Diamond in the Desert

‘I really need you to do this for me, Britt.’

Her heart hammered violently as Sharif came closer to make his point, but he maintained some distance between them, and she respected that. Her heart responded. Her soul responded. She could no more refuse this man than she could turn and walk away from her duties here. But there was one thing she did have to know. ‘Am I doing this for you, or for the consortium?’

‘You’re doing it for yourself, and for your people, Britt, and for what this company means to them. Hold things together for me until I get back and we can get this diamond project properly under way and then you’ll see the benefits for both our people.’

‘How long will you be away?’ The words were out before she could stop them, and she hated herself for asking, but then reassured herself that, as this concerned business, she had to know.

‘A month, no more, I promise you that.’

The tension grew and then she said, ‘I noticed a lot of new people were here when I arrived. Will you introduce me?’

Sharif visibly relaxed. ‘Thank you, Britt,’ he said. ‘The people you saw are people I trust. People I hope you will learn to trust. They moved in with the approval of your lawyers and with your own financial director alongside them to smooth the path—’

‘Of your consortium’s takeover of my family’s company,’ she said ruefully.

‘Of our necessary intervention,’ Sharif amended. ‘I hope I can give you cause to change your mind,’ he said when he saw her expression. ‘This is going to be good for all of us, Britt—and you of all people must know there’s no time to waste. Winter in the Arctic is just around the corner, which will make the preliminary drilling harder, if not impossible, so I need your firm answer now.’

‘I’ll stay,’ she said quietly. ‘Of course, I’ll stay.’

How ironic it seemed that Sharif was battling to keep her on. He was right, though, she could handle anything the business threw at her, but when it came to her personal life she was useless. She had no self-belief, no courage, no practice in playing up to men, or making them see her as a woman who hurt and cared and loved and worried that she would never be good enough to deserve a family of her own to love, and a partner with whom she shared everything

‘And when you come back?’ she said.

‘You can stay or not, as you please. You can still have an involvement in the company, but you could travel, if that’s what you want to do. I have business interests in Kareshi that you are welcome to look over.’

A sop for her agreement, she thought. But a welcome one—if a little daunting for someone whose life had always revolved around Skavanga. ‘I’d be like you then, always travelling.’

‘And always returning home,’ Sharif said with a shrug. ‘What can I tell you, Britt? If you want responsibility there is no easy way. You should know that. You have to take everything that comes along.’

‘And when Tyr comes home?’

‘I’m not sure that your brother has any interest in the business—beyond saving it.’

She flushed at misjudging her brother when she should have known that Tyr would have all their best interests at heart.

‘And now I’ve got a new contract of employment for you—’

‘You anticipated my response.’ But she went cold. Was she so easy to read? If she was, Sharif must know how hopelessly entangled her heart was with his.

Sharif gave nothing away as he uncapped his pen. ‘Your lawyers have given it the once-over,’ he explained. ‘You can read their letter. I’ve got it here for you. I’ll leave you in private for a few moments.’

She picked it up as Sharif shut the door behind him. Her nerves were all on edge as she scanned the contents of the letter. ‘This is the best solution,’ jumped out at her. So be it. She drew a steadying breath, knowing there wasn’t time for personal feelings. There never had been time. She had consistently fooled herself about that where Sharif was concerned.

Walking to the door, she asked the first person she saw to witness her signature and two minutes later it was done. She issued a silent apology to her ancestors. This was no longer a family firm. She worked for the consortium now like everyone else at Skavanga Mining.

Sharif returned and saw her face. ‘You haven’t lost anything, Britt. You’ve only gained from this.’

That remained to be seen, she thought, remembering Sharif leaving her in Kareshi and again at the cabin.