the palace and down the long driveway. It parked in front of a wide set of marble steps as the SUV pulled in directly behind them.
Naasir jumped out of the SUV and immediately ran to the limo to open the door for Sadiq and Hannah. They stepped out into the bright morning sunlight and Sadiq stood still as Hannah looked up and down and side to side, trying to take in the enormity of the place.
“I’d be happy to take you for a tour,” Sadiq said softly as he reached out and grabbed her hand in his. “Tomorrow, I mean. As for today, you rest.”
Hannah was too tired to argue. She let him lead her up the steps and into the enormous entry hall. Chandeliers, marble, gold and ivory dripped from every wall and ceiling. Hannah felt overwhelmed by the extravagance of it all and squeezed Sadiq’s hand a little tighter.
It was only then that she realized she was holding it. Her first reaction was to pull her hand away. But it felt too good. She hadn’t held a man’s hand in a very long time. And even if he was just being polite, the warmth and strength she felt in his touch were more than she sensed in any man in years. As those thoughts ran through her head, she felt Sadiq squeeze her hand back.
Hannah smiled shyly as she walked with him down long, extravagantly-decorated hallways. Naasir had already called the servants to have them prepare a suite of rooms for her, and when they arrived at the double doors leading to the suite, they were greeted by a thin, older woman in a maid’s uniform.
“Good morning, ma’am. My name is Fatima and I am your housemaid. I will be at your disposal for the duration of your stay here at Palace al-Halam. Welcome.”
Hannah nodded and smiled as Sadiq opened the double doors into a large sitting room complete with some of the finest artwork, furniture and appointments she had ever seen.
“Come,” he said softly, his voice stirring emotions Hannah hadn’t felt in forever.
He led her to the bedroom where she gazed onto what was surely the largest, most opulent canopy bed that had ever been built.
She wanted to say, “Is that all for me?”, but she thought better of it, fearing it might sound like an invitation for Sadiq to join her there. That wouldn’t exactly be a bad thing, but wasn’t what she was there for. Or was it? She was so tired she couldn’t think straight. All Hannah knew for sure was that she was standing in the most magnificent place she had ever visited, holding the hand of an extremely sexy man.
“Hannah,” Sadiq asked, for the third time. “Earth to Hannah!”
Hannah shook her head and pulled her hand out of Sadiq’s grasp. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I said, I’ll be on the other side of the palace taking care of some business. But Fatima is here for anything you need. Your bags are right there,” Sadiq said, pointing to the far wall by the sofa.
“Is there anything else I can do for you before I leave you?”
Hannah thought of a thousand things, but knew better than to say any of them out loud. “No, thank you. I’m fine.”
“Okay then. And remember, you can call me if you need anything as well.”
With that, Naasir and Sadiq left, leaving Fatima to help Hannah get settled. A few moments later, the curtains were drawn, the room was cool and Hannah was under a cotton sheet, reminding herself that this was just a job; just a really awesome, well-paying, unbelievably fantastic job. It was not her real life. But it was definitely a life she could get used to.
EIGHT
Hannah awoke the next morning to the sun cascading through the bedroom windows, glistening off of the gold and marble fixtures throughout her room. She peeled the sheet off slowly and took a deep breath as she opened her eyes, still amazed at where she was. She had slept so well that she didn’t want to get up. She wasn’t sure if she was still tired, or just jet-lagged from the time difference.
A moment later there was a light knock at her door. “Miss Green? Are you ready for breakfast?”
Hannah smiled. Yeah, she could definitely get used to this treatment. She rolled out of bed and pulled on the silk robe that Fatima had laid out for her before she fell asleep. It fell against her skin like cool water and hung on her slender frame perfectly.
“Good morning, Fatima,” she said as she opened the door and met the maid’s smiling face. “What’s on the menu today?”
Fatima looked at her curiously for a moment. “Oh, on the menu. Yes, well, whatever you would like. His Highness is waiting in the lounge for you. There is coffee there as well.” She smiled politely. “Is there anything else you need at the moment?”
Hannah looked around the gigantic room. “Just an escort,” she said, realizing she had no idea where the lounge was.
Fatima smiled again and bowed slightly. “As soon as you are ready, I will take you to him.” She nodded slightly and disappeared out of the room, closing the heavy double doors behind her.
Minutes later, Hannah was showered, dressed and more than ready for a steaming cup of coffee. She met Fatima in the sitting room and the two of them left the suite and made their way through the vast halls of the palace, Hannah’s low heels echoing softly on the polished marble floors.
A few moments later, they arrived at the lounge to a freshly showered and smiling Sadiq. He stood up from his chair at the sound of their footsteps, setting his tablet and coffee down as he rose.
“Well, good morning Hannah,” he said, smiling from ear to ear.
Hannah looked at him from across the room, amazed at how he just got better looking every time she saw him. She self-consciously ran her fingers through her hair and smiled back as she walked over to him.
He reached out his hands and took hers in his and then bent in to kiss her on the cheek. Hannah wasn’t expecting that. But it certainly was a great way to start her morning. She breathed in his scent and her stomach flipped over.
It’s just hunger, she thought to herself. I have nothing in my stomach, no coffee, no food. But as she took the cup of coffee Fatima poured for her, she knew it wasn’t hunger. She was reacting to Sadiq and his… His good looks? His power? His kindness? His irresistible, musky yet fresh smell?
“Oh, thank you,” she said as she took the cup and sat down in the large leather chair across from Sadiq.