The Sheikh's Stubborn Assistant (The Sharif Sheikhs 3)

The waitress stopped by, and Fatima and Katie ordered. Sipping at her glass of white wine, Katie saw her opportunity to get a little more information. “What do you know about Khalid?”

Fatima’s lip curled. “Got your eye on him?”

“Hardly.” Katie snorted. “Amira recommended that I might work for him in the gallery. I had a job interview with him this morning.”

Fatima leaned across the table, her eyes alight with curiosity. “Really?”

“Don’t get all excited for me. It did not go well. He managed to offer me a job and take it away in the span of five seconds. He’s cold and rigid. The complete opposite of his brothers. What is with that?”

“Actually, it used to be different. Asad used to be the cold and rigid one. I guess Liyah has made him soft. Khalid has always been a recluse. I always saw him as a spoiled child. Too much into his own pursuits to ever care about anyone but himself. He certainly didn’t seem to care for women.” She rolled her eyes and turned her nose up. “And it’s not just me saying that, either. Everyone thought he was a bit strange. Unlike his brothers, he didn’t want to stand on his own two feet, financially. I guess he hoped that he would live off the family fortune forever.”

Katie wasn’t quite sure she understood what her new friend was trying to say. “Did you try to date him or something?”

“That is not what I said!” Fatima snapped angrily before she took a deep breath and swirled her glass, a strange gleam in her eye. “Khalid is a deadbeat. His father put a stop to that, but I don’t think it changed Khalid’s disposition on life. I’m just warning you so that you can save yourself a lot of trouble by steering clear.”

Katie blew out her breath. “So you think that he resents the gallery?”

“No doubt. That one is a sour apple.” Fatima smiled wickedly. “I feel sorry for any woman who falls for him. He’d take an independent woman like you or me and strip us to nothing.” Her gaze growing uncomfortably intense, she repeated, “If I were you, I’d steer clear of him.”

“You’re probably right.” Katie immediately changed the subject, but something didn’t sit right with her about the things that Fatima was saying. Khalid didn’t seem like a man who gave a damn about family money, and he didn’t seem resentful about the gallery—but Fatima did know the family better than Katie did. Maybe Katie was just bad at judging people.

Not that it mattered. It wasn’t like Khalid was going to hire her, anyway.

4

Borrowing a dress from Mila, Katie tried to put on a bright smile and positive attitude as she arrived at the palace for dinner and a movie night with Amira. She had no idea why a movie night should be such a dressy occasion, but when Amira greeted her wearing gold lamé, she suddenly felt underdressed.

“Katie! I’m so glad that you could make it! Sahaar said that you’ve been feeling a little down, lately.”

She had? Katie wrinkled her nose. “Not down. Just a little disappointed. I’m intrigued by your idea of movie night. Generally, in America, it’s pajamas, pizza, and beer. This is the first time I’ve had to wear a dress!”

“Pajamas, pizza, and beer?” Amira’s eyes widened. “That sounds interesting. Maybe next time! I’ve invited some friends from the art world so that you can expand your contacts. Khalid, of course, is here. I’m surprised that you didn’t take him up on the job offer!”

“I . . .” Katie frowned. “What did he say, exactly?” She followed Amira down the expansive hall.

Amira waved her hands. “Nothing, but that’s like Khalid. If you’re still interested, I’m sure that Khalid will set up a time for an interview.”

Hardly. Katie rolled her eyes. How annoying that Khalid hadn’t even bothered to tell his own sister that he didn’t think Katie was good enough to work for him. The last thing she wanted to see was his snobby, gloomy face.

Still, it was obvious that Amira had put in some effort to invite people Katie could connect with, and she didn’t want to ruin her new friend’s move. Plastering a smile on her face, she tried to look comfortable and at ease as she followed Amira into the dining hall. A dozen people were seated at the long table, including Liyah and Asad, but Katie’s eyes went directly to Khalid.

It was just plain wrong that a man so cold on the inside could be so beautiful on the outside. His gorgeous green eyes barely swept over her when she entered. There wasn’t even a flicker of recognition in his gaze, and there were two women seated on either side of him. They both leaned in toward him, pushing their cleavage practically into his face.

Wonderful.

How can such an exquisitely beautiful man be so cold, like he barely has a heart beating in his chest?

“Everyone, this is Katie. She’s new to Dubai and looking to get better acquainted with the art world, so please allow her to pick your brains,” Amira announced. She gestured to the empty chair next to Liyah and took her own place at the head of the table.

As Katie sat down, Liyah leaned over and squeezed her hand. “You look beautiful!”

“Thanks, although next to Amira, I’m pretty much invisible.”

“A rarity for you, I’m sure, but don’t worry. Next to Amira, we’re all pretty much invisible.”

A glass of red wine appeared in front of her as a server made her way around the table. The conversation started up again, and everyone’s attention turned to Amira. It was obvious that the only men who weren’t interested in Amira were her brothers.

“Shouldn’t Asad be at the head of the table?” Katie whispered as she picked up her glass.