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Her eyes darted to Desmond; he was looking at her steadily.
Don’t say anything, his expression seemed to command.
“At the very least I would have expected you to tell me that your circumstances were likely to change. I consider you a part of my household, Val. And you not only carried on with this relationship behind my back, but you didn’t allow me to celebrate you as I should have!”
Val was dimly aware of Desmond coming to her side, his hand seeking hers. “I told her not to, Your Excellency. I felt it would be a conflict of interest, given I was actively seeking your business.”
Sheikh Rashid’s eyes were darting back and forth between their faces. “How did you evenmeet?”
“You and I have been in talks for over a year, Sheikh Rashid,” Desmond said blandly. “In the early days I spent quite a bit of time in your magnificent waiting rooms. She came in with Hind one day and was kind enough to direct me through the labyrinth of rooms, and by the time I emerged I was so enchanted that I invented a cousin in need of her tutoring services. By the time she’d figured out my ruse…”
Val closed her eyes. She was going to be struck dead at any second, she was sure, because this story was growing more outrageous by the moment. She would even welcome it, at this point; at least it would make him stop talking!
“…and that’s it. We got married in the courts about a month ago. We’d planned the white wedding for sometime next year, or even later, and we were going to announce it officially, then. Val is so dedicated to her duties and she didn’t want to abandon Hind until she was ready to leave for university.”
“I had no idea. She gives nothing away, I swear.”
“Can I be a bridal attendant?”
“I flew to New Orleans to meet her parents, and if you think it’s hot in theGulf…”
The conversations were melding into one. Val was having an out-of-body experience and watched herself accept hearty congratulations from Sheikh Rashid and soft but effusive kisses from Hind. She saw herself give her arm to Desmond and allowed herself to be steered away from Hind and her father, who was smiling now. Desmond ushered her further back into her room and whispered rapidly in her ear.
“Sorry to spring that on you,” he said, his English accent growing crisper with every word. “But you know how particular they are in Bahr Al-Dahab about contact between unmarried men and women, and too much was at risk. Your job, my deal…”
“Andthiswas the best way to handle with it?” Val countered. She groped behind her until she found the single guest chair in the room, and sank into it. “I’m— But— What— You did it soeasily! That outrageous story!”
“Yes,” said Desmond. Something hardened in his face, something that took away the youthfulness completely, something that made ice creep up Val’s spine. Ambition. She’d seen that look before and knew what it meant to have her life—her happiness—be dependent upon it.
There was nothing more ruthless than an ambitious man. You’d always come second to it.
That was what had got her into the biggest trouble of her life in the first place, and here she was again, swept away by passion, then trapped in a web of her own impulsive foolishness.
“I’m not going to apologize for lying,” Desmond said. He lifted his broad shoulders and shoved his hands deep into his pockets. That beautiful, lush mouth of his had tightened into a line. “Not when it could lose me everything I’ve been working to achieve. I’ve been trying to break into the Middle East market for years. This has more far-reaching effects than you could possibly imagine, Val. And this way you get to keep your job and your reputation.”
His patronizing words were more than she could take. She stood abruptly and crossed to the wide windows overlooking Mayfair, pressing her forehead against the glass. The Sheikh and Hind were still talking rapidly together by the door to the hotel room and the tiny room was suddenly stifling in its opulence.
“It doesn’t have to be for long, Val,” he said quietly as he came over and joined her. “A few parties, a few dinners, a handful of social events. Once the contract is signed, we’ll go our separate ways. Discreetly.”
Yes, everything had an easy answer when you were young and handsome and had nothing to think about but your deals. She felt her shoulders drooping, forfeiting the posture she usually fought so hard to maintain.
Desmond drew close and placed a hand on her lower back. “You look tired.”
“Well, I didn’t sleep much, and I have to admit to my employer that this whole fairy tale you concocted is a scam and I will lose my job and my visa—.”
“What? No, Val. I thought we talked about this!”
“No.Youtalked about it, and decided thatyou’dfixed everything,” Val responded hotly. Desmond looked up at her harsh tone, so her next words were softer, though no less forceful in their intent. “Well, you don’t know anything. And even if I wanted to go along with this madness, Desmond, I couldn’t.”
“Because you’re somoral,” Desmond said, rolling his eyes.
“No, Desmond.” Val’s mouth curved, ironically, even as her stomach twisted so much it hurt. “Because I’m already married !”
* * *
“I can’t imagine what you have to tell me that would justify making me a co-adulterer without my consent!” Desmond hissed.
Val was sitting across from him in a ludicrously powder-pink chair, and the two of them were speaking in hushed, rather vicious whispers across the round marble table, where an opulent spread for afternoon tea in a private room at Claridge’s sat untouched between them. It was the first moment they’d had alone since she’d dropped her bomb earlier in the day. Right after she’d said it, Hind had come in and dragged Val off to work, and Desmond realized belatedly that he didn’t even have the woman’snumber.