Sheikh's Fake Fiancee

“Might need to work on that,” his brother said. “Of course, if she does marry you, it would be ‘Munir.’”

“I doubt she wants to be the sheikha of a faraway land she hadn’t heard of until about two days ago, and it’s a bit early to propose.”

“Not if Father dies and we’re out of a kingdom,” he said, stroking that damn beard again. “Besides, the law technically says you need to be married at the time of the old ruler’s death and that the union must last at least one year. It doesn’t say anything about you needing to stay together any longer than that. If she’s nervous about the idea, treat it as a business arrangement. Everyone can always use extra money, but if Father is so sick, then you just stayed married as long as you have to in order to screw Cousin Haddid out of any claims. That’s all. Besides, she’s far more delightful—at least she was at brunch—than Lady Unibrow over in Lebanon.”

“You shouldn’t call her that,” Bahan objected. “It’s rude.”

His brother shuddered again. “But you wouldn’t want to wake up next to that every day forever since you couldn’t just dissolve that union on account of ugly. That would lead to war.”

“I…well no. I’m not sure that the sheikha of Lebanon and I are exactly

compatible.”

“She’s more someone who might fit with the Swamp Thing or Frankenstein,” his brother quipped. “I’m serious. Go and call your American, set up a date, and explain the situation. The worst thing that happens it that for a year or two, she has loud sex with you that I can hear in my part of the suite, damn it, and ends up with some thank-you money at the end. It could be a far worse deal. I mean, it could be better. I am the more attractive brother.”

“You wish.”

“Oh I am,” Fareed added, winking back at him. “Just call Jennifer. If you explain all of it, she might understand. It’s that or learn to love unibrows.”

“You have a point.”

“I usually do,” his brother said as he backed out of the study. “You call her and I’ll ready the jet, alright?”

“Fine,” he said, waiting until his brother was gone. Picking up his cell, he dialed her number and was surprised when a different voice than he expected answered. It seemed vaguely familiar, however. Could it be Rose? “Hello? I was looking for Jennifer…uh…Jennifer,” he floundered, wishing like hell he had her last name. How foolish would he sound proposing, even for political reasons, to a woman whose last name he didn’t know? “Is she there?”

“She’s with the ER doctor right now.”

His heart stopped. He knew that Sydney had looked sicker than just overly tired or coming down with the flu. “Where are you?”

“New York-Presbyterian.”

“I’ll be there in an hour.”

“The traffic’s been a nightmare.”

“I’m not driving,” he said, heading to find his brother and call up the chopper. He had a hospital to get to.

Chapter Five

“Today is going to be sister bonding day,” Jennifer said, smiling brightly at her sister as she entered the apartment. Maybe her sister wouldn’t make too big a deal about her semi-walk of shame if Jen started in on all the plans she had for them. “Wait, why are you curled up with Gammy’s blanket and my heating pad? Also, you’re really pale. Do you think we should go to the doctor? There’s a walk-in clinic down the block that’s open on Sundays and…”

Sydney shook her head and then winced a little. “I think it’s just my time of the month a little early. It’s like Aunt Flo realized she hadn’t kicked my ass enough in the last few years, so she’s making up for it today. It’s fine, but I don’t think I’m going to make it to Macy’s to do the shopping for Mom. Can we just chill here and rewatch Christmas specials?”

“I wish I had Garfield on DVD here. He is the best.”

“Exactly,” Sydney said, trying to sit up and then wincing when she did that. “God, that hurts.”

Jennifer frowned and rushed ahead to her sister to feel her forehead. “You feel like you’re scalding. I think we need to go to the doctor now.”

“No!” her sister shouted, surprising Jennifer by bursting into tears. “I’m always sick and we always have to do stuff when you’re worried about me. I know my sugar’s been up but I’ve been doing everything everyone asks me to do, okay? I just…can’t I just have a normal December day like anyone else? The last thing I want to do is ruin our day by sitting for six hours in some shitty waiting room where everyone has the flu. I mean, really, for just some stuff that can be solved with Midol, do you want to be hacked on by half of Manhattan.”

“We need to go,” she said, about to lift her stubborn sister off the couch when her phone rang. She wanted to scream in frustration when she pulled it out and saw it was her company’s number. “I…Jennifer Wilde here, how can I help you?”

“This is Khan, and you better get your ass here now. The Z-Box account had some preliminary thoughts on your initial pitch and you need to be in the office in an hour, Wilde, or you can look for another one.”

She blinked, not sure she’d heard her boss right, all while the swirling storm of insecurity tore through her gut. “I…what?”

“You heard me. Get to the offices in an hour or don’t ever bother coming in,” he said, clicking off after that.