’s office—-” The younger man’s voice trailed off when the sheikh shook his head.

“No need to make it easy for Khalil. It’s good for him to have a challenge once in a while.” And for both their sakes, Altair hoped that Harper would challenge the sheikh every step of the way. Few people could bear to accept this, but things that came too easy were never meant to last.