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

“I won’t say it again, Khalid. I can’t. I’m sure that buying up all the seats on all of the planes leaving in the next week was expensive, but you can’t keep me forever, Khalid. Dubai is a fairytale city, but,” her voice broke, “it’s not my happy ending.”

She turned to leave, but was stopped by the panic in his voice as he called after her, “Katie, wait! I don’t want you to leave. I just need more time to figure this out. It’s not just about sex for me. There’s more, I just . . . I just need more time.”

Closing her eyes, she tried to ignore the waves of pain washing over her. “That’s convenient, Khalid. But it’s cruel to play with me like this.”

He didn’t say anything else, and she turned on her heel to leave him. How many times was she going to have to walk away from Khalid?

She wasn’t sure she could do it a third time.

Back at the palace, Khalid ignored the angry looks his sister was giving him. It was bad enough that their parents were there, fully involved in this impossible conversation. “You let her befriend Fatima? No wonder she wants to flee Dubai. God knows what hateful things that girl said to her. What’s wrong with you?”

“You two are pretty much attached at the hip. If you want to blame someone for her taste in friends, blame yourself,” Khalid snapped.

“You were sleeping with her!” Navine gasped. “She was your employee!”

Khalid rubbed at his temples. His parents and sister had been waiting for him in his suite when he’d returned. Apparently Ziva had called to complain about the recent changes at the gallery, and his parents had decided to stage an intervention.

That was the last thing he needed.

“Is she the reason that you want to send out newsletters and host family events at the museum?” Navine continued. “She is using you to run the gallery?” The older man’s gaze intensified as he locked eyes with his youngest son. “You will fire her immediately and rehire Ziva’s niece with your most sincere apology.”

“Navine,” Shekinah said softly, reaching out and taking her husband’s arm.

Navine patted her hand, removing his attention momentarily from Khalid as if co

nfident that he’d already won. “Darling, do not involve yourself. Our son is being used by this woman.”

The pain behind Khalid’s eyes grew stronger, and he sighed. “Can everyone please just leave me alone?”

“Katie is not using him!” Amira snapped at their father. “She’s an exceptional woman, one that you haven’t even bothered to get to know.”

“Amira,” Navine rumbled. “Perhaps for once you could focus on your own life rather than continue to get involved with the affairs of your brothers? I’ve given you free run of the palace, but I did not realize that it would end in my two elder sons marrying foreigners!”

“Navine!” Shekinah hissed. “I admit that I wasn’t crazy about the idea either, but Asad and Rashid are happy, and their respective businesses are flourishing.”

“Yes, Father,” Amira said snidely. “You should be thanking me!”

“Young woman . . .”

“Stop!” Khalid thundered.

Immediately, they all fell silent.

He looked around at their faces. “First of all, Father, I hired Katie because she shared my ideas about the gallery. I have been trying to implement policies that would allow us to make a profit from the public rather than being under the thumbs of our donors. You promised me that I could run the gallery as I see fit as long as I focused on it rather than painting. I’ve done as you asked, and you will not get involved with my choices in the gallery.”

“But . . .”

“No.” Khalid respected and loved his father, but their relationship had never been solid, and he wasn’t about to let his father continue to run his life. “The gallery is mine. My choices have nothing to do with Katie. End of story.”

“So you will continue to sleep with this employee?”

Khalid swallowed hard. “No. I won’t. Not only did she quit the gallery, but she’s leaving Dubai, so I’ll never see her again. She’s no longer anyone’s concern.”

Amira shook her head. “Of all the men in this family, you’re certainly the thickest. You love her. Go after her!”

“Is that true, Khalid?” his mother asked softly. “Do you love her?”

“I canceled her ticket. I bought every empty seat on every plane going to America for the next week. I saw her this morning and asked her for more time. What else do you want me to do?”