Katie quietly watched as the brothers challenged each other on everything, only to be reeled in gently by Mila and Liyah. The two friends acted more like sisters, and for a moment, Katie wondered what it would feel like to have that kind of relationship with someone.
“So Katie, Mila tells me that you’re looking for a curator position,” Rashid said finally when all the dishes had been taken away. “Why Dubai?”
“My mother came from here. Most of her family is gone now, but the culture has always called to me. Everything made here is done with such care and beauty. I love the colors and the music.” Katie swallowed hard, but managed to continue, “She passed away four years ago, and I guess I wanted to feel close to her again,” she sighed and returned to practicalities, “but I need a job in order to keep my work visa current.”
“There are plenty of museum-related jobs available in Dubai,” Asad said casually. “We’d be happy to call around for you.”
“No, thank you,” Katie said firmly. “My previous experience should speak for itself, and I’d like for that to be the reason that I get a job.”
The eldest brother lifted his eyebrows and smiled. “A woman of principle. I can respect that.”
Rashid snapped his fingers. “There was a curator position that opened up a couple of weeks ago at that private art history museum.”
“Yes, I interviewed for that today, but the owner was more interested in a personal connection than a professional one,” Katie muttered, looking down into her wineglass as she swirled her wine.
“Gross!” Mila wrinkled her nose. “I hope you don’t judge Dubai by that experience. This is the kind of city where dreams come tr
ue.”
“My father definitely calls me a dreamer,” Katie said and smiled weakly. The endearment wasn’t meant to be a compliment, but despite everything, she wasn’t willing to let go of those dreams. “I am hoping that Dubai will be the answer.”
“Well, you don’t have to do it alone. The professional world, even the art world, is all about connections, and we have plenty.” Liyah winked, and Katie had a feeling that the royal family was going to insinuate themselves into her life whether she wanted them to or not.
It was a strange feeling, but not an unpleasant one.
2
The dinner party went well past midnight, and Liyah and Mila insisted that Katie spend the night in the palace guest suite. Though she went to bed in a blur of wine and weariness, she woke up fairly early and found a pair of shorts and a cute green lace tank top waiting for her with a note insisting that she take the day to enjoy herself. Apparently, there was a driver waiting to convey her wherever she wanted to go.
“Meddlesome women,” she muttered under her breath, but there was a smile on her face. When was the last time someone had insisted that she take a day off?
The truth was that she’d hit the ground running as soon as she’d landed in Dubai. She’d already had interviews lined up, and she’d been tweaking her resume and doing her research on the different museums. Last night had been the first time that she’d enjoyed herself since her arrival, and she did want to find a connection to Dubai. Something that might fulfill her—and she couldn’t do that until she actually explored the beautiful city.
Liyah and Mila were both slender women, but the shorts and the top fit Katie perfectly. Following the instructions on the note, she found the driver waiting outside for her. She figured she’d enjoy some tea and walk around the marketplace, have some lunch, and then head home in the afternoon to start the job search again.
The market bazaar was crowded despite the earliness of the hour. Everyone probably wanted to beat the afternoon heat.
She purchased a cup of chai tea from a vendor and slowly walked around to take everything in. The bartering was intense, always escalating into an argument that mingled with the laughter within the rest of the marketplace. Vendors approached her eagerly with beautiful things. Ornate jewelry, fresh fruits and vegetables, hand-painted books of poetry: Katie politely brushed them off, but she did stop and linger at some of the carts carrying gorgeous prints and carved woodwork.
Finally, slightly overwhelmed from the crowd and the strong perfume and spice aromas, she took refuge in the lounge that Mila and Liyah had recommended. The place had just opened for lunch, and the dark, cool air offered a nice reprieve.
The hostess seated her. She took her time with the menu. Having skipped breakfast, her stomach rumbled, but at the same time, her mind was wandering. There had been so many interested-sounding emails when she’d first put out feelers, and it had never occurred to her that she’d have trouble finding a job. What was she lacking? She’d done well in school, excelled in her internship, and gained prestige through her work.
She was damn good at what she did—so what was the problem?
Maybe it was something to do with confidence. This was a different culture. She needed to do more than prove herself on paper. She needed to prove that she was just as good as any man.
“Welcome. I’m Fatima, and I’ll be taking care of you today. I’m actually one of the managers here.”
Katie looked up in confusion. “Do I warrant a manager?”
“The hostess told me that you gave her the Al Sharifs’ card. They have a running tab here, so I just want to make sure that you get the best service we have to offer. And that’s me. How do you know the Sharif brothers?”
“I know them through their wives. Mila and Liyah? Mila used to work here, right?”
“She did!” Fatima flashed a big smile. “We were such good friends when she was here. Are you here with the exchange program?”
Pleased to meet another friendly face, Katie put the menu down and relaxed. “Not exactly. I’m here on a work visa, and Sahaar offered me a room. They’ve all been so welcoming here.”