The Sheik's Siren

Chapter 13

Faye didn’t pace around.  She didn’t bite her nails or create horrific timelines in her mind.  She sat on the sofa in the magnificent penthouse.  Waiting.

“Ma’am, can I get you some coffee or tea?  Perhaps a glass of wine while you wait?”

Faye looked up, surprised to discover that her neck was stiff.  Wine?  It was only…!  She glanced at the time on her cell phone, startled to find that she’d been sitting on the sofa for two hours.  Two hours!  Goodness, she hadn’t realized how late it was!  Or perhaps she hadn’t realized how early she’d arrived.  It hadn’t taken long for her to tell her boss that she’d have to quit her job.

“Perhaps something stronger?” the man suggested.

Faye blinked, not sure what he was talking about.  Her mind was still on the miserable conversation she’d just had with…she glanced at the time again…that conversation with her boss had been a while ago.

Taking a deep breath, she shook her head.  “No.  No wine.  I’m fine.”

The man hesitated, then nodded and backed away.  Alone again, Faye’s mind drifted once more, flitting through the nights with Zantar.  Today he was flying back to…well, she wasn’t sure where he was flying back to.  Had he mentioned where he lived?  No.  She suddenly realized that their conversations were about their likes and dislikes, books they’d read, movies they’d enjoyed and various topics of conversations, but not where each of them lived.  Perhaps she’d mentioned that she lived in Georgia in the United States, but had she told him what city?  Maybe if he didn’t know, Scott didn’t either!  After graduating from college, Faye had moved far away from Texas, where her mother and stepfather lived.  Maybe Scott’s ignorance of Faye’s hometown would keep Zantar safe as well!  And maybe she could convince Zantar to go away, to hide from…from the despicable threats from her stepbrother.

She sighed, rubbing her forehead.  It didn’t matter how far Zantar traveled, Scott was vengeful.  He would find Zantar.  She would have to…!

The door to the penthouse opened and Faye stood up, vaguely aware that her knees were shaking now and her stomach felt sick.

“Be strong,” she whispered.

“Faye?” Zantar called out, striding into the great room until his eyes found her.  Faye stood there, waiting for him to come to her, trembling at what she’d have to do.  It wasn’t fair or ethical.  She’d always prided herself on being both of those but now…now she’d have to…and it broke her heart.  This was going to ruin any future she might have had with Zantar.

“What’s wrong, habib?” he asked, coming to her and pulling her into his arms.  “Tell me what’s wrong!”

Faye shivered, fighting back tears as she pressed her cheek against his chest, listening to his heart beating.  She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing herself against the hard muscles of his body and enjoying this moment with his strong arms holding her tight.

But only a moment, she told herself, pulling back enough so that she could see into his eyes.  Those dark, amazing eyes caused tears to well up inside of her.  She wished this didn’t have to happen.  Faye wanted to love this man!  And she did!  But he could never love her back.  Not after this!  Damn Scott for making her do this!  She hated her step brother!  At this moment, she hated her mother for bringing Scott into her life and she hated Scott’s father because Scott was such a horrible human being.

She hated…a lot of things right now.

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, bracing her hands on his chest as she said, “Don’t sign the Green Mining contract!”  The words rushed out of her mouth before she could stop them.  Before she could stop herself from selfishly saving her future.  “I don’t know what’s going on with that company, but something is seriously wrong.  Stay away from that company.”

He looked down at her, his dark eyes confused and concerned.  “What are you talking about?  I’ve never heard of ‘Green Mining’ and I’m not signing any mining contracts right now.” he explained, his hands tightening on her waist.

Faye shook her head.  “I don’t really know what’s going on.  But if you ever hear about Green Mining, don’t sign the contract.”  She pulled back, relieved when Zantar released her waist but continued staring at her with confusion in his wonderful, dark eyes.  “Green Mining,” she said again with urgent emphasis.  “Don’t sign anything with them!”   She took a step towards the exit, then stopped and turned back.  “One more thing.”  She paused, taking a breath and then looked up at him.  “I love you!”

And with that, she hurried out of the penthouse.  She jabbed at the private elevator, needing the doors to close before she selfishly rushed back into his arms.  But she couldn’t!  Faye knew that she couldn’t stay here because Scott would use her to get to Zantar.

Faye could see that Zantar was too stunned to react initially and that was probably the only reason she made it to the elevator without him stopping her.  But as she turned to face him once more, she could see the determination in his eyes the split second before the doors closed and the elevator started to descend.

That was all the control she could muster, and Faye burst into tears as the elevator took her down to the fifth floor.  There, she got off and sent the elevator down to the garage level just as she stepped off.  From her experience over the past few days, Faye knew that there was a guard stationed in the parking garage, ensuring that no one could use this particular elevator without their consent.

Walking down the hallway, she slipped into a room with her housekeeping key-card, grabbed her backpack, the only thing she’d allowed herself to carry for the next part of her journey, checked the front pocket to ensure that her passport and wallet were still there, then slung it over her shoulder as she walked down the hallway, leaving the housekeeping key card on the bureau.  She wouldn’t need that any longer.  Not after today.

She took the stairs to the ground floor, stepped out into the early evening heat via a side door and…just walked.  She didn’t run, because she suspected that Scott was watching for her.  She had no idea where he was, but whatever was going on with him, he was quite desperate.  If he caught her leaving the city, he would know that she’d warned Zantar.

Faye had planned this out well.  Stepping into a grocery store, she went straight to the back and pulled out a plain, dark scarf, flipping it over her hair and she donned a different jacket.  Then she wove her way through the storage areas of the grocery store and came out through the loading docks.  If Scott was watching her, he would still be waiting for her to come out through the front doors.

It took a half hour of walking, but she finally made it to the bus station just in time to jump onto the first bus that was leaving.  Faye had no idea where it was going, nor did she care.  Faye only knew that she had to get out of town.  Out of Scott’s reach.  If he ever found her, then he’d ruin her!  He might do that anyway, just for retribution.  Sneaking away from him, Faye knew that he’d figure out that she hadn’t convinced Zantar to sign that contract.  But hopefully, he wouldn’t figure it out for another couple days.  By then, she’d be far away!  If Scott actually manipulated pictures of her, then…well, it didn’t matter anymore.  She’d take the hit to her career as long as Zantar was safe.