Sold To The Sheikh Bidder

She had woken up a couple of times during the night and asked Hakim where they were. He watched her stare out the window, looking at the ocean or the city below, touching the window with hesitant fingers, like she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing. Hakim liked that she appreciated the magic of flying in the dark.

Before the plane started to descend, Hakim woke Lauren up so that she could freshen up. By the time the plane was close to landing, Lauren had changed clothes, brushed her hair, and was sitting looking out the window. The steward brought them both coffee, which Lauren accepted gratefully. She still wasn’t saying much, but didn’t seem to mind when he pointed out things she could see as they descended.

The plane landed with a gentle thump of the wheels, and as they rolled to a stop, Hakim made sure that he got to their bags first. He stuck his head in the jet’s cockpit and thanked the two pilots as they exited the plane. There was a sleek, black car waiting for them and Hakim placed the bags in the trunk.

As she got in the passenger side, Lauren said, “What, no driver?”

Hakim grinned at her. “Not tonight. Not usually, actually. I prefer to drive myself.”

Lauren looked out the window. “Where are we going?”

“Dinner. You haven’t eaten in at least fourteen hours.”

“It’s after midnight, though.”

“We’re going to one of my favorite places; they’re staying open just for us.”

Her head whipped around to stare at him. “Just for us?”

Hakim nodded. “They know me well.”

“Plus, there’s that whole Sheikh thing,” she added dryly.

He gave a one-armed shrug. “It doesn’t hurt.”

He was pleased to note that Lauren sounded amused and not annoyed. The car pulled up in front of a tall, modern building, and a doorman opened the car door for them. Hakim helped Lauren out of the car and put his hand on the small of her back as he walked with her into the building.

They took a wood-paneled elevator to the top floor and were met by a host who greeted Hakim by name. The host showed them to the restaurant’s best table, next to floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city lights sparkling below.

Hakim waited for Lauren to slide into the mahogany-brown banquette, then he sat on the other side of the semicircular bench. A chandelier hanging right over the table cast a soft light and candles flickered on the table, giving the cream tablecloth a warm glow. The table was already set for them—a bottle of white wine chilling in a bucket at one end and a small plate of appetizers waiting between their place settings.

Hakim conversed with the waiter as Lauren gazed out the window. Wine was poured, and the waiter left them alone at the table.

“If you like, I’ll have them bring the menu for you, but I thought I’d just order a small selection of things,” Hakim said.

“Does it matter if I want to look at the menu?” Lauren asked, then waved a hand. “I’m sorry for being snippy. I’m just not quite awake yet.”

Hakim nodded. “No apology necessary. I dragged you out of your house on short notice to fly half way around the world, giving you no choice. I’d be a bit snippy, too.”

Lauren studied him for a moment and Hakim waited for her to decide if she was still mad or not.

“A choice would have been preferable. But I’m here, and I’m looking forward to seeing your home, so how about we just start the evening over?”

“I’d like that. I’m very happy that you’re here.” Hakim looked around the restaurant. “This is one of my favorite places. I visited here for the first time right after I started my company, and it’s been my tradition to eat here at least once a week since then, at least when I’m here.”

Lauren smiled. “Ah, so that’s why they stayed open for us.”

“It might have had something to do with it.”

“I’m glad I’m getting to eat here then,” Lauren said, studying the dining room with new interest. “It really is a lovely place.”

“It’s the place I miss the most when I’m in California. There are times when I want to do the whole trip back and forth just to eat here.”

Lauren cocked her head at him. “I don’t mean this in a bad way, but why? What’s so special about this place?”

Hakim thought about it, wanting to explain to her the right way. “When I started the company, I was under a lot of pressure from my family. They meant well, but it was pressure nonetheless. I wasn’t certain I could manage a whole company by myself, and I dreaded the possibility that I might need to go to my father to ask him to bail me out.