The Sheikh's Blackmailed Bride (Sheikhs of Al-Dashalid 2)

“I’m not unhappy,” he said. It wasn’t a lie—not exactly. He was not unhappy that Catelyn had been invited. But he was uneasy. This was purely a business meeting, and it was exactly the kind of meeting that Catelyn couldn’t be involved in. It concerned too many confidential details about the agreement with Lydia, and that was delicate business. He forced himself to smile at her. “We’re meeting in less than an hour. You’d better hurry.”

The moment the bathroom door closed behind her, Rami turned away, taking Catelyn’s place at the window. The view didn’t calm him.

This affected more than just the two of them. It was a matter of national security, and it had to stay private, protected, because they were going to be divorced in a year. He couldn’t risk it.

His stomach turned. It felt disgusting, planning with her, taking her advice—even bringing her on the trip—knowing that he’d have to turn around and deny her this.

But could he? Lydia was the person he was trying to charm, and it would not be good for him if he arrived without his wife. It was why he’d married her, after all. For just this moment. Wasn’t it?

He was deep in thought when Catelyn emerged, fully dressed, her hair in a low bun at the back of her head. “Are you ready, husband mine?” Her voice was light, as if she’d forgotten about the final clause of their arrangement.

But Rami’s heart was heavy.

* * *

“It should be good for us both,” Lydia said to him between shots. They’d moved outside to a different set of targets. “Unless there’s something you have reservations about.”

Rami felt off-balance. This wasn’t the high-powered pitch meeting he’d been prepared for. In fact, it was a collection of about twelve people casually shooting at targets and chatting. Lydia spent most of her time focused on Rami. “My only reservation is that—” No. That was a terrible way to phrase it. He sounded like his family was dealing with internal issues. “I don’t have any reservations.”

Lydia was looking past him. “She’s good.”

He turned to follow her gaze. Catelyn stood at the other end of the range, ear protection on and gun in hand. She squeezed off a shot, and Rami blinked at her target. It was very near a bullseye.

“She is,” he agreed. Catelyn pu

t the gun down on the table in front of her with care, then turned to the man who had come up to her shoulder. It was one of the people who’d been at the dinner last night. Good. She’d be distracted for another few minutes.

He tried again. “What I mean to say is—”

Lydia fixed him with a steady gaze. “How are things between you and Catelyn?”

He stifled his irritation. This didn’t have anything to do with the deal he and Lydia were making, but he could practically hear Catelyn warning him to go along with this. “They’re wonderful.” They were—that much was true. And Rami had the sickening sensation that things would be wonderful right up until the moment they ended.

“I’ve rarely seen a couple so in tune and confident with each other.” Lydia looked past him again. “How is she settling in to the royal lifestyle?”

He gave her the most charming grin he could summon. “It has its challenges, but you know Catelyn. She handles everything with grace.”

Lydia smiled back at him, and for the first time Rami felt like he had his feet on solid ground. “I can agree with that. That’s why I want our deal to depend on your partnership.”

“My…partnership?” What was she talking about? His connections with the royal family? Of course it would depend on that, but—

“Your partnership with Catelyn.” Lydia nodded to herself, as if she’d only now made up her mind. “The contract is yours on the condition that Catelyn signs it as well.”

Rami knew his mouth was hanging open. He snapped it shut, then opened it again—but he was speechless.

His mind raced. For one thing, Catelyn had her wedding business. He couldn’t ask her to devote more of her time to administering the deal, which was set to be run from Al-Dashalid for ten years. For another, they’d be divorced before the first year was even complete. Would Lydia renege when that happened? On top of it all, Catelyn needed to be a citizen of Al-Dashalid before she could be party to the deal, according to the bylaws of the company.

He had to keep his head in the game. That was the most essential thing of all. This was the point in the conversation when he usually said something ill-advised, and it always came back to bite him. He couldn’t do that now. He couldn’t let all his conflicting emotions derail this, though the struggle between his head and his heart tore at him. Yes, they were electric together in the bedroom, and yes, Catelyn had pushed and pushed until he was ready for this very encounter with Lydia. But despite all of that…

She was only temporary in his life.

That’s what they’d agreed to.

There was no way around it.

“My wife is unable to sign,” he said bluntly.

Lydia raised her eyebrows. “What? Why would Catelyn be unable to sign?”