But it didn’t matter. She was leaving soon.
Right?
“I’ll see you in the morning,” she echoed.
It didn’t take long to choose the artists and pieces to showcase. When it came to art, Katie always went with her gut reaction. She chose a theme that she knew Dubai would love: Arabian traditions blended with Western-world misconceptions. Even the donors would be intrigued enough to make an appearance.
It was too late to get a plaque made for each piece so she chose to go with artist monologues explaining the pieces. It was a risk to include the artists in events like this, but she employed Mila and Liyah to help make sure that the artists dressed well and brushed up on their etiquette.
Vendors and caterers were more than happy to accommodate the gallery on such short notice. The gallery space itself was already elegant, showing subtle hints of thoughtful yet understated design that receded into the background, allowing the artwork to stand out. Not a whole lot needed to be done there, thankfully.
Katie stayed busy, but in the end, she pulled it off. As a professional, she kept Khalid appraised of everything.
He didn’t intervene. In fact, he acted as professional as she did, but she did notice a few changes in him. He frequently touched her. Not inappropriately but just enough to cause her pulse to race and make her wish for more.
He didn’t beg her to stay. He didn’t try to bring up the topic of feelings again.
She started to believe that maybe all he really wanted to do was make up for his wrongs.
And let her go.
Two hours before the event, she hung the last painting and stepped back. The caterers were running around and setting up, but she paid little attention to them. Instead, she took a moment to marvel at the culture that surrounded her.
A couple marrying for love.
A young woman reading.
Gorgeous landscapes filled with natural and indigenous plants.
A portrait of three people practicing three different religions in harmony.
Peace, beauty, and love. It was the perfect theme for bringing together two very different art cultures.
“You’ve done a wonderful job,” Khalid said quietly from behind her. “Although I didn’t expect anything less from you.”
Katie slowly turned around. “Thank you. I don’t think I’ve said this before, but I do appreciate the opportunity to show you what I can do.”
“Me?” Khalid asked with a small smile. “Or Dubai?”
“Dubai, at first. But you, too,” she admitted. “It shouldn’t surprise you. You are my boss.”
“Did you want to impress me because I’m your boss or because I’m your ex-lover?” When she didn’t immediately answer, he took a step closer to her. “You’d better go home, my love, if you plan to have enough time to change before the event.”
His love. So close to the words that she longed to hear him say, even if she wasn’t entirely sure that she would believe him. “I’ll see you in a little bit. I should be back before the artists arrive.”
“No need. I’ll be speaking to them myself. Take a deep breath, Katie. Tonight is going to go perfectly. You’ve put too much work into it for it not to. I only wish . . . well, I suppose I’m not allowed to say it.”
Katie cocked her head. “Say what?”
“Say something that you might misconstrue as me asking you to stay.”
Immediately, her mouth went dry. Her heart slammed against her ribcage. “Do you want to say it because it’s true or because you hope that it will make me stay?”
“Because it’s true.”
“Then say it.”
He smiled and nodded. “I only wish that you could be here to see the fruit of your labors.”